- INDORE, MAHARAJA OF
- Neg. No: 7562
- Neg. Size: 15"x12"
- Neg. Date: 27-9-1913
Sitter: Tukoji Rao Holkar,
Maharaja of Indore (1890-1978).
Image published in The Lafayette Studio
and Princely India,
Roli Books, New Delhi
Biog: H.H. Maharajadhiraja Raj Rajeshwar Sawai Shri Sir
Tukoji Rao III Holkar XIII Bahadur, Maharaja of Indore, GCIE (1.1.1918). b. at
Maheshwar, 26th November 1890, eldest son of H.H. Maharajadhiraja Raj
Rajeshwar Sawai Shri Sir Shivaji Rao Holkar XII Bahadur, Maharaja of Indore,
GCSI, by his third wife, H.H. Maharani Shrimant Akhand Soubhagyavati Sita Bai
Sahiba. Educ Mayo Coll., Indore and with Imperial Cadet Corps, Dehra Dun.
Succeeded on the abdication of his father, 31st January 1903.
Attended the Coronation of HM The King-Emperor George V, 1911 (Coronation
Medal). DGBStJ (28.11.1912). Field Marshal and C-in-C, Indore State Forces.
Abdicated in favour of his only son, 26th February 1926.
Married
 | (firstly) at Indore, 16th March 1895, H.H. Maharani Shrimant
Akhand Soubhagyavati Chandravati Bai Sahiba (d. 1937), daughter of Shrimant
��. Rao Gawade. |
| (secondly) at Indore, 8th December 1913, H.H. Maharani Shrimant
Akhand Soubhagyavati Indira Bai Sahiba, daughter of Rao Bahadur Anandrao
Talcharkhar, of Bombay. X (thirdly), at Barwada, 11th March 1928,
H.H. Maharani Shrimant Akhand Soubhagyavati Sharmishtha Bai Sahiba alias
Nancy Anne Miller, of Seattle, Washington, USA. He d. 21st May
1978 had issue one son and three daughters. |
Date: 27 September 1913.
Occasion: Visit to Europe.
Location: The Lafayette Studio, 179 New Bond Street,
London.
Descr: FL standing.
Costume: (Mace with coat of arms of Indore.) [He seems
to be wearing a uniform modelled on that of a British Staff Officer in
the Edwardian period (which was a red tunic with gold embroidery facings),
though the ends of his cuffs seem to be a paler shade than the rest of
the tunic (which was not the case for the British uniform). His helmet
has a chin strap (not so for British officers). The baton has the crest
of Indore at the top (cf portrait published in The Sphere,
28 May 1938).]
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In circa 1889 the Imperial Service Scheme, later known
as the Indian States Forces scheme, was established to help train,
upgrade the equipment, education of officers, etc. of these forces.
By the time of the Great War some forces were of very high quality,
especially Kashmir, Jodhpur, Gwalior, etc. and participated in that
war with great distinction. The forces that were accepted as part
of the scheme, usually the more efficient and modern, were listed
in the Indian States Forces Lists published by the Government of
India until 1946 and available at the British Library (India Office
Library Section). These annual lists were very similar to the Army
List or Indian Army List, with lists of units, officers, strengths,
information on colours, uniforms, etc.
The Maharajas, Nawabs, Rajas, etc. exercised sovereign rights within
their own states. They were, in modern American terms, Commanders-in-Chief
of these armies. Technically, they could therefore call themselves
whatever they liked within their territories, although the Government
of India, acting on behalf of their Emperor, tried to discourage
some of their more grandiose efforts e.g.. Gwalior or Alwar called
himself the ruler of the world!
Many rulers increasingly modelled themselves along British Royal
lines. In time, they began to assume and confer British military
ranks. By the early thirties the States Forces lists began to record
members of Indian ruling houses who were Colonels and Colonels-in-Chief
of Regiments, Generals, etc. In the case of Indore the Indian
State Forces Lists in the early 1940's show one Field Marshal -
H.H. The Maharaja Holkar.
Information provided by Christopher J Buyers , The Royal Ark http://www.dreamwater.net/regiment/RoyalArk/royalark.htm
|
Later
portrait of the Maharajah by Lafayette [undated]
Lieut-General
Sir George MacMunn, The Indian States and Princess, London,
1936
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Orders, Decorations & Medals:
- (1) Donat of The Order of St. John of Jerusalem
[The ribbon for this badge should be a black watered ribbon with a central
white stripe, although this is cannot be detected in this portrait.]
- (2) Unidentified.
- (3) Coronation Medal, 1911.
- (4) Delhi Durbar Medal, 1911.
Furniture & Props: Painted backdrop.
Photographer: Lafayette Ltd., 179 New Bond Street, London.
Evidence of photographer at work: -
No of poses: 1.
Copyright: V&A
All
images on this site are copyright V&A. For further information
on using or requesting copies of any images
please contact the V&A Picture Library: [email protected]
including the URL of the relevant page Provenance:
Pinewood Studios; acquired 1989.
References:
Biog: Who's Who.
Occasion: Who's Who.
Costume: A.N. McClenaghan, Editor, Durbar
Magazine.
Orders, Decorations & Medals: (1)
Charles W. Tozer, The Insignia and Medals of the Grand Priory of the Most Venerable
Order of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem, London, 1975, pp 16-17. (3)
Howard N. Cole, Coronation and Royal Commemorative Medals 1887-1977, London,
1977. (4) A.R. Litherland & B.T. Simpkin, Spink's Standard
Catalogue of British and Associated Orders, Decorations & Medals, London, 1990,
p 152.
Reproduced: -
Acknowledgements: (Costume) A.N.
McClenaghan, Editor, Durbar Magazine; Christopher Buyers.
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