PREDECESSORS AND SHORT HISTORY: A small estate lying 31 kilometres south of Kolhapur. The ancestor of the family, Piraji Raje, left his native place of Udaipur in Rajputana and came down to the Deccan in search of adventure, after distinguishing himself in much warfare and earning for himself the title of Zunzar Rao (Valiant Fighter), he enlisted in the army of Sultan Mahmud Padshah, the then king of Bijapur, and successfully put down many disturbances. In recognition of his meritious services and deeds of valour, the Padshah was pleased to confer on him in 1572, the title of Sarjerao and the Kagal pargana consisting of 69 and a 1/2 villages as Jagir. During The first Quarter of the 19th century when there were incessant wars and depredations, some of the villages belonging to the senior branch of the Ghatge family changed hands from one power to another, but by article 3 of the Treaty entered into by the Maharaja of Kolhapur with the British Government in 1826, the villages now in the rulers possession which number 41 have been guaranteed. The name was eventually corrupted to Ghatge, which means “Take a jump”. Legend has it that during a war, the Maratha ruler, Shivaji shouted “Ghat ge” to an ancestor. Estate holders were....

• Shrimant Pirajirao I Tulojirao Ghatge, founder of Kagal State, son of Shrimant Tuljojirao Kamrajrao Ghatge.

• Meherban Shrimant Rajamanya Rajashri Vithoji Ghatge

• Meherban Shrimant Rajamanya Rajashri Mahadji Ghatge Sarjerao

• Meherban Shrimant Rajamanya Rajashri Vithoji Ghatge II Sarjerao

• Meherban Shrimant Rajamanya Rajashri Pirajirao Ghatge Sarjerao, the state was split into the Senior and Junior lines in 1768, with the title of Sarjerao remaining with the Junior line, while the Senior line enjoy the title of Sarjerao Vajarat-ma-ab, married and had issue.

  • Meherban Shrimant Rajamanya Rajashri Tuljojirao Sakharam Ghatge Sarjerao (qv)

  • Shrimant Vishwasrao Ghatge, received the village of Valva and seven others from his brother in 1786, as his share of the family estate, married 4thly, Rani Shrimant Ramnabai, died 1861, having adopted a son. He died sp in 1824.

    • Shrimant (name unknown) Vishwasrao Ghatge, married and had issue.

      • Shrimant (name unknown) Ghatge, married Ramabaisaheb, she petitioned the Government for permission to adopt a son but the state lapsed and was resumed by Kolhapur. He died sp in 1864.

• Meherban Shrimant Rajamanya Rajashri Tuljojirao Sakharam Ghatge Sarjerao, he married and had issue.

  • Meherban Shrimant Rajamanya Rajashri Hindurao Ghatge Sarjerao Vajarat-ma-ab (qv)

  • Rani Shrimant Baijabai Raje Saheb, married Maharaja Scindia Daulatrao Scindia of Gwalior.

  • Rani Shrimant Saibai Raje Saheb, married (as his first wife), Raja Chhatrapati Shivaji II Bhonsle of Kolhapur.

• Meherban Shrimant Rajamanya Rajashri [Jaisinghrao] Hindurao Ghatge [Babasaheb Ghatge] Sarjerao Vajarat-ma-ab, 2nd Chief of Kagal-Senior -/1856, built a new fort in Kagal in 1813; married 1stly, Rani Shrimant Ramabai, married 2ndly, Rani Shrimant Parvatibai, and had adoptive issue. He died sp in 1856.

  • (A) Govindrao [Dajisaheb] Ghatge of the Kenwade branch, adopted and succeeded as Meherban Shrimant Rajamanya Rajashri Sakharam Bapu Ghatge Sarjerao Vajarat-ma-ab (qv)

• Meherban Shrimant Rajamanya Rajashri Sakharam Bapu Ghatge Sarjerao Vajarat-ma-ab, 3rd Chief of Kagal-Senior 1856/1864, married Rani Shrimant Sundarabai, and had adoptive issue. He died sp in 1864 aged 20.

