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Udai Bhan Singh

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Udai Bhan Singh
Maharaj-Rana of Dholpur
Reign29 March 1911 – 22 October 1954
Coronation29 March 1911
Investiture9 October 1913
PredecessorRam Singh
SuccessorHemant Singh
Born(1893-02-12)February 12, 1893
Dholpur
DiedOctober 22, 1954(1954-10-22) (aged 61)
Dholpur
SpouseMalvender Kaur
IssueUrmila Devi
Names
Rais-ud-Daula Sipahdar-ul-Mulk Saramad-i-Rajah-i-Hind Maharajadhiraj Sri Sawai Maharaj-Rana Sir Udai Bhan Singh Lokendra Bahadur Diler Jang Jai Deo
HouseBamraulia Dynasty
FatherNihal Singh
MotherHarbans Kaur
ReligionHinduism
Education
Rajpramukh of United States of Matsya
In office
18 March 1948 – 15 May 1949
Chief Minister
Preceded byOffice created
Succeeded byPosition abolished

Sir Udai Bhan Singh GCIE KCSI KCVO (Hindi: उदयभान सिंह; 12 February 1893 – 22 October 1954) was the Maharaj-Rana of Dholpur from 1911 until his death in 1954.

Early life and education

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Udai Bhan was born on 12 February 1893.[1][2] He received his education at Mayo College, Ajmer, where he successfully passed the Diploma examination and earned numerous prizes.[2] He secured a prize for an essay on irrigation and a certificate from the Ambulance Society for First Aid to the Wounded.[3] He took a short course of training at the Imperial Cadet Corps at Dehradun.[4][3][5][6]

Family

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In June 1911, he married Malvender Kaur, the daughter of Sardar Shamsher Singh of Badrukhan in Jind State.[7][8][9][1][6][10][2][11] He had a daughter named Urmila Devi, who, in 1943, married Pratap Singh, the Maharaja of Nabha State.[12][13]

As he had no male heir, following his demise, his widow adopted their daughter's son, Hemant Singh, who succeeded him.[14][15][8][16]

Reign

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He succeeded his elder brother, Ram Singh, as the Maharaj-Rana of Dholpur, following his death on 29 March 1911.[4][17][12][1][18][5][19] The administration of the state was entrusted to G.H. Anderson, who acted as the Superintendent of the State and Guardian to the Maharaj-Rana.[4][3][20][21][9] He was assisted by selected officials under the general direction of the Political Agent. From 1911 to 1913, Anderson presided over State Council meetings and directed the administration.[21][9] He paid a short visit to Europe, from where he returned in September 1912.[9] He was invested with full ruling powers on the 9 October 1913.[9][1] His state, Dholpur, enjoyed a permanent salute of 15 guns.[3][22][23] However, on 1 January 1921, he was granted a salute of 17 guns as a personal distinction.[7][9][24][25] He was a delegate to the Second Round Table Conference in London in 1931 and stayed at the May Fair Hotel.[26][27][28][29][30]

On 14 August 1947, he signed the Instrument of Accession and Standstill Agreement, through which he acceded his state to India. Louis Mountbatten, in his capacity as Governor-General of India, accordingly accepted it on 16 August 1947.[31]

Freemason

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He was installed in 1916 as Master of the Holland Lodge No. 3554, Bharatpur, Mumbai, which was consecrated on 6 January 1912 and closed in 1927, of which he was elected Master before.[32][33]

Rajpramukh of Matsya Union

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When the United States of Matsya (Matsya Union) was formed on 18 March 1948 following the merger of Alwar, Bharatpur, Dholpur, and Karauli, he was appointed as its Rajpramukh, a position he held from 18 March 1948 until 15 May 1949 when it was merged with Greater Rajasthan to form the United State of Rajasthan.[34][35][36][37][38][39][40][41][42]

Mayo College, Ajmer

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In 1928, Udai Bhan was a member of the General Council of Mayo College, Ajmer.[43] During the years 1931-1932 and 1942–43, he held the office of President of the General Council of the college.[44][45][46] In 1940–41, he served as vice-president.[47]

Chamber of Princes

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He served as the Pro-Chancellor of the Chamber of Princes.[48][49]

Hunting

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On 20 November 1919, during a hunting event where 4,206 birds were killed by 50 guns, 401 of these fell to his gun.[50] On 8 December 1921, during Edward VIII's tour of India, a duck shoot was organized at a reserve in Bharatpur.[50] During this event, the Maharaj-Rana managed to shoot down 210 ducks, the highest individual bag.[50]

According to Conrad Corfield, he was the finest game shot in India.[51] However, he developed such a profound love for wildlife that he renounced the use of firearms altogether.[51][52] He had the area around Kaiserbagh Palace in Dholpur made into a sanctuary and implemented numerous improvements in the existing Ram Sagar and Satakarai Sanctuaries.[53][51] These improvements included constructing walls, establishing good roads, and blocking nullahs, among other enhancements.[53][51]

