Maharaja Bhavsinhji Gohil II - Bhavnagar T

       Maharaja Bhavsinhji Gohil II - Bhavnagar T

                                                       

   7th ruler of Bhavnagar, Takhtsinhji, died in 1918 and his son Bhavsinhji II came to the throne.  He was educated at Rajkumar College, Rajkot.  Being a modern Westerner, he carried on the unfinished business of his father and transformed the whole state into a modern and comfortable state.  Therefore, he was hailed in history as the architect of modernization of Bhavnagar state.  Johnny and Dr.  P.G.  Described by Korat.  They carried out the following reforms and steps to make Bhavnagar an ideal and first tier state among the states of Saurashtra.  Who performed the following functions and improvements.  

(1) Every prince of Saurashtra took steps to improve the condition of the farmers and opened relief works during the famine.  They also opened drought relief camps, poor houses, cattle camps and relief works with a loan of Rs 50 lakh.  It built the railway from Dhola to Port Albert Victor, new roads and 3 new lakes.  

(2) When the state of Bhavnagar fell victim to the plague three times, it received the praise of the British government for taking good steps.  

(3) Instead of administration of council system, the practice of Fariwar Diwan and Deputy Diwan was introduced.  

(4) He formed the Praja Pratinidhi Sabha and gave the concept of democracy to his people and made them aware and the training which was very useful to the people later.  Thus the state of Bhavnagar was the first to taste such democratic reforms.  

(5) Established farmer crisis prevention fund.  Apart from this a model farm, a co-operative society was formed to improve the condition of the farmers.  

(6) To increase the convenience of irrigation, Ramdhari lake of Shihor and Manhar lake of Bhimdad were constructed at a cost of Rs. 2,00,00.  

(7) On 1-4-1908, “Bhavnagar Darbar Savings Bank was started, then after independence it has been renamed as Bank of Saurashtra.  

(8) During their time, 181 km of new railway lines were destroyed.  

(9) In 1918, he probably ordered the first ban on alcohol in Saurashtra.  

(10) Founded Gopnath Maternity Hospital in 1918 and established Nandkunwarba Orphanage and Nandkunwarba Rajput Kumarika Zana Boarding and Nandkunwarba Rajput Vidyalaya.  

(11) His Empress Nandkunwarba made many efforts to improve the condition of women.  (12) He encouraged women's education and abolished the practice of veil.  He was given the title of "Maharaja" by the British government in 1908 and the Ilqab of KCSI in 1917 and the honor of thirteen cannons in 1918 was increased to 12 cannons and  He was given the honorary rank of Colonel.  Whose Empress Nandkunwarba also later got the Ilqab of CI and Kaiser-A Hind.  This Bhavsinhji II passed away on 16-9-1918.