Waghji II Rawaji

Waghji II Rawaji
Thakore of Morvi
Reign17 February 1870 – 11 June 1922
PredecessorRawaji II Prithirajji
SuccessorLakhdirji Waghji
Born(1858-04-07)7 April 1858
Died11 June 1922(1922-06-11) (aged 64)
SpouseBajirajba Kunverba
Issue
Detail
  • Lakhdirji Waghji
  • Ajitsinhji Waghji
  • Chandrasinhji Waghji
  • Shivsinhji Waghji
  • Amarsinhji Waghji
  • Pratapsinhji Waghji
House Morvi
DynastyJadeja
FatherRawaji II Prithirajji
EducationRajkumar College, Rajkot

Waghji II Rawaji was the Thakore of Morvi from 1870 until his death in 1922.

Early life, family, and education

He was born on 7 April 1858 to Rawaji II Prithirajji.[1][2] He was educated at Rajkumar College, Rajkot, where he remained for six years, and was among its first students.[2][3] On leaving the college in 1876, he donated the sum of Rs. 30,000 to his alma mater for the Endowment Fund of the college.[3] He married Bajirajba Kunverba, who was from Palitana, and, apart from her, he had a few other wives.[1] He had issue, six sons, namely Lakhdirji Waghji, Ajitsinhji Waghji, Chandrasinhji Waghji, Shivsinhji Waghji, Amarsinhji Waghji, and Pratapsinhji Waghji.[1]

Reign

Upon the death of his father on 17 February 1870, he succeeded him as the Thakore of Morvi, but on account of his minority at the time, the State was placed under the council of administration.[2][3][4] This council consisted of Shambu Prasad Laxmilal and Azam Jhunjhabhai Sakhidas.[3] They both carried on the administration on his behalf for a total of nine years.[5] In 1877 and 1878, he made a tour of India under the charge of Capt. Humfrey, after which he served as joint administrator with Shambu Prasad for one year.[5] He was invested with full administrative powers on 1 January 1879.[5][6] The first thing he did after assuming the reins of government was to build a bridge over the Machchhu river.[3] This bridge cost £30,000 and was opened in 1879.[3][5] He made a tour through Europe and America under the charge of W.H. White in 1883.[6][7]

Death

Waghji died on 11 June 1922 and was succeeded by his eldest son, Lakhdirji Waghji.[8][9]

References

  1. ^ a b c Soszynski, Henry. "MORVI". members.iinet.net.au. Archived from the original on 2017-07-09. Retrieved 2025-09-09.
  2. ^ a b c Lethbridge, Sir Roper (1900). The Golden Book of India. Macmillan. p. 186.
  3. ^ a b c d e f Solomon, R. V.; Bond, J. W. (2006). Indian States: A Biographical, Historical, and Administrative Survey. Asian Educational Services. p. 586. ISBN 978-81-206-1965-4.
  4. ^ Seesodia, Jessrajsingh (1915). The Rajputs: a Fighting Race: A Short Account of the Rajput Race, Its Warlike Past, Its Early Connections with Great Britain, and Its Gallant Services at the Present Moment at the Front. East and West, Limited. p. 136.
  5. ^ a b c d Gazetteer of the Bombay Presidency: Káthiáwar. Government Central Press. 1884. pp. 223, 551.
  6. ^ a b Hormazjī, Dhanjīshāh (1886). The Káthiáwár Directory (in Gujarati). Printed at the Svadesh Bándhav Press by Dámodar Goverdhandás Thakkar. p. 108.
  7. ^ Booth, Robert B. (1912). Life and Work in India: Embodying a Short Sketch of the History and Progress of Kathiawar from 1865 to 1899. J.G. Hammond. p. 58.
  8. ^ Gujarat (India) (1965). Gazetteers: Rajkot District. Directorate of Government Print., Stationery and Publications. p. 62.
  9. ^ A Genealogical and Heraldic History of the Peerage and Baronetage, the Privy Council, Knightage, and Companionage. 1934. p. 2776.