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 Price Indrajitsinh Jadeja, and any appointments aside from that will be “illegal” 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 will be “head of their family”.
At a ceremony organised in Sharad Baug Palace on Sunday, Dharamsinh Matang, chief of the Matang neighborhood, 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 top 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 stated the “tilakvidhi” was organised to anoint 77-year-old Hanvantsinhji because the “head of the royal family 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 dying 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 have 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.
However, Hanvantsinh clarified that he was not claiming any royal title. “I am not claiming any title… In 1970s, my father was still alive and was (since) known as maji (former) Maharo. So, at best, you can call Pragmalji maji Yurvaj. You definitely can’t call him Maharao. I am a common person… just the head of the family. I am son of Madansinhji but in a democracy, I personally feel that (assuming royal titles) is not the right thing to do,” Hanvantsinhji instructed The Indian Express after the ceremony. Gujarati time period maji means former.
Hanvantsinh, fourth of 5 kids of Maharoa Madansinhji and the youngest amongst three brothers, attended faculty in England when his father Maharao Madansinhji was serving because the Second Minister within the Indian High Commission there. He studied historical past, political science, philosophy and English literature at Kirorimal College of Delhi University.
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 May 28, had no kids and is survived by his spouse, Maharani Priti Devi.
“The late Maharao Pragmalji III, in exercise of his powers, had ordered, and through his will, appointed (1) Kunvar Indrajitsinh Jadeja (2) Krutarthsinh Jadeja, the Devpar Thakor and (3) Mayurdhwajsinh Jadeja, the Tera Thakor, as his heirs. Therefore, I bring it to the notice of public of Kutch and the Jadeja family that we are bound to act accordingly and any appointments or decisions besides these will be illegal in the context of the royal family,” a press release from Priti Devi learn.
Indrajitsinh Jadeja, who shouldn’t be shut blood relative of the royal household, nonetheless, contested that Hanvantsinh was not the top of the royal household. “He is not the head of the royal family. The head of the royal family is Priti Devi, the Maharani of Kutch. As per family tradition, other than crown price become bhayats (chief of principalities)… This vidhi is not valid…,” stated Indrajitsinh.