Shahaji II

Shahaji II (born Vikramsinhrao; 4 April 1910 – 9 May 1983) was Maharaja of Dewas (Senior) from 21 December 1937 until his abdication on 23 March 1947 and Maharaja of Kolhapur from 31 March 1947 until his death in 1983.

Early life, family, and education Shahaji was born on 4 April 1910 as Vikramsinhrao to Tukojirao III, the Maharaja of Dewas (Senior), and his wife, Radha Bai. His mother was the only daughter of Shahu, the Maharaja of Kolhapur. His family and close friends called him Nana Sahib, and as a child his guardians nicknamed him Vikky. He spent his early childhood between Dewas and Kolhapur. He passed the Bachelor of Arts examination of the University of Mumbai in 1932. He married on 30 December 1926 to Pramila Raje, a daughter of Ramrao II Amritrao of Jath. By her, he had a son, Krishnajirao III, and three daughters: Shalini Raje, Vijaya Raje, and Urmila Raje. On 28 June 1962, he adopted Dilipsinh, eldest son of his daughter Shalini Raje and Rajaramsinhrao Bhonsle of Nagpur, as his heir and to succeed him in Kolhapur in due course of time. Upon adoption, Dilipsinh was renamed as Shahu II. However, it was not until 18 March 1938 that his coronation was performed. Due to the outbreak of World War II, these reforms were never introduced until February 1947, when he introduced a new constitution for the state which contemplated an elected assembly of thirty-two members.

Regent of Indore When Yashwant Rao Holkar II had to go to United States in 1942 for medical treatment, he requested him to oversee the administration of Indore in his stead. He undertook a trip on 23 January 1945 to visit the Central Mediterranean Indian Forces, especially Mahratta forces fighting on the Italian Front, and returned on 24 February 1945 after visiting units serving in Iraq and the Middle East.

Reign in Kolhapur When Shivaji V died on 28 September 1946, he laid claim to the throne of Kolhapur which had become vacant. Patel replied to Shahaji on 14 August 1947 and confirmed that his accession would not have any financial liability but declined to issue a public statement in this regard, and instead asked Shahaji to consider his letter as a guarantee of that. But Mountbatten told him he could not promise him that.

Death He died on 9 May 1983 and was succeeded by Shahu II as the Maharaja of Kolhapur. He frequently took part in tiger hunting and had shot over a hundred of them; apart from them, he had also shot a number of other animals. Each is listed below; where two dates are shown, the first indicates the date of receiving the title, and the second indicates the date of its loss or renunciation:

4 April 1910 – 21 December 1937: Yuvaraj Shrimant Vikramsinhrao Tukojirao Maharaj Puar of Dewas (Senior) 21 December 1937 – 23 March 1947: His Highness Kshatriya Kulavatana Sapta Sahasra Senapati Pratinidhi Meherban Shrimant Maharaja Vikramsinhrao Tukojirao Puar, Maharaja of Dewas (Senior) 31 March 1947 – 9 May 1983: His Highness Kshatriya-Kulawatasana Sinhasana-dhishwar Shrimant Rajashri Shahaji II Chhatrapati Maharaj Sahib Bahadur, Maharaja of Kolhapur

Honours For his services to Indore, he was invested with the Order of Ahilya Holkar Sultanat.