User:Patelurology2/Chester Macnaghten


 * Rajkumar College, Rajkot Principal 1870-96 <
 * Forty years of The Rajkumar College Rajkot by Chester Macnaghten* Macnaghten photo

Chester Macnaghten (1843-96 Died Bombay) - Forty years of the Rajkumar College: an account of the origin and progress of the Rajkumar College, Rajkot. Vol. 6, pt. 6, appendices / prepared and abridged from​ ...


 * User:Patelurology2/Article_Preparation_page_for_Alumni_of_Rajkumar_College, _Rajkot
 * The Alumni In Memoriam of The Rajkumar College, Rajkot


 * Macnaghten, Chester, born on 4 May 1843 (1843-1896) d. 10 Feb 1896   - one of 11+3? children of Elliot Macnaghten ; Melville Macnaghten was the youngest brother

Genealogy Geni Died Bombay father Elliot Workman Macnaghten mother Isabella Law Geni  Born Calcutta
 * Clan_Macnaghten- see modern history

Macnaghten had an immense effect on the Darbhanga Princely order especially the young prince Lakshmeshwar Singh educated under western system of education as the norm for the British and the mother and family at large wanting also to impart Brahmin cultural education may also have educated the tutor being ready for training some 170 students at the first public school in British India at the Rajkumar College Rajkot.

Macnaghten's skills manifested in training the first student(s) from age 2 to 18 in Darbhanga; Lakshmeshwar Singh (ruled 1860 to 1898) (born 25 September 1858, died 17 December 1898). He was a philanthropist and great legislator in the British India Parliament then in Calcutta. His statue (by Edward Onslow Ford) was installed in Calcutta in 1904 at Dalhousie Square as a tribute to him. Lakshmeshwar Singh was only two years old his father's death, so Raj Darbhanga was placed under Ward of Court. He was the first Maharaja of Darbhanga to receive a western education, from a British tutor, Chester Mcnaughten (who was later the founding principal of the Rajkumar College, Rajkot), and took over the reins of Raj Darbhanga on 25 September 1879 after attaining his majority. He devoted himself to public works and was recognised as one of the greatest nobles and philanthropists of India at that time. On 22 June 1897, he was advanced to the rank of Knight Grand Commander of the Most Eminent Order of the Indian Empire.

- available to upload gold medal images
 * Chester Macnaghten Annual Science Price, by Chester Macnaghten, The Principal 1870-96, The Rajkumar College, Rajkot


 * Bio in Dictionary of Indian Biography By Charles Edward Buckland 1906 & 1971
 * The Games Ethic and Imperialism: Aspects of the Diffusion of an Ideal By J.A. Mangan
 * Colonial Childhoods: The Juvenile Periphery of India 1850-1945
 * Cricket has been played in the Saurashtra region, which came to be known at that time as Kathiawar, for last one hundred and fifty years or so NOW IN 2019: thanks to the efforts by The Principals of Rajkumar College, Rajkot, Mr. Chester MacNaghten (1871-1896) and then Mr. C. W. Waddington (1896-1903
 * THE POWER BEHIND THE THRONE: RELATIONSBETWEEN THE BRITISH AND THE INDIAN STATES 1870-1909
 * Mr Mac's friendly fellow BOTANIST JAYKRISHNABHAI: 1849-1929 by J J Shah (Received 29 May 2013) Jayakrishna Indraji


 * Married Isabella Julia Hodgkinson, daughter of Reverend G Hodgkinson, in 1880. Married 2nd Susan Ferrier (died 25 July 1906)
 * Died 10 February 1896 at age 52; the boys at Rajkumar College, Rajkot were his tutored-children; though, survived by wife, the 170 boys, during his reign, were part of his heritage by tutorship, besides of course, Lakshmeshwar Singh, the Maharaja of Darbhanga, his first student. Trinity College Cambridge Master of Arts (M.A.). Charles Mosley, editor, Burke's Peerage, Baronetage & Knightage, 107th edition, 3 volumes (Wilmington, Delaware, U.S.A.: Burke's Peerage (Genealogical Books) Ltd, 2003), volume 2, page 2543. Hereinafter cited as Burke's Peerage and Baronetage, 107th edition
 * ready to read book Chester Macnaughten
 * Founding Principal Rajkumar College, Rajkot

