Scindia (anglicized from Shinde and also spelled as Sindhia, Sindia) is a Maratha clan in India. This clan included rulers of the Gwalior State in the 18th and 19th centuries, collaborators of the colonial British government during the 19th and the 20th centuries until India became independent, as well as politicians in independent India.

History[link]

This unreferenced section requires citations to ensure verifiability.

The Shinde dynasty was founded by Ranoji Shinde, who was the son of Jankojirao Shinde, the Patil of Kanherkhed, a village in Satara District, Maharashtra. The closing years of Peshwa Baji Rao's career saw the strengthening of the Maratha confederacy. Ranoji was in charge of the Maratha conquests in Malwa in 1726. Ranoji established his capital at Ujjain in 1731. His successors included Jayajirao, Jyotibarao, Dattajirao, Jankojirao, Mahadji and Daulatrao Shinde. The Sindhia state of Gwalior became a major regional power in the latter half of the 18th century and figured prominently in the three Anglo-Maratha Wars. They held sway over many of the Rajput states, and conquered the state of Ajmer.

After the defeat of the allied Maratha states by the British in the Third Anglo-Maratha War of 1818, Daulatrao Scindia was forced to accept local autonomy as a princely state within British India and to give up Ajmer to the British. After the death of Daulatrao, Maharani Baiza Bai ruled the empire, saving it from the British power, till the adopted child Jankoji Rao took over the charge. Jankoji died in 1843, and his widow Tarabai Raje Shinde successfully maintained the position and adopted a child from close lineage named Jayajirao.

The Scindia family ruled Gwalior until India's independence from the United Kingdom in 1947, when the Maharaja Jivajirao Scindia acceded to the Government of India. Gwalior was merged with a number of other princely states to become the new Indian state of Madhya Bharat. George Jivajirao served as the state's rajpramukh, or appointed governor, from 28 May 1948 to 31 October 1956, when Madhya Bharat was merged into Madhya Pradesh.

In 1962, Rajmata Vijayraje Scindia, the widow of Maharaja Jiwajirao, was elected to the Lok Sabha, beginning the family's career in electoral politics. She was first a member of the Congress Party, and later became an influential member of the Bharatiya Janata Party. Her son Madhavrao Scindia was elected to the Lok Sabha in 1971 representing the Congress Party, and served until his death in 2001. His son, Jyotiraditya Scindia, also in the Congress Party, was elected to the seat formerly held by his father in 2004.

Vijayaraje's daughters have supported the Bharatiya Janata Party. Vasundhara Raje Scindia contested and won five parliamentary elections from Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. Under the Vajpayee government from 1998 onwards, Vasundhara was in charge of several different ministries. In 2003 she led the Bharatiya Janata Party to its largest majority in Rajasthan, and became the state's Chief Minister. Her other daughter, Yashodhara Raje Scindia, contested assembly elections from Shivpuri in Madhya Pradesh and won in 1998 and 2003. Upon the BJP's win in the state, she became the state's Minister for Tourism, Sports and Youth Affairs. Vasundhara's son Dushyant Singh entered the Lok Sabha in 2004 from Rajasthan.

Origins[link]

The Scindia family is traditionally considered to be descendants of King Shinde ( Sendrak ) and Old Maratha stem. The Shinde served the Peshwa, and were also Shiledars under the Bahamani sultanates of the Deccan.^[2]

Branches[link]

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Aapteekar, Bhuse, Desai, Kulhar, Kolhe, Kurvasinde, Jatayoo, Jadbuddhe, Jade, Jayshinde, Dable, Dorge, Durdayshinde, Nagawade, Nekulshinde, Neknamdar, Nebhale, Pratapshinde, Bhagalkar, Bhure, Bhore, Bhed, Mung, Ghate, Muke, Mungekar, Mugool, Tingre, Vijayshinde, Valekar, Wable,Shishupalshinde, Saktpalshinde, Sitajashinde, Bhairavshinde, Mahakalshinde, Mulshinde, Mude, Paigude. (Total 35)

Subclans[link]

This unreferenced section requires citations to ensure verifiability.

• Paygude, Deshmukhs of 35 villages of Prant Pune along with Karanjavane Deshmukh.
• Desai, Surname of Patan, Satara District, holds Deshmukhi of a number of villages.
• Shinde, a clan of Torgal intermarried to Chhatrapati Bhosales of Kolhapur on a number of occasions,
• Shinde, clan of Majalgaon, were Saranjamdars of Majalgaon from time of Bijapur sultanates.
• Shinde, Known as Subhedar, Khor, Taluka, Daund, Dist: Pune.

"Wable", deshmukh of Kopergaon [Ahmednagar] district

Titles[link]

This unreferenced section requires citations to ensure verifiability.

