Days after Pragmalji III, the titular head of erstwhile princely state of Kutch succumbed to post-Covid issues, his youthful brother Hanvantsinhji Jadeja was formally anointed because the ceremonial head of the royal household at a ceremony in Bhuj on Sunday.
The ceremony comes a day after Maharani Priti Devi, the widow of Pragmalji III, asserted that Pragmalji III had appointed his authorized heirs, inlcuding Worth Indrajitsinh Jadeja, and any appointments apart from that might be “unlawful” within the context of the royal household.
Indrajitsinh Jadeja, one of many three heirs appointed by Pragmalji III, as per Priti Devi’s assertion, insisted that Priti Devi turns into head of the royal household and that others could be “head of their household”.
At a ceremony organised in Sharad Baug Palace on Sunday, Dharamsinh Matang, chief of the Matang group, inflicted a wound on himself with a sword and utilized a tilak along with his blood on Hanvantsinhji’s brow, as per custom.
Yogendrasinh Rajabava, the pinnacle priest of Mata na Madh, the shrine of goddess Ashapura in Dayapar of Kutch, positioned the ceremonial paghdi (headgear) on Hanvantsinhji’s head whereas Krupal Maharaj, an area Brahmin, carried out pooja.
A launch from the Sharad Baug Palace mentioned the “tilakvidhi” was organised to anoint 77-year-old Hanvantsinhji because the “head of the royal household of Kutch”.
The rulers of Jadeja dynasty of Kutch, was known as Maharao. Madansinhji, the 18th ruler of the dynasty, which has a 1000-year historical past, was the final Maharoa of Kutch, de jure and de facto, earlier than the princely state of Kutch acceded to the Union of India in 1948. On Madansinhji’s loss of life in 1991, his eldest son Prithvirajji assumed the title of Maharao and he was rechristened as Maharoa Pragmalji III.
Since titles, privy purses and different privileges of royal households of erstwhile princely states of the nation had been abolished by the Central authorities in 1971, royal households of erstwhile princely states in present-day Gujarat have been organising “tilakvidhis” to formally appoint a brand new household head. Mandhatasinh Jadeja of the Rajkot royal household had assumed the title of Thakor Saheb after his tilakvidhi in January 2020.
Nonetheless, Hanvantsinh clarified that he was not claiming any royal title. “I’m not claiming any title… In 1970s, my father was nonetheless alive and was (since) often known as maji (former) Maharo. So, at finest, you’ll be able to name Pragmalji maji Yurvaj. You positively can’t name him Maharao. I’m a typical individual… simply the pinnacle of the household. I’m son of Madansinhji however in a democracy, I personally really feel that (assuming royal titles) will not be the fitting factor to do,” Hanvantsinhji advised The Indian Categorical after the ceremony. Gujarati time period maji means former.
Hanvantsinh, fourth of 5 kids of Maharoa Madansinhji and the youngest amongst three brothers, attended college in England when his father Maharao Madansinhji was serving because the Second Minister within the Indian Excessive Fee there. He studied historical past, political science, philosophy and English literature at Kirorimal Faculty of Delhi College.
Hanvantsinh lives in Bhuj in addition to in Mumbai whereas Brijrajkumari, the youngest little one of Madansinji, is married into the royal household of erstwhile princely state of Sitamau in Madhya Pradesh. Pragmalji III, who died on Might 28, had no kids and is survived by his spouse, Maharani Priti Devi.
“The late Maharao Pragmalji III, in train of his powers, had ordered, and thru his will, appointed (1) Kunvar Indrajitsinh Jadeja (2) Krutarthsinh Jadeja, the Devpar Thakor and (3) Mayurdhwajsinh Jadeja, the Tera Thakor, as his heirs. Due to this fact, I carry it to the discover of public of Kutch and the Jadeja household that we’re certain to behave accordingly and any appointments or selections apart from these shall be unlawful within the context of the royal household,” an announcement from Priti Devi learn.
Indrajitsinh Jadeja, who will not be shut blood relative of the royal household, nevertheless, contested that Hanvantsinh was not the pinnacle of the royal household. “He isn’t the pinnacle of the royal household. The top of the royal household is Priti Devi, the Maharani of Kutch. As per household custom, apart from crown worth turn into bhayats (chief of principalities)… This vidhi will not be legitimate…,” mentioned Indrajitsinh.