K.S Digvijaysinhji

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Lieutenant-General Maharaja Jam Sri Sir Digvijaysinhji Ranjitsinhji Jadeja, GCSI, GCIE (18 September 1895-3 February 1966) was Maharaja Jam Sahib of Nawanagar from 1933 to 1947, succeeding his uncle, the famed cricketer Ranjitsinhji.

1 Early Life
2 Maharaja Jam Sahib
3 Personal
4 Death
5 Titles
6 Honours
7 Sources

[edit] Early Life

Digvijaysinhji Ranjitsinhji was born at Sarodar on 18 September 1895, the third son of Maharaj Sri Jawansinhji Jivansinhji (10 November 1875-12 January 1942), who was the younger brother of the famed cricketer Maharaja K.S. Ranjitsinhji. He was educated at Rajkumar College at Rajkot, Malvern College and at University College London. Digvijaysinhji enjoyed a military career before succeeding his uncle, who had adopted him as his heir, in 1933.

[edit] Maharaja Jam Sahib

Upon the passing of his uncle, Digvijaysinhji became Maharaja Jam Sahib in 1933, continuing his uncle's policies of development and public service. Knighted in 1935, Sir Digvijaysinhji joined the Chamber of Princes, leading it as President from 1937 to 1944. Upholding the cricketing tradition of his uncle, he served as President of the Board of Control for Cricket in India in 1937-1938 and was a member of several prominent sporting clubs. During the Second World War, Sir Digvijaysinhji served on the Imperial War Cabinet and the National Defense Council, along with the Pacific War Council.

A strong advocate of Indian independence (unlike most Indian rulers), Sir Digvijaysinhji was among the first rulers to sign the Instrument of Accession to the Dominion of India on 15 August 1947. He merged Nawanagar into the United State of Kathiawad the following year, serving as its Rajpramukh until the Government of India abolished the post in 1956. During this time, Sir Divijaysinhji was the Deputy Leader of the Indian delegation to the UN, and chaired both the UN Administration Tribunal and the UN Negotiating Committee on Korean Rehabilitation following the Korean War.

[edit] Personal

On 7 March 1935 at Sirohi, Sir Digvijaysinhji married Maharajkumari Baiji Raj Shri Kanchan Kunverba Sahiba (1910-1994), second daughter of Maharajadhiraj Maharao Sri Sir Sarup Ram Singhji Bahadur, the Maharao of Sirohi. She took the name of Her Highness Deoriji Maharani Shri Gulab Kunverba Sahiba, and the couple had one son and three daughters.