Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj Jayanti: Lesser known facts about King of Kolhapur on birth anniversary

New Delhi: Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj, also known by the names Shahu or Rajarshi Shahu Maharaj, was the first king or Maharaja of Kolhapur. He hailed from the Bhonsle dynasty of the Maratha rulers. He reigned from 1894-1922.

Shahu Maharaj was a social reformer and highly influenced by Jyotiba Phule. He was born on June 26, 1874, and breathed his last on May 6, 1922, at the age of 47. 

On Rajarshi Shahu Maharaj’s birth anniversary, netizens paid tribute to the erstwhile Maratha ruler. 

आदर्श राज्यकर्ते व सामाजिक सुधारणांचे पुरस्कर्ते, सर्व सामान्य बहुजन समाजाला स्वाभिमानाचे नवे जीवन देणारे छत्रपती राजर्षी #शाहूमहाराज यांना जयंती दिनी विनम्र अभिवादन ! #ShahuMaharaj #ShahuMaharajJayanti pic.twitter.com/DCGC1EKhmB

— Dr. Subhash Bhamre (@DrSubhashMoS) June 26, 2020

रयतेच्या हिताचा कारभार कसा करावा याचे उत्तम उदाहरण म्हणजे राजर्षि शाहू महाराज महाराजांनी घेतलेले अनेक क्रांतिकारक निर्णय व कल्याणकारी हूकूम आजही समाजाला मार्गदर्शक आहेत असे लोककल्याणकारी राजे छत्रपती राजर्षि शाहू महाराजांना जयंतीदिनी मानाचा मूजरा !#ShahuMaharajJayanti pic.twitter.com/EnSvzXH8BP

— nikhil_b_deshmukh (@NikhilD06448752) June 26, 2020

पुरोगामी महाराष्ट्राचे शिरोबिंदू, सामाजिक चळवळीतील थोर समाजसुधारक #राजर्षी_छत्रपती_शाहु_महाराज यांना जयंतीदिनानिमित्त विनम्र अभिवादन..! #ShahuMaharajJayanti #bjymmaharashtra #bjym pic.twitter.com/WFejjzZ40t

— Yogesh Maind (@iyogeshmaind) June 26, 2020

विलासराव देशमुखांमुळे शासकीय पातळीवर शाहू महाराजांची जयंती सुरू झाली.- @bolbhidu #VilasraoDeshmukh https://t.co/JTqRxurDvR

— Riteish Deshmukh (@Riteishd) June 26, 2020

On his birth anniversary, let’s take a look at some of the lesser-known facts about Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj: 

He was born to Jaisingrao Ghatge and Radhabai. His father was the village chief, and mother was from the royal family of Mudhol. Shahu was first named Yeshwantrao.

He was later adopted by Queen Anandibai, widow of King Shivaji IV, of the princely state of Kolhapur. Till the age of 10, his father taught him but after that, he went to Rajkumar College, Rajkot.

Shahu Maharaj enjoyed wrestling as a sport.

He married Lakshmibai Khanvilkar, a nobleman’s daughter from Baroda in 1891 and were blessed with four children – two daughters and two sons.

Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj worked towards women emancipation in his region. He constructed schools for education and also legalised widow remarriage in 1917.

After his death, Shahu Maharaj was succeeded by his eldest son Rajaram III as the Maharaja of Kolhapur.

Here’s to hail the spirit of Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj on his birth anniversary!