[1] trust for the relief of poverty; [2] trust for the advancement of education; [3] trusts for the advancement of religion; and [4] trusts for other purposes beneficial to the community, not falling under any of the preceding heads.” [www.tutortales.org/wp-content/.../topic-9-charitable-trusts-outline.doc ]
 * Macnaghten baronets
 * 
 * Lord Macnaghten:created more modern meaning of “charity” ‘Charity’ in its legal sense comprises four principal divisions:


 * Macnaghten baronets
 * Clan Macnaghten
 * Clan Magnaghten Worldwide Assoc
 * Father Elliot Macnaghten Elliot Workman Macnaughten - (1807-88) Essex, England, Member of the Supreme Court, Calcutta and Vice President of the India Council, Chairman of the East India Company in 1855. Melville Macnaghten - youngest brother
 * Mother Isabella Law married Elliot Macnaughten, St Paul's cathedral calcutta
 * Nephew Charles, son of Melville of Jack The Ripper Fame
 * Uncle- William Hay Macnaghten,Bart - (1793-1841) circa 1809 Bodyguard of the Governor of Madras and gained a reputation as a linguist and an expert in Hindu and Mohammedan law. Anglo-Indian diplomat with the Bengal Civil Service.  Principles of Hindu and Mohammadan law, republished from the Principles and Precedents of the same; [NOOK Book], Book W H Macnaughten


 * conflict resolution needed between other info from elsewhere as the basis of uncle and baronets-- see link The Macnaghten Baronets
 * Macnaghten baronets


 * Uncle Sir Edmund Charles Workman-Macnaghten, 2nd Baronet (1836)
 * Uncle - Edward Macnaghten, Baron Macnaghten, 3rd Baronet?
 * uncle Edward Macnaghten, Baron Macnaghten , 4th baronet?
 * Grandmother - Latita Dunkin Macnaghten - - Must have been quite distinguished because, in 1824, the year before her husband Francis retired from the Supreme Court at Calcutta, work began on building a ship that was launched in 1825—the Lady Macnaghten.
 * Grandfather - Sir Francis Workman-Macnaghten, knt. (later Sir Francis Workman-Macnaghten, 1st Baronet):Sir Francis Workman Macnaughten 1st Baronet 1791, High Sheriff of Calcutta; Judge of the Supreme Court of Judicature, Madras 1809, Supreme Court of Bengal at Calcutta 1815-25, Chief of Macnaughten clan 1832 (1763-1843); father Elliot
 * Googleimages Chester Macnaghten

The New Life in Hinduism, by the Maharaja of Darbhanga. ...... Man- Chester. Vol. I.: Literary Texts (Nos. 1-61). ...... Lord Curzon on Christianity in India. The Noble Eight-Fold Path of the Buddhists. ...... The Entering Wedge - - Professor MCNAUGHTON. A Working Library of Islam - - S. M. ZWEMEB. ... www.archive.org/stream/.../luzacsorienta22a23luzauoft_djvu.txt
 * Maharaja Lakshmeshwar Singh
 *  Full text of "Luzac's oriental list and book review quarterly" Key words in Google  Lord Curzon Chester_Mcnaughton Darbhanga
 * History of Macnaughtons in India Key words in Google '' Lord Curzon Chester_Mcnaughton Darbhanga
 * Google search Chester Macnaghten
 * Carthusian


