Vadodara, 10 May 2012

Vadodara’s Maharaja Ranjitsinh Gaekwad passed away today morning. He was 74. He was suffering from kidney-related and other serious ailments. He was admitted in a private hospital for last few days, and his condition according to the doctors was critical.

Shri Gaekwad was the former member of parliament. He was elected to Lok Sabha twice in 1980 and later in 1984.

Second son of erstwhile Baroda state’s last ruler Maharaja Pratapsinhrao Gaekwad, Ranjitsinh, succeeded as the Maharaja of Baroda after death of his elder brother Maharaja Fatehsinhrao Gaekwad, who had passed away in Mumbai’s Breach Candy Hospital on September 1, 1988, at the age of 58.

Chief Minister Narendra Modi in his message on Twitter said: Ranjitsinhji Gaekwad’s demise is deeply unfortunate especially when Gujarat is observing 150th birth anniversary of Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad.

Chief Minister paying homage to late ruler in a statement. He praised the contribution of late Ranjitsinh Gaekwad in the field of art, literature and cultural activities. He said that late Ranjitsinhji Gaekwad had a big number of fans and well-wishers owing to his simple and noble lifestyle. “The people of erstwhile Gaekwad state give homage to late Ranjitsinhji Gaekwad who died on the 150th birth anniversary year of Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad”, he said.

AICC Chief Sonia Gandhi’s political secretary Ahmed Patel in his tribute to Ranjitsinhji said, “not only kalanagari Vadodara, but entire Gujarat has lost an art lover and art patron ruler who was ready to help even a person from unprivileged class.”

Shri Gaekwad’s dead body has been at present kept open at LakshmiVilas Palace for darshan. Late ruler will be given a royal departure tomorrow morning. As per the royal tradition of Gaekwars, his dead body will be taken to Kirti Mandir royal crematorium.

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