AKALKOT

 

The Bhonsle Dynasty

BRIEF HISTORY

Ranoji Lokhende, adopted son of Shivaji III Chhatrapati Maharaj, Raja of Satara, founded the state of Akalkot in 1708. Taking the name Fatehsinh Bhonsle, he was raised to the dignity of Raja and granted Akalkot and several other jagirs yielding revenues of 35 lakhs of rupees p.a. Fatehsinh died without male issue but adopted the son of his natural brother as his son and successor. Shahaji and his successors ruled the principality as vassals of the Rajas of Satara until that state "lapsed" 1848. Thereafter, Akalkot along with other vassal states of the Satara realm became a direct tributary state of the government of Bombay. The state acceded to the Dominion of India in 1947 and was absorbed into the State of Bombay. The last Raja died in 1965 leaving only two daughters. The Government of India, in contravention of their 1947 undertakings, chose not to recognise any successor and invoked Lord Dalhousie’s infamous doctrine of lapse. For many years the unmarried daughters of the late Raja tried to maintain what was left of their royal heritage as best they could. Until finally, in 2015 and 2017 the law and regulations on adoption changed, allowing unmarried women to adopt children for the first time. They promptly agreed that the elder sister would adopt a young, distant cousin from the Kurla line as her son and future Raja. On her death in 2018, he was duly installed as Maloji III, Raja of Akalkot.

SALUTE:
None.

STYLES & TITLES:
The ruling prince: Meherban Shrimant Raja (personal name) (father's name) Raje Bhonsle, Raja of Akalkot.
The consort of the ruling prince: Shrimant Akhand Soubhagyavati Rani (personal name) Raje Bhonsle.
The sons of the ruling prince, and other male descendants, in the male line: Meherban Shrimant (personal name) (father's name) Raje Bhonsle.
The daughters of the ruling prince, and other female descendants in the male line (before marriage): Shrimant (personal name)bai Raje Bhonsle.
The daughters of the ruling prince, and other female descendants in the male line (after marriage): Shrimant Akhand Soubhagyavati (personal name)bai Raje (husband's family name).

ORDERS & DECORATIONS:
None.

RULES OF SUCCESSION:
Male primogeniture, with the right of adoption by the recognised head of the family on the failure of natural male heirs.

SOURCES:
C.U. Aitchison. A Collection of Treaties, Engagements and Sanads Relating to India and Neighbouring Countries. Vol. VII Containing The Treaties, &c., Relating to the Bombay Presidency. Part II-Kutch Agency, Cambay, Surat Agency, Jauhar, Janjira, Satara Jagirdars, Kolhapur and Southern Maratha Country Agency, Sawantwari Savanur Nasik Agency, Sind and Lapsed States. Revised and continued up to the 1st June 1906 By the Authority of the Foreign Department. Superintendent Government Printing, India. Calcutta, 1909.
Indrani Chatterjee and Sumit Guha. “Slave-Queen, Waif-Prince: Slavery and Social Poverty in Eighteenth Century India”, in Biswamoy Pati (editor), Issues in Modern Indian History For Sumit Sarkar. Pp 23-44. Popular Prakashan Pvt Ltd, Mumbai, 2000. ISBN: 9788171546589.
Death of Raja of Akalkot and Succession to the Gadi. Government of India Ministry of States, Political-B Branch, File No: Progs., Nos. 15(12)-PB, 1952. National Archives of India, PR_000001641485.
Brij Kishore. Tarabai and her Times. Asia Publishing House, London, 1963.
List of Ruling Princes and Chiefs in Political Relations with the Government of Bombay and their Leading Officials, Nobles and Personages. Government of India Central Publication Branch, Calcutta, 1931.
Memoranda on The Indian States 1940 (Corrected up to the 1st January 1940). Manager of Publication, Government of India, Delhi, 1940.
Representation from Shrimati Kantamati of Akolkot (Bombay) for grant of maintenance allowance and residence etc. Rejected. Government of India Ministry of States, Political-B Branch, File No: Progs., Nos. 15(11)-PB, 1954. National Archives of India, PR_000001643618.
Representations from Shrimati Kantamati of Akalkot regarding recongnitions of her minor son Janmejay as Successor to the Gadi of Akalkot State. Government of India Ministry of States, Political-B Branch, File No: Progs., Nos. 15(7)-PB, 1953. National Archives of India, PR_000001641952.
Succession to the Gaddis of Sirmur and Akalkot. Government of India Ministry of Home Affairs, Political III Section, File No: 13/4Poll.III, 1967. National Archives of India, PR_000002008317.
Sumit Sarkar, Biswamoy Pati. Issues in Modern Indian History. Popular Prakashan Pvt Ltd, Mumbai, 1979.
Thacker’s Indian Directory, Thacker’s Press & Directories, Ltd., Calcutta 1863-1956.

SPECIAL ACKNOWLEDGEMENT:
Abhijit Malwade, Mumbai, India.
 
AKALKOT 2 AKALKOT 3 MAIN
 
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Copyright© Christopher Buyers, August 2001 - February 2022