  • (A) Dattajirao [Abasaheb] Ghatge, adopted and succeeded as Meherban Shrimant Rajamanya Rajashri Jaisinhrao Narayanrao [Abasaheb] Ghatge Sarjerao Vajarat-ma-ab (qv)

• Meherban Shrimant Rajamanya Rajashri Jaisinhrao Narayanrao [Abasaheb] Ghatge Sarjerao Vajarat-ma-ab, 4th Chief of Kagal-Senior 1864/1885, adopted from Kagal Junior (see below), born 12th March 1857, Regent of Kolhapur, granted full ruling powers in 1878, married Rani Radhabai Sahib, died 1877, daughter of Shrimant Raja Balwantrao Vyankatrao Ghorpade of Mudhol, and had issue. He died 20th March 1885.

  • Meherban Shrimant Yeshwantrao Jaisinhrao Ghatge, adopted to the Kolhapur gaddi on 17th March 1884, and succeded there as Col. HH Maharaja Sir Shri Shahu I Chhatrapati of Kolhapur.

  • Meherban Shrimant Rajamanya Rajashri Sir Pirajirao Jaisinhrao Ghatge [Bapusaheb Ghatge] Sarjerao Vajarat-ma-ab (qv)

• Meherban Shrimant Rajamanya Rajashri Sir Pirajirao Jaisinhrao Ghatge [Bapusaheb Ghatge] Sarjerao Vajarat-ma-ab C.I.E., 5th Raja Saheb of Kagal-Senior 1885/1926, born 1876, K.B.E., C.I.E. [cr.1906], C.S.I. [cr.1911], educated at Rajkumar College, Rajkot; married and had issue. He died 1926 ^(#1).

  • Meherban Shrimant Rajamanya Rajashri Jaisinhrao Pirajirao Ghatge Sarjerao Vajarat-ma-ab (qv)

  • Meherban Hindurao Pirajirao Ghatge, died after 1943.

  • Meherban Yeshwantrao Pirajirao Ghatge, married and had issue. He died after 1943.

    • Rani Shrimant Jyotsnaraje, married Meherban Shrimant Raja Anilraje Dafle of Jath, and has issue.

  • Rani Shrimant Tara Bai [Lakshmi Bai (Akka Sahib)], born 1899, married Raja Meherban Shrimant Fatehsinhrao III Bhonsle of Akalkot, and had issue. She died 1942.

  • Ranisaheb Shrimant Mohini Raje Gaekwad (née Ghatge), married 1942, Lt.-Col. Maharaj Khanderao Gaekwad of Baroda.

• Meherban Shrimant Rajamanya Rajashri Jaisinhrao Pirajirao Ghatge [Abasaheb Ghatge] Sarjerao Vajarat-ma-ab, 6th Raja Saheb of Kagal-Senior 1926/-, married Rani Shrimant Vijayraje Sahib Bhonsle [Rajmata of Kagal-Senior], died 10th July 2008 aged 88, daughter of Raja Meherban Shrimant Fatehsinhrao III Bhonsle of Akalkot, and his wife, Rani Shrimant Tara Bai, and had issue.

  • Meherban Shrimant Rajamanya Rajashri Vikramsinh Jaisinhrao Ghatge Sarjerao Vajarat-ma-ab (qv)

  • Shrimant Pravinsinh Jaisinhrao Ghatge, born 1957, married Soubhagyavati Nanditadevi, and has issue.

    • Kumari Madhurika Ghatge, born 31st July 1985.

    • Kumar Virendrasinh Ghatge born 27th October 1990.

• Meherban Shrimant Rajamanya Rajashri Vikramsinh Jaisinhrao Ghatge Sarjerao Vajarat-ma-ab, born 1948, 7th and present Raja Saheb of Kagal-Senior; married and has issue.

  • Kumar Samarjeetsinh Ghatge, born 18th January 1983.

  • Kumari Tesjawini Ghatge, born 28th August 1984.

• Meherban Shrimant Rajamanya Rajashri Narayanrao Ghatge Sarjerao Deshmukh, Chief of Kagal-Junior -/1894, born 1834, married 1848, Shrimant Balabai Raje Bhonsle Saheb, died about 1866, daughter of Raja Chhatrapati Shahji I Bhonsle of Kolhapur, and had issue.

  • Shrimant Jaisinghrao Narayanrao [Abasaheb] Ghatge, adopted into Kagal Senior (see above)

  • Shrimant Sardar Bapusaheb Kakasaheb Ghatge, died after 1922.

