Nand Kunverbaiji

Nand Kunverba (1867 – 9 March 1936) was the Maharani of Gondal from 1881 until her death in 1936 through her marriage to Bhagvatsinhji.

Biography She was born in 1867 to Nanrandevji. She was one of the Bhagvatsinhji's four wives.

She became the first wife of an Indian ruling chief and the first Rajput lady to set aside caste prejudices and cross the Kala Pani when she joined her husband on a world tour in 1889–90. The purpose of this trip was her serious illness, which led the doctors to advise her to go to England for a change, so her husband, Bhagvatsinhji, took her there for her health.

In recognition of her efforts to uplift the women of India, Queen Victoria personally invested her with the Imperial Order of the Crown of India in 1892, making her the first recipient in Kathiawar and one of the few women in India to receive this honor at that time.

They returned to India in 1893, visiting the United States, Japan, China, Australia, and Sri Lanka on their way.

Family

Marriage She married Bhagvatsinhji on 4 June 1882 when he also took three other wives.

Children On 8 January 1883, she gave birth to Bhojirajji, who was declared the heir to the throne of Gondal.

Death She died in Mumbai on 9 March 1936. After her death, a memorial was planned to be established in Mumbai. It was to include a shrine at the Banganga Tank and a fund for the cremation of the poor. The suggestion to create the memorial was made to Bhagvatsinhji by M. M. Pakvasa.

Honours