Erstwhile Kolhapur princely state scion Pramilaraje passes away

Kolhapur, Jan 31 (UNI) Erstwhile Kolhapur princely state princess Chhatrapati Pramilaraje passed away here today.

She was 97.

She is survived by her adopted son Shrimant Shahu Chhatrapati Maharaj and grandsons Sambhajiraje Chhatrapati and Malojiraje. Pramilaraje had been unwell for last four days.

Daughter of Rajesaheb Ramrao alias Abasaheb Daphle of Sangli, Pramilaraje was born on August 1, 1910. She completed her primary education in Jat, Sangli.

On September 30, 1926, she was married to Yuvraj Vikramsinhrao Pawar of Devas Sansthan who was later named as Chhatrapati Shahaji Maharaj. Rajmata Pramilaraje served twice as rejent of the Devas Sansthan -- once when Vikramsinhrao Maharaj was engaged in the World War II, and again for the second time when Vikramsinhrao was adopted as prince of the Kolhapur princely state.

Pramilaraje, an able administrator, had striven tirelessly for girls education.

The Kolhapur civil hospital was named after her in 1947 by Shahaji Chhatrapati Maharaj.

On June 28, 1962, Shahaji Chhatrapati Maharaj and Pramilaraje adopted Dileepsinh, son of Nagpur's Bhosale princely family, who is presently Kolhapur's Shrimant Shahu Chhatrapati Maharaj.

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