George Jivajirao Scindia

George Jivajirao Scindia

George Jivajirao Scindia was the last ruling Maharaja of the princely state of Gwalior. He succeeded his father Madho Rao Scindia on 5th June 1925.

Maharaja George Jivajirao Scindia was the last ruling Maharaja of the princely state of Gwalior in central India. Later he was appointed as the Rajpramukh of the former state of Madhya Bharat, after India attained independence. Jivajirao was a progeny of the Scindia family, which descended from the Maratha general Ranojirao Scindia. Ranojirao was led the Maratha forces in Malwa during the first half of the 18th century, as the Maratha Empire was growing quickly at the cost of the Mughal Empire. On 5th June 1925, Jivajirao succeeded his father Madho Rao Scindia after his death and ascended the throne to become the Maharaja of Gwalior state. George Jivajirao Scindia reigned over the state as supreme ruler and a British vassal until briefly after the independence of India in the year 1947. Gwalior was the largest state in the Central India Agency, and was one the 5 largest princely states of India. The monarchs of the princely states of India were needed to accede the state to the newly formed Union of India or the Dominion of Pakistan, formed by the Indian Independence Act 1947.

Maharaja Jivajirao Scindia signed an agreement with the rulers of the neighbouring princely states that by merging the various states in the region, they form a new state within the Union of India called the state of Madhya Bharat. The covenanted state was to be administered and managed by a council that would be led by a ruler, to be identified as the Rajpramukh. The Madhya Bharat state signed a fresh Instrument of Accession with the Government of India on 15th June, 1948. George Jivajirao Scindia was appointed as the first Rajpramukh (appointed governor) of the new state on 28th May 1948. Until 31st October 1956, he served as the Rajpramukh, as afterwards the state of Madhya Bharat was merged with the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh.

Personal Life of George Jivajirao Scindia
Maharaja George Jivajirao Scindia was married to Lekha Divyeshwari Devi, also known as Vijayraje Scindia on 21st February 1941. She was the descendant of the Rana family of Nepal. The royal couple had 5 children, one son and 4 daughters, namely Madhavrao Scindia, Padma Raje, Usha Raje, Vasundhara Raje and Yashodhara Raje.

Maharaja Jivajirao Scindia died in the year 1961 and afterwards his family remained involved in politics. In the year 1962, Rajmata Vijayraje Scindia was elected to the Lok Sabha. Initially, she was a member of the Indian National Congress and later became an important member of the Bharatiya Janata Party. In the year 1971, Madhavrao Scindia, the son of Jivajirao, was elected to the Lok Sabha and represented the Congress Party. He served until his death in 2001. Jyotiraditya Scindia, his son, was also elected as a member of the Congress Party in 2002. Vasundhara Raje Scindia is also an influential politician related with the Bharatiya Janata Party. She was a member of the Lok Sabha for 4 consecutive terms and was the first woman Chief Minister of the state of Rajasthan.

Titles of George Jivajirao Scindia
The full name and title of George Jivajirao Scindia was Lieutenant General His Highness Ali Jah, Umdat ul-Umara, Hisam us-Sultanat, Mukhtar ul Mulk, Azim ul Iqtidar, Rafi us-Shan Wala Shikoh, Muhtasham-i-Dauran, Maharajadhiraj Maharaja Shrimant George Jivaji Rao Scindia Bahadur, Shrinath, Mansur-i-Zaman, Fidvi-i-Hazrat i-Malika i-Muazzama i-Rafi ud-Darja i-Inglistan, Maharaja Scindia of Gwalior, GCSI, GCIE.

