Pretender to the Maharaja of Kolhapur
Shri Shahu Chhatrapati Maharaj of Kolhapur[1] (born 7 January 1948) or Shahu II is the 12th descendent of Shivaji[2] and the great-grandson of Shahu I of Kolhapur and the son and heir to Shahaji II of Kolhapur. He is the current Member of Parliament in Lok Sabha from Kolhapur constituency and is a member Indian National Congress.[3][4] He studied at the Bishop Cotton School,[5] Bangalore and later on graduated from the Indore Christian College in 1967 with History, Economics and English literature. He became the ceremonial Maharaja[6] of Kolhapur in 1962.[7]
Family
On 9 March 1970, he married Yadnaseniraje, from the Pawar family of Mangsuli. Their elder son Sambhaji was born in 1971 and the younger son Maloji in 1976. Sambhaji has done his MBA and has married Sanyogeetaraje and have a son named Shahaji. Maloji has done his B.A and has married Madhurimaraje and have a daughter and son named Yashashwini and Yashraj respectively. Yashashwini has graduated from Regent's University, London and is currently studying in the Columbia University, New York, US. Sambhaji was nominated to the Rajyasabha and Maloji had represented Kolhapur in the Vidhansabha of Maharashtra.
Trusts
Shri Shahu Chhatrapati Maharaj is closely associated with educational institutions and charitable trusts created by his great-grandfather Rajarshi Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj and by his father late Maj. Gen. Shahaji Chhatrapati Maharaj. The institutions and trusts are actively involved in educational and social work.
Some of the institutions with which he is associated
| PRESIDENT, Deccan Education Society, Pune
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| Fergusson College, Pune
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| Brihan Maharashtra College of Commerce, Pune
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| Institute of Management, Development & Research, Pune
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| Kirti M Doongursee College, Mumbai
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| Willingdon College, Sangli
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| Chintamanrao College of Commerce, Sangli
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| Institute of Advanced Research & Development, Sangli
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| Institute of Management & Research, Sangli
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| Shahu Agricultural College, Sangli
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| PRESIDENT, All India Shri Shivaji Memorial Society, PUNE
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| Shri Shivaji Preparatory Military School, Pune
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| College of Engineering, Pune
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| Polytechnic, Pune
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| College of Pharmacy, Pune
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| College of Hotel Management & Catering Technology, Pune
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| Institute of Information Technology, Pune
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| Institute of Management, Pune
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| Industrial Training Centre, Pune
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| PRESIDENT and PATRON-IN-CHIEF, Shri Shahu Shikshan Sanstha, Dasara Chowk, KOLHAPUR
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| Shri Shahu Boarding, Kolhapur
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| Shri Shahaji Arts & Commerce College, Kolhapur
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| PRESIDENT of the Muslim Boarding, Dasara Chowk, KOLHAPUR
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| CHAIRMAN, Shahaji Chhatrapati Museum Trust, New Palace, KOLHAPUR
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| Shahaji Chhatrapati Museum, New Palace, Kolhapur
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| Chhatrapati Shahu Vidyalaya, New Palace Area, Kolhapur
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| CHAIRMAN, Maharaja Shahaji Chhatrapati Zoo Trust, KOLHAPUR
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| Shahaji Chhatrapati Zoo, New Palace, Kolhapur
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| PATRON-IN-CHIEF, Shahaji Chhatrapati Shooting and Conservation Club, KOLHAPUR
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| PATRON-IN-CHIEF, Maharashtra Itihas Prabhodhini, KOLHAPUR
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| Rajarshi Shahu Smarak Grantha, etc.
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| CHAIRMAN, Shahaji Chhatrapati Physical Education Trust, KOLHAPUR
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| PATRON-IN-CHIEF, Rajarshi Shahu Chhatrapati Krutadnyata Pratishthan, KOLHAPUR
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| Rajarshi Shahu Chhatrapati TV Serial
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| CHIEF PATRON, Maji Sainik Pratishthan, KOLHAPUR
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| CHAIRMAN, Kolhapur Stud Farm PVT. LTD., KOLHAPUR
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| LIFE MEMBER, National Horse Breeding Society of India, PUNE
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| Chhatrapati Shahu Vidyalaya (School)
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| Inspired by the work carried out by Rajarshi Shahu Chhatrapati Maharaj in the field of education, Shahu Chhatrapati also decided to follow the foot-steps of his illustrious great-grandfather and accordingly Chhatrapati Shahu Vidyalaya was founded in 1985. It is situated in the New Palace Area and the Royal Stables were aesthetically converted into school buildings. The famous architect Shri Charles Correa greatly appreciated the way it was converted and also appreciated the new productive use of the old dilapidating building. Since then, three new modern large buildings have also built. The school inculcates a sense of social justice and responsibility.
