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{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2013}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2013}}
{{Indian name|Lakhajirajsinhji|Bavajirajsinhji}}
{{Infobox royalty
| name = Lakhajirajsinhji II
| image = Lakhajirajsinhji II Bavajirajsinhji.jpg
| image_size = 140px
| reign = {{nowrap|16 April 1890 – 2 February 1930}}
| coronation = 21 October 1907
| cor-type = Investititure
| succession = Thakore Saheb of Rajkot
| predecessor = [[Bawajirajsinhji Meramansinhji]]
| successor = [[Dharmendrasinhji Lakhajirajsinhji]]
| spouse = 11 wives, notably Hajubakunverb
| issue = Bhupendrasinhji [[Dharmendra Lakhajiraj|Dharmendrasinhji]] Kishorsinhji [[Pradyumansinhji Lakhajirajsinhji|Pradyumansinhji]]
| house =
| royal anthem =
| father = [[Bawajirajsinhji Meramansinhji]]
| mother = Anandkunverba of Dharampur
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1885|12|17|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Rajkot]], India
| death_date = {{Death date and age|1930|02|02|1885|12|17|df=y}}
| death_place = Ranjit Villas Palace, [[Rajkot]], India
|}}
'''Lakhajirajsinhji II''' (17 December 1885 – 2 February 1930) was the ruler of the Indian [[princely state]] of [[Rajkot State|Rajkot]] from April 1890 until his death, holding the title ''Thakore Saheb''. He came to the throne at the age of four, following the death of his father and his three older brothers. However, he did not govern in his own right until the age of 21, in 1907. Lakhajirajsinhji became one of the most progressive princely state rulers, introducing some of the first democratic institutions in India. He also fostered a culture of openness and intellectualism that laid the foundation for Rajkot as a centre of the [[Indian independence movement]].

==Early life and family==
Lakhajirajsinhji was born Rajput family in Rajkot on 17 December 1885. His father, [[Bavajirajsinhji]], had succeeded to the throne of Rajkot in 1862, aged six, upon the death of his own father, [[Meramanji IV]].<ref>{{cite thesis |degree=M.A. |first=Rajendra Harzilal |last=Brahmbhatt |title=Aspects of the life and works of Sir Lakhajiraj of Rajkot State under British paramount power |publisher=[[San Jose State University]] |year=1990|page=7}}</ref> Rajkot State, comprising various territories in the interior of [[Gujarat]]'s [[Kathiawar]] peninsula, had been founded in 1611 by Vibhoji (or Vibhaji), a member of the [[Jadeja]] clan and a grandson of Sataji, a 16th-century [[Jam Sahib|Jam]] of [[Nawanagar State|Nawanagar]]. Vibhoji had been granted the ''[[Sanad (deed)|sanad]]'' (authority) to rule the ''[[pargana]]'' of Sardhar by [[Jahangir]], a [[Mughal emperors|Mughal emperor]].<ref>Brahmbhatt, p. 4</ref> Although Rajkot was at one time occupied by a force led by a Mughal ''[[Subah (country subdivision)|subedar]]'', the rulers of Rajkot were generally able to maintain their independence.<ref>Brahmbhatt, p. 5</ref> However, from 1808, Rajkot (and most other Kathiawar states) paid tribute to the [[Gaekwad dynasty|Gaekwad]] rulers of [[Baroda State|Baroda]], under the terms of a settlement arranged by Colonel Alexander Walker, the [[British residents|British resident]] in Baroda.<ref>Brahmbhatt, p. 5–6</ref> The Walker Settlement largely brought peace to western Gujarat, and in 1820 the British leased land in Rajkot for the purpose of establishing a [[cantonment]].<ref>Brahmbhatt, p. 6</ref>

The British, succeeding the Mughals as [[Paramount Ruler|paramount power]], leased a further {{convert|385|acres|km2}} from Rajkot in 1863, allowed by Naniba, Bavajirajsinhji's grandmother and [[regent]].<ref>Brahmbhatt, p. 7</ref> However, under the terms of the ''Minority Administration Act'', Naniba was soon removed as regent and replaced by a British-appointed administrator. Rajkot, as the headquarters of the [[Kathiawar Agency]], was often the subject of British attention, and its ruler was consequently granted a [[Salute state|nine-gun salute]], despite its small size.<ref>Brahmbhatt, p. 2</ref> Its importance was further enhanced in 1870 by the establishment of the [[Rajkumar College, Rajkot|Rajkumar College]], which was attended by many of the Kathiawar rulers' sons. Bavajirajsinhji, who was one of the first to attend the college, was formally invested with the full powers of the ''gadi'' in 1876.<ref>Brahmbhatt, p. 9</ref> Appreciated by the British for his "careful and energetic administration", he implemented a number of significant reforms, including the devolution of some of his powers to municipal governments.<ref>Brahmbhatt, p. 10</ref> Bavajirajsinhji married eleven times, producing five sons and two daughters.<ref name="p15">Brahmbhatt, p. 15</ref> Lakhajirajsinhji, the fourth son, was born to [[Rani|Thakurani]] Anand Kunverba, who was the oldest daughter of Narandevji II, the Raja of [[Dharampur State|Dharampur]] in southern Gujarat.{{cn|date=June 2020}} His three older brothers each died in childhood, making him the [[heir apparent]], and his younger brother, Karasinhji, also died young.<ref name="p15"/>