 * The Botanist! Chester Macnaghten in HISTORICAL NOTE: BOTANIST JAYKRISHNABHAI, Indian Journal of History of Science
 * DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION of Bombay presidency incl Aden etc Macnaghten's RKC reports for 1881-82
 * Full text of "Common Thoughts on Serious Subjects: Being Addresses to the Elder Kumars of the Rajkumar College ..."
 * Common Thoughts on Serious Subjects: Being Addresses to the Elder Kumars of the Rajkumar College Author: Chester Macnaghten Book cover
 * Common Thoughts on Serious Subjects: Being Addresses to the Elder Kumars of the Rajkumar College Author: Chester Macnaghten- Publisher: John Murray - Year: 1896- Possible copyright status: NOT_IN_COPYRIGHT-Language: English-Digitizing sponsor: Google-Book from the collections of: New York Public Library-Collection: americana see link below to page- ready to read book


 * ready to read Chester Macnaughten book based on article in the Times of May 11th, 1896
 * Chester Macnaghten High School, Idar- Named by a student, the Maharaja of Idar.
 * Botanist Chester Macnaghten address on " The Flowers of the Field " described by a Brahmin friend instinctual: " to me he was a father and more than a father, whom I asked about Botany... " - Botanical collections are in Rajkot. Jayakrishna Indraji
 * Common Thoughts on Serious Subjects: Being Addresses to the Elder Kumars of the Rajkumar College, Kathiawar(ISBN 10: 1144690757/ISBN 13: 9781144690753 )Macnaghten, Chester
 * Rajkumar College 1875 marksheet of Reshrisinghji signed Chester Macnaghten
 * Common thoughts on serious subjects : being addresses to the elder Kumars of the Rajkumar College, Kathiawar / by the late Chester Macnaghten, with and introduction by Robert Whitelaw.- a photo of Mr Mac

<!--- It may be of interest to some of the Old Boys to know that Miss Cooper’s designation was Warden Principal. In my turn I (Ayaaz Khan Babi of Pajod ) was the Director with the responsibilities of a principal. I am very pleased with Pradeep, and indeed all others who look at the bright side, for those who find the glass half full not half empty. Cynicism does not help or show us in good light. Mr. Adhikari is the 15th Principal of RkC in its checkered history of over 140 years, most of who have served the school with great distinction. Of the 14 past Principals four or may be five left within 3years or less. Mr. P Rogerson 28 years, Mr Macnaghten 27 years, Mr. WynterBlyth 15 Years, Mr. Barrit 12+ years and Miss Cooper 10 years were of course exceptional. They devoted the best years of their lives in the service of the institution that we love. Pradip has stated a belief that I have often expressed myself in slightly different words, the school’s destiny dictates the selection of its Head. There could not have been a better person than Mr.Macnaghten  as its first Principal. His secular and yet spiritual inclination, patience, calm disposition won the confidence of the Maharainis and Begums so much so that they overcame their reluctance and firmly embedded fears to send their  kunvars to an  unknown situation. Waddington, Mayne and Turner made ideal followers of his footsteps. Then came three not so dynamic and one almost wishy- washy persons to hold the reigns. When the school was falling apart in name and fame and especially monetary conditions the destiny pulled out Mr. Barritt from Doon to RkC. The person who changed it into a Public School (1938) from it being exclusively for the Princes. Before leaving he had sat it well on the road to success and left behind Mr. Sprawson, who he had brought along with him from Doon, to carry on. In the Pre- independence and early post independence days we needed stoic, no –nonsense man. Mr.Wynter Blyth fitted the bill perfectly. He presided over the school at a time when the school premises was to be taken over by the Saurashtra Ministry for it legislative assembly. He functioned as a firm Deputy to the Jam Saheb who  threatened the powers that be by stating that he would  rather  dynamite  the buildings than meekly hand them over. When Mr W. passed away in Switzerland in 1963 the strength of the students in school had risen to over 350 from Over 60 in 1949 when he had taken charge as the Principal. Rather unemotionally, I confess that I have often stated that he passed away at the right time. The cultural and political scenario was fast changing and it was becoming a little difficult for a man of few words and seeming stubbornness and adamant stances would have become soon untenable. The Englishman, who was considered to be more Indian, one who could converse in chaste Hindi and Gujarati too, one with a star personality, one who spoke to each visitor however powerful or meek with the same courtesy and could spend hours listening to what the visitor had to say was the need of the hour. Peter Rogerson’s performance as the House Master for last 14 years ( 1949 – 63) anyway had to be recognized. Is it at all surprising that he ended up as the longest serving Principal, wining recognition for the school at national level, being elected the  Chairman of the IPSC, honoured with OBE and making extraordinarily positive educational systematic changes in school. The strength of the school over 700! Interestingly Mr. Rogerson was aging just a few years behind Jawaharlal Nehru. At National level when the question being asked was “Who after Nehru?” a similar question was being asked in the RkC world, “Who after Rogerson?”. For us at Rkc the answer was unanimous: “Miss Cooper”. The school authorities took their time. Looked around and came to the inevitable  decision: R F Cooper. Each one of these stalwarts were different and yet devoted and more importantly the right kind of persons at the right time. So I believe it would continue. I do believe and hope and pray that Mr. Adhikari is the right person at the right time. Regarding ‘insider’ and ‘outside’, the distinction basically seems to talk about those who had had been RKCians or those who had not. From the very beginning the choice has more often than not fallen on an insider (RKCian). Though from 1963 to 2013, the last fifty years, it has been an insider only – a little too long I feel. (Rogerson, Cooper, Mahipatsinh, Ayaazkhan, Thakkar). --->


