Born in a Maratha family of Kolhapur Maharani Shantadevi, was the first wife of Maharaja Pratapsinrao Gaekwad. Her Father was Sardar Hausrkar Mansinhrao Subbarao of Hasur.
Her engagement was arranged to Pratapsinhrao, when at the age of 13, Shantadevi came to Baroda to meet Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III, who was impressed by her immediately. The marriage took place on January 4, 1929, in a lavish ceremony organized at the Nazarbaug Palace.
Together they had eight children, out of which three were sons and 5 were daughters. Their eldest son, Fatehsinhrao II became the king after his father, Pratapsinhrao was deposed by the Indian Government.
Maharani Shantadevi was involved in many activities of public welfare. She established the Maharani Shantadevi Hospital for the treatment of poor people. She was also the president of the Kamatibaug Women’s Club ( Maharani Chimnabai Ladies Club, located inside Sayajibaug).
She passed away on May 22, 2002, due to health-related issues in the same hospital she had commissioned!
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