Jayajirao Scindia

Jayajirao Scindia GCB, GCSI, CIE (19 January 1834 – 20 June 1886) of the Scindia dynasty of Maratha Confederacy was the last independent ruling Maharaja of Gwalior State during the British rule from 1843 to 1886.

Jayajirao Scindia
Aalijah Bahadur Rafi-us-Shaan Wala-Shukoh Maharaja Scindia of Gwalior
"The Maharajah Scindia of Gwalior" as seen in the Illustrated London News, c. 1875
5th Maharaja of Gwalior
Reign	7 February 1843 – 20 June 1886
Predecessor	Jankoji Rao Scindia II
Successor	Madho Rao Scindia
Born	19 January 1834 Gwalior
Died	20 June 1886 (aged 52) Jai Vilas Palace, Lashkar, Gwalior
Spouse	Maharani Chimnaraje (in 1843) Maharani Laxmibai Gujar (in 1852) Maharani Babuibai Raje (in 1873) Maharani Sakhyaraje (in ?)
Issue	five sons and four daughters
House	Scindia family
Father	Hanuvant Rao Scindia
Mother	a sister of Shrimant Sardar Devrao Jadhav

Early life

HH Maharaja Sir Jayaji Rao Scindia of Gwalior State, General Sir Henry Daly (Founder of The Daly College), with British officers and Maratha nobility (Sardars, Jagirdars & Mankaris) in Indore, Holkar State, c. 1879.

Jayajirao was born as Bhagirath Scindia, son of Hanuvant Rao Scindia who was the younger brother of the then ruling Maharaja Jankojirao Scindia II on 19 January 1835. The erstwhile Maharaja of Gwalior, Jankojirao II, died in 1843 without leaving an heir leading his widow Tara Bai to adopt Bhagirath Rao. Bhagirath Scindia succeeded the Gwalior gaddi under the name of Jayajirao Sindhia on 22 February 1843. Mama Sahib, the maternal uncle of Jankojirao II, was chosen as regent.

Early reign and campaigns against the British

Main article: Gwalior campaign

Durbar of Jayajirao Scindia, c. 1905

Dada Khasgiwale, the comptroller of the Shinde household overthrew Mama Sahib as the regent nearly leading to a civil war. The British East India Company decided to interfere by withdrawing their Resident Colonel Alexander Speirs and demanding the surrender of Dada Khasgiwale was demanded. A British force under Sir Hugh Gough moved on Gwalior, and crossed the Chambal in December 1843. On 29 December followed the simultaneous battles of Maharajpura and Panniar, in which the Gwalior army was annihilated. Khasgiwale was arrested by the British and was sent to Benares Jail where he died in 1845.

A treaty was then made, under which certain lands to the value of 1.8 million, including Chanderi District, were ceded for the upkeep of a contingent force, besides other lands for the liquidation of the expenses incurred in the war, the State army was reduced, and a Council of Regency was appointed during the minority, to act under the resident's advice.

When in 1857, the Indian rebellion against the British began, as per the descendant of martyr Tatya Tope (Who fought against British in the war for Indian independence of 1857), Mr. Parag Tope in his book Operation Red Lotus, Jayajirao Scindia gave full support to Tatya Tope who acted as the link between Gwalior Durbar and freedom fighters in Kanpur and Jhansi, Jayajirao ordered his army to join Tatya and freedom fighters when they come to Gwalior, this way Jayajirao gave very significant covert support to the freedom fighters even after losing against British at Maharajpur and Punniar but by keeping his support covert Scindia ensured that if the rebellion failed British fury will not fall on the common people of Gwalior, this was an age-old Maratha policy of “Gupt-Yuddh” against enemy if you are weak (Scindia fought and lost against British at Maharajpura and Punniar and did not surrender without fighting like many other rulers). Maharani Tarabai Raje Scindia asked the Scindia treasurer martyr Amarchand Bainthia to open Scindia treasury for the freedom fighters.

British punished Scindia by not returning Gwalior fort to them after crushing war for Indian independence in 1857 and gave back the fort of Gwalior to Scindia only as late as 1886.

Development work

The Maharaja Scindhia of Gwalior with state officials

In 1872, Jayajirao lent Rs. 7.5 million for the construction of the Agra-Gwalior portion of the Great Indian Peninsular Railway, and a similar amount in 1873 for the Indore-Neemuch section of the Rajputana-Malwa railway. In 1882 land was ceded by the state for the Midland section of the Great Indian Peninsular Railway.

Jayaajirao constructed many new buildings like Moti Mahal, Jai Vilas Palace, Kampoo Kothi, Victoriya Building, Gorkhi Dwar Gate and Daffrine Sarai. He reconstructed the Koteshwar Mandir and constructed about 69 Shiva temples across his state. He gave Rs. 1.5 million for the reconstruction of Gwalior fort's boundary wall and the broken parts of Man Mandir, Gujri Mahal, and Johar Kund. In 1886 Gwalior fort and Morar cantonment, with some other villages, which had been held by British troops since 1858, were exchanged for Jhansi city.