During his reign over the princely state of Gwalior, he acquired several titles and styles which are discussed as follows-

* Yuvaraja Maharaj Shrimant George Jivaji Rao Scindia Bahadur (1916- 1925)
* His Highness Ali Jah, Umdat ul-Umara, Hisam us-Sultanat, Mukhtar ul-Mulk, Azim ul-Iqtidar, Rafi-us-Shan Wala Shikoh, Muhtasham-i-Dauran, Maharajadhiraj Maharaja Shrimant George Jivaji Rao Scindia Bahadur, Shrinath, Mansur-i-Zaman, Fidvi-i-Hazrat i-Malika i-Muazzama i-Rafi ud-Darja i-Inglistan, Maharaja Scindia of Gwalior (1925- 1937)
* His Highness Ali Jah, Umdat ul-Umara, Hisam us-Sultanat, Mukhtar ul-Mulk, Azim ul-Iqtidar, Rafi-us-Shan Wala Shikoh, Muhtasham-i-Dauran, Maharajadhiraj Maharaja Shrimant George Jivaji Rao Scindia Bahadur, Shrinath, Mansur-i-Zaman, Fidvi-i-Hazrat i-Malika i-Muazzama i-Rafi ud-Darja i-Inglistan, Maharaja Scindia of Gwalior, KStJ (1937- 1941)
* Captain His Highness Ali Jah, Umdat ul-Umara, Hisam us-Sultanat, Mukhtar ul-Mulk, Azim ul-Iqtidar, Rafi-us-Shan Wala Shikoh, Muhtasham-i-Dauran, Maharajadhiraj Maharaja Shrimant Sir George Jivaji Rao Scindia Bahadur, Shrinath, Mansur-i-Zaman, Fidvi-i-Hazrat i-Malika i-Muazzama i-Rafi ud-Darja i-Inglistan, Maharaja Scindia of Gwalior, GCIE, KStJ (1941- 1943)
* Major His Highness Ali Jah, Umdat ul-Umara, Hisam us-Sultanat, Mukhtar ul-Mulk, Azim ul-Iqtidar, Rafi-us-Shan Wala Shikoh, Muhtasham-i-Dauran, Maharajadhiraj Maharaja Shrimant Sir George Jivaji Rao Scindia Bahadur, Shrinath, Mansur-i-Zaman, Fidvi-i-Hazrat i-Malika i-Muazzama i-Rafi ud-Darja i-Inglistan, Maharaja Scindia of Gwalior, GCIE, KStJ (1943- 1945)
* Major-General His Highness Ali Jah, Umdat ul-Umara, Hisam us-Sultanat, Mukhtar ul-Mulk, Azim ul-Iqtidar, Rafi-us-Shan Wala Shikoh, Muhtasham-i-Dauran, Maharajadhiraj Maharaja Shrimant Sir George Jivaji Rao Scindia Bahadur, Shrinath, Mansur-i-Zaman, Fidvi-i-Hazrat i-Malika i-Muazzama i-Rafi ud-Darja i-Inglistan, Maharaja Scindia of Gwalior, GCIE, KStJ (1945- 1946)
* Lieutenant-General His Highness Ali Jah, Umdat ul-Umara, Hisam us-Sultanat, Mukhtar ul-Mulk, Azim ul-Iqtidar, Rafi-us-Shan Wala Shikoh, Muhtasham-i-Dauran, Maharajadhiraj Maharaja Shrimant Sir George Jivaji Rao Scindia Bahadur, Shrinath, Mansur-i-Zaman, Fidvi-i-Hazrat i-Malika i-Muazzama i-Rafi ud-Darja i-Inglistan, Maharaja Scindia of Gwalior, GCSI, GCIE, KStJ (1946- 1961)

Honours of George Jivajirao Scindia
Maharaja George Jivajirao Scindia of Gwalior state received several honours through out his rule, which are mentioned below-
* King George V Silver Jubilee Medal (1935)
* King George VI Coronation Medal (1937)
* Knight of the Order of St John- KStJ (1937)
* Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire- GCIE (1941)
* 1939-1945 Star (1945)
* British War Medal (1945)
* India Service Medal (1945)
* Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Star of India- GCSI (1946)
* Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal (1953)

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