THE MIDGET QUEEN OF GWALIOR

There are many Maratha kings who have written their names in golden words in Indian History on the strength of their valor and it is also not to be forgotten that time to time Maratha queens have also supported them in the development and expansion of their states. H.H. Shrimant Akhand Saubhagyavati Maharani Chinku Bai Raje Scindia Of Gwalior was one of those queens who not only ruled the kingdom with her husband but also carried the burden of the kingdom on her shoulders after his husband s death.

Maharani Chinku Bai Raje Scindia

Maharani Chinku bai raje Scindia comes from a Maratha royal family. She was formally from Satara district in Maharastra. His father name was Sardar Madhavrao Balwantrao Mohite. Her father was a first class sardar in the Scindia State. A street is also named on his Father in Lashkar area of Gwalior called Sardar Mohite ki Sadak. Maharani Chinku Bai Raje Scindia was married to 5^th Maharaja of Gwalior H.H. Maharaja Madho Rao Scindia belonging to the Scindian Dynasty of the Marathas in 1891. Maharaj Madho rao Scindia married  her without knowing the fact that she was very short in height. In fact Scindia saw her first time only at the time of wedding. She was his 1^st wife.

Maharani Chinku Raje And Maharaja Madhorao in discussion with royal Maratha womens.

Maharani Chinku Raje  was known for having a sharp mind. She loved reading and writing. Maharani tooked an active intrest in political affairs and development of Gwalior state. She even made her own Darbar known as Rani Darbar in the royal Jai Villas Palace of Gwalior. Rani Darbar Hall is now reinovated as Madhavrao Scindia Hall after the death of her grandson Madhavrao Scindia in 2001. She made a group of royal maratha womens and discuss on political and financial matters of state alongs with Maharaja Scindia in the Scindia Zenana (royal women quarters of palace). It is known that Maharaja regularly sought chinkuraje advices and selected her to rule as regent on his death. It is belived that she even advised the Maharaja in many important development matters of Gwalior. His state reforms have led Maharaja being describe as the father of morden Gwalior. Unfortunately Maharani had no children  so Maharaja Madho rao got a second marriage with Maharani Gajra bai raje Scinida from which Gwalior got his successor on 26 june 1916.

Maharani Chinku Raje Room in Jai Villas Palace Gwalior

The Maharani stood just 4’3” tall so Maharaja Madho Rao ordered the furniture to be specially made to accommodate her smaller size. Unlike her  husband she was less interested in western style things and had the Indian Style Local North Indian Wood furniture decorated with the scenes from Hindu Mythology carved in. You can see it in the Jai Villas Palace Gwalior.

A letter signed by maharani chinku bai raje in 1928

After the death of her husband on 5 June 1925 She was appointed as regent in the name of her stepson Maharaja Jiwaji Rao Scindia. She worked as a regent from 5 june 1925 to 23 November 1931. She was also awarded by Kaiser-i-Hind medal in 1900 and the order of the crown of india in 1928. In 1902 she was also colonel-in-chief in 2^nd AliJah Gwalior Lancers.

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Kshitij Agrawal