MAHARAJA MADHAV RAO SCINDIA I GALLERY

Maharaja Madhavrao Scindia I changed and shaped Gwalior from a traditional kingdom to a modern state. The Maharaja Madhavrao Scindia I gallery will put this innovator into focus, exploring his work, life, and legacy.
Born in 1876, Madhavrao inherited the throne at the young age of nine. Right from this early start, the Maharaja had to learn to work with British presence and control in his state. This was to prove a delicate balancing act to allow his state to function peacefully but at the same time to allow him the freedom to make the decisions and changes that he wanted for his people. On his investiture, Maharaja made clear his intentions to tour the state to meet his citizens and find out their needs. The results of this remarkable mission set the stage for a
more democratic state. He created a separation of powers between the judiciary and the executive, set up local representative institutions, and even promoted different religious faiths without bias. This modern, near-democratic approach can even be seen in his personal life. The Maharaja often chose to wear simple clothes and even ran up and down stairs carrying his bags. His legacy can still be felt today throughout the state in everything from government administration to the railway system.