House of Scindia

House of Scindia
House of Scindia
	Flag (1731–1948)
Country	Gwalior State
Founded	1731
Founder	Ranoji Scindia
Current head	Jyotiraditya Scindia
Final ruler	Jiwajirao Scindia(Gwalior); later theRajpramukh)
Titles	Raja of Gwalior; Maharaja of Gwalior; Vakilof theMughal Empire; Rajpramukhof Madhya Bharat;
Estate(s)	Gwalior Fort; Shinde Chhatri ; Jai Vilas Mahal
Deposition	1948 (Gwalior State); 1971 (Rajpramukhunder the Indian Union)

House of Scindiaor earlier known as the Sendrak was a HinduMarathaRoyal House that ruled the erstwhileGwalior Statein central India. It had thePatil-ship of Kanherkhed in the district ofSataraand was founded byRanoji Scindia,who was sardar of maratha empire and real maratha warrior clan appointed by chattrapati shahuji maharaj-1's servant family from kokan worked as prime minister also known asPeshwa Bajirao I.^[1]^[2]^[3]^[4]Ranoji and his descendants, along with their rivals theHolkars,played a leading role during theMaratha ascendancyin northern India in the 18th-century. The Gwalior State became aprincely stateduring theBritish Rajin the 19th and the 20th-centuries. AfterIndia's independencein 1947 and the abolition of princely states, several members of the Scindia Dynasty went on to enter Indian politics.^{[citation needed]}

Foundation

Maratha Sardar Ranoji Scindia

The Scindia dynasty was founded byRanoji Scindia,a personal servant and soldier of PeshwaBajirao I.^[1]^[2]^[3]^[4]Ranoji prospered early under Bajirao because of the favorable circumstances created by the appointment of Bajirao as the Peshwa at the age of twenty. This had evoked jealousy from senior officials like Anant Ram Sumant,Shripatrao Pant Pratinidhi,Khanderao Dabhadeand Kanhoji Bhosle.This led Baji Rao to promote as commanders of his troops, talented young men who were barely out of teens such asMalhar Rao Holkar,the Pawar (Puar) brothers, Pilaji Jadhav, Fateh Singh Bhosale and of course, Ranoji. None of these men belonged to families that held hereditaryDeshmukhirights under earlier rulers such as the Deccan Sultanates.^[5]^[6]The Shindes or Scindias had served asshiledars(cavalrymen) under theBahmani Sultanateand played an important role in the state of affairs and heldPatilkiof Kumberkerrab.^[7]^[3]

There are otherwise several anecdotes about the origin of the Scindhias (Shindes), especially those recorded bySir John Malcolm.^[8]Stewart Gordonstates the cultivator, etc. origin of otherMarathas.^[9]

History

The Maharaja of Gwalior Before His Palace

Maratha Period

Shinde Chhatri,Wanawdi,Pune:A memorial dedicated toMahadji Shinde

The Scindia dynasty was founded byRanoji Scindia,who was the son of Jankojirao Scindia, thePatilofKanherkhed,a village inSatara District,Maharashtra.^[10]Peshwa Baji Rao's career saw the strengthening of theMaratha Empire.Ranoji was in charge of theMarathaconquests inMalwain 1726. Ranoji established his capital atUjjainin 1731. His successors included Jayajirao, Jyotibarao, Dattajirao, Jankojirao,Mahadji ShindeandDaulatrao Scindia.The Scindias became a major regional power in the latter half of the 18th century, and figured prominently in the threeAnglo-Maratha Wars.They held sway over many of theRajputstates, and conquered north India. In 1818, after accepting the terms of asubsidiary alliancewith the British, the family shifted their base from Ujjain toGwalior.^{[citation needed]}

Rulers of Gwalior state under the British

After the defeat of the allied Maratha states by the British in theThird Anglo-Maratha Warof 1818, Daulatrao Shinde was forced to accept local autonomy as aprincely statewithin British-occupied India and to give up Ajmer to the British. After the death of Daulatrao, Maharani Baiza Bai ruled the empire, saving it from the British power, till the adopted child Jankoji Rao took over the charge. Jankoji died in 1843, and his widow Tarabai Raje Scindia successfully maintained the position and adopted a child from close lineage named Jayajirao.^{[citation needed]}

Accession of Gwalior state into Independent India

The Scindia family ruled Gwalior until India's independence from theUnited Kingdomin 1947, when theMaharaja Jivajirao Scindiaacceded to the Government of India. Gwalior was merged with a number of other princely states to become the new IndianstateofMadhya Bharat.Jiwajirao Scindia served as the state'srajpramukh,or appointed governor, from 28 May 1948 to 31 October 1956, when Madhya Bharat was merged intoMadhya Pradesh.^{[citation needed]}