Chhatri of Maharaj-Rana Udai Bhan Singh at Dholpur
Chhatri of Maharaj-Rana Udai Bhan Singh at Dholpur

Military ranks

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He was appointed as a Major in the Army on 1 January 1921.[7][9] Later, on 24 October 1921, he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel.[7][9]

Death

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He died on 22 October 1954 and was succeeded by his adopted grandson Hemant Singh.[15][8]

Titles, styles, and honours

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Titles and styles

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Colonel His Highness Rais-ud-Daula Sipahdar-ul-Mulk Saramad-i-Rajah-i-Hind Maharajadhiraj Sri Sawai Maharaj-Rana Sir Udai Bhan Singh Lokendra Bahadur Diler Jang Jai Deo, Maharaj-Rana of Dholpur, GCIE, KCSI, KCVO.[6][5][54][55][56]

Honours

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d The Imperial Publishing Co., Lahore. His Imperial Majesty King George 5 And The Princes Of India And The Indian Empire ( Historical Biographical) Compiled By K. R. Khosla, 1937, Lahore The Imperial Publishing Co., Lahore.
  2. ^ a b c Not Available (1933). Whos Who Among Indian Princes And Chiefs.
  3. ^ a b c d ACL-ARCH 00269 Indian Princes And The Crown.
  4. ^ a b c d Imperial coronation durbar 1911. The Imperial Publishing, Lahore. 1911.
  5. ^ a b c Vadivelu, A. (1915). The Ruling Chiefs, Nobles & Zamindars of India. G.C. Loganadham.
  6. ^ a b c Singh, Bhagat (1914). Annual Report On The Administration Of The Dholpur State For The Year Ending 30 September 1913.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g Gupta, tarapada Das Ed (1949). Nalanda Year-book And Whos Who In India And Pakistan.
  8. ^ a b c "DHOLPUR". 31 July 2018. Archived from the original on 31 July 2018. Retrieved 26 February 2024.
  9. ^ a b c d e f g h Manager Of Publications Delhi. Memoranda On The Indian States 1935.
  10. ^ Singh, Bhagat (1912). Annual Report On The Administration Of The Dholpur State For The Year Ending 30 September 1909.
  11. ^ Punjab District and State Gazetteers: B, Statistical tables, 1911-1926]. Compiled and published by authority of the Punjab government. 1913.
  12. ^ a b Diwan Jarmani Dass. Maharaja Lives And Loves And Intrigues Of Indian Princes Diwan Jarmani Dass.
  13. ^ Singh (OBE.), Ranjit (2008). Sikh Achievers. Hemkunt Press. ISBN 978-81-7010-365-3.
  14. ^ Scindia, Vijayoraje (1988). Princess : the autobiography of the Dowager Maharani of Gwalior. Internet Archive. London : Century. ISBN 978-0-7126-1991-2.
  15. ^ a b Kidwai, Rasheed (7 June 2021). The House of Scindias: A Saga of Power, Politics and Intrigue. Roli Books Private Limited. ISBN 978-81-951248-8-6.
  16. ^ Scindia, Vijaya R.; Malgonkar, Manohar (1 September 1987). The Last Maharani of Gwalior: An Autobiography. SUNY Press. ISBN 978-0-88706-659-7.
  17. ^ Chisholm, Hugh (1913). The Britannica Year-book. Encyclopædia Britannica Company.
  18. ^ Singh, Bhagat (1912). Annual Report On The Administration Of The Dholpur State For The Year Ending 30 September 1909.
  19. ^ Khosla K. R. (1942). The States Estates and Whos Who In India and Burma. The Imperial Publishing Co., Railway Road, Lahore.
  20. ^ "Proposed payment of Rs. 315 by the Dholpur State to Captain G.H. Anderson, the state's superintendent and guardian of the Maharaj Rana, for the loss of passage money he suffered". INDIAN CULTURE. Retrieved 26 February 2024.
  21. ^ a b Memoranda on Native States in India, Together with a List of Independent Ruling Chiefs, Chiefs of Frontier States, and Other Notables with Their Proper Forms of Address. Superintendent Government Print., India. 1911.
  22. ^ Hunter, William Wilson (1885). The Imperial Gazetteer of India. Trübner & Company.
  23. ^ Hunter, William Wilson (1881). Dabha to Harduaganj. Trübner.
  24. ^ Indian and Pakistan Year Book and Who's who. Times of India Press. 1945.
  25. ^ Rathore, L. S. (2005). Maharaja Sadul Singh of Bikaner: A Biography of the Co-architect of India's Unity. Books Treasure. ISBN 978-81-900422-0-8.
  26. ^ Nijjar, Bakhshish Singh (1996). History of the United Panjab. Atlantic Publishers & Dist. ISBN 978-81-7156-536-8.