In the course of their military service, the Scindia were bestowed numerous titles by the British Empire, which grew more elaborate with the passage of time:

• 1745: Shrimant Sardar (name) Scindia Bahadur (Brave Chief of the Scindia)
• 1745-1787: Meherban Shrimant Sardar (name) Scindia Bahadur (High and Brave Chief of the Scindia)
• 1787-1790: His Highness Maharajadhiraj Maharaja Sahib Subadar Shrimant (name) Scindia Bahadur Maharaja Scindia of Gwalior (His Highness the Great King over Kings, High and Brave Lord of the Scindia, Scindia King of Gwalior)
• 1790-1794: His Highness Ali Jah, Umdat ul-Umara, Farzand-i-Arjumand, Maharajadhiraj Maharaja Sahib Subadar Shrimant (name) Scindia Bahadur, Shrinath, Mansur-i-Zaman, Naib ul-Istiqlal-i-Maharajadhiraj Sawai Madhav Rao Narayan, Maharaja Scindia of Gwalior (His Highness the Exalted Dignity, Pillar of the Nobility, Worthy Son, Great King over Kings and Lord Chieftain of the Brave Scindia, Lord of Fortune, Victorious of the Age, Permanent Deputy of the Peshwar, Scindia King of Gwalior)
• 1794-1827: His Highness Ali Jah, Naib Vakil-i-Mutlaq, Amir ul-Umara, Mukhtar ul-Mulk, Maharajadhiraj Maharaja Shrimant (name) Scindia Bahadur, Maharaja Scindia of Gwalior (His Highness the Exalted Dignity, Deputy Agent, Amir of Amirs, Agent of the Kingdom, Great King over Kings of the Brave Scindia, Scindia King of Gwalior)
• 1827-1845: His Highness Ali Jah, Umdat ul-Umara, Hisam us-Sultanat, Mukhtar ul-Mulk, Maharajadhiraj Maharaja Shrimant (name) Scindia Bahadur, Shrinath, Mansur-i-Zaman, Maharaja Scindia of Gwalior (His Highness the Exalted Dignity, Pillar of the Nobility, Sword of the Kingdom, Agent of the Kingdom, Great King over Kings of the Brave Scindia, Lord of Fortune, Victorious of the Age, Scindia King of Gwalior)
• 1845-1861: His Highness Ali Jah, Umdat ul-Umara, Hisam us-Sultanat, Mukhtar ul-Mulk, Azim ul-Iqtidar, Rafi-us-Shan, Wala Shikoh, Muhtasham-i-Dauran, Maharajadhiraj Maharaja Shrimant (name) Scindia Bahadur, Shrinath, Mansur-i-Zaman (His Highness the Exalted Dignity, Pillar of the Nobility, Sword of the Kingdom, Agent of the Kingdom, Chief of the Highest Authority, High in Prestige, Exalted in Dignity, Great Prince over Princes of the Brave Scindia, Lord of Fortune, Victorious of the Age)
• 1861-1901: His Highness Ali Jah, Umdat ul-Umara, Hisam us-Sultanat, Mukhtar ul-Mulk, Azim ul-Iqtidar, Rafi-us-Shan, Wala Shikoh, Muhtasham-i-Dauran, Maharajadhiraj Maharaja Shrimant (name) Scindia Bahadur, Shrinath, Mansur-i-Zaman, Fidvi-i-Hazrat-i-Malika-i-Mua'zzama-i-Rafi-ud-Darja-i-Inglistan (His Highness the Exalted Dignity, Pillar of the Nobility, Sword of the Kingdom, Agent of the Kingdom, Chief of the Highest Authority, High in Prestige, Exalted in Dignity, Great Prince over Princes of the Brave Scindia, Lord of Fortune, Victorious of the Age, Vassal of Her Majesty the Honoured and Exalted Queen of England)
• 1901-1952: His Highness Ali Jah, Umdat ul-Umara, Hisam us-Sultanat, Mukhtar ul-Mulk, Azim ul-Iqtidar, Rafi-us-Shan, Wala Shikoh, Muhtasham-i-Dauran, Maharajadhiraj Maharaja Shrimant (name) Scindia Bahadur, Shrinath, Mansur-i-Zaman, Fidvi-i-Hazrat-i-Malik-i-Mua'zzam-i-Rafi-ud-Darjat-i-Inglistan (His Highness the Exalted Dignity, Pillar of the Nobility, Sword of the Kingdom, Agent of the Kingdom, Chief of the Highest Authority, High in Prestige, Exalted in Dignity, Great Prince over Princes of the Brave Scindia, Lord of Fortune, Victorious of the Age, Vassal of His Majesty the Honoured and Exalted King of England)
• 1952-1969: His Highness Ali Jah, Umdat ul-Umara, Hisam us-Sultanat, Mukhtar ul-Mulk, Azim ul-Iqtidar, Rafi-us-Shan, Wala Shikoh, Muhtasham-i-Dauran, Maharajadhiraj Maharaja Shrimant (name) Scindia Bahadur, Shrinath, Mansur-i-Zaman, Fidvi-i-Hazrat-i-Malika-i-Mua'zzama-i-Rafi-ud-Darja-i-Inglistan (His Highness the Exalted Dignity, Pillar of the Nobility, Sword of the Kingdom, Agent of the Kingdom, Chief of the Highest Authority, High in Prestige, Exalted in Dignity, Great Prince over Princes of the Brave Scindia, Lord of Fortune, Victorious of the Age, Vassal of Her Majesty the Honoured and Exalted Queen of England)

