Shahu IV (also known as Rajarshi Shahu) (26 June 1874 – 6 May 1922) was the first Maharaja of the Indian princely state of Kolhapur between 1894 and 1922. He was also known as Rajarshi Shahuji Chhatrapati and Chhatrapati Shahuji Maharaj.
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Shahu was born on 26 June 1874 as Yeshwantrao Ghatge, eldest son of Appasaheb Ghatge, chief of Kagal (senior) by his wife Radhabai, a daughter of the Raja of Mudhol [Karnataka]. He was adopted by Anandibai, widow of Raja Shivaji IV, in March 1884. Several generations of inter-marriage had ensured that Shahu's family was connected intimately with the ruling dynasty of Kolhapur, which is apparently what rendered him a suitable candidate for adoption, despite his not being a male-line member of the Bhonsle dynasty. A council of regency was appointed by the British government of India to oversee affairs of state during Shahu's minority and during that time he was tutored in administrative affairs by Sir Stuart Fraser. Shahu was invested with ruling powers upon coming of age in 1894. There is one college named Rajaram college built by Shahu Maharaja.
Shahu Maharaj is credited with doing much to further the lot of the lower castes, and indeed this assessment is warranted. He did much to make education and employment available to all: he not only subsidized education in his state, eventually providing free education to all, but also opened several hostels in Kolhapur thereby facilitating the education of the rural and low-caste indigent. His educational institutions include Victoria Maratha Boarding School, Miss Clarke Boarding School and Deccan Rayat Aanstha. He also ensured suitable employment for students thus educated, thereby creating one of the earliest Affirmative action programs in history.He started Shahu Chhatrapati Weaving and Spinning Mill in 1906 to provide employment. Many of these measures were effected in the year 1902.
In 1891, Shahu married Lakshmibai née Khanvilkar (1880–1945), daughter of a Maratha nobleman from Baroda. They were the parents of four children:
Chhatrapati Shahu of Kolhapur died on May 6, 1922. He was survived by his wife, his elder son Rajaram and his daughter Radhabai.
His full official name was: Colonel His Highness Kshatriya-Kulawatasana Sinhasanadhishwar, Shrimant Rajarshi Sir Shahu Chhatrapati Maharaj Sahib Bahadur, GCSI, GCIE, GCVO.
During his life he acquired the following titles and honorific names:
Once the late Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru said, "Dams are not just constructions of cement and concrete, but in fact are places of pilgrimage in the modern India." This was not the first vision towards this development as Kolhapur’s King Shahu Maharaj realized it almost 100 years before and decided to construct Radhanagari Dam, which is considered the second dam in India (next to Kallanai by Karikala Chola), on 18 February 1907. The place of the dam was decided and construction of houses for labourers and officials was started which took almost two years, so the foundation stone for the dam was laid down in 1909. In those days, there were neither engineering experts nor the availability of a skilled labor force; hence work progressed at a very slow rate. There is a story about the shortage of funds also in air but King Shahu Maharaj was determined to complete the project so that the water for irrigation would be available in abundance so it would add to the per capita income of Kolhapurkars.
Radhanagari Dam was completed in 1935 and since 1938 has been working at full capacity. Normally it is said that Indian kings and rulers overlooked the problems of common citizens but Radhanagari Dam is the living illustration of Shahu Maharaj's vision towards the development and welfare of common citizens.
Over the years Radhanagari Dam has provided water for irrigation; after Indian independence, the nearby forest area was converted into the “Dajipur Reserve Forest” and some tourist facilities started to attract the tourists from all over India.
Next year being the century year of the foundation stone of this, the oldest dam of the country, the Maharashtra government has come forward with a developmental plan to increase the tourist facilities in order to attract tourists from all over the globe. The plan's budgeted expanses are estimated at Rs. 47 crores and recently the first installment of Rs. 7.5 crores was handed over to district administration. The plan includes the construction of a memorial to Shahu Maharaj; a sum of Rs. 2 crores are allotted for the construction of new buildings for the Taluka administration, Panchayat Samiti, police stations, etc.
According to sources, the Dajipur forest is being developed for tourism on the pattern of eco- tourism. The Tourism Ministry of India has already handed over a sum of Rs. 8 crores for this purpose. In the near future, the funds received from the central government will be transferred to district administration which will boost efforts to put Kolhapur on the world tourism map; the Deccan Odyssey, the Maharashtra tourism train which is presently halting for few hours at Kolhapur will surely have a stay of at least for one day from the next year.
The centurion dam Radhanagari, the visionary project of Shahu Maharaj, which worked as means of increase in per capita income by providing water for irrigation is once again proving a reason for growth in per capita income, this time by boosting tourism to the area.
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Shahu IV
Bhonsle Dynasty (Kolhapur line)
Born: 26 July 1874 Died: 6 May 1922 |
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| Regnal titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Himself (as Raja of Kolhapur) |
Maharaja of Kolhapur 1900-1922 |
Succeeded by Rajaram II |
| Preceded by Shivaji IV (as Raja of Kolhapur) |
Raja of Kolhapur 1884-1900 |
Succeeded by Himself (as Maharaja of Kolhapur) |