Maharajadhiraj Mahārāja (; also spelled Maharajah, Maharaj) is a Sanskrit title for a "great ruler", "great king" or " high king". A few ruled states informally called empires, including ruler raja Sri Gupta, founder of the ancient Indian Gupta Empire, a ...

Mirza

Maharao Maharao is a variation on the Indian (mainly Hinduism, Hindu) royal title Maharaja, also meaning 'great king' in Hindi. It is composed of ''Maha-'' 'great' and the royal title ''Rao'', a variation on Raja. Ruler title in British India Salute state ...

Sir ''Sir'' is a formal honorific address in English for men, derived from Sire in the High Middle Ages. Both are derived from the old French "Sieur" (Lord), brought to England by the French-speaking Normans, and which now exist in French only as ...

Khengarji III Sawai Bahadur (23 August 1866 – 15 January 1942) was a progressive and one of the longest ruling monarchs of a dependent state and also the longest ruling king of the

Princely State of Cutch Cutch, also spelled Kutch or Kachchh and also historically known as the Kingdom of Kutch, was a kingdom in the Kutch region from 1147 to 1819 and a princely state under British rule from 1819 to 1947. Its territories covered the present day K ...

from 1875 to 1942.Kutch

Life

He ascended the throne in 1875 after his father Maharao Shri Pragmalji II died on 19 December 1875. He ascended the throne on 3 January 1876 and reigned under a Council of Regency until he came of age, 11 August 1884 and was invested with full ruling powers on 14 November 1884. In 1892, during his reign Cutch was raised to 17-gun salute. He appointed Shri Seth Ranmalsha Askaran Sisodia of Anjar as Diwan of Cutch state. At the pinnacle of the

Jadeja The Jadeja (also spelled Jarejo) (Gujarati: ) is a Rajput clan that inhabits the Indian state of Gujarat. They claim to be descended from the legendary Jamshed of Iran. They also claim descent from Krishna. They originated from pastoral communit ...

clan of

Rajputs Rajput (from Sanskrit ''raja-putra'' 'son of a king') is a large multi-component cluster of castes, kin bodies, and local groups, sharing social status and ideology of genealogical descent originating from the Indian subcontinent. The term Ra ...

, he advanced his state drastically over the sixty-six years of his reign, modernising it and bringing it forth into the 20th century. During the latter part of

Queen Victoria Victoria (Alexandrina Victoria; 24 May 1819 – 22 January 1901) was Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until her death in 1901. Her reign of 63 years and 216 days was longer than that of any previo ...

's reign, Sir Khengarji came to be appointed as an aide de camp to the Queen-Empress in her declining years, which excited some jealousy amongst the officials of the

Government of India The Government of India (ISO: ; often abbreviated as GoI), known as the Union Government or Central Government but often simply as the Centre, is the national government of the Republic of India, a federal democracy located in South Asia, ...

. He often travelled abroad to Europe and was noted for his personal relations with the members of the ruling houses there. Khengarji III was one of the very few Indian monarchs to attend all three Delhi Durbars – in 1877, 1903 and 1911. He was raised to the hereditary titles of Sawai Bahadur on 2 March 1885 and Maharao on 1 January 1918 by British. In 1919, he was granted a local

salute A salute is usually a formal hand gesture or other action used to display respect in military situations. Salutes are primarily associated with the military and law enforcement, but many civilian organizations, such as Girl Guides, Boy Sco ...

of 19-guns, and represented India at a

League of Nations The League of Nations (french: link=no, Société des Nations ) was the first worldwide intergovernmental organisation whose principal mission was to maintain world peace. It was founded on 10 January 1920 by the Paris Peace Conference that ...

conference in Geneva in 1921 and also attended the

Imperial Conference Imperial Conferences (Colonial Conferences before 1907) were periodic gatherings of government leaders from the self-governing colonies and dominions of the British Empire between 1887 and 1937, before the establishment of regular Meetings of ...

in London 1921. In year 1921, he also held the post of Vice-President of

British Empire League The British Empire League existed from 1895 to 1955; its purpose was to secure permanent unity for the British Empire. Origin The British Empire League was a society founded by Lord Avebury (1834-1913), Lord Roberts (1832-1914) and Lord Strathc ...

