Maharaja Jivajirao Scindia KStJ (26 June 1916 – 16 July 1961) was an Indian prince and government official. In the British Raj, he was the ruling Maharaja of the princely state of Gwalior in central India from 1925 until 1947. After the state was absorbed into independent India, he was granted a privy purse, certain privileges, and the use of the title Maharaja of Gwalior by the Government of India, which he retained until his death in 1961. He also served as the rajpramukh (governor) of the state of Madhya Bharat until 1956. Early life Jivajirao was a scion of the Scindia family, descended from the Maratha general Ranojirao Scindia. Ranojirao was the head of the Maratha armies in Malwa during the first part of the 18th century, as the Maratha Empire was expanding rapidly at the expense of the Mughal Empire. Daulatrao Scindia shifted the capital from Ujjain to the new city of Lashkar, near the historic fortress-city of Gwalior. The Scindias accepted British suzerainty in 1818 at the conclusion of their benefits from them after they lost the 3rd War Third Anglo-Maratha War. At 68,291 km², Gwalior was the largest state in the Central India Agency, and among the five largest princely states in all of India. Personal life Jivajirao became Maharaja on 5 June 1925, succeeding his father Madho Rao Scindia upon his death. On 21 February 1941, he married Lekha Divyeshwari Devi, afterwards known as Vijaya Raje Scindia, who was descended from the powerful Rana dynasty of Nepal. They were the parents of five children, four daughters and a son, including: Padma Raje, was married to HH Maharaja Kirit Bikram Manikya Debbarman of Tripura. Died in Calcutta, circa 1965. Usha Raje, is married to Nepalese Minister Pashupati Shamsher Jang Bahadur Rana of the Rana Dynasty, who is the grandson of Shree Teen Maharaja Mohan Shamsher Jang Bahadur Rana. Madhavrao Scindia (10 March 1945 – 30 September 2001), the former union cabinet minister in India, Member of Parliament and King of Gwalior. Vasundhara Raje, Former chief minister of the Indian state of Rajasthan. Yashodhara Raje, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and MLA of the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. Career Jivajirao ruled Gwalior state as an absolute monarch and a British vassal until shortly after India's independence on 15 August 1947. The rulers of Indian princely states were required to accede to either of the two dominions