'Crazy Rich’ South Asian from Baroda

Meet the once-second richest Maharaja of India and eighth richest man in the world, born today in 1908, whose reign was amongst the selected few who was entitled to receive ekkees toppon ki salaami from British empire and for whom love became a pain in disguise – as he ended up alone and embittered.

Portrait of Maharaja Pratapsingh Rao Gaekwad ; Image Source: Public Domain

On the death of his grandfather Maharaja Sir Sayajirao Gaekwad III in 1939, Shrimant Maharaja Sir Pratap Singh Rao Gaekwad, GCIE succeeded to the throne. Little did he know that he had big shoes to fill in.

Sir Pratap Singh Rao inherited an estate of more than $300 million (in 1939 value terms), including a jewellery collection of more than $15 million.

Sayajirao was one of the finest and most enlightened rulers in British India, whose vision and administrative skills transformed the game of thrones chaos into a cosmopolitan and wealthy estate through his social, educational and industrial reforms. He was known to patronize young leaders like Dr BR Ambedkar and Dadabhai Naoroji.

In the footsteps of his grandfather, he picked up several initiatives for public welfare. His contributions include establishing the Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda and a trust to look after the other needs of the erstwhile state of Baroda. Consistent with his grandfather’s legacy, he ensured patronage to the artists and scholars, and also, created avenues for the social wealthy elite of the state by establishing the Polo Club and the Gaekwad Baroda Golf Club. He showed his tribute and support to the country by establishing the first radio service, Baroda Broadcasting Station, and presented Vande Mataram as its first air – much to the irk of the British.

With its vast treasures of moonlight silver, precious gold, luminescent pearls and sparkling jewels; the estate not only overawed the guests, it became a global sensation.

Married to Shanti Devi of Kolhapur with whom he had three sons and five daughters, Sir Pratap Singh Rao was sought-after guest and a hedonistic spendthrift.

At the Guindy Race Course of Madras in 1943, he met a glamorous and bold married woman and was instantly smitten. Infamously known as the Indian Wallis Simpson, Sita Devi was a daughter of Maharaja of Pithapuram, Mysore. Though she had one child with her first husband, she fanned his flame for passion and ensured to marry her as desired. For her, this young man defied the monogamy act passed by his grandfather and even refused to back down, when opposed by the British. He ensured to legally bypass the laws and later on, settled down in Monaco.

The couple's profligate lifestyle and trips abroad were highly covered. On one of their famous trip to the US in 1948, the duo went on a spending spree buying luxury goods worth $10 million, while the country was recovering from the excesses of British rule.

"It is said that he was so distraught after he signed the Instrument of Accession for Baroda that he wept in the arms of V.P. Menon."

As stories floated to the East side, Indian authorities investigated and realized that the royal plundered the estate resources to finance their getaways all this while and even further, has plans to establish a separate sovereign state as Kingdom of Gujarat and Kathiawar. In order to contain this anti-merger agitation, the Indian Government de-recognized Sir Pratap and made his eldest son as guardian of the estate.

Sita Devi, after 13 years of marriage, promptly divorced the Maharaja, who went on to live the exiled life in England and died in 1968 as an embittered man. For him, love was something fighting for, he lost the battle and with it everything.