WANKANER
The Jhala Dynasty
BRIEF HISTORY
1842 - 1881 H.H.
Maharana Raj Shri Banesinhji Jaswantsinhji Sahib,
Maharana Raj Sahib of Wankaner. b. at Wankaner,
1842, son of Kumar Shri Jaswantsinhji Vakhatsinhji Sahib,
educ. privately. Succeeded on the death of his
paternal grandfather, 1842. Reigned under a Council of
Regency, until he came of age and was invested with full
ruling powers, 1861. A progressive and modern ruler who
introduced the first reforms and innovations in
administrations, revenue collection, justice, public
works and police matters. Unfortunately, much of his
reign was spent in battling against the twin scourges of
drought and famine. Rcvd: Prince of Wales's
(1875), and KIH (1877) gold medals. m. (first)
H.H. Motisarwala Maharani BaShri Majirajba Sahiba, a lady
from Motisar. m. (second) H.H. Paramariji Maharani
BaShri Jethiba Sahiba, daughter of Thakore Shri
Vakhatsinhji Ramabhai Sahib, Thakore Sahib of Muli. m.
(third) H.H. Bada Jadeji Maharani Shri Sundarba Sahiba,
daughter of H.H. Thakore Shri Jaisinhji II Bupatsinhji
Sahib, Thakore Sahib of Dhrol. m. (fourth) H.H.
Gavradadwalan Maharani Shri Bajirajba Sahiba (d.
at the Zenana Palace, Wankaner, 26th June
1924), daughter of Thakore Shri Meruji Modji Sahib,
Thakore Sahib of Gavridad. m. (fifth) H.H. Lal
Jadeji Maharani Bama Shri Jamba Kunverba Sahiba [Raja
Matushri], daughter of Thakore Shri Vibhaji Pratapsinhji
Jadeja, of Sajjanpur, in Morvi. m. (sixth) H.H.
Maharani BaShri Motiba Sahiba. He d. at the
Darbargadh Palace, Wankaner, 12th June 1881,
having had issue, one son and two daughters: - 1) Kumar Shri Amarsinhji Banesinhji Sahib [Gagubha], who succeeded as H.H. Maharana Raj Shri Sir Amarsinhji Sahib, Maharana Raj Sahib of Wankaner (s/o Jamba Kunverba) - see below.
- 1) Kunveri Bai Shri Naniba Kunverba Sahiba [Yuvrani Shri Naniba Kunverba Sahiba, Yuvrani Sahib of Gondal] (d/o Jethiba). m. as his first wife, Kumar Shri Prithirajsinhji [Pathubha] Sagramji Sahib, Yuvraj Sahib of Gondal (b. at the Naulakha Palace, Gondal, 1840; d.v.p.s.p. at Gondal, 1861), eldest son of H.H. Thakore Shri Sagramji II Bhakabhai Sahib, Thakore Sahib of Gondal, by his first wife, H.H. Thakorani Bai Shri Ramba Sahiba, daughter of Harisinhji Jhala of Gundiyadi. She d.s.p. at Gondal, September 1889 - see India (Gondal).
- 2) Kunveri Bai Shri Phool Kunverba Sahiba [H.H. Maharani Shri Phool Kunverba Sahiba, Rani Sahib of Rajpipla] (d/o Jethiba). m. as his first wife, H.H. Maharana Shri Sir Chhatrasinhji Gambhirsinhji Sahib, Raja of Rajpipla, KCIE (b. at Nandod, 18th December 1862; d. at Poona, 26th September 1915), eldest son of H.H. Maharana Shri Gambhirsinhji Verisalji Sahib, Raja of Rajpipla. She d. Chattra Niwas Palace, Nandod, 20th November 1920, having had issue - see India (Rajpipla).
1881 - 1954 Captain
H.H. Maharana Raj Shri Sir Amarsinhji Sahib, Maharana Raj
Sahib of Wankaner, KCSI (1.1.1936), KCIE (12.12.1911). b.
at Wankaner, 4th January 1879, only son of
H.H. Maharana Raj Shri Banesinhji Jaswantsinhji Sahib,
Maharana Raj Sahib of Wankaner, by his second wife, H.H.
Jadeji Rani Shri Jamba Kunverba Sahiba, educ.
