Krishna Kumarsinhji Bhavsinhji

Krishna Kumarsinhji Bhavsinhji Biography

Krishna Kumarsinhji Bhavsinhji was an Indian monarch and politician, who served as the first Indian Governor of Madras from 1948 to 1952. He was the last Maharaja of the Gohil dynasty, who ruled Bhavnagar State from 1919 to 1948. Kumarsinhji succeeded his father as the Maharaja of Bhavnagar State upon his death in 1919 when he was only 7 years old. He ascended the Bhavnagar throne under regency until 1931. He is quite known for his supportive decisions for the formation of India Union after independence.  Maharaja Shri Bhavsinhji Polytechnic Institute was established by him, in the memory of his father.

Krishna Kumarsinhji Bhavsinhji was born in Bhavnagar on 19 May 1912, the eldest son and heir of Maharaja Bhavsinhji II of Bhavnagar. Following the death of his father in 1919, he ascended the throne as his successor. Till 1931 till he became an adult, he assumed the power under regency. Later he followed the legacy of his forefathers and worked for the welfare of Bhavnagar princely state. He continued the progressive reforms initiated earlier by his father and grandfather. He reformed the method of tax-collection in his state, by introducing village councils.

He formed the first legislature within his princely state, and named it as Dharasabha, and received praises from all corners for his progressive approach. For the same reason he was knighted with the KCSI in 1938. After Indian independence, he was one among the first Indian monarchs who readily accepted the merging of his state with India Union. His state was merged to Kathiawad in 1948, and he served as the Rajpramukh of United State of Kathiawar for a brief period. After the formation of India Union, he served as the first Indian Governor of Madras. He was made an honorary Commodore in the Royal Indian Navy.

Published: October 16, 2018

Updated: October 16, 2018