Natwarsinhji Bhavsinhji
Lieutenant-Colonel H.H. Maharaja Rana Shri Sir Natwarsinhji Bhavsinhji Sahib Bahadur, KCSI (30 June 1901 – 4 October 1979) was the Maharaja of Porbandar belonging to Jethwa dynasty.
He was the only son of H.H. Maharaja Rana Shri Bhavsinhji Madhavsinhji Sahib Bahadur, Rana Sahib of Porbandar, by his third wife, H.H. Maharani Bama Sahib Ramba Kunverba Sahiba.
He was educated at the Rajkumar College at Rajkot and stood first in the diploma examination for all the Princes’ colleges in India. He succeeded his father on his death on 1908-12-10 and ascended the throne on 26 January 1920 after he came of age.
He married twice, but never had children. He first married Rupaliba Sahiba, MBE (1898–1943) of Limbdi in 1920 and after her death, to Anant Kunverba Annette da Silva (1911–1989) in 1954.
The 1932 Indian Test Cricket team that toured England. Maharaja of Porbandar, H.H. Maharaja Rana Shri Sir Natwarsinhji Bhavsinhji (Captain), seated 3rd from right with K. S. Limbdi (Vice-captain) sitting on his right and C. K. Nayudu sitting on his left.
He captained India in her first Test tour of England in 1932. He played in four matches but stood down from captaincy in favour of the more talented C.K. Nayudu for the Test against England. K. S. Ghanshyamsinhji, the elder brother of Rupaliba Sahiba, served as his vice captain.
Natwarsinhji was an avid painter, author and musician; his literary works include “From the Flow of Life” (1967), “India’s Problems: Reflections of an Ex-Ruler” (1970) and “International Solidarity” (1975). He was the joint composer with AW Hansen, of Great Britain of the “Oriental Moon Waltz” in 1930.
He was an able ruler and Porbandar progressed under his kingship. He gave land to Nanji Kalidas Mehta, to start Maharana Mills manufacturing textiles. After independence of India, he merged his state into the United State of Kathiawar on 15 February 1948. He also took active interest along with Nanji Kalidas Mehta to see that Kirti Mandir is being built in Porbandar, as a memorial to Mahatma Gandhi
Maharaja Sir Natwarsinhji Jethwa of Porbandar died in 1979 after a 71 year reign, aged 78. Although he had adopted a son, Rajkumar Udaibhansinhji Jethwa, in 1941, he died in 1977 with no issue; therefore, the headship of the dynasty is still uncertain after three decades.