Political careers of family members

In 1962,Vijayraje Scindia,the widow of Maharaja Jiwajirao, was elected to theLok Sabha,beginning the family's career in electoral politics.^[11]She was first a member of theCongress Party,and later became an influential member of theBharatiya Janata Party.Her sonMadhavrao Scindiawas elected to the Lok Sabha in 1971 representing the Jansangh Party, he joined Congress in 1980 and served until his death in 2001. His son,Jyotiraditya Scindia,joined theCongress Partyand was elected to the seat formerly held by his father in 2004. He later joined theBharatiya Janata Partyon 11 March 2020.^{[citation needed]}

Vijayaraje's daughters have supported theBharatiya Janata Party.Vasundhara Raje Scindiacontested and won fiveparliamentaryelections fromMadhya PradeshandRajasthan.Under the Vajpayee government from 1998 onwards, Vasundhara was in charge of several different ministries. In 2003 she led the Bharatiya Janata Party to its largest majority inRajasthan,and became the state'sChief Minister.^[12]In 2013 again, she led Bharatiya Janata Party to a thumping win in the state of Rajasthan, winning over 160 out of the 200 seats in the assembly elections. Her other daughter,Yashodhara Raje Scindia,contested assembly elections fromShivpuriin Madhya Pradesh and won in 1998, 2003 and 2013 and alsolok sabha2004, 2009 from Gwalior. Upon the BJP's win in the state, she became the state's Minister for Tourism, Sports and Youth Affairs. Vasundhara's sonDushyant Singhentered the Lok Sabha in 2004 from Rajasthan.^[13]

Scindia Maharajas of Ujjain and Gwalior

Mahadaji Shindewas instrumental in resurrecting Maratha power in North India after theBattle of Panipat in 1761^[14]

The heads of the Royal House of Scindia include:

Ranoji Rao Shinde(1731 – 19 July 1745). Died 19 July 1745.
Jayappa Rao Shinde(1745 – 25 July 1755). Born c. 1720, died 25 July 1755.
Jankoji Rao Scindia I(25 July 1755 – 15 January 1761). Born in 1745. died 15 January 1761.
Dattaji Rao Scindia(Regent 1755 – 10 January 1760). Died 10 January 1760.
Vacant 15 January 1761 – 25 November 1763
Kadarji Rao Scindia(25 November 1763 – 10 July 1764) Died?.
Manaji Rao Scindia(10 July 1764 – 18 January 1768) Died?.
Mahadaji Scindia(18 January 1768 – 12 February 1794). Born 3 December 1730, died 12 February 1794.
Daulat Rao Shinde(12 February 1794 – 21 March 1827). Born 1779, died 21 March 1827.
Jankoji Rao Scindia II(18 June 1827 – 7 February 1843). Born 1805, died 7 February 1843.
Jayaji Rao Scindia(7 February 1843 – 20 June 1886). Born 19 January 1835, died 20 June 1886.
Madho Rao Scindia(20 June 1886 – 5 June 1925). Born 20 October 1876, died 5 June 1925.
Jivajirao Scindia(Maharaja 5 June 1925 – 15 August 1947, Rajpramukh 28 May 1948 – 31 October 1956. Last Maharaja, later Rajpramukh) Born 26 June 1916, died 16 July 1961.
Madhavrao Scindia(1961–2001), the last reigning Maharaja, before the abolishment of the monarchy in 1971.

Titular Maharajas

Jyotiraditya Scindia(2001–present)
Mahaaryaman Scindia (heir apparent)

Orders of chivalry

The Royal House of Scindia awards twoorders of chivalry;these knighthoods were instituted byMaharaja Madho Rao Scindiain 1900 and 1907, respectively, and include:

Mansab-i-Aswadi(Order of the Snake), awarded in three grades
Gwalior Medal, awarded in three grades^[15]

