Reign 1884–1922 Successor Rajaram III Father Appasaheb Ghatge Died 6 May 1922, Mumbai Children Rajaram III | Predecessor Shivaji VI House Bhonsle Mother Radhabai Parents Appasaheb Ghatge | |
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Born June 26, 1874 ( 1874-06-26 ) | ||
Shahu(also known as Rajarshi Shahu or Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj) GCSI GCIE GCVO(June 26, 1874 – May 6, 1922) of the Bhonsle dynasty, was Raja(reign. 1884 – 1900) and Maharaja(1900-1922) of Indian princely state of Kolhapur.
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Accession
Shahu was born on June 26, 1874 as Yeshwantrao Ghatge, eldest son of Jaishinghrao Ghatge, chief of Kagal(senior) by his wife Radhabai, daughter of Raja of Karnataka. He was adopted by Anandibai, widow of Raja Shivaji VI, in March 1884. Several generations of inter-marriage had ensured that Shahu's family was connected intimately with the ruling dynasty of Kolhapur, which is apparently what rendered him a suitable candidate for adoption, despite his not being a male-line member of the Bhosale dynasty. He was educated at Rajkumar College, Rajkot. A council of regency was appointed by the British Raj to oversee affairs of state during Shahu's minority and during that time, he was tutored in administrative affairs by Sir Stuart Fraser. Shahu was invested with ruling powers upon coming of age in 1894.
Vedokta Controversy
When Brahmin priests of the royal family refused to perform the rites of non-Brahmins in accordance with the Vedic hymns, he took the daring step of removing the priests and appointment a young Maratha as the religious teacher of the non-Brahmins, with the title of Kshatra Jagadguru(the world teacher of the Kshatriyas). This was known as the Vedokta controversy. It brought a hornet's nest about his ears, but he was not the man to retrace his steps in the face of opposition. He soon became the leader of the non-Brahmin movement and united the Marathas under his banner.
Social Reform
Shahu Maharaj is credited with doing much to further the lot of the lower castes and indeed this assessment is warranted. He did much to make education and employment available to all: he not only subsidized education in his state, eventually providing free education to all, but also opened several hostels in Kolhapur thereby facilitating the education of the rural and low-caste indigent. His educational institutions include Victoria Maratha Boarding School, Miss Clarke Boarding School and Deccan Rayat Sanstha. He also ensured suitable employment for students thus educated, thereby creating one of the earliest Affirmative action(50% reservation to weaker sections) programs in history. Many of these measures were effected in the year 1902 on July 26. He started Shahu Chhatrapati Weaving and Spinning Mill in 1906 to provide employment. Rajaram college was built by Shahu Maharaj and afterwards it was named after him.
In 1903, he attended the Coronation of King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra, and in May that year he received the honorary degree LL.D. from the University of Cambridge.
Personal life
In 1891, Shahu married Lakshmibai née Khanvilkar(1880–1945), daughter of a Maratha nobleman from Baroda. They were the parents of four children:
Chhatrapati Shahu of Kolhapur died on May 6, 1922. He was survived by his wife, his elder son Rajaram and his daughter Radhabai.
Full Name & Titles
His full official name was: Colonel His Highness Kshatriya-Kulawatasana Sinhasanadhishwar, Shrimant Rajarshi Sir Shahu Chhatrapati Maharaj Sahib Bahadur, GCSI, GCIE, GCVO.
During his life he acquired the following titles and honorific names: