Maharaja of Porbandar
Encyclopedia
Lieutenant-Colonel H.H. Maharaja
Rana
Shri Sir
Natwarsinhji Bhavsinhji Sahib
Bahadur
, KCSI
(born 1901-06-30, Porbandar
, Gujarat - died 1979-10-04, Porbandar) was the Maharaja of Porbandar belonging to Jethwa
dynasty.
He was educated at the Rajkumar College
at Rajkot and stood first in the diploma examination for all the Princes' colleges in India. He succeeded his father on his death on 1908-12-10 and ascended the throne on 1920-01-26 after he came of age.
He married twice, but never had children. He first married Rupaliba Sahiba, MBE (1898-1943) of Limbdi in 1920 and after her death, to Anant Kunverba Annette da Silva (1911-1989) in 1954.
He captained India
in her first Test
tour of England
in 1932. He played in four matches but stood down from captaincy in favour of the more talented C.K. Nayudu for the Test against England
. K. S. Ghanshyamsinhji
, the elder brother of Rupaliba Sahiba, served as his vice captain.
Natwarsinhji was an avid painter, author and musician; his literary works include "From the Flow of Life" (1967), "India's Problems: Reflections of an Ex-Ruler" (1970) and "International Solidarity" (1975). He also was joint composer the "Oriental Moon Waltz" in 1930.
He was an able ruler and Porbandar progressed under his kingship. He gave land to Nanji Kalidas Mehta
, to start Maharana Mills manufacturing textiles. Later he also took active interest along with Nanji Kalidas Mehta to see that Kirti Mandir
is being built in Porbandar, as a memorial to Mahatma Gandhi
Maharaja Sir Natwarsinhji Jethwa
of Porbandar died in 1979 after a 71 year reign, aged 78. Although he had adopted a son, Rajkumar Udaibhansinhji Jethwa
, in 1941, he died in 1977 with no issue; therefore, the headship of the dynasty is still uncertain after three decades.
Maharaja
Mahārāja is a Sanskrit title for a "great king" or "high king". The female equivalent title Maharani denotes either the wife of a Maharaja or, in states where that was customary, a woman ruling in her own right. The widow of a Maharaja is known as a Rajamata...
Rana
Rana (title)
Rana is a Princely title of Royalty in Sanskrit. Rana is used by the Jats and Rajput of South Asia. The name is usually interpreted to mean "Prince".Compound titles Rana Sahib, Rana Bahadur, and Maharana.-Royal title in India:...
Shri Sir
Sir
Sir is an honorific used as a title , or as a courtesy title to address a man without using his given or family name in many English speaking cultures...
Natwarsinhji Bhavsinhji Sahib
Sahib
Sahib is an Urdu term which literally translates to "Owner" or "Proprietor". The primary Arabic meaning of Sahib is "associate, companion, comrade, friend" though it also includes "Sahib is an Urdu term which literally translates to "Owner" or "Proprietor". The primary Arabic meaning of Sahib...
Bahadur
Bahadur
Bahadur * Banda Singh Bahadur , a Sikh warrior and martyr* Coote Bahadur was a name given the Irish soldier Sir Eyre Coote by his troops* Bahadoor , a comedic actor in Malayalam-language films...
, KCSI
Order of the Star of India
The Most Exalted Order of the Star of India is an order of chivalry founded by Queen Victoria in 1861. The Order includes members of three classes:# Knight Grand Commander # Knight Commander # Companion...
(born 1901-06-30, Porbandar
Porbandar
Porbandar is a coastal city in the Indian state of Gujarat, perhaps best known for being the birthplace of Mahatma Gandhi and Sudama...
, Gujarat - died 1979-10-04, Porbandar) was the Maharaja of Porbandar belonging to Jethwa
Jethwa
Jethwa is a name of a Kshatriya, Rajput clan that claim descent from Makardhwaja son of Lord Hanuman who appears in the Hindu epic Ramayana...
dynasty.
Lifesketch
He was the only son of H.H. Maharaja Rana Shri Bhavsinhji Madhavsinhji Sahib Bahadur, Rana Sahib of Porbandar, by his third wife, H.H. Maharani Bama Sahib Ramba Kunverba Sahiba.He was educated at the Rajkumar College
Rajkumar College
Rajkumar College may refer to :-Rajkumar College, RajkotRajkumar College, Raipur...
at Rajkot and stood first in the diploma examination for all the Princes' colleges in India. He succeeded his father on his death on 1908-12-10 and ascended the throne on 1920-01-26 after he came of age.
