MaharajaBodhchandra Singh or Bodhachandra Singh (1908–1955) was the last ruler of the princely state of Manipur under the British Raj as well as the Dominion of India. He ruled between 1941 and 15 October 1949.[3] During his term, India was decolonised by the British, receiving independence on 14 August 1947. The Maharaja presided over a transition to democracy, passing the Manipur State Constitution Act 1947. He signed the Instrument of Accession, joining India shortly before the British departure. In 1949, a few months before India became a republic, he signed a merger agreement, whereby Manipur became an integral part of India governed by the Constitution of India. He was granted a privy purse of Rs. 300,000 per annum.[4]
Bodhchandra Singh was born to Maharaja Churachand Singh, the ruler of Manipur installed in 1891. He was born to the second Rani of Churchand Singh on 24 July 1908. He was educated at Rajkumar College, Raipur between ages 12 and 20. He was joined by his younger brother Priyobrata Singh at the college.[5]
He married Rajkumari Tharendra Kishori (Rajkumari Ram Priya Devi), a daughter of the Raja of Bodo Khimedi, in 1929. He divorced her in 1941, and subsequently married Iswari Devi, daughter of Prince Ramaraja of Ramnagar, who was a cousin of the King of Nepal.[5]
Succession
The Maharaja retained his title for his lifetime and passed it on to his son and heir Okendrajit Singh. Afterwards, the royal titles were abolished by the Indian Parliament.[6]
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