. He was granted the Freedom of the Cities of London and Bath in 1921. Sir Khengarji died in 1942, aged 75, and was succeeded by his son

Vijayaraji Maharajadhiraj Mirza Maharao Sri Sir Vijayarajaji Khengarji Sawai Bahadur, GBE (2 September 1885 – 26 February 1948) was the ruling Rao of Cutch from 1942 to his death in 1948.Prag Mahal The Prag Mahal is a 19th-century palace located next to the Aina Mahal in Bhuj, Gujarat, India. History Prag Mahal is named after Rao Pragmalji II, who commissioned it and construction began in 1865.Fergusson Museum, now known as the Kutch Museum, was founded by him in 1877 AD to house the numerous wedding gifts he received. It is the oldest museum in

Gujarat Gujarat (, ) is a state along the western coast of India. Its coastline of about is the longest in the country, most of which lies on the Kathiawar peninsula. Gujarat is the fifth-largest Indian state by area, covering some ; and the ninth ...

. # He was a keen sportsman and naturalist. He was one of the early Indian members of the

Bombay Natural History Society The Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS), founded on 15 September 1883, is one of the largest non-governmental organisations in India engaged in conservation and biodiversity research. It supports many research efforts through grants and publ ...

. and was a fellow of the

Zoological Society of London The Zoological Society of London (ZSL) is a charity devoted to the worldwide conservation of animals and their habitats. It was founded in 1826. Since 1828, it has maintained the London Zoo, and since 1931 Whipsnade Park. History On 29 ...

from 1932. # Promotion of

Cutch State Railway Cutch State Railway (CSR) was an isolated narrow gauge railway in Cutch State, one of the princely states allied to Britain in India. History The railway was financed by the Maharao Khengarji Bawa of Cutch State. The laying of first rails st ...

, a narrow gauge line owned & managed by Princely State of Cutch. The laying of railway tracks between

Tuna Port Tuna Port is a port town in Anjar taluka of Kutch district of Gujarat, India. History Tuna Port was developed during mid-eighteenth century. Fateh Mohammad (1786–1813), a shepherd-turned-king, had further developed the existing facilities ...

and Anjar started in 1900–01. Ostensibly the inaugural train carried the baraat (marriage entourage) of Yuvraj Vijayrajji. First train ran in year 1905. The line was extended to

Bhuj Bhuj () is a Municipality and District Headquarters of Kutch District in the state of Gujarat, India. Etymology According to legend, Kutch was ruled by the Nāga chieftains in the past. Sagai, a queen of Sheshapattana, who was married to Kin ...

from Anjar in 1908 and later to Bhimasar, Bhachau & Kandla.Hughes, Hugh 1994 ''Indian Locomotives Pt. 3, Narrow Gauge 1863–1940''. Continental Railway Circle.Nanji Bapa Ni Nondh-pothi, 1999 Pg. 90 Cutch State Railway Contracts done by Kutch Gurjar Kshatriya or

Mistris of Kutch Kutch Gurjar Kshatriya (also known as Mistri or Mestri) are a minority Hindu and one of the Socially and Educationally Backward communities of Gujarat in India, who claim to be Kshatriyas. They are an artisan community related with Kadia wor ...

: Details : Tuna to Anjar in 1900–01 (lines opened in 1905), Anjar to Bhuj in 1901–02 lines opened in 1908), Bhuj to Bhachau in 1915 (line opened in 1918), Varsamedi to Kandla in 1930 (lines opened in 1932) with names of Mistri Contractors. # Ordered renovation of Suralbhit Jadeshwar Temple near

in 1914. Renovation work done by

Mistri Mistri, or Mistry, is a term for a master-craftsman, foreman or supervisor of manual workers in India. Mistri is being replaced with "supervisor" and other terms, as for example by the Indian Railway who replaced it with supervisor in 2005. The w ...

s of

Madhapar Madhapar is a village located in Kutch district in the state of Gujarat, India. It is one of the richest villages in India in terms of bank deposits. The village has around 7600 households and 2000 crore Indian rupee The Indian rupee ( symb ...

. # Construction of Vijay Vilas Palace for his son &

Yuvraj Yuv(a)raj(a) (Sanskrit: युवराज) is an Indian title for the crown prince, and the heir apparent to the throne of an Indian (notably Hindu) kingdom or (notably in the Mughal Empire or British Raj) princely state. It is usually applied t ...