Honours

In 1861, Jayajirao was created a Knights Grand Commander of the Order of the Star of India. His photos appeared in the London press and was regarded as the friend of the British Empire. In 1877, he became a Counsellor of the Empress and later on a GCB and CIE.

a photo by Talboys Wheeler from The Imperial Assemblage, 1877

Family

Jayajirao married Chimnabai Kadam in 1843 and Laxmibai Gujar in 1852. Balwantrao Shinde was his eldest son from Laxmibai. Jayajirao married his third wife Babuibai Sawant in 1873 and fourth wife Sakhyabai. Jayajirao and Sakhyabai had a son, his fourth but only surviving son, named Madho Rao (b. 1876) who succeeded him as ruler of Gwalior. One of his sons was Shrimant Ganpat Rao, who died in 1920.

Ganpat Rao was a famous musician who trained Jaddanbai, mother of actress Nargis.

Death

Tomb of Jayajirao Scindia

Jayajirao Scindia died in June 1886 at Jai Vilas Palace, Gwalior.

Full name and titles

His official full name was also General His Highness Ali Jah, Umdat ul-Umara, Hisam us-Sultanat, Mukhtar ul-Mulk, Azim ul-Iqtidar, Rafi-us-Shan, Wala Shikoh, Muhtasham-i-Dauran, Maharajadhiraj Maharaja Shrimant Sir Jayaji Rao Scindia Bahadur, Shrinath, Mansur-i-Zaman, Fidvi-i-Hazrat-i-Malika-i-Mua'zzama-i-Rafi-ud-Darja-i-Inglistan Maharaja Scindia of Gwalior', GCB, GCSI, CIE

• 1835–1843: Shrimant Kumar Bhagirath Rao Scindia
• 1843–1845: His Highness Ali Jah, Umdat ul-Umara, Hisam us-Sultanat, Mukhtar ul-Mulk, Maharajadhiraj Maharaja Shrimant Jayajirao Scindia Bahadur, Shrinath, Mansur-i-Zaman, Maharaja Scindia of Gwalior
• 1845–1861: His Highness Ali Jah, Umdat ul-Umara, Hisam us-Sultanat, Mukhtar ul-Mulk, Azim ul-Iqtidar, Rafi-us-Shan, Wala Shikoh, Muhtasham-i-Dauran, Maharajadhiraj Maharaja Shrimant Jayajirao Scindia Bahadur, Shrinath, Mansur-i-Zaman, Fidvi-i-Hazrat-i-Malika-i-Mua'zzama-i-Rafi-ud-Darja-i-Inglistan Maharaja Scindia of Gwalior
• 1861–1866: His Highness Ali Jah, Umdat ul-Umara, Hisam us-Sultanat, Mukhtar ul-Mulk, Azim ul-Iqtidar, Rafi-us-Shan, Wala Shikoh, Muhtasham-i-Dauran, Maharajadhiraj Maharaja Shrimant Sir Jayajirao Scindia Bahadur, Shrinath, Mansur-i-Zaman, Fidvi-i-Hazrat-i-Malika-i-Mua'zzama-i-Rafi-ud-Darja-i-Inglistan Maharaja Scindia of Gwalior, KSI
• 1866–1877: His Highness Ali Jah, Umdat ul-Umara, Hisam us-Sultanat, Mukhtar ul-Mulk, Azim ul-Iqtidar, Rafi-us-Shan, Wala Shikoh, Muhtasham-i-Dauran, Maharajadhiraj Maharaja Shrimant Sir Jayajirao Scindia Bahadur, Shrinath, Mansur-i-Zaman, Fidvi-i-Hazrat-i-Malika-i-Mua'zzama-i-Rafi-ud-Darja-i-Inglistan Maharaja Scindia of Gwalior, GCSI
• 1877–1878: General His Highness Ali Jah, Umdat ul-Umara, Hisam us-Sultanat, Mukhtar ul-Mulk, Azim ul-Iqtidar, Rafi-us-Shan, Wala Shikoh, Muhtasham-i-Dauran, Maharajadhiraj Maharaja Shrimant Sir Jayajirao Scindia Bahadur, Shrinath, Mansur-i-Zaman, Fidvi-i-Hazrat-i-Malika-i-Mua'zzama-i-Rafi-ud-Darja-i-Inglistan Maharaja Scindia of Gwalior, GCB, GCSI
• 1878–1886: General His Highness Ali Jah, Umdat ul-Umara, Hisam us-Sultanat, Mukhtar ul-Mulk, Azim ul-Iqtidar, Rafi-us-Shan, Wala Shikoh, Muhtasham-i-Dauran, Maharajadhiraj Maharaja Shrimant Sir Jayajirao Scindia Bahadur, Shrinath, Mansur-i-Zaman, Fidvi-i-Hazrat-i-Malika-i-Mua'zzama-i-Rafi-ud-Darja-i-Inglistan Maharaja Scindia of Gwalior, GCB, GCSI, CIE

Further reading

• Neelesh Ishwarchandra Karkare (2014). Shreenath Madhavji : Mahayoddha Mahadji Ki Shourya Gatha. Neelesh Ishwarchandra ( Gwalior). ISBN 9789352670925.
• Neelesh Ishwarchandra Karkare (2017). Tawaareekh-E-ShindeShahi. Neelesh Ishwarchandra ( Gwalior). ISBN 9789352672417.