Udai Bhan Singh | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Maharaj-Rana | |||||
Maharaj-Rana of Dholpur | |||||
Reign | 29 March 1911 – 22 October 1954 | ||||
Coronation | 29 March 1911 | ||||
Investiture | 9 October 1913 | ||||
Predecessor | Ram Singh | ||||
Successor | Hemant Singh | ||||
Born | Dholpur | February 12, 1893||||
Died | October 22, 1954 Dholpur | (aged 61)||||
Spouse | Malvender Kaur | ||||
Issue | Urmila Devi | ||||
| |||||
House | Bamraulia Dynasty | ||||
Father | Nihal Singh | ||||
Mother | Harbans Kaur | ||||
Religion | Hinduism | ||||
Education | |||||
Rajpramukh of United States of Matsya | |||||
In office 18 March 1948 – 15 May 1949 | |||||
Chief Minister | |||||
Preceded by | Office created | ||||
Succeeded by | Position 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.
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]
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 an issue from this marriage, a daughter named Urmila Devi, who, in 1943, married Pratap Singh, the Maharaja of Nabha State.[12][13]
As he had no male heir of his own, following his demise, his widow adopted their daughter's son, Hemant Singh, who succeeded him.[14][15][8][16]
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]
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]
Further information: Rajpramukh, United States of Matsya, and United State of Rajasthan |
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][43]
Further information: Mayo College |
During the years 1931-1932 and 1942–43, he held the office of President of the General Council of Mayo College, Ajmer.[44][45][46] In 1940-41, he served as Vice-President, and in 1928, he was a member.[47][48]
Further information: Chamber of Princes |
He served as the Pro-Chancellor of the Chamber of Princes.[49][50]
On 20 November 1919, during a hunting event where 4,206 birds were killed by 50 guns, 401 of these fell to his gun.[51][52] On 8 December 1921, during Edward VIII's tour of India, a duck shoot was organized at a reserve in Bharatpur.[51][52] During this event, the Maharaj-Rana managed to shoot down 210 ducks, the highest individual bag.[52]
According to Conrad Corfield, he was the finest game shot in India.[53] However, he developed such a profound love for wildlife that he renounced the use of firearms altogether.[53][54] 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.[55][53] These improvements included constructing walls, establishing good roads, and blocking nullahs, among other enhancements.[55][53]
He was appointed as an 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]
He died on 22 October 1954 and was succeeded by his adopted grandson Hemant Singh.[15][8]
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][56][57][58]