Shahu II

Shahu II was the last ruling Maharaja of Kolhapur, a princely state in India, from 1939 until the state's integration into modern India in 1949. As a monarch, he played a ceremonial role during a period of significant political change, witnessing India's independence and the abolition of princely states. His leadership symbolized the end of traditional royal authority in the region, transitioning to democratic governance. Shahu II's reign marked the closing chapter of centuries of princely rule, emphasizing modernization and integration into the Indian Union.