WANKANER
The Jhala Dynasty
BRIEF HISTORY
1954 - [2007] Captain
H.H. Maharana Raj Shri Pratapsinhji Sahib, Maharana Raj
Sahib of Wankaner. b. at the Zenana Palace,
Wankaner, 12th April 1907, eldest son of
Captain H.H. Maharana Raj Shri Sir Amarsinhji Sahib,
Maharana Raj Sahib of Wankaner, KCSI, KCIE, by his second
wife, Rajkotewala Maharani Shri Devkunverba Sahiba, educ.
Rajkumar Coll., Rajkot, Cheltenham Coll.,
Gloucestershire, and Cambridge Univ. Officer-in-charge of
the Revenue Dept. 1929-1931, and he Treasury Office
1931-1932. Succeeded on the death of his father, 28th
June 1954. Ascended the gadi at Ranjit Vilas
Palace, Wankaner, 30th June 1954. Hon. Capt.
IA. The GOI amended the Indian Constitution to remove his
position as a "ruler" and his right to receive
privy-purse payments, 28th December 1971.
Chair. Rajkumar College (Rajkot) Governing Brd. 2001-2007
(Mbr. 1956-2007), Founder Mbr. Cricket Club of India
(Bombay), Mbr. Bombay Natural History Soc., etc. Rcvd:
Silver Jubilee (1935) and Coron. (1937) medals, and the
Sri Saktimat Makhapraphulla Order of Jhalavad 1st
class (27.4.2006). m. at Dungarpur, 5th
February 1929, H.H. Sisodiji Maharani Sri Rama Kanwar
Sahiba (b. at Dungarpur, 20th February
1911; d. at Ranjit Vilas Palace, Wankaner, 10th
February 1991), eldest daughter of H.H. Rai-i-Rayan,
Mahimahendra, Maharajadhiraj Maharawal Shri Sir Bijaya
Singhji Sahib Bahadur, Maharawal of Dungarpur, KCIE, by
his first wife, H.H. Maharani Bapu Devendra Kunwarji
Sahiba, eldest daughter of H.H. Bharat Dharma Nidhi Raja
Shrimant Sir Jaswant Singhji Bahadur, Raja of Sailana,
KCIE, KIH. He d. at Wankaner, before 4th
June 2007, having had issue, two sons and three
daughters:- 1) Maharajkumar Shri Digvijaysinhji Pratapsinhji Jhala [Dr Digvijay Sinh], Yuvraj Sahib of Wankaner, who succeeded as H.H. Maharana Raj Shri Digvijaysinhji Jhala Sahib, Maharana Raj Sahib of Wankaner - see below.
- 2)
Maharajkumar Shri Ranjitsinhji Pratapsinhji Jhala
[Dr. M.K. Ranjitsinh Jhala]. b. at Ranjit
Vilas Palace, Wankaner, 19th February
1939, educ. Rajkumar Coll, Rajkot. Joined
IAS 1961, Sec. for Forests & Tourism in Madha
Pradesh 19xx-1973, Dir Wildlife Preservation
1973-1975. Author of "The Indian
Blackbuck" (1989), "Indian
Wildlife" (1995), "Beyond the Tiger:
Portraits of Asian Wildlife" (1997), etc.
Chair. Wildlife Trust of India (WTI); Dir-Gen
CAPART; Dir and Regional Co-ordinator WWF Tiger
Conservation Programme (TCP). Regional Adviser in
Nature Conservation (Asia & Pacific) for
UNEP. Trustee The Corbett Fndn; Mbr
National Forest Cmsn, Indian Inst of Forest
Management Soc, International Tropical Timber
Org, Madhya Pradesh State Wildlife Brd. until
2006, etc. m. Maharajkumarani Kalpana
Kanwarji Sahiba (b. at Benares, 30th
November 1941), eldest daughter of Shreeman
Maharaj Shri Lakshman Singhji Sahib, of Adwaria,
in Sailana, by his wife, Shrimati Rani Hemant
Kumari Sahiba, third daughter of Shri Maharaj
Ranzor Singh Sahib Bahadur [Rangare Singh], of
Pavanwala, under Sirmur. He had issue, two
daughters:
- a) Rajkumari Ba Shri Minal Kumari Sahiba [Jubrani Meenal Kumari Sahiba, Jubrani Sahiba of Dhenkanal]. b. 1970. m. 8th December 1990, Jubraj Shri Amarjyoti Prasad Singh Deo Rai Sinha Bhramarbar Ray, Jubraj Sahib of Dhenkanal (b. 22nd April 1963), elder son of Brigadier Raja Shri Kamakshya Prasad Singh Deo Mahindra Bahadur Vidyasagar, Raja of Dhenkanal, AVSM, by his wife, Rani Shrimati Savitri Devi Sahiba, daughter of Maharaja Pratap Kishore Deo, Maharaja of Kalahandi. She has issue, one son and one daughter - see India Non-Salute (Dhenkanal).