Vijayaraji Maharajadhiraj Mirza Maharao Sri Sir Vijayarajaji Khengarji Sawai Bahadur, GBE (2 September 1885 – 26 February 1948) was the ruling Rao of Cutch from 1942 to his death in 1948.Mandvi Mandvi is a Beach town with municipality in the Kutch district in the Indian state of Gujarat. It was once a major port of the region and summer retreat for Maharao (king) of the Cutch State. The old city was enclosed in the fort wall and remai ...

in 1920 completed in 1929. # Construction of Cutch Castle near Opera House at

Bombay Mumbai (, ; also known as Bombay — the official name until 1995) is the capital city of the Indian state of Maharashtra and the ''de facto'' financial centre of India. According to the United Nations, as of 2018, Mumbai is the second-m ...

during decade of 1920 at behest & under supervision of

Rai Bahadur Jagmal Raja Chauhan Jagmal Raja Chauhan (1887–1974), better known as Rai Bahadur Jagmal Raja, was a noted railway contractor, industrialist, miner, private banker, aviation pioneer and philanthropist of India. Early life He was born in 1887 in a small village n ...

Nagor Nagor or Nagher is a village in Bhuj Taluka of Kutch at a distance of about 8 km from Bhuj town, the capital of Kachchh District of Gujarat in India. History Nagor is one of the 18 villages founded by the Mistri community of Kutch in late ...

.Kutch Gurjar Kshatriya Community : A brief History & Glory: by Raja Pawan Jethwa. (2007) Calcutta. # Sanctioned the Haji Pir (near Nara) Dargah complex in the Rann. # Introduced Kutch into the electricity, automobile and aviation era, but preferred to keep his personal apartment at the Pragmahal Palace non-electrified. # In 1930, he personally identified & selected the location for new port of

Kandla Kandla, now officially Deendayal Port Authority, is a seaport and town in Kutch district of Gujarat state in Western India, near the city of Gandhidham. Located on the Gulf of Kutch, it is one of India's major ports on the west coast. It is ab ...

. The

lines were extended from Anjar to Kandla. # Opening up of various state funded Schools & educational institutions, like Sanskrit Pathshala, Alfred High School, Library in Princely State of Kutch. # Built public Hospitals at Bhuj and Mandvi. # Commissioned in 1940 Darya Mahal, his monumental residence at Napsean Sea Road in Mumbai. #Construction of Khengar Sagar dam at Chhasra over River Bhukhi in 1937 # Throughout 66 years of his reign kept inflation in tight check. # Interacted with Indian stalwarts, Swami Vivekanand, Mahatma Gandhi, Dadabhai Naoroji. # Rare occurrence – saw five generation of Maharaos from Pragmalji II to Pragmalji III. # Acknowledged as one of the finest rifle shots of his times. He purchased a 500/465 double rifle number 30379 from Holland and Holland in London in 1926. The rifle is now owned by William Battershill. # Keen judge of horses.

Monuments

# Much after independence Khengar Park was established in

perpetuating his memory. #Present Maharao

Pragmulji III Maharao Pragmulji III of Kutch (3 May 1936 – 28 May 2021) was the ruler of Kutch from Jadeja dynasty. Biography He did his primary education from Mayo College, Ajmer and Doon School, Dehradoon and later graduated from The Hindu College, Delhi ...

was instrumental to put up his bust at the main office Port Trust of New Kandla,

, a port founded by him in 1930. #A square has been named after him as Maharao Khengarji Chowk on Anjar –

Adipur Adipur is a town in Gandhidham Municipal Corporation of Kutch District in the state of Gujarat, India. The town is situated approximately from Gandhidham. History Adipur was initially founded as a refugee camp after the partition of Indi ...

Road, where his bust is also placed. #Khengar Sagar Dam near Mundra is named after him. Maharao Khengarji III

Titles

*1866–1875:

Maharajkumar Mahārāja (; also spelled Maharajah, Maharaj) is a Sanskrit title for a "great ruler", "great king" or " high king". A few ruled states informally called empires, including ruler raja Sri Gupta, founder of the ancient Indian Gupta Empire, an ...

Shri Shri (; , ) is a Sanskrit term denoting resplendence, wealth and prosperity, primarily used as an honorific. The word is widely used in South and Southeast Asian languages such as Marathi, Malay (including Indonesian and Malaysian), Javane ...

