land was ceded by the state for the Midland section of the Great Indian Peninsular Railway. In 1885 Gwalior fort and Morar cantonment, with some other villages, which had been held by British troops since 1858, were exchanged for Jhansi city. Madhavrao II Sindhia (1886–1925) Jayaji Rao died in 1886 and was succeeded by his son, Madho Rao Sindhia, then a boy in his tenth year. A council of Regency conducted the administration until 1894, when the Maharaja obtained powers. He took a deep and active interest in the administration of the state, and had a comprehensive grasp of the work done in each department. In 1900 the Maharaja went to China during the Boxer Rebellion, at the same time presenting a hospital ship for the accommodation of the wounded. Jivajirao Sindhia (1925–1948) Jivajirao Sindhia ruled the state of Gwalior as absolute monarch until shortly after India's independence on 15 August 1947. The rulers of Indian princely states had the choice of acceding to either of the two dominions (India and Pakistan) created by the India Independence Act 1947 or remaining outside them. Jivajirao signed a covenant with the rulers of the adjoining princely states that united their several states to form a new state within the union of India known as Madhya Bharat. This new covenanted state was to be governed by a council headed by a ruler to be known as the Rajpramukh. Madhya Bharat signed a fresh Instrument of Accession with the Indian dominion effective from 15 June 1948. Jivajirao became the first rajpramukh, or appointed governor, of the state on 28 May 1948. He served as Rajpramukh until 31 October 1956, when the state was merged into Madhya Pradesh. Scindia Maharajas of Gwalior The rulers of Gwalior bore the title of Maharaja Scindia. The Gwalior State Darbar (Court) was composed of many nobles like Jagirdars, Sardars, Istamuradars, Mankaris, Thakurs and Zamindars. Reigning Maharajas Ranoji Scindia, Maharaja (1731–1745) Jayappaji Rao Scindia, Maharaja (1745–1755) Dattaji Scindia, Regent (1755–1760) Jankoji Rao Scindia, Maharaja (1755–1761) Kadarji Rao Scindia, Maharaja (1763–1764) Manaji Rao Scindia, Maharaja (1764–1768) Mahadaji Shinde, Maharaja (1768–1794) Daulat Rao Sindhia, Maharaja (1794–1827) Baiza Bai, Regent (f) (1827–1832) Jankoji Rao Scindia II, Maharaja (1827–1843) Tara Bai, Regent (f) (1843–1844) Jayajirao Scindia, Maharaja (1843–1886) Sakhya Bai, Regent (f) (1886–1894) Madho Rao Scindia, Maharaja (1886–1925) Chinku Bai, Regent (f) (1925–1931) Gajra Rajebai, Regent (f) (1931–1936) Jiwajirao Scindia, Maharaja (1925–1948) Titular Maharajas