Newalkar Maharaja of Jhansi
Jhansi Fort hallway
Flag of Jhansi
Details
StyleIn the local Marathi, Sanskrit, Hindustani and Persian (local Bundeli) languages
First monarchRaghunath Rao I (alias Raghunath Hari Newalkar) (1769 – 1796)
Last monarchRani Lakshmi Bai as regent of Damodar Rao of Jhansi (4 June 1857 – 3/4 April 1858)[1]
Formation1769
Abolition5 April 1858
ResidenceJhansi Fort, Jhansi

Newalkar dynasty were Marathi Karhade Brahmins, who were the Maharajas of Jhansi from 1769 to 1858. Their family deity was goddess Mahalakshmi.[2][3] The Newalkars were sardars under Peshwa Madhavrao I, and later became Maharajas of Jhansi in Central India as an independent member of the Maratha Empire until 1818. Later, their kingdom became a princely state under the protectorate of British India.

The dynasty was founded with Raghunath Hari Newalkar,[3] who joined the service of the Peshwas of the Maratha Empire, and quickly rose to the ranks of Subedar.[4] The Newalkar Maharajas of Jhansi are a great patron of arts and music.[5] The name of the dynasty was associated with the title of the ruler, who was known informally as Newalkar Maharaja.

Newalkar Maharajas of Jhansi

The rulers from this dynasty are as follows:

  1. Raghunath Rao of Jhansi (a.k.a. Raghunath Hari Newalkar; 1769–1796)
  2. Shiv Hari Rao (1796–1811)
  3. Ramchandra Rao (1806–1835; Sakku Bai was regent at his minority, 1811–1835)[clarification needed]
  4. Raghunath Rao III (1835–1838)
    "Maharajadhiraj Fidvi Badshah Jamjah Englishtan", i.e. "faithful servant of the glorious king of England"[6]
  5. Sakku Bai as regent of Krishna Rao II (November 1838-5 January 1839)
  6. Gangadhar Rao (1843–21 November 1853)
  7. Rani Lakshmi Bai (21 November 1853–10 March 1854; as regent of Damodar Rao of Jhansi from 4 June 1857–4/5 April 1858)[7]

Queens

Some of the known Queens:

  1. Rani Padmabai (wife of Shiv Hari Rao)
  2. Rani Sakku Bai (wife of Krishna Rao and mother of Ramchandra Rao; Gangadhar's elder sister in law)
  3. Rani Janki Bai (first wife of Raghunath Rao III and his Royal consort; Gangadhar's younger sister in law)[8]
  4. Rani Lachcho Bai (second wife of Raghunath Rao III; Gangadhar's sister in law )
  5. Rani Rama Bai (Gangadhar Rao's first wife)
  6. Rani Lakshmi Bai (Gangadhar Rao's second wife and mother of Damodar Rao)

Other notable people

  1. Ranunath Rao of Jhansi (a.k.a. Raghunath Hari Newalkar)
  2. Shiv Hari Rao
  3. Shiv Rao Bhau (father of Krishna Rao I, Raghunath Rao III, and Gangadhar Rao) [9]
  4. Krishna Rao I (father of Ramachandra Rao and husband of Sakku Bai (Gangadhar Rao's brother)
  5. Krishna Rao II (adopted son of Ramchandra Rao and biological son of Ganga Bai of Sagar who was a daughter of Sakku Bai)[9]
  6. Ali Bahadur and Nasrat Jung (Raghunath Rao III and Lachcho Bai's illegitimate sons)[10]
  7. Raghunath Rao III (brother of Gangadhar and Krishna Rao)
  8. Sadashiv Rao (distant relative and nephew of Gangadhar Rao; executed in 1870)[11](Rani Lakshmi Bai's brother-in-law)
  9. Vasudev Rao Newalkar, a cousin of Raja Gangadhar Rao
  10. JhalkariBai (Women's Army served Rani Lakshmi Bai of Jhansi )[12]
  11. Ghulam Ghaus Khan (Commander in Chief of Jhansi)
  12. Tatya Tope (Rani Lakshmi Bai 's Guru)[13]

Newalkars Today

Most of the Newalkar family has migrated from Jhansi to various cities in Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh. There is only one Branch of Newalkar family still residing in Jhansi. The members are well known for their humanitarian work and are affiliated with various humanitarian organizations which provide free health care to poor people by organizing[14] health camps and also provide aid to schools for underprivileged children.[15] Priti Newalkar[16] was the President of Lions Club of Jhansi for 2020 - 2021 and Manish Newalkar has served as the President of Rotary Club Of Jhansi Rani for 2021 - 2022.[17]

References

  1. ^ Guida M. Jackson; Guida Myrl Jackson-Laufer (1999). Women Rulers Throughout the Ages: An Illustrated Guide. ABC-CLIO. p. 227. ISBN 9781576070918.
  2. ^ Proceedings and Transactions of the All-India Oriental Conference. All-India Oriental Conference. p. 153. The Nevalkar family belongs to Gautama gotra and to the Karhade sub-section of Maharastra Brahmanas.
  3. ^ a b Chapman 1986, p. 13.
  4. ^ Shiva Pujan Pathak (1987). Jhansi during the British rule. Ramanand Vidya Bhawan. p. 13. Raghunath Hari Newalkar (1769–1794) in whose family the Subedarship became hereditary, its last ruler being Rani Laxmi Bai.
  5. ^ Chapman 1986, p. 129.
  6. ^ Edwardes, Michael (1975) Red Year. London: Sphere Books; pg. 113
  7. ^ Guida M. Jackson; Guida Myrl Jackson-Laufer (1999). Women Rulers Throughout the Ages: An Illustrated Guide. ABC-CLIO. p. 227. ISBN 9781576070918.
  8. ^ Chapman 1986, p. 15: "the throne: Janki Bai, Raghunath's widow; Krishna Rao, the same adopted son of Ram Chand; Ali Bahadur, Raghunath's illegitimate son; and Gangadhar Rao, last surviving son of Shiv Rao Bhau."
  9. ^ a b Roy 2006, p. 31.
  10. ^ Roy 2006, p. 30.
  11. ^ Mahāśvetā Debī (2000). The Queen of Jhansi. Seagull Books. p. 46. ISBN 9788170461753. (page 46) Sadashiv Rao was the distant cousin (nephew) of Gangadhar Rao and the great grandson of Sadashivpanth.
  12. ^ "Manikarnika The Queen of Jhansi: Ankita Lokhande joins Kangana Ranaut's army as Jhalkaribai". indianexpress.com. 3 July 2017. Retrieved 28 July 2017.
  13. ^ "Manikarnika The Queen Of Jhansi: Atul Kulkarni joins the Kangana Ranaut starrer as Tatya Tope". The Indian Express.
  14. ^ "JhansiTimes | रोटरी क्लब ऑफ झांसी रानी और RSSDI के संयुक्त तत्वावधान में मधुमेह जांच शिविर आयोजित".
  15. ^ "झांसी : लायंस क्लब ऑफ द्वारा विद्यालय की छात्राओं को व्यायाम संबंधी उपकरण किए गए वितरित". 30 June 2021.
  16. ^ "लायन्स क्लब ऑफ झाँसी का 57वाँ अधिष्ठापन समारोह".
  17. ^ "JhansiTimes | रोटरी क्लब ऑफ झांसी रानी का अधिष्ठापन समारोह आयोजित".

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