About Gondal Family

About Gondal Family About Gondal Family About Gondal Family

Gondal State has been a pioneer towards the cause of Education since the time of Maharaja Bhagvatsinhji's who ruled the state from 1869 to 1944.

Bhagvatsinhji reformed the state administration, developed its resources, erected schools, colleges and hospitals, provided free and compulsory education for both men and women through university, built technical schools for engineers and training facilities for labourers. As well, Bhagvatsinhji built dams and irrigation networks and introduced sewage, plumbing, rail systems, telegraphs, telephone cables and electricity, becoming also a champion for women's rights. Bhagvatsinhji also published the first ever dictionary of Gujarati and a Gujarati encyclopaedia, the "Bhagavadgomanda" in 1928.

The State offered free and compulsory education, especially to girls at times when girls were not allowed to study in most parts of India.

During his reign, Bhagvatsingh abolished all rates, taxes, customs, octroi, and export duties in the state making Gondal the only state to be tax-free.

The family have founded education institutes such as Maharani Rajkunvarba of Gondal for girls, Sangramsinh high school, have been founder trustees of Rajkumar College in Rajkot-one of the finest education campus of India, gave contributions to Ferguson college in Pune and many more initiatives in the field of education.

The present Maharaja and Maharani Smt Kumud Kimari runs “Maharani Shree Rajkunvarba Sarvajanik Kanya Vidyalaya and Rajput Girls Hostel” This school even offer boarding facilities for poor girls. This is school also offers Home Science courses a like stitching, embroidery, dance & music, cooking and mehandi. This is the only Girls school in Saurashtra region of Gujarat offering education and vocational training under one roof.

The Maharaja of Gondal Shri Vikramsinhji bought the Opera House in 1952. Owing to the families continued allegiance to education and culture His son Shri Jyotendrasinhji commissioned its restoration in 2010, which was completed and made its momentous debut in October 2016. One of the last standing Baroque buildings in Mumbai today, this was completely restored to by retaining its original charm and incorporating modern elements so its stands in today’s times. Restoring the iconic structure without any financial support from any external agency is truly a noble cause and a gift to the Mumbai city and the generations to come by the Gondal Family.

The Royal Opera House, with its long standing association with art, literature, theatre and music and has hosted Operas and live performance of artists like Bal Gandharva, Prithviraj Kapoor, Dinanath Mangeshkar and Lata Mangeshkar.

The restored facilities now feature a 574-seater 3-level auditorium with an orchestra pit and state of the art technological upgradations, including acoustics, stagecraft, lighting and air-conditioning, alongside retaining the old world charm of the proscenium stage, the royal boxes and the magnificent regal chandeliers.

The Royal Opera House, Mumbai has once again become a key performance and creative hub in the city, a heritage landmark but also helped revive the cultural landscape of Mumbai in all its historic glory! Royal Opera House Mumbai winning an Award of Merit in the 2017 UNESCO Asia-Pacific Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation was the feather in the cap and big shot in the arm for this mammoth task of resonation. It was indeed a proud Moment for all the Mumbaikars and All Indians for us to have won this accolade.