Indian Heroes / Previous Page / Next Page
Chatrapati Rajashree Shahu Maharaj
Shri Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj was the first Maharaja of the Indian princely state of Kolhapur between 1884 and 1922.
Shahu Maharaj was born on 26 June 1874 as Yeshwantrao Ghatge, eldest son of Appasaheb Ghatge, chief of Kagal, by his wife Radhabai. He was adopted by Anandibai, widow of Raja Shivaji IV, in March 1884. Several generations of inter-marriage had ensured that Shahu's family was connected intimately with the ruling dynasty of Kolhapur, which is apparently what rendered him a suitable candidate for adoption, despite his not being a male-line member of the Bhonsle dynasty.
Shahu maharaj is credited for doing lot of work for the lower castes. He did much to make education and employment available to all: he not only subsidized education in his state, eventually providing free education to all, but also opened several hostels in Kolhapur for students hailing from many different non-brahmin communities, thereby facilitating the education of the rural and low-caste indigent. He also ensured suitable employment for students thus educated, thereby creating one of the earliest Affirmative action programs in history.