 * Idar High School built by Keshrisihji Jaswantsihnji of Idar, a student of Chester Macnaughten & originally named after the Principal
 * Idar High School built by Keshrisihji Jaswantsihnji of Idar, a student of Chester Macnaughten & originally named after the Principal

For the next 19 years, till he attained majority, he was caught in political one-upmanship between his mother, who was supported by family priests, and the Tutors appointed by the British Government, who wanted him to be free from Zenana influence. He along with his younger brother Rameshwar Singh (who became Maharaja of Darbhanga after Lakshmeshwar Singh's death) received a western education from Government appointed tutors as well as a traditional Indian education from a Sanskrit Pandit, one of his uncles, a Maulvi and a Bengali gentleman. During the period when Lakshmeshwar Singh was under the guardianship of the Court of Wards, he received a monthly allowance of Rs.5 a month even though the annual income of his estate was equivalent to a six digit figure in pounds sterling.

On attaining his majority, Lakshmeshwar Singh devoted himself entirely to public duties of his position. He was appointed and served as a Member of the Legislative Council of the Viceroy. He was also one of nine members of the Royal Commission on Opium of 1895, formed by the British Government. Haridas Viharidas Desai, the Diwan of Junagadh, was the only other Indian member.

Lakshmeshwar Singh championed freedom of speech, personal and political rights. In 1898, he and W. C. Banerjee, were the only prominent Indians to publicly criticize and fight against the proposed widening of scope of section 124-A and 153-A of the Indian Penal Code that was meant to suppress freedom of press in reporting news that could be deemed seditious in nature or against Government policy and insertion of section 108 in Indian Penal Code that gave right to postal authorities to seize any material that was suspected of containing matter obnoxious to section 124-A and 153-A of Indian Penal Code.

Lakshmeshwar Singh died on 17 December 1898. He did not have any children and thus his younger brother, Rameshwar Singh, succeeded him as Maharaja. -->

Macnaghten 170 of The Princely Order of India
170 is an estimate with graduated Kumars and estimated in college at the time of of Mr Macnaghten's demise; below link gives another reference to actual 170- the then current Kumars at least in Junior need to be confirmed -- the above estimate of 170 by the writer (me) includes a cursory college length and attendance at that time to get to the very youngest (the then youngest as the avg age initially was higher.


