Digvijaysinhji Ranjitsinhji Jadeja
{{Short description|Maharaja of Nawanagar from 1933–1948}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2021}}
{{Infobox royalty
| name = Sir Digvijaysinhji Ranjitsinhji
| image = Jam-Shri-Digvijaysinhji-Ranjitsinhji-Jadeja-Maharaja-Jam-Saheb-of-Nawanagar.jpg
| caption = Digvijaysinhji in 1935
| succession = Maharaja Jam Sahib of Nawanagar State
| moretext =
| reign = 2 April 1933–15 August 1947
| coronation =
| cor-type =
| predecessor = Ranjitsinhji
| successor = Monarchy Abolished
| succession1 = Jam Saheb of Nawanagar (Titular ruler)
| reign1 = 1948–3 February 1966
| predecessor1 = Ranjitsinhji
| successor1 = Shatrusalyasinhji
| regent =
| reg-type =
| birth_date = {{Birth date|df=yes|1895|09|18}}
| birth_place = Sadodar, British India
| death_date = {{Death date and age|df=yes|1966|02|03|1895|09|18}}
| death_place = Bombay, Maharashtra, India
| burial_date =
| burial_place =
| spouse = {{marriage|Maharajkumari Baiji Raj Shri Kanchan Kunverba Sahiba |26 April 1923}}
| issue = {{Plainlist}}
- Shatrusalyasinhji
- H. H. Jam Saheb
{{Endplainlist}}
| full name = Digvijaysinhji Ranjitsinhji Jadeja
| house = Nawanagar
| father =
| mother =
| signature =
| module = {{Infobox military person | embed=yes
| branch = {{army|British Raj}}
| serviceyears = 1919–1947
| servicenumber =
| unit =
| commands =
| battles_label =
| battles =
| awards =
| module = {{Infobox cricketer | embed=yes
| country =
| nickname =
| batting = Right-handed
| bowling = Right-arm
| role = Batsman
| international =
| testdebutdate =
| testdebutyear =
| testdebutagainst =
| testcap =
| lasttestdate =
| lasttestyear =
| lasttestagainst =
| club1 = Western India
| year1 = 1933–1934
| columns = 1
| column1 = First-class
| matches1 = 1
| runs1 = 6
| bat avg1 = 3.00
| 100s/50s1 = 0/0
| top score1 = 6
| hidedeliveries = true
| catches/stumpings1 = 0/–
| date = 8 June
| year = 2019
| source = http://www.espncricinfo.com/india/content/player/28620.html ESPNcricinfo
|module = {{Infobox officeholder
|embed = yes
|office = 4th President of BCCI
|term_start = 1937
|term_end = 1938
|predecessor = Sir Hamidullah Khan
|successor = P. Subbarayan
}}
}}}}
}}
Sir Digvijaysinhji Ranjitsinhji Jadeja {{post-nominals|country=GBR|GCSI|GCIE}} (18 September 1895 – 3 February 1966), known to some as the Good Maharaja, was the Maharaja Jam Sahib of Nawanagar from 1933 to 1966, succeeding his uncle, the famed cricketer Ranjitsinhji.
Early life and military career
Digvijaysinhji, a Jadeja Rajput, was born at Sadodar, Gujarat on 18 September 1895 during the British Raj, nephew of the famed cricketer K.S. Ranjitsinhji. He was educated at the Rajkumar College, Rajkot, in Saurashtra, India then at Malvern College and University College London.
Commissioned as second lieutenant in the British Indian Army in 1919, Digvijaysinhji enjoyed a military career for over a decade.{{Cite web |date=2023-09-03 |title=Meet Maharaja Digvijaysinhji Ranjitsinhji Jadeja who gave refuge to Jews during World War II |url=https://www.financialexpress.com/lifestyle/meet-maharaja-digvijaysinhji-ranjitsinhji-jadeja-who-gave-refuge-to-jews-during-world-war-ii/3227926/ |access-date=2023-09-11 |website=Financialexpress |language=en}} Attached to the 125th Napier's Rifles (now 5th Battalion (Napier's), Rajputana Rifles) in 1920, he served with the Egyptian Expeditionary Force, subsequently receiving a promotion to Lieutenant in 1921.{{cite web|url=http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/32967/pages/6355|title=London Gazette}} He then served with the Waziristan Field Force from 1922 to 1924; after a promotion to captain in 1929, he retired from the army in 1931.{{cite web|url=http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/33790/pages/350|title=London Gazette}} However, he would continue to receive honorary promotions in the Indian Army until 1947, ending with the rank of lieutenant-general.