• Meherban Shrimant Rajamanya Rajashri Dattajirao Narayanrao [Kaka Sahib] Ghatge Sarjerao Deshmukh, Chief of Kagal-Junior 1894/1946, born 1874, adopted from Kagal Senior, married three wives, and had issue. He died 1946.

  • Meherban Shrimant Rajamanya Rajashri Yeshwantrao Dattajirao [Appa Sahib] Ghatge Sarjerao Deshmukh (by 1st wife) (qv)

  • Shrimant Sardar Fatehsinhrao Dattajirao Ghatge (by 3rd wife), married Maharajkumari Sita Raje Sahib, daughter of HH Maharajadhiraj Holkar Raj Rajeshwar Sawai Shri Sir Tukoji Rao III Holkar of Indore, and his wife, HH Maharani Shrimant Akhand Soubhagyavati Sharmishtha Devi Bai Sahiba, and had issue.

    • Shrimant Sardar Vijayendra Ghatge, Bollywood actor; married and has issue. (H. No. 249/15 Nagala Park, Kolhapur, India)

    • Shrimant Akhand Soubhagyavati Sunanda Raje Sahib, died 1984 in the terrorist bombing of the Air India flight Kanishka.

  • Shrimant Akhand Soubhagyavati Chandraprabha Raje Sahib [HH Maharani Sanyogitabai Raje Sahib of Indore] (by 3rd wife), born 1913, died 13th July 1937, married Maj.-Gen. HH Maharajadhiraj Holkar Raj Rajeshwar Sawai Shri Yeshwant Rao II Holkar Bahadur of Indore, and had issue.

• Meherban Shrimant Rajamanya Rajashri Yeshwantrao Dattajirao Ghatge Sarjerao Deshmukh, Chief of Kagal-Junior 1946/-, born 1899, married a Princess from Savantvadi, and had issue.

  • Meherban Shrimant Rajamanya Rajashri Ajitsinh Yeshwantrao Ghatge Sarjerao Deshmukh (qv)

  • Shrimant Sardar Himmatsinh Yeshwantrao Ghatge, married and had issue.

    • Shrimant Sardar Jitendrasinh Himmatsinh Ghatge, married 7th December 1986, Rajkumari Suryamalaraje [Rani Shrimant Uttararaje Jitendrasinh Ghatge of Kagal-Junior], daughter of Raje Laxamanraosaheb Maharaj Bhonsle (Senior) of Nagpur, and his wife, Rani Mangalaraje, and has issue.

      • Kumari Manviraje Ghatge, born 3rd February 1987.

      • Kumar Yashraje Jitendrasinh Ghatge, born 24th February 1997.

  • Shrimant Akhand Soubhagyavati Vaijantimala Raje Sahib, married Major Sardar Daulatrao Vishwasrao Ghorpade of Dattawad, and has issue.

    • Shrimant Karnasingh Daulatrao Ghorpade, married Saubhgyavati Darshana Mane

    • Rajkumarani Shrimant Sangeeta Raje (née Ghorpade), married Rajkumar Shrimant Anandrao Gaekwad of Baroda, and has issue, two sons.

• Meherban Shrimant Rajamanya Rajashri Ajitsinh Yeshwantrao Ghatge Sarjerao Deshmukh, present Chief of Kagal-Junior, born 1927, married Rani Satyavatiraje Bhonsle, daughter of HH Raja Bahadur Khem Savant V Bhonsle of Savantvadi, and his wife, HH Rani Lakshmi Devi, and has issue.

  • Shrimant Sardar Mrugendrasinh Ajitsinh Ghatge Sarjerao Deshmukh, married 16th May 1979, Kumari Chanchallaraje (Rani Shrimant Mruganainaraje Mrugendrasinh Ghatge of Kagal-Junior), daughter of Thakore Saheb Bhupendrasinhji Pralhadsinhji Gohil of Lathi, and his wife Thakurani Durgaraje, and has issue.

    • Kumari Akshayaraje, born 14th April 1980.

    • Kumari Shoumikaraje, born 14th January 1982.

    • Kumar Akhileshsinhraje Mrugendrasinh Ghatge, born 30th June 1989.