Born into a Maratha family from Kolhapur, Maharani Shantadevi was the first wife of Maharaja Pratapsinhrao Gaekwad. Her father was Sardar Hausrkar Mansinhrao Subbarao of Hasur. At the age of 13, Shantadevi was engaged to Pratapsinhrao. When she came to Baroda to meet Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III, he was immediately impressed by her. The marriage was solemnized on January 4,…
