Shahu Maharaj

Rajarshi Chatrapati Shahu Maharaj (26 July 1874 – 6 May 1922)

The first Maharaja of the Indian princely state of Kolhapur between 1884 and 1922.

Shahu was born as Yeshwantrao Ghatge, eldest son of Appasaheb Ghatge and Radhabai, He was adopted by Anandibai, widow of Raja Shivaji IV, in March 1884.

Social reform

Shahu Maharaj gave special importance to the education of the masses and introduced several programs for them.

Shahu's other initiatives included restricting Child marriage in his state

He long patronized the Satya Shodhak Samaj but later moved towards the Arya Samaj

He started separate hostels in Kolhapur for students from the Maratha, Lingayat, Panchal, Jain, Muslims, Shimpi, Devadnya, Vaishya, Dhor-Chambhar and Nabhik communities and the Miss Clark Boarding especially for the students from the untouchable (socially quarantined) communities.

He offered scholarships to the needy and intelligent students from the backward castes He made primary education compulsory and free for all in his Princely State.

His royal decree held up the cause of women’s education.

To abolish untouchability, he stopped the cruel system followed by many institutions to hold separate schools for the upper and lower castes in 1919.

He started Patil schools so that village heads could be good administrators.

In times when the study of Vedic literature was considered a domain of the Brahmins (higher caste Pundits), he established Vedic schools that taught the Vedas to the masses and Sanskrit schools for the propagation of the Sanskrit language.

He opposed caste discrimination and took many steps to abolish untouchability.

He introduced reservation for the untouchables in government jobs.

He issued a royal decree in his Princely State to treat all humans equal and to give equal access to the untouchables to public utilities like common wells, schools, hospitals and common buildings.

His commitment to abolish untouchability was such that he was even ready to give up his throne for the service of the dalit or lower class people.

He legalised inter caste marriages and discontinued the hereditary tenures (Watan) of revenue collectors (Kulkarni), infamous for exploiting the masses, as also the Mahar tenures that enslaved the Mahars (a lower caste).

In 1917 he legalised remarriages and widow remarriages in his Princely State.

He also introduced a law banning the practice of Devdasi

Honours

• Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Star of India (GCSI)-1895
• King Edward VII Coronation Medal-1902
• Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order (GCVO)-1903
• Hon. LLD (Cantab.)-1903
• Delhi Durbar Gold Medal-1903
• King George V Coronation Medal-1911
• Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire (GCIE)-1911
• Delhi Durbar Gold Medal-1911