Shivaji VI

Shivaji VI(April 05, 1863 – December 25, 1883) of the Bhonsle dynasty, was Raja of Kolhapur from 1871 to 1883. A distant relation of the main family line, he was born as Shrimant Narayanrao Dinkarrao Bhonsle and was adopted at the age of eight by the widow of Rajaram II. Owing to his youth, he reigned under a regency until he had attained his majority. In 1875, he was presented with a sword of honour by the future Edward VII and on New Year's Day, 1877, was knighted with the title of Knight Commander of the Order of the Star of India(KCSI), at the age of 13, the youngest knight ever of that honour. Later that same year, he also became the youngest recipient of the Empress of India Medal.

By 1882, Sir Shivaji VI had become insane – at least, so it was strongly asserted – and was placed under the protection of British Government, with a Regent appointed for the state, Karbhari Mahadeo Barve.

This aroused a considerable controversy. British officials and doctors reiterated that Shivaji VI was suffering from an incurable madness. This official version received support from English newspapers such as the Times of India and the Bombay Gazette.

However, this was strongly disputed by some Indian-owned newspapers such as Induprakash, Mahratta and Kesari – the later two in English and Marathi respectively, founded shortly before by Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak, a prominent leader of the Indian Independence movement.

In the Kesari, there was a public questioning of the diagnosis, treatment and mental state of Chhatrapati. The Kesari, then under the editorship of Agarkar and the Mahratta under Tilak, argued that Shivaji VI was not mad and the little instability in his mental state was caused by the maltreatment given to him by the servants and officials appointed to take care of him.

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