Khengarji Pragmulji,

Sahib Sahib or Saheb (; ) is an Arabic title meaning 'companion'. It was historically used for the first caliph Abu Bakr in the Quran. The title is still applied to the caliph by Sunni Muslims. As a loanword, ''Sahib'' has passed into several lang ...

of Kutch *1875–1877:

His Highness Highness (abbreviation HH, oral address Your Highness) is a formal style used to address (in second person) or refer to (in third person) certain members of a reigning or formerly reigning dynasty. It is typically used with a possessive adject ...

Mirza Rao Shri Khengarji III

Bahadur, Rao of Kutch *1877–1885: His Highness Maharajadhiraj Mirza Rao Shri Khengarji III

Bahadur, Rao of Kutch *1885–1887: His Highness Maharajadhiraj Mirza Rao Shri Khengarji III Sawai Bahadur, Rao of Kutch *1887–1917: His Highness Maharajadhiraj Mirza Rao Shri Sir Khengarji III Sawai Bahadur, Rao of Kutch,

GCIE The Most Eminent Order of the Indian Empire is an order of chivalry founded by Queen Victoria on 1 January 1878. The Order includes members of three classes: #Knight Grand Commander ( GCIE) #Knight Commander ( KCIE) #Companion ( CIE) No app ...

*1917–1918: His Highness Maharajadhiraj Mirza Rao Shri Sir Khengarji III Sawai Bahadur, Rao of Kutch,

GCSI 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 (:Knights Grand Commander of the Order of the Star of India, GCSI) # ...

, GCIE *1918–1929: His Highness Maharajadhiraj Mirza

Shri Sir Khengarji III Sawai Bahadur,

of Kutch, GCSI, GCIE *1929–1942:

Colonel Colonel (abbreviated as Col., Col or COL) is a senior military officer rank used in many countries. It is also used in some police forces and paramilitary organizations. In the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries, a colonel was typically in charge o ...

His Highness Maharajadhiraj Mirza Maharao Shri Sir Khengarji III Sawai Bahadur, Maharao of Kutch, GCSI, GCIE

Honours

Empress of India Medal The Empress of India Medal, also referred to as KIH Medal, was a commemorative medal awarded to mark the occasion of the proclamation of Queen Victoria as Empress of India in 1877. It was the first wearable medal issued to mark a commemorative o ...

Gold-1877 *

Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire The Most Eminent Order of the Indian Empire is an order of chivalry founded by Queen Victoria on 1 January 1878. The Order includes members of three classes: #Knight Grand Commander (GCIE) #Knight Commander ( KCIE) #Companion ( CIE) No appoi ...

(GCIE)-1887 *

Queen Victoria Golden Jubilee Medal The Golden Jubilee Medal was instituted in 1887 by Royal Warrant as a British decoration to be awarded to participants of Queen Victoria's golden jubilee celebrations. Issue The medal was struck to celebrate Queen Victoria's golden jubilee, the ...

-1887 *

Queen Victoria Diamond Jubilee Medal The Diamond Jubilee Medal was instituted in 1897 by Royal Warrant as a British decoration. The medal was awarded to members of the Royal Family and the court, guests and dignitaries present at the celebrations of Queen Victoria's diamond jubilee ...

Clasp-1897 * Delhi Durbar Gold Medal-1903 *

King George V Coronation Medal The King George V Coronation Medal was a commemorative medal instituted in 1911 to celebrate the coronation of King George V, that took place on 22 June 1911. Award It was the first British Royal commemorative medal to be awarded to people who w ...

* Delhi Durbar Gold Medal & Clasp – 1911 *

Knight Grand Commander of the 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 (GCSI) # Knight Commander ( KCSI) # Companion ( CSI) No appointmen ...

(GCSI)-1917 *Freedom of the Cities of London and Bath-1921 * King George V Silver Jubilee Medal-1935 *

King George VI Coronation Medal The King George VI Coronation Medal was a commemorative medal, instituted to celebrate the coronation of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth. Issue This medal was awarded as a personal souvenir of King George VI's coronation. It was awarded to t ...

-1937

Political Office

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Khengarji 03 Of Kutch Knights Grand Commander of the Order of the Star of India Knights Grand Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire Recipients of the Kaisar-i-Hind Medal 1866 births 1942 deaths Maharajas of Kutch Hindu monarchs Founders of Indian schools and colleges Indian royalty Indian knights Members of the Bombay Natural History Society