Deshalji II
{{Short description|Ruler of Kutch from 1819–1860}}
{{Use Indian English|date=April 2019}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2019}}
{{Infobox royalty
| name = Maharajadhiraj Mirza Maharao Shri
Deshalji II
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| image = Maharao Deshulji II.jpg
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| succession = Maharaja of Kutch
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| reign = 25 March 1819 − 26 July 1860
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| predecessor = Bharmalji II
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| successor = Pragmalji II
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| birth_name =
| birth_date = 20th June 1814
| birth_place = Aina Mahal,Bhuj,Cutch State
| death_date = 26th July 1860
| death_place = Aina Mahal,Bhuj,Cutch State
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| spouse = Jhaliji Roop Kunwarba of Dhrangadhra State
Badan Kunwarba
Suraj Kunwarba
| spouse-type = Spouse
| consort =
| issue = Pragmalji II
Hamir Sinhji
Chandra Kunwarba m.to Maharaja Jawan Sinhji of Idar State
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| house = Jadeja
| house-type = Dynasty
| father = Bharmalji II
| mother = Sodhiji Taj Kunwarba
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Maharajadhiraj Mirza Maharao Shri Deshalji II Sahib Bahadur (1814–1860; reign: 1819–1860) was the Rao of Cutch belonging to Jadeja dynasty, who ascended the throne of Princely State of Cutch upon deposition of his father Bharmalji II by British.{{citation needed|date=June 2020}} He reigned during his minority, under a Council of Regency, headed by Captain MacMurdo and composed of Jadeja chiefs.[https://books.google.com/books?id=d16gAAAAMAAJ&q=Deshalji+II+ Bhuj:art, architecture, history].[http://uqconnect.net/~zzhsoszy/ips/misc/kutch_tree.html Jadeja Rulers of Kutch : Deshalji II (1814–1860)] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110613165408/http://uqconnect.net/~zzhsoszy/ips/misc/kutch_tree.html |date=13 June 2011 }}[http://uqconnect.net/~zzhsoszy/ips/k/kutch.html Kutch State : Maharao DESALJI BHARMALJI II (Daishalji) 1819/1860] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110605032616/http://uqconnect.net/~zzhsoszy/ips/k/kutch.html |date=5 June 2011 }}
Reign
During his reign Kutch suffered a severe earthquake in 1819 followed by severe famine in 1823, 1825 & 1832.{{citation needed|date=June 2020}} Further, Kutch was attacked by marauding band from Sindh. Rao Deshalji and his Dewan Devkaran with their mediocre power and the support of their brethren defeated Kesarkhan and Sher Bulandkhan the Muslim marauding band.
Deshalji although 18 years of age took the management of law in his own hands. The trade with Africa especially Zanzibar improved significantly. Slowly and steadily the industrialization in Kutch got a setback which was started by Lakhpatji and Godji.[https://books.google.com/books?id=kVwhcDDhHQkC&dq=Deshalji+II+of+Kutch&pg=PA113 The presence of a glass factory and good breed of horses led Maharao Deshalji II (1819–1960) to maritime long distance trade with Zanzibar and most of all with Sultan of Oman.] Makran, Oman, and Zanzibar: three-terminal cultural corridor in the western By Beatrice Nicolini, Penelope-Jane Watson. In the period of Deshalji II steps were taken to suppress infanticide, sati and the slave trade in the State. The educational system was also improved.[https://books.google.com/books?id=mjpXAAAAMAAJ&q=Deshalji+II+of+Kutch] Cultural history of Gujarat:from early times to pre-British period.[https://books.google.com/books?id=5J05AQAAIAAJ&q=Deshalji+] The Gujarat directory The Fortification of Anjar which was destroyed by 1819 earthquake was re-done by order of Rao Deshalji]] in 1826{{cite book |last1=Postans |first1=Marianne |title=Cutch; Or Random Sketches, Taken During a Residence in One of the Northern Provinces of Western India; Interspersed with Legends ... with Engravings |date=1839 |publisher=Smith |pages=84 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vv1jAAAAcAAJ&dq=anjar++peetamber&pg=PA84 |access-date=2 January 2025 |language=en}}
Family and Succession
He had eight wives and several sons of which Pragmalji II was declared Yuvraj by him, who ascended the throne after his death in 1860.{{citation needed|date=June 2020}} One of his queens is responsible for erection of present-day temples at Narayan Sarovar. Rao Deshalji II came of age in 1834 and was invested with full ruling powers but in later life, due to ill health, he transferred his ruling power to his son & successor Pragmalji II in 1859 one year before his death.[https://books.google.com/books?id=BNUgAAAAMAAJ&q=Deshalji+II+] The Hind Rajasthan, or, The annals of the native states of India, Volume 1, Part 1.
References
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External links
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{{s-hou|Jadeja Dynasty||1814||1860}}
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{{s-bef|before=Bharmalji II}}
{{s-ttl|title=Maharaja of Kutch|years=1819-60}}
{{s-aft|after=Pragmalji II}}
{{s-end}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Deshalji 02}}