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Association with the Defence Establishment
Shri Shahu Chhatrapati Maharaj of Kolhapur, following the footsteps of his illustrious father Late Major General Shrimant Shahaji Chhatrapati, Maharaja of Kolhapur, has been maintaining close contact with the Defence establishment s and has been particularly close to the Maratha Light Infantry. Incidentally, Rajshree Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj was also an Hon. Col. in the 1st Maratha L I.
Shahu Chhatrapati Maharaj has been visiting the Maratha Light Infantry Regimental Centre at Belgaum regularly.
In 2006, General J J Singh, COAS was felicitated in a Royal and Grand manner by Shahu Chhatrapati Maharaj. when he visited Kolhapur as he was the first COAS from the MLIR.
Relief and Fund-Raising works
He had played an important role in donating and collecting funds for the relief of families and victims of :-
| Earthquake, Koyna 1967 and Latur 1994
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| Floods, Kolhapur 1989, 2004, 2005 and 2021 and Kosi (Bihar), 2008
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| Kargil battle relief funds, 2000
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Awards
- On 19 April 2010, he had the honour to receive Smt. Pratibha Patil, President of India at the Deccan Education Society, Pune on the occasion of its Post-Centennial Silver Jubilee celebrations.
- On 28 December 2013 Shri Shahu Chhatrapati received Shri Pranab Mukherjee, President of India at All India Shri Shivaji Memorial Society, Pune where he ceremoniously unveiled the grand statue of Rajarshi Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj – renowned social reformer.
- In 1984, he had the honour to receive Shri Rajiv Gandhi, Prime Minister of India, at the Centenary celebrations of the Fergusson College, Pune.
- In recognition of his commitment towards upliftment and development of the backward and downtrodden in the social, economic, political & educational fields, he was awarded “Ambedkar Ratna Puraskar” at the hands of former Prime Minister V. P. Singh.
- Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj was awarded the coveted “Gen. K. S. Thimayya Medal”, 2017 for his Exemplary Service to Public Life. Gen. Thimayya was a distinguished commander of the Indian Army from 1957 to 1961.
Doctorate
The year 2018 saw another milestone in his life. The Doctor of Letters (Honoris Causa) was conferred on Shri Shahu Chhatrapati Maharaj, by the D. Y. Patil education society, Deemed to be University. The citation applauds Maharaj as a renowned social activist and educationist, who has created a great impact on the masses by his notable work towards the cause of Social Commitment.
See also
References
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7AGg2S67CuM Shreemant Chatrapati Shahu Maharaj Speech
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m36haCYbts4 Kolhapur: Shahu Maharaj Smruti Din निमित्त कोल्हापूरकर १०० सेकंद स्तब्ध उभे राहिले
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pEuJX6WQEXk
श्रीमंत शाहू छत्रपती महाराज | Shrimant Shahu Chhatrapati Maharaj | Shrimant Shahu Maharaj Interview
https://marathi.abplive.com/news/kolhapur/chhatrapati-shahu-maharaj-75th-birthday-sambhajiraje-reveal-his-relation-with-shahu-maharaj-1138563
Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj 75th birthday : बाबा आणि माझं नातं एका शब्दात सांगायचं झालं तर! संभाजीराजेंनी व्यक्त केलेल्या भावना त्यांच्याच शब्दात...
https://marathi.indiatimes.com/maharashtra/kolhapur/statement-of-shrimant-shahu-maharaj-chhatrapati-in-kolhapur/articleshow/107861227.cms
आजच्या इतका महाराष्ट्र कधीच अस्थिर नव्हता, आता आपल्याला ठरवायचं आहे की कोणाला साथ द्यायची- श्रीमंत शाहू महाराज छत्रपती
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pQ00SYdiKDg
मी पण धनगरच ! श्रीमंत शाहू छत्रपती महाराज असे का म्हणाले ? त्यांनी जनतेला कोणता संदेश दिला ?
https://www.lokmat.com/kolhapur/chhatrapati-shivaji-maharaj-shahu-maharaj-to-shahu-chhatrapati-learn-about-the-kolhapur-family-a746/
https://news18marathi.com/maharashtra/kolhapur/srimant-shahu-chhatrapati-maharaj-is-going-to-meet-manoj-jarange-patil-today-mhda-1069308.html
श्रीमंत शाहू छत्रपती महाराज घेणार मनोज जरांगे पाटलांची भेट; कोल्हापूरहून जालन्याकडे रवाना
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cUUwYgCa8qUShahu maharaj birthday: श्रीमंत शाहू छत्रपती महाराजांचा वाढदिवस साजरा, राजघराण्यातील मान्यवर उपस्थित
https://www.dainikprabhat.com/shrimant-shahu-maharaj-visited-rajarshi-chhatrapati-shahu-samadhisthala/
https://www.lokmat.com/maharashtra/shahu-chhatrapati-award-general-thimmaiya/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=An_LJYzV2SQShrimant Chatrapati Shahu Maharaj Speech at the D Y Patil Medical College convocation
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K4e4VGf8a_wKolhapur Shahi Dasara 2022 | शाही दसरा कोल्हापुर 2022
Sources
