Maharani Jamnabai Khanderao Gaekwar

January 22^nd, 1884, Baroda

 

A telegram was sent by Maharani of Baroda Jamnabai Gaekwar to the British Agent for Governor General of Baroda stating that her adoptive son, the then Maharaja of Baroda Sayajirao Gaekwar III, have issued an order that an acquaintance of the Maharani, Bala Saheb Ghatge, who is from Poona should leave the boundaries of Baroda princely state, with immediate effect. That Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwar should not interfere with her private matters or people near to her.

Maharani Jamnabai Gaekwar

 

The paramount power became confused after receiving the telegram, to reply or not to reply to the Maharani. Then it was decided that a detailed study about the grievances of the former regent Maharani needs to be addressed once and for all as the Jamnabai in the past had displayed immensely strong character which helped to save Baroda from the brink of destruction and obscurity. Her past strength and participation let the British accept and look after her communications.

 

Maharaja of Baroda Khanderao Gaekwar with his wife Maharani Jamnabai.

FLASHBACK

 

Maharani Jamnabai Gaekwar, daughter of a well off noble named Shrimant Madhavrao Babujirao Mane was born in Rahamatpur, near Satara in 1853. She was married to Maharaja of Baroda Khanderao Gaekwar, as his 2^nd wife, or it was also said that she was the 3^rd wife, though there is no concrete evidence to support this argument, at the age of 13 years. When Maharaja Khanderao died suddenly in 1870, it was found out that Jamnabai was pregnant with the posthumous child of the Maharaja. Unfortunately, it was found out that Khanderao didn’t left any legitimate heir who will continue his name on the Gaekwari throne.

Maharaja Malharrao Gaekwar

 

Now post death of Khanderao, it was decided by the British Govt that the half brother of Maharaja Khanderao, another son of his father Maharaja Sayajirao II, Malharrao should be made the ruler of Baroda, but his ascend to the throne will not be fully confirmed until the posthumous child of Khanderao is born, to see if it was a boy or girl. Though Malharrao ascended the throne, Maharani Jamnabai who was 17years of age, never trusted her brother in law or his counsellors and the over all ambiance in the palace. She used to eat food cooked in front of her, and took a very rare risk as a pardanasheen  Hindu royal widow, by leaving the palace, taking refuge in the home of the British Resident of Baroda during the last days of her pregnancy to give birth to the Gaekwar scion, for which, the British Govt did provided her extra security. But unfortunately, the baby born turned out to be a girl, in May 1871, which secured the position of Malharrao as the Maharaja of Baroda. The British Govt also accepted and provided full powers to Malharrao as the Maharaja of Baroda. Meanwhile, Jamnabai took refuge in her paternal home near Satara with her daughter Tarabai.

Princess Tarabai, daughter of Maharaja Khanderao and Maharani Jamnabai

 

But the 5 years of Malharrao’s reign was full of oppression and tyranny. Malharrao emptied almost the entire Baroda treasury, out of which, 4/5^th of the wealth he spent behind his confidants and counsellors who were of weak and equally notorious like the Maharaja. The news of Malharrao’s oppression and torture of his subjects reached the British Govt who sent him a warning and a timeline, by which he was told to control and make amendments in his misconduct. A new English Resident, Col. Robert Phayre was sent to look after the administration and behaviour of Malharrao. But Malharrao did the most unimaginable thing, he hatched a conspiracy to poison Col Phayre by mixing diamond dust and arsenic in his sherbet. It was just at the nick of time, that Col Phayre’s life got saved.  Though there was substantial evidence to prove that Malharrao was the main culprit, but due to disagreements by his Indian legal counsels with the British, the matter got dismissed and the investigation, came to a halting. But it was decided by the British Govt, that Maharaja Malharrao should be deposed off. He was deported off to Bombay Presidency with his 2 wives and his illegitimate son. Now the Gaekwari throne became empty.

Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwar at the age of 12 years.

 

Seeing the volatile political situation, it was decided by the British Govt, that the post of Resident will be replaced with the post of Agent to the Governor General of Baroda. The widow of Maharaja Khanderao Gaekwar will be called back and she will be given the power to adopt the heir of Khanderao.  This decision brought back Maharani Jamnabai to the scene of action in Baroda once again, now with her daughter. It was decided that the procedure of choosing the new Maharaja will be searched from the rest of the Gaekwari family tree for which searching started immediately. A 12 year boy from a morganatic branch of the family, residing in far off Kavlane in Maharashtra was selected by Maharani Jamnabai, seeing his smartness, as the new Maharaja of Baroda. This kid, named Gopalrao Kashinathrao Gaekwar was adopted by Jamnabai and rechristened as Sayajirao III and Maharani acted as his regent for 6 long years.

 

Maharani Jamnabai with adoptive son Maharaja Sayajirao and daughter Princess Tarabai.

 

MOTHER SON BONDING

 

From 1875 to 1881, Maharani Jamnabai Gaekwar acted as a Maharani Regent and also completed all the responsibilities of a mother who looked after the well being of her son. She always cooperated with the Indian and English tutors of Sayajirao and never interfered in his education. She also travelled with him to Delhi Durbar of 1877 and also married him off at the age of 17 years, thus completing all the duties that a biological mother would.

 

In 1881, the investiture of Sayajirao III with the full powers of government took place. At the same time, regency of Maharani Jamnabai Gaekwar also got over and her temporary role as the head of the Gaekwari royal family also ended. Though she retained and was given all the materialistic comfort and dignity that she enjoyed as the Regent Maharani, but her political powers had become zero. Still she was strong and influential enough to create a centre of intrigue.

 

 

As Sayajirao had already got married, with his new domestic life, and along with the full duties as the undisputed Maharaja of Baroda, he got busy with his both domestic and as an administrator of a kingdom which was financially going through tough times. His concentration was now fully on the upliftment of his subjects and his kingdom, beside his new domestic life. This created a communication gap with his adoptive mother, Maharani Jamnabai Gaekwar, who was now staying at Sarkarwada. This gap, being with each passing day got wider and wider, which the Agent to the Governor General of Baroda reported to the British Govt.

 

By 1884, the life of Maharani Jamnabai was more isolated, given her only child, Princess Tarabai was already married to Raja of Sawantwadi in the coastal Konkan. Jamnabai was given company by group of people, some of whom came from her parental home near Poona, like Bala Saheb Ghatge, who was a famous intriguer from Poona, another Aghori Nath Chattopadhyay who was thrown out of Nizam’s territory for creating mischief and it was he who drafted the letters on behalf of Maharani to Viceroy and Governor General of Baroda. Jamnabai also wished to appoint Aghori Nath as her agent who will speak up for her to Governor General of Baroda and the Viceroy. Aghori Nath drafted a memorandum where all the points on grievances were noted down. From 1883 to 1884, a series of correspondence were transmitted between Jamnabai and the British Govt which reflects the internal equation between Sayajirao and Jamnabai and the coldness of their feelings.

 

The main grievances of Jamnabai was that –

 

-      She must be allowed to counsel her son Sayajirao in matters related to the future of the Baroda state administration, which the British Govt rejected as they found it to be an unwanted interference as Gaekwar was doing quite well as the ruler which was a sensitive job.

 

 

-      She wanted either a big independent estate or Rs 12 lakhs per year though she was getting Rs 50000 per year which she was allowed to keep all to herself, despite the state bearing her expenses of food, clothing, religious functions, occasions, merriment et al. Sayajirao had already allotted Rs 32000 to construct a new house for her. Still British Govt found her complain to be silly enough but also knew though she had influence, her full independent control over her estate will invite intrigue and debt.

 

 

 Contd in Part II