Family tree

Shinde dynasty and the Family tree of the Maharajas of Gwalior

Biological Child

Adopted Child

Ranoji Rao
⁽¹⁾
r. 1731-1745

Jayappaji
Rao
⁽²⁾
r. 1745-1755

Dattaji Rao
Regent
t. 1755-1761

Tukoji Rao

Mahadaji
⁽⁷⁾
r. 1768-1794

Jankoji
Rao I
⁽³⁾
r. 1755-1761

Kadarji Rao
⁽⁴⁾
r. 1763-1764

Anand Rao

Manaji Rao
⁽⁶⁾
r. 1764-1768

Baiza Bai
Regent
t. 1827-1833

Daulat Rao
⁽⁸⁾
r. 1794-1827

Jankoji
Rao II
⁽⁹⁾
r. 1827-1843

Tara Bai
Regent
t. 1843-1844

Sakhya Bai
Regent
t. 1886-1894

Jayaji Rao
⁽¹⁰⁾
r. 1843-1886

Madho Rao
⁽¹¹⁾
r. 1886-1925

Gajra Bai
Regent
t. 1931-1936

Jivaji Rao
⁽¹²⁾
r. 1925-1948
– Titular –
r. 1948-1961

Madhav
Rao
⁽¹³⁾
– Titular –
r. 1961-1971
Head of
the Family
1971-2001

Jyotiraditya
⁽¹⁴⁾
Head of
the Family
2001-present

References

^^a ^bAinslie Thomas Embree (1988).Encyclopedia of Asian history.Scribner. p. 14.ISBN 978-0-684-18899-7.Archivedfrom the original on 14 April 2023.Retrieved25 August2020.Ranoji Scindia (d. 1750), the founder of Gwalior state, started his political career reputedly as a slipper-bearer at the court of the peshwa, or prime minister, of the Marathas, but soon rose to high office.
^^a ^bK. V. Krishna Ayyar (1999).The Zamorins of Calicut: From the Earliest Times Down to A.D. 1806.Publication Division, University of Calicut.ISBN 978-81-7748-000-9.Archivedfrom the original on 14 April 2023.Retrieved25 August2020.The carrying of the Pallimaradi before the Zamorin on public occasions might have been due to the same reason as the carrying of a pair of golden slippers before Scindia, whose ancestor was the slipper - bearer of Peshwa Baji Rao - to show his respect for his original humble office which was the cause of his subsequent success
^^a ^b ^cSatish Chandra (2003).Essays on Medieval Indian History.Oxford University Press. p. 93.ISBN 978-0-19-566336-5.Archivedfrom the original on 14 April 2023.Retrieved9 October2020.The Sindhias, it is well-known, were drawn from a Kunbi family which had the hereditary patel-ship of Kumberkerrab in the district of Wai. The origins of the Holkar were even more humble: they belonged to the caste of goat-herds (dungar), the family holding zamindari rights in the village of Hal.
^^a ^bRomila Thapar (1994). "Seminar – Issues 417–424": 59.Many peasant caste men who distinguished themselves in battle or otherwise served the ruler became Marathas. Witness the first Holkar who was a shepherd and the first Scindia who was a Kunbi personal servant of the Peshwa{{cite journal}}:Cite journal requires|journal=(help)
^Gordon, Stewart(2007).The Marathas 1600–1818.Cambridge [u.a.]: Cambridge University Press. pp. 117–121.ISBN 978-0521033169.Archivedfrom the original on 4 July 2023.Retrieved15 May2020.
^Sardesai, Govind Sakharam (1946).New History of the Marathas: The expansion of the Maratha power, 1707–1772.Phoenix Publications. pp. 65, 69.
^Richard M. Eaton (2005).A social history of the Deccan, 1300–1761: eight Indian lives.Cambridge University Press. pp. 188–.ISBN 978-0-521-25484-7.Archivedfrom the original on 4 July 2023.Retrieved16 July2011.
^Ramusack, Barbara N.(2004).The Indian Princes and their States.The New Cambridge History of India. Cambridge University Press. pp. 35, 36.ISBN 978-1139449083.Archivedfrom the original on 4 July 2023.Retrieved11 April2016.
^Stewart Gordon (1993).The Marathas 1600–1818.Cambridge University Press. pp. 15–.ISBN 978-0-521-26883-7.Archivedfrom the original on 14 April 2023.Retrieved15 May2020.Looking backward from ample material on the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, we know that Maratha as a category of caste represents the amalgamation of families from several castes - Kunbi, Lohar, Sutar, Bhandari, Thakar, and even Dhangars (shepherds) – which existed in the seventeenth century and, indeed, exist as castes in Maharashtra today. What differentiated, for example, "Maratha" from "Kunbi"? It was precisely the martial tradition, of which they were proud, and the rights (watans and inams) they gained from military service. It was these rights which differentiated them from the ordinary cultivator, ironworkers and tailors, especially at the local level
^N. G. Rathod (1994).The Great Maratha Mahadaji Scindia.Sarup & Sons. p. 1.ISBN 978-81-85431-52-9.
^"Vijaya Raje Scindia".Archived fromthe originalon 11 February 2007.Retrieved4 December2006.
^"Life and Career – Vasundhara Raje".Archivedfrom the original on 6 June 2017.Retrieved15 May2020.
^"Dushyant Singh wins".NDTV.Archivedfrom the original on 16 July 2020.Retrieved15 May2020.
^N. G. Rathod (1994).The Great Maratha Mahadaji Scindia.Sarup & Sons. p. 8.ISBN 978-81-85431-52-9.
^Encyclopaedia Indica: Princely States in colonial India.Anmol Publications. 1996. p. 85.ISBN 978-81-7041-859-7.

