Amarsinhji Banesinhji

Captain Sir Amarsinhji Banesinhji KCSI KCIE (4 January 1879 – 25 June 1954) was the Maharana Raj Sahib of Wankaner from 12 June 1881 until his death on 28 June 1954.

Amarsinhji was born on 4 January 1879 to Banesinhji, whom he succeeded in his titles and dignity as Maharana Raj Sahib of Wankaner at the mere age of two, on 25 June 1881, in the presence of Colonel Nutt, the then Assistant Political Agent of Jhalawad.^[1][2][3] Owing to his minority, the Wankaner State was placed under Agency management.^[1][4] He was educated at Rajkumar College, Rajkot, where he was placed under the care of Chester Macnaghten and C.W. Waddington.^[1][4] After completing his studies at the College, in 1898 he visited the principal cities of India and Ceylon (Sri Lanka).^[1][4] In the same year, he visited England^[1] along with F. de B. Hancock and spent four months there, followed by a visit to Paris, France, before finally returning to Wankaner on 22 October 1898.^[4]

The long minority came to an end on 18 March 1899^[4] when he was invested with the full powers of government at a Durbar by J.M. Hunter, the then Political Agent in Kathiawar.^[1][5] Soon after he took over, the Wankaner State experienced a severe famine in 1900.^[5] He handled it well by providing generous and careful relief efforts, which saved the bhayats and ryots from starving and losing everything.^[5][6] As insurance against the famine, he constructed two irrigation tanks: one at Vadsar, known as the Jaswantnagar Tank, named after his grandfather, and another at Mesariya, named Vinaysagar, after his father.^[5]

He served during the Great War with the Kathiawar Motor Ambulance Corps 1915–1916. A well-educated and progressive ruler, he took an interest in improving the welfare of his subjects. He established the first Farmers' Co-operative Bank in Saurashtra to provide finance to farmers, promoted agriculture, as well as the dairy and textile industries. He also introduced village self-government schemes, the first pensions for state employees, reformed the public services and a strong and effective police force.^{[citation needed]}

A gifted sportsmen, he excelled in badminton, cricket and marksmanship. He also took an interest in motoring, aircraft and architecture, building several palaces and public buildings in Wankaner and Wankaner House in Bombay. He celebrated his Golden Jubilee on 31 May 1931.^{[citation needed]}

He signed the treaty of accession and merged his State with Union of India forming part of United State of Kathiawar on 15 February 1948.^{[citation needed]}

In 1951, a cotton textile mill at Wankaner, named Shree Amarsinhji Mills Limited,^{[citation needed]} named after him was founded by his son Pratapsinhji Jhala, which, however, has now been taken over by Kores India in 1980.^[7] His grandson, Digvijaysinh Jhala continues to serve the company as a director.^{[citation needed]}

His eldest son Pratapsinhji Amarsinhji succeeded to the title of Maharana of Wankaner upon his death on 28 June 1954.^{[citation needed]}

• Delhi Durbar Gold Medal – 1903 and 1911
• Knight Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire (KCIE) - 1911
• 1914–15 Star - 1918
• British War Medal -1918
• Allied Victory Medal - 1918
• King George V Silver Jubilee Medal – 1935
• Knight Commander of the Order of the Star of India (KCSI) – 1936
• King George VI Coronation Medal – 1937
• Indian Independence Medal – 1947