Sardar Mahadik Of Gwalior

The Sardar Mahadik Family of the Gwalior state, are amongst one of the topmost blue blooded princely Maratha family with honors of morchal and masnad, also known as panchkuli maratha family of India. Their blood line is derived from the Sisodia Rajput clan from north India. Founded by Shrimant Yashwant Rao Mahadik, he came to Gwalior from the Deccan along with Mahadji Scindia as one of his most trusted adherents.

Yashwant Rao Mahadik

The founder of the Mahadik family in Gwalior, he went to Gwalior from the Deccan with His Highness Maharaja Mahadji Rao Scindia in the year 1703 shaka. On arriving in Gwalior he was appointed officer in charge of 1,200 cavalry, A high rank in those days. He fought many notable battles such as the one against the Rana of Ghad in the year 1703. In the year 1706 shaka he was conferred with the title of Sardar Mahadik and was handed over a jaghir and assigned a seat of honor on the right in the durbar. At that time the emperor of Delhi was imprisoned by Ghulam Quadir, Mahadji Rao Scindia went to Delhi accompanied by Yashwant Rao Mahadik, and succeeded in capturing Ghulam Qadir. Yashwant Rao Mahadik was however killed in a battle at Ramghur in the year 1788. The Maharaj Scindia had lost one of his most valued sardar. On hearing of the death of Yashwant Rao Mahadik, Mahadji Scindia went to the sardars tent and appointed his son Jan Rao Mahadik to succeed him, allowing Jan Rao Mahadik all his fathers rights and privileges.

Sardar Jan Rao Mahadik

Sardar Jan Rao Mahadik went to the Deccan with Mahadji Rao Scindia to visit the peshwa. while the maharaja died and Daulat Rao Scindia succeeded him, Jan Rao Mahadik vacated his Sardarship in favour of his son Hanumant Rao Mahadik and retired going back to Deccan where he died in the year 1854.

Sardar Hanumant Rao Mahadik

Born in the year 1816 Sardar Hanumant Rao Mahadik was the sardar in the court of Jankoji Rao Scindia. He died in the year 1886, Succeeded by his son Daulat Rao Mahadik.

Sardar Daulat Rao Mahadik

Sardar Daulat Rao Mahadik was born in the year 1760 in the village of Ninam, in Satara. On accession to the Sardarship, his Highness the maharaja Scindia granted him a pearl necklace and a sarpaitch. Daulat Rao Mahadik was very much liked by all those who came in contact with him. He was very religious, conscientious, upright and just in all his dealings with his fellow men. His forces were responsible to protect the borders od the state and possessed one of the largest army and jaghir among the fellow Sardars.

Lieutenant colonel. Sardar Krishna Rao Mahadik

Lt.Col. Sardar Krishna Rao Mahadik was born on 12 June 1902 in Gwalior. He studied in Sardar school now know as Scindia school in Gwalior and then did his diploma course from Mayo College, Ajmer. After his return he was married to Gunwantabai Mahadik the younger sister of Maharani Gajraraje Scindia, wife of Madhav Rao Scindia (Senior) from the Rane family of Goa . His first assignment was collector of Guna of Gwalior state. After that he became the General Manager of Gwalior power house and later on appointed in Gwalior and British army in Artillery section after training as Lieutenant colonel. Later on he became Commerce, Industries and communication minister of Gwalior State at the time of Maharaja Jivaji Rao Scindia during merger of Gwalior state into the union of India. He was finance minister and went to America for negotiation with the President and took part in the princely conference representing Maharaja Gwalior during the merger. As a minister of Gwalior state he wrote a book Forwarded by Radha Kamal Mukerjee of Lucknow known as Economic Planning for Gwalior, which is still referred to in various universities around the world. Later on in his old age he was Entangled in a court case involving a land dispute in Poona. Whilst fighting the case in the sessions court of Bombay during which he died in 1967, leaving behind five daughters Asha Devi Mahadik(Phalke), Laxmi Devi Mahadik(Ghorpade of Deshing), Vijay Laxi Devi Mahadik (Bhonsle of Hera Belgaum), Nandani Devi Mahadik(Phalke Senior of Gwalior) and Sharadni Devi Mahadik(Mane of Bangalore) and a son Sadashiv Rao Mahadik. It is believed that he took his own life for reasons unknown. His deceased body was brought back to Gwalior and then he was cremated in Gwalior at Gol Pahadia (The Official chattri of Sardar Mahadik).

Sardar K.D Mahadik With his five daughters, son, son-in-laws, grand children and wife

Sardar Sadashiv Rao Mahadik

Sardar Sadashiv Rao Mahadik was born on 13 August 1937 in Gwalior. Current head of the Mahadik family, He Studied at home Arya Samaj school, Misshills school and then went to Scindia school in the 3rd standard and passed his 10th standard in 1954 he joined Victoria college now known as Laxmibai college and did his B.Com in 1959 and then went to New York, U.S.A to do his MBA from New York University on Rector Street in 1959. He passed out and was working in America as an export manager of the American east India Company, Wall Street. He then returned to India in 1961 and was married to a Maratha girl called Kanchan Mala Mahagonker named Girjadevi Mahadik after. After his marriage he worked for century mills in Bombay working at their head office at industry house, Church gate. Then he was called by Rajmata Vijyaraje Scindia and became the first chief secretary to maharaja Scindia at Gwalior. He was Director of K.B Bank of Scindia and later on the Vice-Governor of Reserve Bank of India Mr. Adarkher appointed him as a special officer of the bank. Then he resigned and retired he started looking after his own estate and wealth after the death of his father whom he supported till last, he is with one daughter Gayatriraje Mahadik (Puar, Dewas senior) now the maharani of Dewas married to Maharaj Tukoji Rao Puar and a son Yashwant Rao Sadashiv Rao Mahadik married to Vrushalidevi Gaekwad from the family of Archit Rao Gaekwad in Baroda. Yashwant Rao Sadashiv Rao Mahadik currently has two issues, Daulat Rao Yashwant Rao Mahadik and Anushka Devi Mahadik.

Gayatriraje Puar- Daughter of Sardar Sadashiv Rao Mahadik, Current Maharani Dewas(senior)

Standing (from left): Yuvraj Vikram Singh Puar, Yashwant Rao Mahadik, Sardar Sadashiv Rao Mahadik, Daulat Rao Mahadik, Maharaj Tukoji Rao Puar.

Sitting on chairs (from left): Rajkumari Kanikaraje Puar, Maharani Gayatriraje Puar, Lady Girjadevi Mahadik, Vrushaliraje Mahadik, Kumari Anushkaraje Mahadik.

Vrushaliraje Mahadik, wife of Yashwant Rao Sadashiv Rao Mahadik