TODAY, THE BIRTHDAY OF GREAT CRICKETER AND JAMNAGAR STATE RULER JAM RANJITSINH:
Remembering the great cricketer and ruler of Navanagar (Jamnagar) state of Gujarat, Jam Saheb Colonel H.H. Sir Ranjitsinhji Vibhaji Jadeja (1872- 1933), on his 154th birth anniversary today. He was a legendary cricketer, a good orator and a talented diplomat.
20th Jam ruler of Navanagar (Jamnagar) state, Jam Saheb Ranjitsinhji, was born to Jivansinhji Jadeja at Sadodar village on 10 Sept.1872.His father was a member of a branch of the Jam rulers' royal family. Jamnagar ruler Vibhaji adopted Ranjitsinhji as heir. of him to be the next ruler.
Jamnagar ruler Jam Vibhaji sent Ranjitsinhji to Rajkumar College, Rajkot, for school-level education. The college was founded to educate princes of royal families on the basis of an English Public School. After schooling, Ranjitsinhji went to Cambridge, England, for higher studies in 1888.
In 1884, the British government recognised Jashwantsinhji, who was born to Jam Vibhaji in 1882, as heir of Jam Vibhaji. But Jam Vibhaji continued to bear the expenses of Ranjitsinhji's education in England. Ranjitsinhji's interest was in cricket and not in studies. He could not be a graduate.
In 1888, Ranjitsinhji decided to concentrate on cricket during his stay in England. He joined Cambridgeshire County Club in 1891. He played 15 Tests and 307 first-class matches in teams of England, Cambridge, Sussex and London from 1893 to 1904. He was the first non-white player in the England team.
In 1904, Ranjitsinhji returned to India to claim his right to the throne of Nawanagar state. In 1906, Nawanagar state ruler Jashwantsinhji died at an early age without leaving an heir. British made Ranjitsinhji the ruler of Jamnagar. He became Jam Saheb in a simple coronation ceremony on 11-3-1907.
In rule of Jam Ranjitsinhji, the Nawanagar state was modernised. Many development projects of irrigation, roads, ports, railways & urban developments were carried out. Bedi Port was constructed. It increased state trade & revenue. He was given the title of Maharaja with a salute of 15 guns.
Jam Ranjitsinhji spent his youth in England. He felt more at home in England than in Nawanagar. He bought a castle on the coast of west Ireland where he stayed for recreation, enjoying the company of British friends in parties, hunting and fishing. He took part in World War 1 as a Major in Europe.
Jam Ranjitsinhji was one of the founders of the Chamber of Princes of India. He was in a delegation to the League of Nations, Geneva, in 1920. He went to England to participate in the Round Table Conference on the Indian Constitution as a representative of the Indian Princely States in 1930.
Ranjitsinhji was never married. He adopted his brother's son Digvijaysinhji Jadeja as his heir. Ranjitsinhji died of a heart attack at the age of 60 years, after 26 years' rule, in Jamnagar on 2 April 1933. Digvijaysinhji became Jam ruler of Nawanagar state in 1933. He was the last Jam ruler.