Ranoji Scindia
Ranoji Shinde also known as Ranoji Rao Shinde, was Shrimant Sardar in Chattrapati Shahu Maharaj's service during 1720 to 1745 under Shrimant Bajirao Peshwa. He was the founder of Royal Family Gwalior State ruled by the Scindia dynasty of the Marathas.
Ranoji was Patil of Kanherkheda, a small place in Satara District, Maharashtra, east of Satara.
He started his career as Sardar under the leadership of Peshwa Baji Rao and later on established himself in Malwa, as the Marathas took it over from the Mughals. In his part of the region, around Gwalior, he was outside the effective power of the Maratha Empire.
During the invasion and conquest of Malwa in 1723, Ranoji served as one of the three most senior commanders under Peshwa Bajirao.
Sardar Yeshoji Aravandekar was his Sarsenapati.
He acquired a considerable territory and possessions as part of the Malwa settlement in 1731, and became Subedar of that province in 1736.
He established his seat at Ujjain in 1731, which remained the capital of the Scindias until 1810.
Ranoji died at Shujalpur, Malwa on 3 July 1745. He left three legitimate sons, Jayappaji Rao Shinde, Dattaji Rao Shinde and Jyotiba Rao Shinde, and two natural, Tukoji Rao Shinde and Mahadaji Shinde from his Rajput sword-wife Chimabai. His sons played an important part in the subsequent history of the Maratha confederacy.