 * Mac 170 : Forty Years (1870-1910) of the Rajkumar College. Rajkot abridged from the papers of the late Chester Macnaghten first principal of the college and other sources. Compiled by Sir H.H. Bhavsinhji, Maharaja of Bhavnagar.
 * Mac 170 :--. RKC 1870-1910 needs to search new link


 * Mac 170 : The Ruling Chiefs of Western India and the Rajkumar College By Alumnus, Nawabzada Nasrullah Khan 1904: Preface written by himself dated : Oct 1898- resources to track other Mac 170.Other books with mention of Nawabzada Nasrullah Khan
 * Mac 170 : Colonial Childhoods: The Juvenile Periphery of India 1850-1945 Anthem South Asian Studies Paperback:Satadru Sen
 * Mac 170 : Ruling Chiefs Western India Rajkumar College Books
 * Mac 170 : Migrant Races: Empire, Identity and K.S. Ranjitsinhji By Satadru Sen
 * Mac 170 : Sovereignty, Power, Control: Politics in the States of Western India, 1916-1947By John McLeod


 * Mac 170 : Report of the director of public instruction in the Bombay Presidency for....


 * Mac 170 : Forty years of the Rajkumar College: an account of the origin and progress of the Rajkumar College, Rajkot, Volume 1 likewise vol 2


 * Mac 170 : Memoranda on the Indian States same for most others of the 170


 * Mac 170 : Raje Ramrao College, Jath, Dr. Rajendra Prasad, Correspondence and Select Documents: 4 January 1949 to.. By Dr Rajendra Prasad : correspondent to Dr Prasad in service of Jath State? : Son, Vijasingg Ramrao Chauhan Bahadur, the Raje of Jath elected to Bombay Assembly with thumping majority, the citing his retired satisfied life

Bahujan Revolutionary King Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj -in Annihilate Caste — by Tata Sivaih —January 14, 2017 Full text of "Shahu Chhatrapati A Royal Revolutionary" Contribution and Development of the Maratha’s Education: A Analytical Study on ‘Chhatrapati Shahu’ Links for Shahu by keywords in the link
 * Mac 170 : What is the great work done by Rajarshree Shahu Maharaj (Kolhapur Princely) ?
 * Rajarshi Shahu Chhatrapati of Kolhapur, a reformer ahead of his time
 * Special mention Pre-RKC for Lakshmeshwar Singh of Darbhanga, Macgnaghten's first student in India


 * Head Boys upto 1905( see below )

-- 3rd table below from NasrullahKhan of Sachin : usage of 'singji' in name will be regularised to possibly sinhji as per current usage

see in table above.. 1 to 20 and possibly few to follow already tabulated -- total 3 tables created
 * 4th table from google search old register circa 1878-79
 * Occupations of Fantaya Kumars and Bhayats
 * 1 1871-72Jasvantsinhji of Limbdi "Indian folklore (being a collection of tales illustrating the customs and manners of the Indian people.)"
 * 2 1873-74 Harisinhji of Sihor : ) Harisinhji Rupsinhji of Varal.(1858- 1903), Fellow Theosophical Soc.Old Diary Leaves: 1883-87 By Henry Steel Olcott- s RKC ? younger? Cousins, Ramsinhji Devisinhji: Bhupatsinhji Vijaysinhji of Bhimbad and Surka-  Raisinhji Narharsinhji, Ramsinhji Narharsinhji, Ranjisinhji Bhupatsinhji, Jaisinhji Motibhai of Lakhanka-- all under Bhavnagar
 * 3 1875-76 Jasvantsinhji of Limbdi
 * 4 1877-80 Harbhamji of Morvi  You may perhaps have heard from Kumar Shri Harbhamji of Morvi (younger brother of H. H. the Thakor Sahib of Morvi), formerly a student of the Trinity College Law being around the table for acceptance to the Bar with outward appearance is most one could gather, but as rightly pointed out by Mr Mac, the human inside is difficult to fathom...
 * 5 1881-82 Bhagvatsinhji of Gondal
 * 6 1883 Vakhatsinhji of Vala  ( 1875-1943 ) Sovereignty, Power, Control: Politics in the States of Western India, 1916-1947By John McLeod
 * 7 1884 Nasrullakhan of Schin : Mac 170.The Ruling Chiefs of Western India and the Rajkumar College By Alumnus, Nawabzada Nasrullah Khan 1904: Preface written by himself dated : Oct 1898- Mac 170.Other books with mention of Nawabzada Nasrullah Khan


