Pratap Singh Rao Gaekwad

Pratap Singh Rao Gaekwad
Maharaja of Baroda
Reign	6 February 1939 – 19 July 1968
Predecessor	Sayajirao Gaekwad III
Successor	Fatehsinghrao Gaekwad II
Born	(1908-06-29)29 June 1908
Died	19 July 1968(1968-07-19) (aged 60)
Consort	Maharani Shanta Devi Sahib Princess Sita Devi of Pithapuram
Issue	Fatehsinghrao Gaekwad II Mrunalini Raje Gaekwad Premila Raje Gaekwad Sarala Raje Gaekwad Vasundharadevi Raje Gaekwad Ranjitsinhrao Gaekwad Lalitadevi Raje Gaekwad Sangramsinhrao Gaekwad Sayajirao Gaekwad
Dynasty	Gaekwad
Father	Yuvraj Fatehsinhrao Gaekwad
Mother	Padmavati Bai Sahiba
Religion	Hinduism

Shrimant Maharaja Sir Pratap Singh Rao Gaekwad (29 June 1908 – 19 July 1968), who belonged to the Gaekwad dynasty of the Marathas, was the ruling Maharaja of Baroda. He succeeded to the throne upon the death of his grandfather Sayajirao Gaekwad III in 1939. In 1947, British India was partitioned into two independent dominions, and Pratap Singh acceded his state to the Dominion of India. By 1949, Baroda had been merged into India.

Pratap Singh retained his title and certain privileges, but in 1951 he was deposed by the government of India for allegedly irresponsible behavior. He then retired to Europe with his second wife, Princess Sita Devi of Pithapuram, and settled in Monaco. He died in 1968 and was succeeded by his eldest son, Fatehsinghrao Gaekwad, who had been officiating as Maharaja since 1951.

Pratap Singh founded the Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda in 1949, as per the wishes of his grandfather, Sayajirao, and settled the "Sir Sayajirao Diamond Jubilee and Memorial Trust", which still exists, providing for the educational and other needs of the people of the former Baroda State.^[1]