Maharana Vakhtsinhji Zala - Sayla

                     Maharana Vakhtsinhji Zala - Sayla

                                                       

            Vakhtsinhji became the seventh ruler of Sayla, his original name was Pratapsinhji.  He was born on 10-7-16.  They studied at Prince College.  During his time, Saurashtra was taking on a new look in the areas of construction, railways, buildings and reforms.  This also affected Vakht Singhji and he did many development works.  They built a girls' school in front of Darbargadh, a public garden, an office in Darbargadh, a charitable dispensary and bungalows for their village Chorvira and Sara in the state.  He also built a ginning pressing factory, a power house, a Khodiyar temple, a temple of Gordia Hanuman and Kashi Vishwanath.  The sanctum sanctorum of this temple is decorated with oyster work.  Apart from this, the revolving side of the temple has beautiful carved latticework of marble reminiscent of Sidi Sayyid's lattice, in which many deities are carved.  He himself used to visit this temple of Kashi Vishwanath every day.  It was during the time of this Maharana that the work of Sayla Joravarnagar railway line was started. In his time, Kandoi started making Somwaria Penda which has become very famous.  Maharana Vakhtsinhji made two beneficial compromises to the state and the Jalavansh.  In 181, he reached an agreement with Dhangadhra Rajsaheb regarding the settlement of Chitrodi and Narichana villages.  Wadhwan reconciled with the state and removed it.  They were very punctual once the political agent Davis was to come to Sayla.  But when he was late, he sent Patvi Kunwar Madarsinhji to greet him and after he returned, Davis also apologized for being late.  He received the CSI from the British Government on June 6, 1918. He had taken many steps to develop the state of Sayla.  In which many improvements were made in the revenue account.  He was fond of horse riding.  When the horse race was held in Rajkot, Sayla's horses Shyamaratan, Hector Twai Light, Mahidar, Star Light, Majma got the prizes in the race.  They had six sons.  (1) Madar Singhji (2) Kalyan Singhji (3) Merubha (4) Devubha (4) Vajubha alias Sardar Singh (4) Manubha.  All these bachelors were educated at Girasia College in Wadhwan and were further promoted to good positions.  E.g. Merubha Jamjasaji's A.D.C.  Wingmaster, Bhavsinh and Devisingh Superintendent of Police in Vajubha Rajkumar College.  Vakhtsinhji distributed grass to the boys by hand so that there would be no conflict between the boys.  During their time Syala State was placed from third class to second class.  His umbrella has been erected along with the umbrellas of other kings behind the bus station as he passed away on 5-1-16.