Digvijaysinhji Ranjitsinhji Jadeja: Difference between revisions

{{Short description|Maharaja of Nawanagar from 1933–1948}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2021}}

{{Infobox royalty

| image        = Jam-Shri-Digvijaysinhji-Ranjitsinhji-Jadeja-Maharaja-Jam-Saheb-of-Nawanagar.jpg

| succession  = Maharaja Jam Sahib of '''Nawanagar State'''

| predecessor  = [[Ranjitsinhji]]

| successor    = ''Monarchy Abolished''

| reign1      = 1948–1966

| predecessor1 = [[Ranjitsinhji]]

| reg-type    =  

| birth_date  = {{Birth date|df=yes|1895|09|18}}

| death_date  = {{Death date and age|df=yes|1966|02|03|1895|09|18}}

| burial_date  =  

| burial_place =  

|                year = 2019

|              source = http://www.espncricinfo.com/india/content/player/28620.html CricInfo

}}}}

}}

==Early life and military career==

Ranjitsinhji, a [[Yaduvanshi Rajput]], was born at Sadodar, [[Gujarat]] on 18 September 1895 during the [[British Raj]], nephew of the famed cricketer [[K.S. Ranjitsinhji]]. He was educated at The [[Rajkumar College, Rajkot|Rajkumar College]], [[Rajkot]], in [[Saurashtra (region)|Saurashtra]], then at [[Malvern College]] and [[University College London]].

Two years later, Digvijaysinhji succeeded his uncle, who had adopted him as his heir. From 1939 until his demise, he was the longest serving President of Governing Council of The [[Rajkumar College, Rajkot|Rajkumar College]], [[Rajkot]].

==Maharaja Jam Sahib==

Upon the passing of his uncle, Digvijaysinhji became Maharaja Jam Sahib in 1933, continuing his uncle's policies of development and public service. [[Knighted]] in 1935, Sir Digvijaysinhji joined the [[Chamber of Princes]], leading it as president from 1937 to 1943. Upholding the cricketing tradition of his uncle, he served as President of the [[Board of Control for Cricket in India]] in 1937–1938 and was a member of several prominent sporting clubs. He had previously played a single [[first-class cricket|first-class]] match during the 1933–34 season, captaining [[Western India cricket team|Western India]] against the [[Marylebone Cricket Club|MCC]] during [[English cricket team in India in 1933–34|its tour of India and Ceylon]].<ref>[https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/38/38769/First-Class_Matches.html First-class matches played by Digvijaysinhji (1)] – CricketArchive. Retrieved 16 October 2014.</ref> He scored 0 and 6 in his two innings, in what was also the only first-class match played by his brother, [[Pratapsinhji]].<ref>[https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/14/14869.html Western India v Marylebone Cricket Club], Marylebone Cricket Club in India and Ceylon 1933/34 – CricketArchive. Retrieved 16 October 2014.</ref> During the Second World War, Sir Digvijaysinhji served on the [[Imperial War Cabinet]] and the National Defence Council, along with the [[Pacific War Council]].

==Polish refugees==

[[File:Maharaja with kids and women from Poland.jpg|thumb|Maharaja with children on Christmas Eve]]

[[File:Skwer Dobrego Maharadży w Warszawie.JPG|thumb|upright|"Good Maharaja's Square" in Warsaw, Poland, was named after Digvijaysinhji Ranjitsinhji in recognition of his help to Polish refugees during World War II]]

[[File:Pomnik_dobrego_maharadży_polski.jpg|thumb|Memorial in Warsaw]]

A documentary titled "Little Poland in India" was made in collaboration of both Indian and Polish governments to honour the efforts of Maharaja Jam Sahib<ref>{{Citation|last=AakaarFilms|title=A Little Poland in India (English) - The Complete Documentary|date=2015-11-22|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rIPq-8RZxxM|access-date=2018-05-24}}</ref> and [[Kira Banasinska]], who led the movement in India to rehabilitate Polish refugees.<ref name="Tribune-30Jun19">{{cite web|url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/spectrum/slice-of-india-in-london/794763.html|title=Slice of India in London|date=30 June 2019|work=The Tribune|location=Chandigarh}}</ref>  

==Representative at international organisations==

==Personal life==

On 7 March 1935 at [[Sirohi]], Sir Digvijaysinhji married Maharajkumari Baiji Raj Shri Kanchan Kunverba Sahiba (1910–1994), second daughter of Maharajadhiraj Maharao Sri Sir Sarup Ram Singhji Bahadur, the Maharao of [[Sirohi]]. She took the name of Her Highness Deoriji Maharani Shri Gulab Kunverba Sahiba, and the couple had one son and three daughters.

==Death==

After a reign of 33 years, Sir Digvijaysinhji died in Bombay on 3 February 1966, aged 70. He was succeeded by his only son, [[Shatrusalyasinhji]], who was a [[first-class cricket]]er for [[Saurashtra cricket team|Saurashtra]].

==Honours==

(ribbon bar, as it would look today)

[[File:War Medal 39-45 BAR.svg|100px]]

[[File:GeorgeVICoronationRibbon.png|100px]]

[[File:Indian Independence medal 1947.svg|100px]]

[[File:POL Order Zaslugi RP kl3 BAR.png|100px|3rd class]]

*[[India General Service Medal (1909)|India General Service Medal]] w/ Wazirstan Clasp-1924

==In popular culture==

The upcoming [[India|Indo]]-[[Polish language|Polish]] [[war epic]] film [[The Good Maharaja|The Good Maharaja (2022)]] is going to depict Digvijaysinhji Ranjitsinhji Jadeja.

== See also ==

* [[India–Poland relations]]

==External links==

{{Commons category|Digvijaysinhji Ranjitsinhji}}

*[http://culture.pl/en/article/the-maharaja-who-saved-hundreds-of-polish-orphans The Maharaja Who Saved Hundreds of Polish Orphans]

*[https://www.quora.com/What-is-the-full-story-of-Polish-people-who-sought-refuge-during-World-War-II-in-Gujarat-provided-by-Maharaja-Digvijaysinhji-Jadeja The Good Maharaja: The Ambassador to rescue of Polish children]

|title=[[Jam Saheb]] of [[Nawanagar State|Nawanagar]]

|years=1933–1948

}}

{{S-end}}

{{Presidents of BCCI}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Maharajas of Nawanagar]]

[[Category:Cricketers from Gujarat]]

[[Category:Indian royalty]]

[[Category:Knights Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire]]