Scindia Maharajas of Ujjain and Gwalior[link]

Mahadaji Sindhia.

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• Ranojirao Scindia (1731 – 19 July 1745)
• Jayapparao Scindia (1745 – 25 July 1755)
• Jankojirao I Scindia (25 July 1755 – 15 January 1761). Born 1745.
• Meharban Dattaji Rao Shinde, Regent (1755 – 10 January 1760). Died 1760.
• Vacant 15 January 1761 – 25 November 1763
• Kedarjirao Scindia (25 November 1763 – 10 July 1764)
• Manajirao Scindia Phakade (10 July 1764 – 18 January 1768)
• Mahadaji Shinde (18 January 1768 – 12 February 1794). Born c.1730, died 1794.
• Daulatrao Scindia (12 February 1794 – 21 March 1827). Born 1779, died 1827.
• Jankojirao II Scindia (18 June 1827 – 7 February 1843). Born 1805, died 1843.
• Jayajirao Scindia (7 February 1843 – 20 June 1886). Born 1835, died 1886.
• Madho Rao Scindia (20 June 1886 – 5 June 1925). Born 1876, died 1925.
• George Jivajirao Scindia (Maharaja 5 June 1925 – 15 August 1947, Rajpramukh 28 May 1948 – 31 October 1956, later Rajpramukh) Born 1916, died 1961.
• Madhavrao Scindia (Feb 6, 1949, died 2001)
• Jyotiraditya Madhavrao Scindia (born 1 January 1971)
• Mahanaryaman JyotiradityaScindia

See also[link]

• Jai Vilas Mahal, the current residence of the Scindia family.

References[link]

Further reading[link]

• Hope, John (1863). The House of Scindea — A Sketch by John Hope. Longman, Green, Longman, Roberts & Green, London. http://www.archive.org/stream/houseofscindeask00hoperich#page/n5/mode/2up. 

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Scindia

Vasundhara Raje (Rajasthani: वसुंधरा राजे सिंधिया [Maratha]) was the Chief Minister of Rajasthan state of India from December 2003 till December 2008. She is the first woman Chief Minister of Rajasthan.

Early life[link]

Vasundhara Raje was born on 8 March 1953 in Mumbai. She is daughter of Vijayaraje Scindia and Jivaji Rao Scindia of Gwalior, members of the prominent Scindia ex-royal maratha family. She completed her school education from Presentation Convent, Kodaikanal, Tamil Nadu, and later graduated with Economics and Political Science degrees (Hons.) from Sophia College, affiliated to Mumbai University, Mumbai.

Political career[link]

Vasundhara Raje was initiated into politics by her mother in 1982. She held a variety of posts in the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and was elected to the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly in 1985. From 1989 onwards she won four consecutive elections to the Lok Sabha from Jhalawar, Rajasthan. Under Atal Bihari Vajpayee's premiership, Vasundhara Raje held independent charge of numerous cabinet departments: Small Scale Industries and Agro & Rural Industries, Personnel and Training, Pensions and Pensioners’ Welfare, Public Grievances and Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space and her most prominent role, that of the Union Minister of State for External Affairs.

In 2003, she shot to prominence by leading the BJP to its biggest victory in the state elections in Rajasthan as the State BJP President; She won from Jhalrapatan seat.

As Chief Minister[link]

Vasundhara Raje's five-year term as Chief Minister was marked by a strong focus on infrastructure-building and social initiatives, but it was also noted for caste violence and rebellion by local leaders against Vasundhara's firm style of leadership.

