He was a decorated British Indian Army officer, Maharaja of the princely state of Idar (Gujarat), administrator and Regent of Jodhpur and heir to Ahmednagar later renamed as Himmatnagar from 1902 to 1911. A famous soldier and faithful ally of the Raj. He accompanied the Jodhpur troops to France in the First War. In 1897, he was awarded the title of Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Star of India.