==Education and sporting career==
{{Infobox cricketer
| name =
| image =
| batting = Right-handed
| bowling = Right-arm [[Fast bowling|fast]]
| family = [[K. S. Ranjitsinhji|Ranjitsinhji]] (uncle) [[Pradyumansinhji Lakhajirajsinhji|Pradyumansinhji]] (son) [[Manoharsinhji Pradyumansinhji|Manoharsinhji]] (grandson)
| columns = 1
| column1 = [[First-class cricket|FC]]
| matches1 = 3
| runs1 = 41
| bat avg1 = 6.83
| 100s/50s1 = 0/0
| top score1 = 14
| deliveries1 = 234
| wickets1 = 4
| bowl avg1 = 46.75
| fivefor1 = 0
| tenfor1 = 0
| best bowling1 = 3/77
| catches/stumpings1 = 2/-
| date = 12 December
| year = 2012
| source = https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/34/34193/34193.html CricketArchive
}}
During his early childhood, Lakhajirajsinhji lived in Dharampur with his maternal uncle, Baldevji. He was very close to his uncle and aunt, and also to their daughter, Lal, who was later married to [[Hari Singh]], the future [[Maharaja of Jammu and Kashmir]]. Her death during pregnancy in 1915 reputedly affected him so much that he retracted an earlier proposal to fight with the [[British Indian Army]] in Europe.<ref>Brahmbhatt p. 16</ref> Like his father, Lakhajirajsinhji attended the [[Rajkumar College, Rajkot|Rajkumar College]] in Rajkot. His younger brother, Karasinhji, also attended the school at the same time, and their close relationship, unusual among members of royal families, was noted by the college's principal.<ref>Brahmbhatt, pp. 16–17</ref> Regarded well by both his teachers and his peers, Lakhajirajsinhji was a keen participant in school sports, excelling at tennis, polo, athletics, and the equestrian discipline [[Tent pegging|tent-pegging]], for which he was awarded a prize by the [[Governor of Bombay]], [[Henry Northcote, 1st Baron Northcote|Lord Northcote]].<ref>Brahmbhatt, pp. 19–20</ref> His preferred sport, however, was cricket, and he captained his school against several other similar Kathiawar institutions.<ref>Brahmbhatt, p. 18</ref> In 1904, during his final season as a student at the college, he reputedly won several matches with his "dashing" [[Bowling (cricket)|bowling]], with his highest score of 93 [[Run (cricket)|runs]] made against a [[Wadhwan]] high school.<ref>Brahmbhatt, pp. 18–19</ref> He also excelled academically, and in his penultimate year was the only student to pass all his classes.<ref>Brahmbhatt, p. 21</ref>

Lakhajirajsinhji left the Rajkumar College in 1905 for the Imperial Cadet Corps in [[Dehra Dun]], a predecessor of the present [[Rashtriya Indian Military College]] and [[National Defence Academy]].<ref>Brahmbhatt, p. 22</ref> During his two years at the Imperial Cadet Corps, which trained the sons of both native rulers and [[Anglo-Indian]]s, Lakhajirajsinhji was again highly regarded.<ref>Brahmbhatt, p. 24</ref> He graduated in March 1907.<ref>Brahmbhatt, p. 23.</ref> During this time, Lakhajirajsinhji maintained his interest in cricket, becoming a patron of the game as well as playing. He visited [[England]] several times, and during a 1908 visit played a game for the [[Gentlemen v Players|Gentlemen of England]] against [[Oxford University Cricket Club|Oxford University]], which was accorded [[first-class cricket|first-class]] status.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/7/7544.html |title=Oxford University v Gentlemen of England, University Match 1908 |website=CricketArchive |access-date=12 December 2012}}</ref> In an attempt to [[Anglicisation of names|anglicise]] his name, the [[Wisden Cricketers' Almanack]] recorded him as "Prince Chakorsab".<ref name="ca">{{cite web |url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/34/34193/34193.html |title=Thakore Saheb of Rajkot |website=CricketArchive |access-date=12 December 2012}}</ref> Lakhajirajsinhji would play two further first-class matches: one in 1912, for [[Hindus cricket team|Hindus]] in the [[Bombay Quadrangular]], and one in 1922, captaining a combined Hindus and Muslims side against a combined Europeans and Parsees side.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/34/34193/First-Class_Matches.html |title=First-Class Matches played by Thakore Saheb of Rajkot (3) |website=CricketArchive |access-date=12 December 2012}}</ref> The latter match was his most successful, and included the first three wickets of his opponents' first innings, on the way to career-best figures of 3/77.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/10/10657.html |title=Europeans and Parsees v Hindus and Muslims, Other First-Class matches in India 1922/23 |website=CricketArchive |access-date=12 December 2012}}</ref>

