Pragmalji II

{{Short description|Ruler of Kutch from 1860–1875}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2019}}

{{Use Indian English|date=April 2019}}

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| name = Maharao Pragmalji II

| title = GCSI

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| image = Maharao Pragmulji II.jpg

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| caption = Maharao Pragmulji II of Kutch

| succession = Maharaja of Kutch

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| reign = 26 July 1860 - 19 December 1875

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| predecessor = Deshalji II

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| successor = Khengarji III

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| birth_date = January 1839

| birth_place = Aina Mahal,Bhuj, Cutch State

| death_date = 19th December 1875

| death_place = Prag Mahal, Bhuj, Cutch State

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| spouse = Jethwaji Kesar Kunwarba of Porbandar State

Vagheliji Jeev Kunwarba of Bela in Cutch

Jhaliji Uchhab Kunwarba of Dhrangadhra State

Jethwaji Phool Kunwarba of Porbandar State

Jhaliji Krishna Kunwarba of Dhrangadhra State

| spouse-type = Spouse

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| issue = Khengarji III

Karan Sinhji

Pran Kunwarba m.to HH Maharaja Sir Dungar Singh of Bikaner State

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| house = Jadeja

| house-type = Dynasty

| father = Deshalji II

| mother = Jhaliji Roop Kunwarba d.of Maharana Raj Saheb Amar Sinhji of Dhrangadhra State

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HH Maharajadhiraj Mirza Maharao Shri Sir Pragmalji II Saheb Bahadur, {{post-nominals|country=GBR|GCSI}} (1839−1875) (reign 1860–1875) was the ruler of Cutch State, belonging to the Jadeja dynasty who ascended the throne upon death of his father & predecessor Rao Deshalji II on 26 July 1860 and ruled till his death on 19 December 1875.[http://uqconnect.net/~zzhsoszy/ips/misc/kutch_tree.html Jadeja dynasty of Kutch -Family Tree] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110613165408/http://uqconnect.net/~zzhsoszy/ips/misc/kutch_tree.html |date=2011-06-13 }}

He was a progressive ruler and the forts of Mandvi, Mundra were re-built during his time. The embankment of Hamirsar Lake, Prag Mahal in the capital city of Bhuj were other constructions during his reign. It was during his reign the system of state-funded education started.[http://kachchh.webs.com/historyofkutch.htm Reign Of Pragmalji state-funded education started in Kutch]

In 1870 he started Alfred High School, the first high school of Kutch at Bhuj.[https://books.google.com/books?id=NhcIAQAAIAAJ&q=ALFRED] Gazetteer of the Bombay Presidency: Cutch, Pálanpur, and Mahi Kántha. 1880, Page 205.Kutch Gurjar Kshatriyas : A brief History & Glory: by Raja Pawan Jethwa, Calcutta, 2007 Page:63 Jairam Ruda Gajdhar of Mistri community was the Gaidher of the State during reign of Pragmulji II and part of reign Khengwarji Bawa, when Prag Mahal, Alfred High School, Fergusson Museum, embankment of Hamirsar Lake, etc. were constructed. He was succeeded by his son Khengarji III of Kutch. Prag Mahal, named after him, which was commissioned by him in the year 1865, designed by Colon Wilkins, was built for by the British architects and the Kutchi builders was completed after his death in the year 1879 during reign of his son, Khengarji III.[http://www.asanjokutch.com/content/monuments.asp?main_cat=visitor Prag Mahal -This palace was built for Rao Pragmalji II (1860-75) by the British architects and the Kutchi builders] The Port Police, Special cell for minerals, Forest officers for forest protection and the first Bhuj Municipality was formed during the reign of Pragmulji.[http://www.panjokutch.com/history/html/histo_5a.htm The touch of modernization in Kutch] The civil and army laws were framed under guidance of British. Also the modernization set foot in Kutch with the appointment of Non Kutchi Dewan Dewan Bahadur Krishnaji Tulkar, Police Commissioner Pandurang Shivram, and as the Chief Justice Shri Vinayakrao Bhagwat in which only Kutchis were appointed till then.

File:Kutch kori of Pragmalji II.jpg of Pragmalji II, struck at the Bhuj mint, dated 1866]]