Portrait of Darbar hall, Bhor Rajwada Palace in 1920's.1930's Portrait of Lakshmi Vilas Palace, Pune of Gandekar Royal family.
The Gandekars (prominently known as The Pant Sachiv family) are the royal family of erstwhile Bhor State, who were rulers of the Bhor State from 1699 to 1948[1][2][3]
Previously they served as Sachivs to Chhatrapatis of Maratha Empire and later became independent rulers of the Bhor princely state. Under the British Raj, the Pant Sachiv Family are classified as first class Sardars.In 1917 the Ruler of Bhor was granted a permanent salute of 11 guns.[4][5]
History
The family of the Pant Sachiv is descended from Shankaraji Narayan Pant Sachiv, who was in 1697 appointed as hereditary Pant Sachiv and was awarded an estate or jagir and other hereditary rights (watans) for his services by Rajaram I, the third Chhatrapati of the Maratha state.[6]
The family name of Pant Sachiv's is Gandekar.The Gandekars are Deshastha Rigvedi Brahmins and were residents of Gandapur, a village, (now extinct) near Paithan.[7] The family deity of Bhor Royal family is Lord Rama.[8]
According to C. Ovans, the estate of the Pant Sachiv family consisted of 552 villages in 1838.[9]
Family tree
First generation
Shankaraji Narayan Gandekar (1665-1707), was the first of a series of hereditary Sachivs (Marathi for Secretary) hailing from the Marathi- Deshastha Brahmin family. Shankaraji first joined service under Pant Pradhan Moropant Pingale as an ordinary clerk. Within a few years of service, he was able to prove his high ability and valour and was appointed as Pant Sachiv by Rajaram I in 1697.[10][11]
Shankarrao I Ragunathrao adopted his Father's nephew as his son:
Chimnajirao II Shankarrao - 7th ruler of Bhor.[17]
Seventh generation
Chimnajirao II Shankarrao had adopted his nephew as his successor:
Ragunathrao I Chimnajirao - 8th ruler of Bhor.[18]
Eighth generation
Ragunathrao I Chimnajirao had adopted his nephew as his successor:
Chimnajirao III Ragunathrao - 9th ruler of Bhor.[19]
Ninth generation
Chimnajirao III Ragunathrao married and had a son:
Shankarrao Chimnajirao Gandekar - he was the 10th ruler of Bhor. He succeeded to the throne on 12 February 1871 as a minor. He was invested with full ruling powers on 20 July 1874 by the British Raj upon reaching maturity. The Raja was awarded with personal salute of 11 guns at the Delhi Durbar of 1911. He died on 17 July 1922.[20][21]
^Ian Copland (1982). British Raj and the Indian princes: paramountcy in western India, 1857-1930. Sangam Books. p. 13. After distinguishing themselves in the field as military commanders, they were appointed Pant Sachiv and Pant Pratinidhi respectively in 1698, receiving saranjams, or royal grants, from Rajaram
^The Imperial Gazetteer of India: Berhampore to Bombay. Today & Tomorrow's Printers & Publishers. 1972. p. 148. The chief has the title of Pandit of Bhor and Pant Sachiv, and ranks as a first-class Sardar of the Deccan. A tribute of Rs. 10,000, being the commuted value of an elephant subsidy once annually furnished by the chief, is paid
^Ranade, V.G. (1951). Life of His Highness Raja Shreemant Sir Raghunathrao S.: Alias Babasaheb Pandit Pant Sachiv, K.C.I.E., Raja of Bhor. p. cii. Shankaraji Narayan Gandekar, the first Pant £acl iv and The Founder of the Bhor State. The Gandekars are Deshastha Rigvedi Brahmans. They were, some two centuries back, residents of Gandapur, a village, (now extinct) near Paithan
^Arun Bhosale; Ashok S.; Chousalkar; Lakshminarayana Tarodi (2001). Freedom movement in princely states of Maharashtra. Shivaji University. p. 64. As a matter of fact, the founder of the State - Shankaraji Narayan Gandekar was a man of high ability and valour. The owner of a petty ancestral property, he joined service under Pant Pradhan Moropant Pingale as an ordinary clerk.
^Sir Roper Lethbridge (2005). The Golden Book of India: A Genealogical and Biographical Dictionary of the Ruling Princes, Chiefs, Nobles, and Other Personages, Titled Or Decorated of the Indian Empire. Aakar Books. p. 79.