Two years later, Digvijaysinhji succeeded his uncle, who had adopted him as his heir. From 1939 until his demise, he was the longest serving President of Governing Council of The Rajkumar College, Rajkot.
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 1943. 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. He had previously played a single first-class match during the 1933–34 season, captaining Western India against the MCC during its tour of India and Ceylon.[https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/38/38769/First-Class_Matches.html First-class matches played by Digvijaysinhji (1)] – CricketArchive. Retrieved 16 October 2014. He scored 0 and 6 in his two innings, in what was also the only first-class match played by his brother, Pratapsinhji.[https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/14/14869.html Western India v Marylebone Cricket Club], Marylebone Cricket Club in India and Ceylon 1933/34 – CricketArchive. Retrieved 16 October 2014. During the Second World War, Sir Digvijaysinhji served on the Imperial War Cabinet and the National Defence Council, along with the Pacific War Council.
Polish refugees
File:HH The Jam Sahib Of Nawanagar visits HMS Nelson Sep 1942.jpg in Scotland, September 1942}}]]
File:Homage to the Good Maharajah Monument, Warsaw Ochota, Poland 04.jpg. The nearby "Good Maharaja's Square" was named after Digvijaysinhji Ranjitsinhji in recognition of his help to Polish refugees during World War II.]]
In 1942, he established the Polish Children's Camp in Balachadi near Jamnagar for refugee Polish children who were brought out of the USSR during World War II.
File:Maharaja with kids and women from Poland.jpg
It existed until 1945, when it was closed and the children were transferred to Valivade, a quarter of the city of Kolhapur.{{cite web|url=http://kresy-siberia.com/gallery/main.php?g2_itemId=47057|title=Refugee camps in India, Jamnagar-Balachadi|access-date=8 June 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110713170807/http://kresy-siberia.com/gallery/main.php?g2_itemId=47057|archive-date=13 July 2011|url-status=dead}}[https://web.archive.org/web/20120910203530/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2006-09-17/ahmedabad/27825350_1_maharaja-camps-jamnagar Anuradha Bhattacharya, History of Polish refugees in India between 1942–48] [in] Polish love story in Gujarat, The Times of India, 17 September 2006[http://www.outlookindia.com/article.aspx?268578 Little Warsaw Of Kathiawar] Outlook, 20 December 2010. The camp site today is part of 300 acre campus of the Sainik School Balachadi.{{cite web|url=http://www.outlookindia.com/article.aspx?268579|title=History: humanism Balachadians To Their Core Nawanagar saved their lives. The Poles show they have not forgotten.|date=20 December 2010|work=Outlook}} The Jamsaheb Digvijay Singh Jadeja School in Warsaw was established to honour this legacy.{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/features/magazine/a-maharaja-in-warsaw/article12980412.ece|title=A Maharaja in Warsaw|author=Jayaraj Manepalli|work=The Hindu|date=28 April 2012 |access-date=28 December 2015}} In 2016, 50 years after Jam Saheb's death, Poland's Parliament unanimously adopted a special resolution honouring Jam Saheb Digvijay Sinhji for his aid to Polish children refugees during World War II.{{cite web|url=http://orka.sejm.gov.pl/opinie8.nsf/nazwa/235_u/$file/235_u.pdf|title=Uchwała Sejmu Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej w sprawie uczczenia pamięci Dobrego Maharadży|access-date=12 March 2016}}{{cite web|url=http://theindiandiaspora.com/news-details/diaspora-news/primary-news/good-maharaja-of-jamnagar-remembered-in-polish-parliament.htm|title='Good Maharaja' of Jamnagar remembered in Polish parliament|author=Surender Bhutani|work=theindiandiaspora|access-date=14 March 2016}}
A documentary titled "Little Poland in India" was made in collaboration of both Indian and Polish governments to honour the efforts of Maharaja Jam Sahib{{Citation|last=AakaarFilms|title=A Little Poland in India (English) - The Complete Documentary|date=2015-11-22|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rIPq-8RZxxM|access-date=2018-05-24}} and Kira Banasinska, who led the movement in India to rehabilitate Polish refugees.{{cite web|url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/spectrum/slice-of-india-in-london/794763.html|title=Slice of India in London|date=30 June 2019|work=The Tribune|location=Chandigarh}} After independence of India, he signed the Instrument of Accession to the Dominion of India on 15 August 1947. He merged Nawanagar into the United State of Kathiawar the following year, serving as its Rajpramukh, a Chief of State until the Government of India abolished the post in 1956.
