History of Rajkot - British Rule

British Rule

His Highness Bavajirajsinhji Mehramanji and his son, Lakhajirajsinhji II Bavajirajsinhji, were model rulers who slowly developed their state into a haven of liberal learning, discourse and intellectual activity. The state became a favourite venue for meetings of various India wide political, cultural and intellectual organisations. The British constructed many impressive colonial buildings and educational institutions, which are Connaught Hall, Masonic Hall, Lang Library, Watson Museum and The Rajkumar College. Peasant, youth, farmers' and citizens' councils were encouraged and prospered. However, all this changed when His Highness Thakore Saheb Dharmendrasinhji Lakhajiraj succeeded his father in 1930. Although he received a liberal education and was the first of his line to be sent abroad, his interests and inclination were the reverse of his father and grandfather. The British authorities restricted him from exercising full powers for a year and placed him on probation, but he gave full vent to his proclivities when he received full powers a year later. He taxed his subjects heavily, hoarded goods then sold them at inflated prices to his own subjects after creating scarcity, then frittered away the proceeds on his own pastimes. Unlike his father, who lived frugally and spent practically the entire revenue on developing his state, Dharmendra used 50% of the state funds on himself. Not surprisingly, he became the butt of many demonstrations, strikes and boycotts, organised by Congress and other left-wing organisations. Mahatma Gandhi did fasting to ask to form people's council and liberation of people of Rajkot at Rashtriya Sala in 1939. Thakore Sahib Dharmendrasinhji's early death in 1940 while hunting Lions in Sasan Gir, came as relief to his subjects.

His Highness Thakore Saheb Pradyumansinhji Lakhajiraj tried his best to reverse his late brother's failures, but time and circumstances were not on his side. Although he did manage to improve the lot of his subjects, War conditions hampered progress for several years. No sooner had the Second World War ended, before the events of partition, independence and merger overtook any plans he had. The state merged with its neighbours to form the United State of Saurashtra in February, 1948 and then after Rajkot became the capital of the State of Saurashtra headed by U. N. Dhebar as chief Minister and Jam Saheb of Navanagar as Raj Pramukh in 1948.