Wednesday 8 August 2012

The Maharani of Indore


The Maharani of Indore, Maharani Sharmishta was the American wife and Queen of Maharaja Tukoji Rao Holkar of Indore  (an article about the Maharaja is already posted in this blog- http://adventoftheavatar.blogspot.in/2012/07/photo-of-maharaja-tukojirao-holkar.html )had the devotion in Shri Nathji which was equal to that of her husband. When Shri Nathji came to Indore in January 1955, on route to Mumbai, he desired to meet the Maharaja and the Maharani. He went to the Shiv Vilas Palace where they were residing.
(In picture -The palace of the Maharaja of Indore) The Raja and Rani rushed to meet Shri Nathji and His family. They insisted that Shri Nathji and His family stay with them for few days. But Shri Nathji agreed to only to stay with them till lunch. The Maharaja and Maharani served Shri NAthji with great respect, with their own hands. And also served, Pran Nathji and Priya Nathji with the same reverence. After they meals they brought water and washed hands of Shri Nathji and Mateshwari themselves. Shri Nathji was greatly pleased with them. When Shri Nathji took their leave they held the door of their Standard car open as a mark of respect. Every year Shri Nathji send His birthday cards to the Maharaja and received a telegram of greetings and obeisances each time. He continued this till his death in Paris on the 21st May 1978. After his death the Maharani of Indore continued to acknowledge the invitation cards till the last days of her life upon earth. She died at Indore in 1995.
She was born in Washington, USA, 9th September 1907. Her name at birth was Nancy Anne Miller. She was educated at the Univ. of Washington, Seattle. Her father was Mr John Miller, of Seattle, Washington, He also used to do gold mining at Gulch, Alaska. Her mother was Mrs Jennie Miller, daughter of Louis Schaeffer, of Seattle, Washington, who had come to US, from Lausanne, Switzerland. Maharaja Tukoji Rao Holkar fell in love with her and wished to marry her. She thus converted to Hinduism. And as part of this process, she became a member of the Dhanar caste and was adopted by Princess Tara Bai and Colonel Lambhate before her marriage. She married  Maharaja Tukoji Rao Holkar at the Daryava Mahal, Barwada on 17th March 1928. There after she was addressed as H.H. Maharani Shrimant Akhand Soubhagyavati Sharmista Devi Sahib Holkar [Sharmista Devi in short] She gave birth to four daughters -
Maharajkumari Shrimant Sharada Raje Sahib Holkar on 26th January 1929
Maharajkumari Shrimant Sita Raje Sahib Holkar in 1930
Maharajkumari Shrimant Sumitra Raje Sahib Holkar on 14th November 1932
Maharajkumari Shrimant Sushila Raje Sahib Holkar. on January 1937

11 comments:

  1. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hi Siddharth,

    It was wonderful to see your post,

    One of my relative Dr Rita was a classmate of Maharajkumari Shrimant Sumitra Raje Sahib Holkar, She still remembers her well and talks about her and her classmate called "kumar" whom both of them used to tease

    Dr Rita is retired has two kids, Felix works for german Embassy in Mumbai and stays in Khar dauther stays in US, Dr Rita stays in Vienna Austria, I stay near her place and visit her often,

    Is sumita live?

    Regards
    Dr Avinash Lewis
    United Nations, IAEA Lewisavinash@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dear Dr lewis
      I just happen to see this blog n got interested . Fir reasons .
      1. I saw a match box collection n saw one with pic of Shamistha devi .
      2. If you are still in Austria I woukd like trace one of my Rotary freind there .

      I am from indore and Vijendra Ghatge was my ckass mate in DC who belongs / related yo this family .

      rtn.arunsachdeva@yahoo.com

      Delete
    2. Dear Dr lewis
      I just happen to see this blog n got interested . Fir reasons .
      1. I saw a match box collection n saw one with pic of Shamistha devi .
      2. If you are still in Austria I woukd like trace one of my Rotary freind there .

      I am from indore and Vijendra Ghatge was my ckass mate in DC who belongs / related yo this family .

      rtn.arunsachdeva@yahoo.com

      Delete
    3. Dear Dr lewis
      I just happen to see this blog n got interested . Fir reasons .
      1. I saw a match box collection n saw one with pic of Shamistha devi .
      2. If you are still in Austria I woukd like trace one of my Rotary freind there .

      I am from indore and Vijendra Ghatge was my ckass mate in DC who belongs / related yo this family .

      rtn.arunsachdeva@yahoo.com

      Delete
  3. Hi, I'm a Seattle writer and very interested in talking to people who knew the Maharani Sharmishthabai Holkar. I'm working on a book about her life. Please contact me at nancy.bartley@fulbrightmail.org

    ReplyDelete
  4. Hello,
    Thank you for this wonderful article. Have you completed your book project? I would love to read it.. I am a family genealogy researcher currently working on my husband's maternal line. My research is linked to Nancy Ann Miller from Seattle Washington. Her father John Miller was my husband's great grandmother Mary Jane Miller Caulfield's brother. I have newspaper articles from 1928 from phildelphia where Mary Jane was interviewed concerning her niece's impending marriage. Have you come across any further information about Nancy Ann Miller's father and mother? I would be happy to share the little bit I know.. Thanks you

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello Peggy,
      have you heard from Nancy? I am interested in various aspects of the Holkar dinasty/history as an Indianist.
      I wonder how did the Philadelphia articles at your disposal characterise the perspective fiance?

      Delete
  5. The Maharani of Indore that is a great place your article are such a wounder more info that
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  6. It was very great experience to know about royal familly.Just make one correction about caste.It is Dhangar caste not Dhanar caste.

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