Representative at international organisations
Divijaysinhji represented India as a delegate at the first session of the League of Nations in 1920.{{cite web|url=http://www.indiana.edu/~league/1thordinaryassemb.htm|title=First Ordinary Session of the Assembly|access-date=28 December 2015|archive-date=13 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200113014630/http://www.indiana.edu/~league/1thordinaryassemb.htm|url-status=dead}} He was also 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.
Personal life
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: Shri Harshad Kumari Sahiba, Shri Mukund Kumari Sahiba, and Shri Himanshu Kumari Sahiba.{{cite web |last1=Buyers |first1=Christopher |title=Nawanagar |url=https://www.royalark.net/India/nawana8.htm |website=Royal Ark |access-date=23 August 2024}}
He is also the twice great-uncle of former Indian cricketer, Ajay Jadeja.{{cite web |title=Ajay Jadeja |url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ajay_Jadeja |website=Wikipedia}}{{Circular reference|date=February 2025}}
Death
After a reign of 33 years, Sir Digvijaysinhji died in Bombay on 3 February 1966, aged 70. He was succeeded by his only son, Shatrusalyasinhji, who was a first-class cricketer for Saurashtra.
Honours
(ribbon bar, as it would look today)
- India General Service Medal w/ Wazirstan Clasp-1924
- King George V Silver Jubilee Medal-1935
- King George VI Coronation Medal-1937
- Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire (GCIE)-1939
- 1939-1945 Star-1945
- Africa Star-1945
- Pacific Star-1945
- War Medal 1939-1945-1945
- Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Star of India (GCSI)-1947 (KCSI-1935)
- India Service Medal-1945
- Order of the Star of India- 1947
- Indian Independence Medal-1947
- Commander's Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland (posthumous) – 2011{{cite web|last=Iwanek |first=Krzysztof |title=Maharadża odznaczony, nadanie imienia skwerowi na dobrej drodze! |url=http://www.polska-azja.pl/2012/02/01/maharadza-odznaczony-nadanie-imienia-skwerowi-na-dobrej-drodze/ |language=pl |date=1 February 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130515192525/http://www.polska-azja.pl/2012/02/01/maharadza-odznaczony-nadanie-imienia-skwerowi-na-dobrej-drodze/ |archive-date=15 May 2013 }}
In popular culture
The 2022 Indo-Polish war epic film The Good Maharaja (2022) depicted Digvijaysinhji Ranjitsinhji Jadeja.
See also
Notes
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category|Digvijaysinhji Ranjitsinhji}}
- [http://culture.pl/en/article/the-maharaja-who-saved-hundreds-of-polish-orphans The Maharaja Who Saved Hundreds of Polish Orphans]
- [https://www.quora.com/What-is-the-full-story-of-Polish-people-who-sought-refuge-during-World-War-II-in-Gujarat-provided-by-Maharaja-Digvijaysinhji-Jadeja The Good Maharaja: The Ambassador to rescue of Polish children]
- [https://www.thehindu.com/features/magazine/a-maharaja-in-warsaw/article12980412.ece A Maharaja in Warsaw]
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{{Succession box|
|before= Jam Saheb Shri Ranjitsinhji
|years=1933–1948
|after=Merged with Dominion of India
}}
{{S-end}}
{{Presidents of BCCI}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ranjitsinhji, Digvijaysinhji}}
Category:Western India cricketers
Category:British Indian Army officers
Category:Knights Grand Commander of the Order of the Star of India
Category:People educated at Malvern College
Category:Alumni of University College London
Category:Maharajas of Nawanagar
Category:Cricketers from Gujarat
Category:20th-century Indian royalty
Category:Knights Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire
Category:Commanders of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland
Category:Presidents of the Board of Control for Cricket in India