External links

Media related toScindiaat Wikimedia Commons

[Embree1988-1] Ainslie Thomas Embree (1988).Encyclopedia of Asian history.Scribner. p. 14.ISBN 978-0-684-18899-7.Archivedfrom the original on 14 April 2023.Retrieved25 August2020.Ranoji Scindia (d. 1750), the founder of Gwalior state, started his political career reputedly as a slipper-bearer at the court of the peshwa, or prime minister, of the Marathas, but soon rose to high office.

[Ayyar1999-2] K. V. Krishna Ayyar (1999).The Zamorins of Calicut: From the Earliest Times Down to A.D. 1806.Publication Division, University of Calicut.ISBN 978-81-7748-000-9.Archivedfrom the original on 14 April 2023.Retrieved25 August2020.The carrying of the Pallimaradi before the Zamorin on public occasions might have been due to the same reason as the carrying of a pair of golden slippers before Scindia, whose ancestor was the slipper - bearer of Peshwa Baji Rao - to show his respect for his original humble office which was the cause of his subsequent success

[Chandra2003-3] Satish Chandra (2003).Essays on Medieval Indian History.Oxford University Press. p. 93.ISBN 978-0-19-566336-5.Archivedfrom the original on 14 April 2023.Retrieved9 October2020.The Sindhias, it is well-known, were drawn from a Kunbi family which had the hereditary patel-ship of Kumberkerrab in the district of Wai. The origins of the Holkar were even more humble: they belonged to the caste of goat-herds (dungar), the family holding zamindari rights in the village of Hal.

[seminar417424-4] Romila Thapar (1994). "Seminar – Issues 417–424": 59.Many peasant caste men who distinguished themselves in battle or otherwise served the ruler became Marathas. Witness the first Holkar who was a shepherd and the first Scindia who was a Kunbi personal servant of the Peshwa{{cite journal}}:Cite journal requires|journal=(help)

[5] Gordon, Stewart(2007).The Marathas 1600–1818.Cambridge [u.a.]: Cambridge University Press. pp. 117–121.ISBN 978-0521033169.Archivedfrom the original on 4 July 2023.Retrieved15 May2020.

[6] Sardesai, Govind Sakharam (1946).New History of the Marathas: The expansion of the Maratha power, 1707–1772.Phoenix Publications. pp. 65, 69.

[Eaton2005-7] Richard M. Eaton (2005).A social history of the Deccan, 1300–1761: eight Indian lives.Cambridge University Press. pp. 188–.ISBN 978-0-521-25484-7.Archivedfrom the original on 4 July 2023.Retrieved16 July2011.

[Ramusack2004-8] Ramusack, Barbara N.(2004).The Indian Princes and their States.The New Cambridge History of India. Cambridge University Press. pp. 35, 36.ISBN 978-1139449083.Archivedfrom the original on 4 July 2023.Retrieved11 April2016.

[Gordon1993-9] Stewart Gordon (1993).The Marathas 1600–1818.Cambridge University Press. pp. 15–.ISBN 978-0-521-26883-7.Archivedfrom the original on 14 April 2023.Retrieved15 May2020.Looking backward from ample material on the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, we know that Maratha as a category of caste represents the amalgamation of families from several castes - Kunbi, Lohar, Sutar, Bhandari, Thakar, and even Dhangars (shepherds) – which existed in the seventeenth century and, indeed, exist as castes in Maharashtra today. What differentiated, for example, "Maratha" from "Kunbi"? It was precisely the martial tradition, of which they were proud, and the rights (watans and inams) they gained from military service. It was these rights which differentiated them from the ordinary cultivator, ironworkers and tailors, especially at the local level

[Rathod1994-10] N. G. Rathod (1994).The Great Maratha Mahadaji Scindia.Sarup & Sons. p. 1.ISBN 978-81-85431-52-9.

[11] "Vijaya Raje Scindia".Archived fromthe originalon 11 February 2007.Retrieved4 December2006.

[autogenerated1-12] "Life and Career – Vasundhara Raje".Archivedfrom the original on 6 June 2017.Retrieved15 May2020.

[13] "Dushyant Singh wins".NDTV.Archivedfrom the original on 16 July 2020.Retrieved15 May2020.

[14] N. G. Rathod (1994).The Great Maratha Mahadaji Scindia.Sarup & Sons. p. 8.ISBN 978-81-85431-52-9.

[Anmol1996-15] Encyclopaedia Indica: Princely States in colonial India.Anmol Publications. 1996. p. 85.ISBN 978-81-7041-859-7.

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