Brijnath Singh

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Brijnath Singh
Raja
Raja of Maihar
Reign15 December 1911 – 13 October 1968
Coronation 16 December 1911
Investiture2 January 1917
Predecessor Randhir Singh
SuccessorGovind Singh Ju Deo
Born(1886-02-22)22 February 1886
Died13 October 1968(1968-10-13) (aged 82)
Wives
  • Kausalya Devi
  • Surendra Kumari Devi
  • Tej Kumari
Issue
  • Govind Singh Ju Deo
  • Ram Chandra Singh
  • Mahendra Kumari Devi
  • Narayan Singh Ju Deo
  • Rajendra Kumari
  • Narendra Kumari
  • Devendra Kumari
  • Pushpendra Kumari
  • Chandraprabha Kumari
Father Randhir Singh

Sir Brijnath Singh KCIE was the Raja of Maihar from 1911 until his death in 1968.

Contents

Early life, family, and education

He was born on 22 February 1886 to Randhir Singh, the Raja of Maihar. [1] He received his education at Daly College in Indore. [2] He first married, in February 1915, Kausalya Devi, daughter of Daulatsinhji, the Thakore of Dhrol [3] . His second marriage took place in 1920, to Surendra Kumari Devi, daughter of Maharaj Chhatar Singh of Semlia, a dependency of Sailana. [3] His third wife was Tej Kumari. [3] His children were: Govind Singh Ju Deo, Ram Chandra Singh, Mahendra Kumari Devi, Narayan Singh Ju Deo, Rajendra Kumari, Narendra Kumari, Devendra Kumari, Pushpendra Kumari, and Chandraprabha Kumari. [3]

Singh's son, Govind Singh, married Yadhuvansh Kumari, the daughter of Maharaja Bhupinder Singh of Patiala. [4] [5]

Patronage of Ustad Alauddin Khan and the Rise of the Maihar Gharana

In the early 20th century, Ustad Alauddin Khan arrived in Maihar in a penniless state after years of musical pursuit and hardship. He was given shelter by Suraj Sahai Saxena, a local music enthusiast, who supported him for nearly two years while Khan practiced outside the Sharada Devi temple. Eventually, Suraj's cousin, Chimmanlal Saxena, who was the Dewan (Prime Minister) of Maihar State, introduced him to Maharaja Brijnath Singh. [6] [7]

Recognizing his brilliance, Brijnath Singh appointed Alauddin Khan as the court musician of Maihar in 1907. With the Maharaja’s support, Khan established the foundation of the Maihar Gharana—a new lineage in Hindustani classical music that combined elements of dhrupad, khayal, and instrumental innovation. During this period, he trained several disciples who went on to become some of India’s most respected musicians.

Under Brijnath Singh’s patronage, Khan also founded the Maihar Band, a unique orchestra composed mainly of orphaned children. The Maharaja provided essential support, including instruments, salaries, and rehearsal facilities. The band blended Indian and Western instruments and served as a rare example of socially conscious court patronage in music. [8]

Brijnath Singh is also credited with naming Khan’s daughter Annapurna Devi, who later became a legendary surbahar player and a key figure in the transmission of Indian classical music in the 20th century. [6]

Alauddin Khan’s disciples trained in Maihar included Ravi Shankar, Ali Akbar Khan, Nikhil Banerjee, Annapurna Devi, and Pannalal Ghosh, among others. Their global success helped elevate the Maihar Gharana into one of the most influential schools of Indian classical music.

Maharaja Brijnath Singh is also believed to have had a personal interest in music and reportedly studied vocal music under Alauddin Khan himself. [7]

Reign

Upon his father's murder on 15 December 1911, he succeeded him as the Raja of Maihar and was installed on the throne the next day, 16 December 1911. [9] As he was a minor at the time, the administration of the state was carried out by the Dewan on his behalf under the supervision of the Political Agent in Baghelkhand. [1] He was invested with full ruling powers on 2 January 1917. [2] On 14 August 1947, he signed the instrument of accession, through which he acceded his state to the Dominion of India. [10]

Death

He died on 13 October 1968. [3]

Honours

He was made Knight Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire on 3 June 1935. [11]

CountryYearHonourClass/GradeRibbonPost-nominal letters
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom1911 Order of the Indian Empire Knight Commander Order of the Indian Empire Ribbon.svg KCIE

References

  1. 1 2 A Collection of Treaties Engagements and Sanads: Relating to India and Neighbouring Countries (Vol-V). Government of India central publication branch,Calcutta. 1930. p. 238.
  2. 1 2 Manager Of Publicatuons. (1935). Rulers Leading Families And Officials In The States Of Central India (1935). p. 110.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Soszynski, Henry. "MAIHAR". members.iinet.net.au. Archived from the original on 2017-08-25. Retrieved 2025-07-24.
  4. ↑ Singh, Tejinder (2018-05-27). "Jyoti Singh Opens Her Heart as Yadvi Opens on US Screens". The America Times. Archived from the original on 3 March 2024. Retrieved 2024-06-22.
  5. ↑ National Register of Private Records. part 2. New Delhi: National Archives of India. 1972. p. 96.
  6. 1 2 Srinivasan, Anil (19 November 2015). "Allauddin Khan and the Maihar Gharana". The Hindu. Retrieved 3 August 2025.
  7. 1 2 "Princess Jailakshmi of Maihar shares a story on her teens in Maihar". EBNW Story. Retrieved 3 August 2025.
  8. ↑ "Maihar Band". Swaraalap. Retrieved 3 August 2025.
  9. ↑ Not Available (1922). Memoranda On The Indian States 1921. pp. 17–18.
  10. ↑ Reed, Sir Stanley (1949). Indian and Pakistan Year Book and Who's who. Times of India Press. pp. 446, 445.
  11. ↑ Not Available (1939). Memoranda On The Indian States 1939. p. 78.
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