 * 8 1885-88 Ramsinhji of Sihor -  Cousins, Ramsinhji Devisinhji: Bhupatsinhji Vijaysinhji of Bhimbad and Surka- Raisinhji Narharsinhji, Ramsinhji Narharsinhji, Ranjisinhji Bhupatsinhji, Jaisinhji Motibhai of Lakhanka-- all under Bhavnagar

Joint >
 * 9 1888 Ranjitsinhji of Jamnagar
 * 10 1889 Gigawala of Bagasra -  Report of the director of public instruction in the Bombay Presidency for....
 * 11 1890-91 Shivsinhji of Mundetti
 * 12 1892-93 Lakhubhai of Jamnagar
 * 13 1894 Takhatsinhji of Mansa
 * 14 1895 Sursinhji of Utelia - [ http://books.google.com/books?id=w2kgAQAAMAAJ&q=1895+Sursinhji+of+Utelia&dq=1895+Sursinhji+of+Utelia&hl=en&sa=X&ei=J-WcUeCiN7eq4APG34DgCw&ved=0CC0Q6AEwAA Forty years of the Rajkumar College: an account of the origin and progress of the Rajkumar College, Rajkot, Volume 1] likewise vol 2
 * 15 1896 Amarsinhji of Wankaner : Captain Sir Amarsinhji Sahib, built the Ranjit Vilas Palace on a hill, overlooking Wankaner town. It took seven years to complete (1907-14 AD) and was designed by Amarsinhji himself. It was inaugurated by and named after his dear friend Jam Ranjitsinhji of Jamnagar.
 * 16 1897-98 Joravarsinhji of Bhavnagar
 * 17 1899-1900 Joravarkhanji of Warahi - Memoranda on the Indian States same for most others of the 170
 * ? 1901 Mohd Kulikhan of Khambhat  Mohd Kulikhan of Khambhat. 19. 1902-03.?
 * ?19 1902-03 Ibrahimkhanji of Sachin Ibrahimkhanji of Sachin. 20. 1904  ?
 * ?20 1904 Lakhajiraj of Rajkot
 * 21 Ramrao of Jath - User:Patelurology2/Raja Ramrav II of Jath, MaharashtraRaje Ramrao College, Jath Dr. Rajendra Prasad, Correspondence and Select Documents: 4 January 1949 to ... By Rajendra Prasad:Dr Rajendra Prasad in ? service of Jath State : Son, Vijasingg Ramrao Chauhan Bahadur, the Raje of Jath elected to Bombay Assembly with thumping majority, the citing his retired satisfied life
 * 22 1905 Ramrao of Jath