As the Finance Minister, Raje was able to steer the state from a budget deficit into a budget surplus for the first time since the 1991-1992 budget, in accordance with the guidelines of the 12th Finance Commission. Rajasthan became self-sufficient in power generation, and massive road and canal-building projects were undertaken under her administration. She implemented a Tourism Unit Policy, intent on expanding upon Rajasthan's ability to cater to large numbers of tourists by increasing the number of accommodations available. She was also active in courting the IT (Information Technology industry) to open offices in the state, and oversaw the building of new schools and colleges. On the social front, Vasundhara introduced mid-day meal schemes for mothers, insurance schemes, transportation vouchers for girl students and skills training for workers.^[1]

In 2007, she was awarded "Women Together Award", by the United Nations Organization, for efforts to assist women in self-empowerment.^[2]

On the downside, Vasundhara's government supported reservations to the Meena caste, which led to demands by the Gurjar caste for similar reservations. The protests saw the blockade of national highways and violence. Despite coming up with an amicable solution and using diplomacy with caste leaders, it was believed that the face-off led to loss of support from both castes. Another issue that was raised against her was corruption within her administration. Despite her development and social schemes. caste rivalry, corruption allegations and moves by members of the BJP who viewed her as too autocratic, all led to her defeat in the 2008 Assembly Elections in Rajasthan.^[3]

Post 2008 assembly elections[link]

This section needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (August 2011)

In 2008 Rajasthan assembly elections BJP suffered defeat and Vasundhara Raje quit as Chief Minister of the state. Vasundhara now holds the position of Leader Of Opposition in Rajasthan state assembly.

After BJP's dismal performance in 2009 general elections in Rajasthan, there are speculations that Vasundhara may be asked to quit as leader of opposition in the state assembly as it is believed that it was due to Vasundhara's alleged misgovernance during BJP's rule in the state that the party lost its grounds among masses.

On 23rd Oct 2009 after meeting with L.K. Advani she submitted her resignation to the post of the Leader of Opposition.

In 2009, she was charged in controversial Deendayal Upadhayay Land Allotment case. Raje and 5 others have been charged with forgery and criminal conspiracy.^[4]

Personal life[link]

Vasundhara Raje married Hemant Singh of the ex-royal Dholpur family on 17 November 1972, but the couple separated a year later. Her son Dushyant Singh was elected to the Lok Sabha from her former constituency, Jhalawar.

Posts held[link]

Membership of Legislative Assembly[link]

• 1985-90 Member, 8th Rajasthan Legislative Assembly
• 2003-08 Member, 12th Rajasthan Legislative Assembly from Jhalrapatan
• 2008 onwards Member, 13th Rajasthan Legislative Assembly from Jhalrapatan

Membership of Parliament[link]

• 1989-91 : Member, 9th Lok Sabha
• 1991-96 : Member, 10th Lok Sabha
• 1996-98 : Member, 11th Lok Sabha
• 1998-99 : Member, 12th Lok Sabha
• 1999-03 : Member, 13th Lok Sabha

Positions held[link]

• 1985-87 : Vice-President, Yuva Morcha BJP, Rajasthan
• 1984 : Member, National Executive, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)
• 1987 : Vice-President, BJP, Rajasthan
• 1990-91 : Member, Library Committee, Member, Consultative Committee, Ministries of Commerce and Tourism
• 1991-96 : Member, Consultative Committees, Ministries of Power, Science and Technology, Environment and Tourism1996-97 Member, Committee on Science and Technology, Environment and Forests, Member, Consultative Committees, Ministries of Power, Science and Technology and Tourism
• 1997-1998 : Joint Secretary, BJP Parliamentary Party
• 1998-99 : Union Minister of State, External Affairs
• 13 October 1999-31 Aug.. 2001: Union Minister of State (Independent Charge), Small Scale Industries and Agro & Rural Industries; Department of Personnel and Training; Department of Pensions and Pensioners’ Welfare in the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions; Department of Atomic Energy and Department of Space
• 1 September 2001-1 November 2001: Union Minister of State, Small Scale Industries; Personnel, Training, Pensions, Administrative Reforms & Public Grievances; Department of Atomic Energy; and Department of Space (Independent Charge) 2 November 2001-
• 29 January 2003: Union Minister of State, Small Scale Industries; Personnel, Training, Pensions, Administrative Reforms & Public Grievances; Planning; Department of Atomic Energy; and Department of Space (Independent Charge) 14 November 2002 -
• 14 December 2003: President, BJP, Rajasthan
• 8 Dec, 2003 - 8 Dec, 2008: Chief Minister, Rajasthan
• 2 Jan, 2009 - Leader of Opposition, Rajasthan Legislative Assembly

See also[link]

• Rajasthani people
• Rajasthan

References[link]

External links[link]

• http://rajassembly.nic.in/precm.htm
• Profile of Vasundhara Raje

Bhushan Bhatt is a Member of Legislative assembly from Khadia constituency in Gujarat for its 12th legislative assembly^[1]

References[link]

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