Scindia dynasty (anglicized from Shinde) was a Hindu Maratha dynasty that ruled the erstwhile Gwalior State in central India. It had the patil-ship of Kumberkerrab in Wai and was founded by Ranoji Scindia, who started as a personal servant of the peshwa Bajirao I. Ranoji and his descendents, along with their rivals the Holkars, played a leading role during the Maratha ascendency in northern India in the 18th-century. The Gwalior State became a princely state under the British Raj during the 19th and the 20th-centuries. After India's independence in 1947 and the abolition of princely states, several members of the Scindia family went on to enter Indian politics. Foundation The Scindia dynasty was founded by Ranoji Scindia, a Kunbi personal servant of Bajirao I Peshwa. Ranoji prospered early under Bajirao because of the favorable circumstances created by the appointment of Bajirao as the Peshwa at the age of twenty.This had evoked jealousy from senior officials like Anant Ram Sumant, Shripatrao Pant Pratinidhi, Khanderao Dabhade and Kanhoji Bhosle.This led Baji Rao to promote as commanders of his troops, talented young men who were barely out of teens such as Malhar Rao Holkar, the Pawar brothers, Pilaji Jadhav, Fateh Singh Bhosle and of course, Ranoji.None of these men belonged to families that held hereditary Deshmukhi rights under earlier rulers such as the Deccan Sultanates. The Shindes or Scindias had served as shiledars (cavalrymen) under the Bahmani Sultanate and played an important role in the state of affairs and held Patilki of Kumberkerrab. There are otherwise several anecdotes about the origin of the Scindhias, especially those recorded by Sir John Malcolm. Stewart Gordon states the cultivator, etc. origin of other Marathas. History Maratha Period The Scindia dynasty was founded by Ranoji Scindia, who was the son of Jankojirao Scindia, the Patil of Kanherkhed, a village in Satara District, Maharashtra. Peshwa Baji Rao's career saw the strengthening of the Maratha Empire. Ranoji was in charge of the Maratha conquests in Malwa in 1726. Ranoji established his capital at Ujjain in 1731. His successors included Jayajirao, Jyotibarao, Dattajirao, Jankojirao, Mahadji Shinde and Daulatrao Scindia.The Scindias became a major regional power in the latter half of the 18th century, and figured prominently in the three Anglo-Maratha Wars.They held sway over many of the Rajput states, and conquered north India. In 1818, after accepting the terms of a subsidiary alliance with the British, the family shifted their