Mr Mac was the Principal 1870-96: still more juniors might have been under his tutelage; the tablet listing the 170 fellows, referred to in Macnaghten Addresses in the preface, would be at the school; anyway the school has the list; above simply is effort by derivation.
 * Other than Head Boys- see below:
 * Takhtsinhji Bhavnagar, Son Bhavsinhji II Takhatsinhji (b. 1875 - d. 1919)
 * Ramsingh Jadeja Jamnagar
 * Keshrisihji Jaswantsihnji of Idar- Idar High School opeining by Chester Macnaughten: (October 1901-30 November 1901), r. October-30 November 1901. A posthumous son of Sir Keshrisinhji, who "ruled" from his birth, eight months after his father's death, to his own death a month later...VII. Lieutenant-General Maharajadhiraja Maharaja Sri Sir Pratap Singh, GCB, GCSI, GCVO, LLD (22 October 1845-4 September 1922), r. January 1902-May 1911 Pratap Singh of Idar
 * Abdulkadir Mohamad Yakut Khan of Sachin
 * Ibrahim Mohamed Yakut Khan III of Sachin
 * Savantvadi-Raghunath Sawant Bhonsle 1877
 * Savanur - Abdul Dalelkhan circa 1877
 * Dharampur - 1891 - 1921 Mohandevji Dharma Dev b 9th June 1863,
 * Vakhatsinhji Dalesinhji of Lunawada
 * Kolhapur  Shahaji ii Chhatrapati Jashwant b 1874 d1922
 * Porbunder  Bhavsinhji Madhavsinhji  Rana b 1867
 * Bantva-Manavadar Ghazanfar Khanji Zorawar Khanji Babi of Bantva-Manavadar
 * Bantva-Manavadar Fateh ud-din Khanji Ghazanfar Khanji Babi of Bantva-Manavadar
 * Bantva-Manavadar Kamal ud-din Khanji Ghazanfar Khanji Babi.<--- b 1888 ---> Imperial Cadet Corps, Dehra Dun

<!---<!---===1900s and Maharaja Vijaysinhji=== The golden period of Rajpipla during the modern era began when Maharana Gambhirsinhji's son, Maharana Chhatrasinhji, the 35th Gohil ruler of Rajpipla came to the gadi in 1897 A.D. Rajpipla witnessed rapid progress over the next half-century. Knighthood was conferred on Maharana Chhatrasinhji (KCIE) as a result of his efficient administration. This included laying of the 60-mile (90 kilometres) railway line connecting Rajpipla to Ankleshwar on the main Delhi-Ahmedabad-Bombay line, initiated in the first year of his reign, and massive famine relief during the period 1899-1902. Maharana Chhatrasinhji was one of the pioneers of motoring in India, owning cars like the Wolseley 6 hp 1903-04, Armstrong Siddeley 15 hp 1906 and Clement Bayard 16 hp.

However, the builder of contemporary, affluent Rajpipla was his son, Maharana Vijaysinhji, who ascended the gadi in 1915 A.D. Educated at Rajkumar College, Rajkot and a member of the Imperial Cadet Corp, Dehra Dun, Maharana Vijaysinhji proved to be a great administrator, assisted by his karbhari Rasikbhai Dubla. Knighthood was conferred on Maharaja Vijaysinhji (KCSI), and he received the hereditary title of Maharaja. The gun salute for the ruler of Rajpipla was raised from 11 to 13. During World War I Rajpipla State supplied many recruits. In recognition of his services Maharaja Vijaysinhji received the honorary rank of Captain in the British Army.

Maharaja Sir Vijaysinhji built a huge, exquisitely-designed high school where only nominal fees were charged, and introduced free primary education and scholarships. He constructed a civil hospital, maternity hospital, five dispensaries and a veterinary hospital in the State. A criminal-and-civil court was established, pensions were paid to public servants, and the salaries of the police and military were increased. Maharaja Vijaysinhji ordered the laying of extensive public works and good motorable roads. He added the 40-mile (64 kilometres) Jhagadia-Netrang section to Rajpipla State Railway established during his father's reign. He also set up a 19-mile (31 kilometres) steam railroad and tramway connecting the towns along the river Narmada with villages in the interior, and a power house supplying electricity and water to Rajpipla town. Even though taxes were reduced in terms of percentage, the revenue of the State increased from Rupees 1,300,000 to Rupees 2,700,000 per annum in the period 1915-1930, and peaked at Rupees 3,600,000 in 1948 when the State merged with the Indian Union. Maharaja Vijaysinhji regularised the land revenue system, and his relief efforts during droughts and floods drew wide appreciation. He had a keen interest in agriculture and improved the quality of cotton, grains and fruits grown in his territory. His town planning in 1927 was far-sighted, and builders were given permission to construct, conditional to leaving 3 to 4 feet (about 1 metre) space for future widening of roads. The designs of new buildings were well integrated and in harmony with the surroundings.