- b) Rajkumari Ba Shri Radhika Kumari Sahiba [Shrimant Akhand Soubhagyavati Yuvarani Radhika Raje Sahib Gaekwad, Yuvarani Sahib of Baroda]. b. 1976. m. at New Delhi, 27th February 2002, Shrimant Yuvraja Samarjitsinhrao Ranjitsinhrao Gaekwad, Yuvaraj Sahib of Baroda (b. at Baroda, 25th April 1967), only son of H.H. Farzand-i-Khas-i-Daulat-i-Inglishia, Shrimant Maharaja Ranjitsinhrao Gaekwad, Sena Khas Khel Shamsher Bahadur, Maharaja of Baroda, by his wife, H.H. Maharani Shrimant Akhand Soubhagyavati Shubhangini Devi Raje Sahib Gaekwad, née Aruna Devi Jadhav - see India (Baroda).
- 1) Maharajkumari Ba Shri Padminikumari Sahiba [Rani Shri Padminikumari Sahiba, of Cutch]. b. 1931. m. at Ranjit Vilas Palace, Wankaner, 9th February 1951, Maharaj Shri Himmatsinhji Vijayrajji Sahib (b. at Bhuj, 9th October 1928; d. 22nd February 2008), fifth son of Colonel H.H. Maharajadhiraj Maharao Mirza Shri Vijayrajji Sawai Bahadur, Maharao of Cutch, GBE, by his wife, H.H. Sirohiwala Maharani Akhand Soubhagyavati Baiji Shri Padma Kunwarba Sahiban, daughter of H.H. Maharajadhiraja Maharao Shri Keshri Singhji Bahadur, Maharao of Sirohi, GCIE, KCSI. She d. 4th December 2006, having had issue, an only daughter - see India (Cutch).
- 2) Maharajkumari Ba Shri Mohinikumari Sahiba [H.H. Maharani Mohinikumari Sahiba, Maharani of Bijawar]. b. 1934. m. at Ranjit Vilas Palace, Wankaner, 1954, H.H. Bharat Dharmendar Maharaja Sawai Shri Govind Singh Bahadur, Maharaja of Bijawar (b. at Nowgong, 17th June 1934; d. at New York, USA, 9th July 1983), son of Dewan Shri Malkhan Singh Bahadur, of Lakhangawan, She had issue, an only son - see India Non-Salute (Bijawar).
- 3) Maharajkumari Ba Shri Nalinikumari Sahiba [Rani Shri Nalinikumari Sahiba, of Bhavnagar]. b. 1935. m. 1957, Maharajkumar Shri Shivbhadrasinhji Krishnakumarsinhji Sahib Gohil (b. at Nilambag Palace, Bhavnagar, 23rd December 1933), younger son of Commodore H.H. Maharaja Raol Shri Sir Krishnakumarsinhji Bhavsinhji Sahib, Maharaja of Bhavnagar, KCSI, by his wife, H.H. Maharani Shri Vijayaba Kunverba Sahiba, fourth daughter of H.H. Maharaja Thakore Shri Bhojarajsinhji Bhagwant Singhji Sahib Bahadur, Maharaja of Gondal - see India (Bhavnagar).
