Tukoji Rao Pawar
Tukoji Rao IV Puar was the titular Maharaja of Dewas Senior and an Indian politician belonging to the Bharatiya Janata Party. Mr. Pawar was member of the Legislative Assembly of Madhya Pradesh. He was a descendant of the Puar dynasty of the Marathas that ruled Dewas State.
Tukoji Rao IV Puar was the son of Krishnajirao III the last ruler of Dewas State which was a '15 Gun Salute' princely state in India. In the 26th amendment to the Constitution of India promulgated in 1971, the Government of India abolished all official symbols of princely India, including titles, privileges, and remuneration.
Six times Member of Legislative Assembly from Dewas, he was a popular and unassuming leader of the masses. He was inducted in the state cabinet for two terms serving as Minister for Higher Education, Technical Education and later Tourism, Sports and Youth Welfare.
He was elected as the President of the Board of Governors of The Daly College, Indore in 2004, again in 2005, in 2010 and in 2015. His wife Gayatri Raje Pawar has been representing the assembly seat since his death.
He died in 2015 of brain haemorrhage. He is succeeded by his only son and heir - Maharaja Vikram Singh Rao II Puar of Dewas Sr.