He married twice, but never had children. He first married Rupaliba Sahiba, MBE (1898-1943) of Limbdi in 1920 and after her death, to Anant Kunverba Annette da Silva (1911-1989) in 1954.
He captained India
Indian cricket team
The Indian cricket team is the national cricket team of India. Governed by the Board of Control for Cricket in India , it is a full member of the International Cricket Council with Test and One Day International status....
in her first Test
Test cricket
Test cricket is the longest form of the sport of cricket. Test matches are played between national representative teams with "Test status", as determined by the International Cricket Council , with four innings played between two teams of 11 players over a period of up to a maximum five days...
tour of England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
in 1932. He played in four matches but stood down from captaincy in favour of the more talented C.K. Nayudu for the Test against England
English cricket team
The England and Wales cricket team is a cricket team which represents England and Wales. Until 1992 it also represented Scotland. Since 1 January 1997 it has been governed by the England and Wales Cricket Board , having been previously governed by Marylebone Cricket Club from 1903 until the end...
. K. S. Ghanshyamsinhji
Ghanshyamsinhji of Limbdi
Kumar Shri Ghanshyamsinhji Daulatsinhji Jhala of Limbdi was an Indian first class cricketer. He was a cousin of English Test batsman Kumar Shri Duleepsinhji and brother-in-law of Natwarsinhji Bhavsinhji, the Jethwa ruler of Princely State of Porbandar.Kumar Shri Ghanshyamshinhji Daulatsinhji...
, the elder brother of Rupaliba Sahiba, served as his vice captain.
Natwarsinhji was an avid painter, author and musician; his literary works include "From the Flow of Life" (1967), "India's Problems: Reflections of an Ex-Ruler" (1970) and "International Solidarity" (1975). He also was joint composer the "Oriental Moon Waltz" in 1930.
He was an able ruler and Porbandar progressed under his kingship. He gave land to Nanji Kalidas Mehta
Nanji Kalidas Mehta
Nanji Kalidas Mehta was an Industrialist and Philanthropist from Gujarat. He was founded the Mehta Group of Industries in Uganda, now having its head office in India.-Lifesketch:...
, to start Maharana Mills manufacturing textiles. Later he also took active interest along with Nanji Kalidas Mehta to see that Kirti Mandir
Kirti Mandir, Porbandar
Kirti Mandir is the memorial temple built in memory of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi and Kasturba Gandhi located in city of Porbandar, Gujarat, India.-Background:...
is being built in Porbandar, as a memorial to Mahatma Gandhi
Mahatma Gandhi
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi , pronounced . 2 October 1869 – 30 January 1948) was the pre-eminent political and ideological leader of India during the Indian independence movement...
Maharaja Sir Natwarsinhji Jethwa
Jethwa
Jethwa is a name of a Kshatriya, Rajput clan that claim descent from Makardhwaja son of Lord Hanuman who appears in the Hindu epic Ramayana...
of Porbandar died in 1979 after a 71 year reign, aged 78. Although he had adopted a son, Rajkumar Udaibhansinhji Jethwa
Udaybhansinhji Natwarsinhji Jethwa
Patvi Namdar Maharajkumar Shri Udaybhansinhji Natwarsinhji Jethwa Sahib , was the last Maharajkumar or Yuvraj of Jethwa dynasty of Princely State of Porbandar....
, in 1941, he died in 1977 with no issue; therefore, the headship of the dynasty is still uncertain after three decades.
Titles
- 1901-1908: Patvi NamdarNamdarNamdar is an Iranian surname.Namdar was also an honorific title used by Indian Maharajas and Rajkumars before their name.-Surname:* Asieh Namdar, Iranian-American journalist* Cha Cha Namdar, Iranian-American soccer player...
Maharajkumar Shri Natwarsinhji Bhavsinhji SahibSahibSahib is an Urdu term which literally translates to "Owner" or "Proprietor". The primary Arabic meaning of Sahib is "associate, companion, comrade, friend" though it also includes "Sahib is an Urdu term which literally translates to "Owner" or "Proprietor". The primary Arabic meaning of Sahib... - 1908-1918: His Highness MaharajaMaharajaMahārāja is a Sanskrit title for a "great king" or "high king". The female equivalent title Maharani denotes either the wife of a Maharaja or, in states where that was customary, a woman ruling in her own right. The widow of a Maharaja is known as a Rajamata...