[2007] H.H. Maharana Raj Shri Digvijaysinhji Jhala [Dr Digvijay Sinh] Sahib, Maharana Raj Sahib of Wankaner. b. at Ranjit Vilas Palace, Wankaner, 20th August 1932, elder son of Captain H.H. Maharana Raj Shri Pratapsinhji Sahib, Maharana Raj Sahib of Wankaner, by his wife, H.H. Sisodiji Maharani Sri Ramakunverba Sahiba, educ.
Rajkumar Coll, Rajkot, Cambridge Univ (BA, MA), and St Stephen’s Coll, Delhi Univ (PhD). Became Heir Apparent at birth, with the title of Yuvraj Sahib. Joined IAS 1955, Under Sec Ministry of Commerce and Industry 1955-1958, MLA for Wankaner in the Gujarat state assembly 1962-1971, MP (Lok Sabha) for Surendranagar 1980-1989, Union Deputy Minister for Ecology and the Environment 1982-1984. Succeeded on the death of his father as Head of the Royal House of Wankaner, 22nd May 2007. Chair Gujarat State Council for Ecology 1970-1974, Gujarat Agro-Marine Products Corp 1971-1976, Doon Valley Brd, Gujarat Hotels Assoc, and National Presdt Akhil Bharatiya Kshatriya Mahasabha since 1989. Presdt Wankaner Co-op Agricultural Bank Ltd 1962-1964, Family Planning Assoc of India (Rajkot Branch) since 1979, Gujarat Kaykaing and Canoeing Assoc, Indian Land Sailing Assoc (ILSA), and Rajkumar Coll (Rajkot) Old Boys’ Assoc since 2004. Vice-Chair Indian Brd for Wildlife1982-1984. Convenor Parliamentary Environment Forum, and Indian Heritage Hotels Assoc (Gujarat Chapter). Dir Shree Amarsinhji Mills Ltd since 1960, India Tourism Dvpt Corp (ITDC) 1969-1982, and Tourism Corp of Gujarat 1980-1982. Founder Mbr Indigenous Horse Soc of India 1999. Hon Mbr The Explorers Club (New York) since 1986. Mbr National Cttee for Environmental Planning since 1972, Gujarat State Water Pollution Control Brd since 1976, Cttee on Government Assurances 1980-1982, Delhi Gymkhana Club, Gujarat Sports Club, etc. m. (first) at Alwar, 20th April 1955 (div.), Maharajkumari Baiji Lal Pratap Kumari Sahiba, eldest daughter of Colonel H.H. Raj Rishi Shri Sawai Maharaja Sir Tej Singhji Veerendra Shiromani Dev Bharat Prabhakar Bahadur, Maharaja of Alwar, KCSI, by his wife, H.H. Maharani Shri Chand Kunwar Baiji Lal Sahiba, eldest daughter of Lieutenant-Colonel Maharaj Shri Akhai Singhji Sahib, of Raoti, in Jodhpur. m. (second) 1982, H.H. Sisodiji Maharani Sri Vibhakumari Sahiba [Vibha Singh] (b. 1948), educ. Miranda House, Delhi Univ, sometime fashion model and advertising executive in New York, Mbr Manavadhikar Samajik Manch, etc, second daughter of Captain Bhagwan Singh Chahar, of Jaingara, Kerawli, in the Agra district of UP, sometime High Cmsnr to Fiji and Presdt All India Jat Mahasabha, by his wife, Shantaji, from Bharau, Sadabad, in the Mathura district of UP. He had issue, an only son by his second wife:- 1) Shri Kesrisinhji Digvijaysinghji Jhala [Kesarisinhji Jhala], Yuvraj Sahib of Wankaner. b. 1983 (s/o Vibha Devi). m. at Swarup Bhawan, Mount Abu, 17th February 2012, Yuvrani Sri Yogini Kumari Sahiba, daughter of Maharaj Shri Daivat Singhji Sahib Bahadur, of Sirohi, by his wife, Rani Shri Kirti Kanwarji Sahiba, daughter of H.H. Rai-i-Rayan, Mahimahendra, Maharajadhiraj Maharawal Shri Mahipal Singhji Sahib Bahadur, Maharawal of Dungarpur.