Rajkumar Coll., Rajkot. Succeeded on the death of his
father, 12th June 1881. Reigned under a
Council of Administration under the supervision of the
British Agent. He came of age and was invested with full
ruling powers, 18th March 1899. Served during
the Great War with the Kathiawar Motor Ambulance Corps
1915-1916, prom. temp. Hon. Capt. on special service
9/1/1916, Hon. Capt. IA 1/1/1918. Granted a personal
salute of 11-guns together with the hereditary style of His
Highness, in recognition of war services 1st
January 1921 (made permanent 17th September
1931). Acceded to the Dominion of India, 15th August
1947. Entered into a covenant with his fellow rulers by
which he merged his state into the United State of
Kathiawad (Saurashtra), 15th February 1948. A
well-educated and progressive ruler, he took a great
interest in improving the welfare of his subjects. He
established the first Farmers Co-operative Bank in
Saurashtra to provide finance to farmers, promoted
agriculture, the dairy and textile industries. He also
introduced village self-government schemes, the first
pensions for state employees, reformed the public
services and a strong and effective police force. A
gifted sportsmen, he excelled in badminton, cricket and
marksmanship. He also took a keen interest in motoring,
aircraft and architecture, building a several lovely
palaces and public buildings in Wankaner and in Bombay.
He celebrated his Golden Jubilee on 31st May
1931. Rcvd: Delhi Durbar gold medals (1903 &
1911), 1914/15 Star, British War and Allied Victory
medals (1918), Silver Jubilee (1935), Coron. (1937), and
Indian Independence (1947) medals. m. (first) at
Shahpura, 1896, Shahpurawala Maharani Shri Gulab Kunverba
Sahiba (d. at the Zenana Palace, Wankaner, October
1904), eldest daughter of Svasti Shri Rajadhiraja Sir
Nahar Singhji Sahib Bahadur, Raja of Shahpura, KCIE. m.
(second) Rajkotewala Maharani Shri Devkunverba Sahiba (d.
at the Zenana Palace, Wankaner, 1903), eldest daughter of
H.H. Thakore Shri Bawajiraj Mehrmansinhji Sahib, Thakore
Sahib of Rajkot. m. (third) H.H. Mandawala
Maharani Shri Padmaraj Kunverba Sahiba (d. at the
Zenana Palace, Wankaner, 6th February 1910), a
lady from Mandwa (or Mandawa). m. (fourth) H.H.
Valawala Maharani Shri Phul Kunverba Sahiba (d.
aged 103), eldest daughter of Thakore Shri Vakhatsinhji
Meghrajji Sahib, Thakore Sahib of Vala. He d. at
Ranjit Vilas Palace, Wankaner, 28th June 1954,
having had issue, four sons and four daughters:- 1) Maharajkumar Shri Pratapsinhji Amarsinhji Sahib, Yuvraj Sahib of Wankaner, who succeeded as H.H. Maharana Raj Shri Pratapsinhji Sahib, Maharana Raj Sahib of Wankaner (s/o Devkunverba) - see below.
- 2) A s/o Phul Kunverba. b. at the Zenana Palace, Wankaner, 7th June and d. 18th June 1912.
- 3)
Maharajkumar Shri Chandrabhanusinhji Amarsinhji
Jhala, of Panchasia. b. at the Zenana
Palace, Wankaner, 30th May 1913 (s/o
Phul Kunverba), educ. Rajkumar Coll.,
Rajkot, and Cheltenham Coll., Gloucestershire.
Granted Panchasia in giras from his
father, 18th June 1932. Supt. Wankaner
Police, Cdt. Wankaner State Forces and Police
1934-1944. m. at Baripada, Mayrbhanj, 11th
May 1935, Kumarani Kumud Manjari Devi Sahiba,
daughter of Rautrai Sahib Shridam Chandra Bhanj
Deo, of Mayurbhanj. He had issue, two sons and
two daughters:
- a) Kumar Shri Jitendrasinhji Chandrabhanusinhji Jhala [Jitendra Singh Wankaner]. b. at Wankaner, 18th March 1936, educ. Rajkumar Coll., Rajkot and Boston Univ., Massachusetts, USA (M.Ed. 1988). m. Kumarani Camiliakumari [Camiliakumari Wankaner], Fellowship Coordinator at the Kennedy Sch. of Govt. at Harvard Univ.