Sports were Maharaja Vijaysinhji's passion. He was a keen horseman and maintained one of the finest stables of race horses in India and England, marked by quality and not quantity. Maharaja Vijaysinhji won the first Indian Derby in 1919 when his horse Tipster led the pack at the finish. His horse Embargo won the Irish Derby in 1926 and Grand Prix in Belgium in 1927. Other horses, like Melesigenes, won him nearly all the big prizes in races at Bombay, Poona and other Indian courses, and in 1932-33 he topped the racing events in India. But, doubtlessly, his best horse was Windsor Lad, that won the coveted Epsom Derby of England in 1934. Maharaja Vijaysinhji is still the only Indian owner to have bagged the English Derby, considered the greatest horse race in the world, cheered on by an estimated quarter to half a million people on the course that day. King George V and Queen Mary of Britain, who watched the race along with other members of the Royal Family, invited Maharaja Vijaysinhji to the Royal Box and felicitated him on this brilliant victory. In the process the Maharaja completed a brilliant hat-trick of Derby wins: the first-ever Indian Derby, the Irish Derby and the coveted Epsom Derby of England, making him arguably the greatest Indian racehorse owner.

Maharaja Vijaysinhji spent much of the summer sporting season in England, and returned to India in the winter when he encouraged outdoor sports like cricket, football and hockey. Sports were made compulsory for students of Rajpipla State. He equipped Rajpipla with a polo ground and gymkhana club. A unique feature of the Rajpipla royal family was its polo team comprising Maharaja Vijaysinhji and his three sons Yuvraj Rajendra Singhji, Maharajkumar Pramod Singhji and Maharajkumar Indrajeet Singhji. Having a passion for cars like his father, Maharaja Vijaysinhji owned twelve Rolls-Royce cars, from the Silver Ghost 1913 to the Phantom III 1937, which were based at his palaces in Rajpipla, and stately homes in Bombay and Windsor. In his garages could be found several makes and models of the finest cars.

During World War II, Maharaja Vijaysinhji donated three Spitfire fighter planes, named 'Rajpipla', 'Windsor Lad' and 'Embargo', and a Hawker Hurricane aircraft 'Rajpipla II'. He was awarded the Knight Grand Cross (GBE).

One of Maharaja Vijaysinhji's dreams for Rajpipla, a 150 acre aerodrome, never saw fruition as he had to give up his powers in 1948. But he did lay out an airstrip where aircraft landed in the 1930s and 1940s. He also had plans to build a dam across the river Narmada to facilitate irrigation and generate electricity, and was in the process of raising the investment for it. This was the precursor to the present-day gigantic Sardar Sarovar project.

Surprisingly, Maharaja Vijaysinhji who was known for his long sojourns in Europe and his alliance with the British crown, started a nationalist movement in Rajpipla in the 1940s. Along with his fellow Gohil-Sisodia Rajput rulers of Udaipur and Bhavnagar, he was one of the first to hand over his State to the forces of Indian democracy in 1948 along with Rupees 2,800,000 (Rs. 2.8 million) that were deposited in the State treasury. He urged other Indian rulers to give up their States in the cause of a united nation at a meeting held at 'Palm Beach', his Nepeansea Road residence in Bombay. The State was merged with the Indian Union on 10 June 1948, bringing to an end the 600-year rule of the Gohil dynasty over Rajpipla. Maharaja Vijaysinhji passed away at his estate 'The Manor' at Old Windsor in England in 1951, and was cremated at Rampura on the banks of the holy river Narmada, 18 kilometres from his former capital. --->


 * REPORT ON THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE BOMBAY PRESIDENCY FOR THE YEAR 1881-82

Mac170 : Nasrulla Khan Book

The Elliot & Isabella Macnaghten 11+3?

 * Melville Macnaghten - son, Charles
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 * Work in progress congruency sought : see in edit mode i.e. click on the tab edit next to The Elliot Macnaghten 11+3 title.