  27. ^ Dumasia, Naoroji M. The Aga Khan and his Ancestors: A Biographical and Historical Sketch. Readworthy. ISBN 978-93-5018-152-2.
  28. ^ Legg, Stephen (11 May 2023). Round Table Conference Geographies: Constituting Colonial India in Interwar London. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-1-009-21531-2.
  29. ^ Ramusack, Barbara N. (8 January 2004). The Indian Princes and their States. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-1-139-44908-3.
  30. ^ Bhargava, R. P. (1991). The Chamber of Princes. Northern Book Centre. ISBN 978-81-7211-005-5.
  31. ^ "Dholpur State- Instrument of Accession and Standstill Agreement signed between Lt. H.H. Rais-Daula Sipah-Darul-Malik Saramad Rajhai Hind, Maharajadhiraj Shri Swami Maharaja Rana Sir Udai Bhan Singhji Lokendra Bahadur Diler Jung Jai Deo, Ruler of Dholpur State and the Dominion of India". INDIAN CULTURE. Retrieved 26 February 2024.
  32. ^ "RT. WBRO. THE HON'BLE GRORGE OWEN WILLIAM DUNN – District Grand Lodge of Bombay". dglbombay.in. Retrieved 27 February 2024.
  33. ^ The Freemason and Masonic Illustrated. A Weekly Record of Progress in Freemasonry. 1916.
  34. ^ Mankekar, D. R. (1974). Accession to extinction : the story of Indian princes. Internet Archive. Delhi : Vikas Pub. House. ISBN 978-0-7069-0300-3.
  35. ^ Kapoor, Gyan (1992). The Chief Minister as Administrator. Arihant Publishers. ISBN 978-81-7230-002-9.
  36. ^ Zubrzycki, John (February 2024). Dethroned: The Downfall of India's Princely States. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-1-80526-053-0.
  37. ^ Singh, Karni (1974). The Relations of the House of Bikaner with the Central Powers, 1465-1949. Munshiram Manoharlal Publishers. ISBN 978-0-8364-0457-9.
  38. ^ Sabharwal, Gopa (2007). India Since 1947: The Independent Years. Penguin Books India. ISBN 978-0-14-310274-8.
  39. ^ Indian Information Series. Bureau of the public information of the government of India. 1948.
  40. ^ Malhotra, G. C. (2004). Cabinet Responsibility to Legislature: Motions of Confidence and No-confidence in Lok Sabha and State Legislatures. Lok Sabha Secretariat. ISBN 978-81-200-0400-9.
  41. ^ Experts, EduGorilla Prep (3 August 2022). Allahabad High Court RO / ARO / Computer Assistant Recruitment Exam | 2400+ Solved Questions (10 Mock Tests + 2 Previous Year Papers). EduGorilla Community Pvt. Ltd.
  42. ^ "Abhilekh Patal". www.abhilekh-patal.in. Retrieved 26 February 2024.
  43. ^ Wingate (1928). Report On The Mayo College Ajmer, Rajputana For 1927-28.
  44. ^ web.archive.org https://web.archive.org/web/20220601000000*/https://mayoobs.com/About/president. Retrieved 26 February 2024. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  45. ^ "MAYO COLLEGE GENERAL COUNCIL". Mayo College. Retrieved 26 February 2024.
  46. ^ Wingate (1941). Report On The Mayo College Ajmer, Rajputana.
  47. ^ Wingate (1941). Report On The Mayo College Ajmer, Rajputana For 1940-41.
  48. ^ The Illustrated London News. William Little. October 1935.
  49. ^ Copland, Ian (16 May 2002). The Princes of India in the Endgame of Empire, 1917-1947. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-521-89436-4.
  50. ^ a b c Bernard C. Ellison (1925). The Prince of Wales's Sport In India.
  51. ^ a b c d Allen, Charles (1984). Lives of the Indian princes. Internet Archive. London : Century Pub. in association with the Taj Hotel Group. ISBN 978-0-7126-0910-4.
  52. ^ Forbes, Rosita (1939). India of the Princes. John Gifford, London.
  53. ^ a b S Szafranski (1953). A Note on the Dholpur Wild Life Sanctuary, Rajasthan. with a Sketch Map and Two Plates.
  54. ^ A Genealogical and Heraldic History of the Peerage and Baronetage, the Privy Council, Knightage, and Companionage. 1934.
  55. ^ The India Office and Burma Office List. Harrison and sons, Limited. 1928.
  56. ^ Encyclopaedia Indica: Princely States in colonial India. Anmol Publications. 1996. ISBN 978-81-7041-859-7.
  57. ^ Mauji, Purushottama Viṣrama (1911). Imperial Durbar Album. Lakshmi Arts, Bombay.
  58. ^ a b The India Office and Burma Office List. Harrison and sons, Limited. 1928.
  59. ^ "ODM of India: Indian Independence Medal 1947". medals.org.uk. Retrieved 27 February 2024.
Udai Bhan Singh
Born: 12 February 1893 Died: 22 October 1954
Preceded by Maharaj-Rana of Dholpur
1911-1954
Succeeded by