- b) Kumar Shri Bhartendrasinhji Chandrabhanusinhji Jhala, educ. Rajkumar Coll., Rajkot.
- a) Kunveri Ba Shri Bhagyawanti Devi Sahiba [Rani Bhagyawanti Devi Sahiba]. b. at Wankaner, 1st February 1945. m. at Wankaner, 24th November 1968, Maharaj Devendra Pal Singh, third son of H.H. Raja Sir Dileep Singhji Sahib, Raja of Jhabua, KCIE, by his wife, H.H. Rani Gopal Kumari Sahiba. She had issue, one son - see India (Jhabua).
- 4)
Maharajkumar Shri Rasikkumarsinhji Amarsinhji
Jhala. b. at Ranjit Vilas Palace,
Wankaner, 9th October 1915 (s/o
Phul Kunverba), educ. Rajkumar Coll.,
Rajkot, and Deccan Coll., Poona, and Bombay Univ.
(BA). Granted Kerala, Rasikgarh, and Baripada in giras
from his father, 18th June 1932. Rcvd:
Coron. medal (1937). m. at Banera, Mewar,
20th April 1938, a daughter of the
Major Rajadhiraja Shri Amar Singhji Sahib, of
Banera in Udaipur Mewar, by his wife, the
daughter of the Maharaja of Bisrampur, in
Surguja. He had issue:
- a) Kumar Shri Janakkumarsinhji Rasikkumarsinhji Jhala, educ. Rajkumar Coll., Rajkot. MLA for Wankaner in the Gujarat state assembly 1975-1980. Copyright© Christopher Buyers
- 1) Maharajkumari Ba Shri Takhtakunverba Sahiba [H.H. Maharani Shri Takhta Kunverba Sahiba, Maharani of Mayurbhanj] (d/o Gulab Kunverba). m. at Amar Vilas Palace, Shahpura, 27th January 1917, H.H. Maharaja Sri Purna Chandra Bhanj Deo, Maharaja of Mayurbhanj (b. 7th August 1899; k. (s.p.) while hunting tigers in the Bombay Presidency, 21st April 1928), eldest son of H.H. Maharaja Sri Ram Chandra Bhanj Deo, Maharaja of Mayurbhanj, by his first wife, H.H. Rani Lakshmi Kumari Devi Sahiba, daughter of the Raja of Panchakote Raj, in Bengal, by his wife, a daughter of Maharaja Hilmani Singh, of Chhota Nagpur, in Bihar - see India (Mayurbhanj).
- 2) Maharajkumari Ba Shri Pravinkunverba Sahiba. b. at the Zenana Palace, Wankaner, October 1909 (d/o Padmaraj Kunverba). She d. at Wankaner, before 15th May 1911.
- 3) Maharajkumari Ba Shri Vilaskunverba Sahiba [Rani Shri Vilas Kunverba Sahiba, Rani of Mansa]. b. at Wankaner, 1910 (d/o Phul Kunverba). m. at he Ranjit Vilas Palace, Wankaner, 5th May 1935, Raolji Shri Sajjansinhji Takhatsinhji Sahib, Raol of Mansa (b. 3rd November 1908; d. 17th September 1959), eldest son of Raolji Shri Takhatsinhji Keshrisinhji Sahib, Raol of Mansa, by his second wife, the third daughter of Meherban Dostan Thakore Shri Madarsinghji II Vakhatsinhji Sahib, Thakore Sahib of Sayla, CIE. She had issue, four sons - see India Non-Salute (Mansa).
- 4) Maharajkumari Ba Shri Manharkunverba Sahiba [H.H. Maharani Shrimant Shri Manhar Kunverba Sahiba, Maharani of Lunawada] (d/o Phul Kunverba). m. at Ranjit Vilas Palace, Wankaner, 1931, Colonel H.H. Maharana Shri Virbhadrasinhji Ranjitsinhji Sahib, Maharaja of Lunawada (b. at Lunawada, 8th June 1910; d. 1986), third son of Shrimant Shri Maharaj Kumar Ranjitsinhji Vakhatsinhji Sahib, of Lunawada, by his second wife, Ladiji Shri Dolat Kunverba Sahiba. She had issue, three sons and one daughter - see India (Lunawada).