RanaRana (title)Rana is a Princely title of Royalty in Sanskrit. Rana is used by the Jats and Rajput of South Asia. The name is usually interpreted to mean "Prince".Compound titles Rana Sahib, Rana Bahadur, and Maharana.-Royal title in India:...
Shri Natwarsinhji Bhavsinhji SahibSahibSahib is an Urdu term which literally translates to "Owner" or "Proprietor". The primary Arabic meaning of Sahib is "associate, companion, comrade, friend" though it also includes "Sahib is an Urdu term which literally translates to "Owner" or "Proprietor". The primary Arabic meaning of Sahib...
BahadurBahadurBahadur * Banda Singh Bahadur , a Sikh warrior and martyr* Coote Bahadur was a name given the Irish soldier Sir Eyre Coote by his troops* Bahadoor , a comedic actor in Malayalam-language films...
, Rana SahibSahibSahib is an Urdu term which literally translates to "Owner" or "Proprietor". The primary Arabic meaning of Sahib is "associate, companion, comrade, friend" though it also includes "Sahib is an Urdu term which literally translates to "Owner" or "Proprietor". The primary Arabic meaning of Sahib...
of PorbandarPorbandarPorbandar is a coastal city in the Indian state of Gujarat, perhaps best known for being the birthplace of Mahatma Gandhi and Sudama... - 1918-1929: His Highness Maharaja Rana Shri Natwarsinhji Bhavsinhji SahibSahibSahib is an Urdu term which literally translates to "Owner" or "Proprietor". The primary Arabic meaning of Sahib is "associate, companion, comrade, friend" though it also includes "Sahib is an Urdu term which literally translates to "Owner" or "Proprietor". The primary Arabic meaning of Sahib...
BahadurBahadurBahadur * Banda Singh Bahadur , a Sikh warrior and martyr* Coote Bahadur was a name given the Irish soldier Sir Eyre Coote by his troops* Bahadoor , a comedic actor in Malayalam-language films...
, Maharaja Rana Sahib of Porbandar - 1929-1941: His Highness Maharaja Rana Shri SirSirSir is an honorific used as a title , or as a courtesy title to address a man without using his given or family name in many English speaking cultures...
Natwarsinhji Bhavsinhji Sahib Bahadur, Maharaja Rana Sahib of Porbandar, KCSIOrder of the Star of IndiaThe Most Exalted Order of the Star of India is an order of chivalry founded by Queen Victoria in 1861. The Order includes members of three classes:# Knight Grand Commander # Knight Commander # Companion... - 1941-1945: Captain His Highness Maharaja Rana Shri Sir Natwarsinhji Bhavsinhji Sahib Bahadur, Maharaja Rana Sahib of Porbandar, KCSI
- 1945-1946: MajorMajorMajor is a rank of commissioned officer, with corresponding ranks existing in almost every military in the world.When used unhyphenated, in conjunction with no other indicator of rank, the term refers to the rank just senior to that of an Army captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel. ...
His Highness Maharaja Rana Shri Sir Natwarsinhji Bhavsinhji Sahib Bahadur, Maharaja Rana Sahib of Porbandar, KCSI - 1946-1979: Lieutenant-Colonel His Highness Maharaja Rana Shri Sir Natwarsinhji Bhavsinhji Sahib Bahadur, Maharaja Rana Sahib of Porbandar, KCSI
Honours
- Delhi Durbar Gold Medal-1911
- Knight Commander of the Order of the Star of India (KCSI)-1929
- King George V Silver Jubilee MedalKing George V Silver Jubilee MedalThe King George V Silver Jubilee Medal was a commemorative medal made to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the coronation of King George V.-Issue:...
-1935 - King George VI Coronation MedalKing George VI Coronation MedalThe King George VI Coronation Medal was a commemorative medal made to celebrate the coronation of King George VI.-Issue:For Coronation and Jubilee medals, the practice up until 1977 was that United Kingdom authorities decided on a total number to be produced, then allocated a proportion to each of...
-1937 - Indian Independence MedalIndian Independence MedalThe Indian Independence Medal was instituted by George VI in 1949 as a commemorative medal. It was used to reward British military personnel for their contribution after the independence of the Dominion India in August 1947....
-1947