==Reign==
Lakhajirajsinhji was invested with the full powers of the ''gadi'' in October 1907, at a ceremony in Rajkot conducted by the British resident, Percy Fitzgerald. Fitzgerald had also conducted the installation of [[Jam Sahib]] [[Ranjitsinhji]] on the ''gadi'' of [[Nawanagar State|Nawanagar]] earlier in the year, Ranjitsinhji being another keen cricketer. A conflict arose between Fitzgerald and Lakhajirajsinhji as to the time of the investiture ceremony. Fitzgerald wished to hold the ceremony at 8:30 a.m., so as to beat the heat, but Lakhajirajsinhji had been informed by his astrologers that the optimum time for the ceremony was at 9 o'clock. Fitzgerald appeared to have won out, but on the morning of the ceremony, according to an anecdote, Ranjitsinhji, who had been staying with Fitzgerald at the Thakore Saheb's official residence and was to travel in the same carriage, deliberately delayed his morning ablutions so that their carriage arrived half an hour late.<ref>{{cite book |last=Wild |first=Roland |date=1934 |title=The Biography of Colonel His Highness Shri Sir Ranjitsinhji Vibhaji, Maharaja Jam Saheb of Nawanagar, G.C.S.I., G.B.E., K.C.I.E. |location=London |publisher=Rich & Cowan Ltd |pages=94–96 }}</ref>

Like his father, Lakhajirajsinhji was considered a progressive ruler, which was encouraged by the [[British Raj|British administration]] of the time.<ref name="saheb">{{cite web |url=http://www.indianrajputs.com/view/rajkot |title=Rajkot (Princely State) |website=Indian Rajputs |access-date=12 December 2012}}</ref> He was in attendance at the [[Delhi Durbar]] in 1911, which marked the coronation of [[George V|George V, Emperor of India]], and was made a [[Order of the Indian Empire|Knight Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire]] in June 1918.<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=30723 |date=3 June 1918 |page=6531 |supp=y}}</ref> Encouraging the development of public debate and intellectualism within Rajkot, Lakhajirasinhji established a [[Cabinet (government)|State Council]] and State Bank in 1910, as well as a Peoples' Assembly in 1923.{{cn|date=June 2020}} He died at the Ranjit Villas Palace in February 1930, and was succeeded firstly by his oldest son, [[Dharmendrasinhji Lakhajirajsinhji|Dharmendrasinhji]] (1910–1940), and then by his third son, [[Pradyumansinhji Lakhajirajsinhji, 14th Thakore Saheb of Rajkot|Pradyumansinhji]].<ref name="saheb"/> Both Pradyumansinhji and his son, [[Manoharsinhji Pradyumansinhji, 15th Thakore Saheb of Rajkot|Manoharsinhji]], also played first-class cricket.<ref name="ca"/>

==Titles==
* 17 December 1885 – 16 April 1890: Kumar Lakhajirajsinhji, Yuvraj Saheb of Rajkot
* 16 April 1890 – 3 June 1918: His Highness Thakore Saheb Lakhajirajsinhji II Bavajirajsinhji, 12th Thakore Saheb of Rajkot
* 3 June 1918 – 2 February 1930: His Highness Thakore Saheb Sir Lakhajirajsinhji II Bavajirajsinhji, 12th Thakore Saheb of Rajkot, [[Knight Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire|KCIE]]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

{{s-start}}
{{s-reg|in}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Bavajirajsinhji Meramanji|Bavajirajsinhji]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=12th [[Thakore Saheb]] of [[Rajkot]]|years=1890–1930}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Dharmendrasinhji Lakhajirajsinhji|Dharmendrasinhji]]}}
{{end}}

[[Category:1885 births]]
[[Category:1930 deaths]]
[[Category:Cricket players and officials awarded knighthoods]]
[[Category:Hindus cricketers]]
[[Category:Indian cricketers]]
[[Category:Indian monarchs]]
[[Category:Knights Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire]]
[[Category:People from Rajkot]]
[[Category:Cricketers from Gujarat]]
[[Category:Gentlemen of England cricketers]]

Lakhajirajsinhji II Bavajirajsinhji - Revision history

>Alexis Jazz: Removing empty tags