Shahoji II

Shahaji II (formerly Vikramsinhrao (Nana Sahib) Puar) (4 April 1910-9 May 1983) was Maharaja of Dewas (senior) from 1937-1947 and Maharaja of Kolhapur from 1947-1983. He was the first Maharaja of Kolhapur from the Puar dynasty.

Beginnings (1910-1937)

Shahaji II was born as Yuvaraja Vikramsinhrao Tukojirao on 4 April 1910 at Kolhapur, the only son and heir of Maharaja Sir Tukojirao III (New Year's Day 1888-21 December 1937, ruled 4 April 1900-26 July 1934-21 December 1937) of Dewas (senior) and his first wife, Maharani Radhabai Maharaje Sahib Puar (10 March 1894-22 September 1973), the eldest child of Maharaja Sir Shahu IV of Kolhapur. On 26 July 1934, Sir Tukojirao fled to Pondicherry in French India, leaving Vikramsinhrao to manage the affairs of the state. Three years later, Sir Tukojirao died in Pondicherry; Vikramsinhrao was now the Maharaja.

Maharaja of Dewas (senior)(1937-1947)

Vikramsinhrao ascended the throne on his father's death. In 1941, he was knighted as a Knight Commander of the Order of the Star of India (KCSI). During the Second World War, Sir Vikramsinhrao was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in the second battalion of the Maratha Light Infantry, and distinguished himself as a company commander during the African campaign in the Western Desert. Promoted to Major by 1945, he returned to Dewas and to his throne after the end of the war.

Maharaja of Kolhapur (1947-1983)

In Kolhapur, the death of Rajaram II, Sir Vikramsihnrao's uncle, in 1940, had left the throne there vacant. The reign of the child-king Shivaji V during the war under a regency ended with Shivaji's death in 1946, so the regents of Kolhapur looked to Rajaram's nephew to be the next Maharaja. Thus called upon after a 10-year reign, Sir Vikramsinhrao abdicated the throne of Dewas on 23 March 1947 in favor of his eldest son, Krishnajirao III and took the throne of Kolhapur on 31 March as His Highness Sir Shahaji II. In August 1947, he was promoted to the rank of Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Star of India (GCSI). In the months before India became independent, Sir Shahaji II introduced an elected state legislature and an interim council of ministers. Following the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi, however, the Indian government forced the resignation of the ministers and appointed an ICS administration on 22 March 1948. On 1 March 1949, Kolhapur merged into the Bombay Presidency.

Sir Shahaji became a Major-General in the Indian Army in 1962, but in 1971, he was stripped of his rank, titles and stipends as part of the mass removal of royal titles and prestige under the Indira Gandhi regime.

Family

On 30 December 1926 at Dewas, Sir Shahaji II (then Vikramsinhrao Puar) married Shrimant Akhand Soubhagyavati Maharani Pramilabai Raje Sahib Bhonsle (4 August 1910-31 January 2008); the couple had one son and three daughters, including:

• 1. Shrimant Akhand Soubhagyavati Maharajkumari Shaliniraje Sahib Maharaj Bhonsle (3 July 1929-), who had two sons including:
  • Shahu II, the present Maharaja of Kolhapur.
• 2. Krishnajirao III (1932-1999), who succeeded his father as Maharaja of Dewas
• 3. Maharajkumari Vijayaraje Sahib Maharaj Shitole (1937-). Married in 1952 Shriman Pratapsingh Shitole.
• 4.Maharajkumari Urmilaraje Sahib Maharaj Ghorpade (1943-). Married Rajkumar Shrimant Vijaysinhrao Yeshwantrao Raje Sahib Ghorpade (1937-), third son of the Raja of Sandur; had issue.

Death

Sir Shahaji II died on 9 May 1983 at the age of 73 following a reign of 36 years. He was succeeded by his grandson, Shahu II, as Maharaja of Kolhapur.

Titles

• 1910-1937: Srimant Yuvaraja Vikramsinhrao Tukojirao Maharaj Puar
• 1937-1941: His Highness Kshatriya Kulavatana Sena Sapta Sahasri Senapati Pratinidhi, Maharaja Srimant Vikramsinhrao Puar, Maharaja of Dewas (Senior)
• 1941-1942: His Highness Kshatriya Kulavatana Sena Sapta Sahasri Senapati Pratinidhi, Maharaja Srimant Sir Vikramsinhrao Puar, Maharaja of Dewas (Senior), KCSI
• 1942-1944: Lieutenant His Highness Kshatriya Kulavatana Sena Sapta Sahasri Senapati Pratinidhi, Maharaja Srimant Sir Vikramsinhrao Puar, Maharaja of Dewas (Senior), KCSI
• 1944-1945: Captain His Highness Kshatriya Kulavatana Sena Sapta Sahasri Senapati Pratinidhi, Maharaja Srimant Sir Vikramsinhrao Puar, Maharaja of Dewas (Senior), KCSI
• 1945-1947: Major His Highness Kshatriya Kulavatana Sena Sapta Sahasri Senapati Pratinidhi, Maharaja Srimant Sir Vikramsinhrao Puar, Maharaja of Dewas (Senior), KCSI (abdicated on 23 March 1947 to succeed as Maharaja of Kolhapur)
• 1947-1962: Major His Highness Kshatriya-Kulawatasana Sinhasanadhishwar, Shrimant Rajashri Sir Shahaji II Chhatrapati Maharaj Sahib Bahadur, Maharaja of Kolhapur, GCSI
• 1962-1983: Major-General His Highness Kshatriya-Kulawatasana Sinhasanadhishwar, Shrimant Rajashri Sir Shahaji II Chhatrapati Maharaj Sahib Bahadur, Maharaja of Kolhapur, GCSI

Honours

• King George V Silver Jubilee Medal-1935
• King George VI Coronation Medal-1937
• Star of the Order of Ahilya Holkar Sultanat-1943
• 1939-1945 Star-1945
• Africa Star-1945
• Italy Star-1945
• British War Medal-1945
• India Service Medal-1945
• Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Star of India (GCSI)-1947 (KCSI-1941)
• Indian Independence Medal-1947
• Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal-1953

Sources

• A detailed biography