Ram Singh | |
---|---|
Raja | |
Raja of Sitamau | |
Reign | 21 November 1900 – 25 May 1967 |
Coronation | 21 November 1900 |
Investiture | 28 February 1905 |
Predecessor | Shardul Singh |
Successor | Krishan Singh |
Born | 2 January 1880 |
Died | 25 May 1967 87) | (aged
Father | Dalel Singh |
Sir Ram Singh KCIE was the Raja of Sitamau from 1900 until his death in 1967.
He was born on 2 January 1880, as the second son of Dalel Singh, the Thakur of Kachhi Baroda. [1] [2]
He was educated at Daly College in Indore, where he remained for nearly seven years. [1] When he left the school, he went to Bharatpur. [1] There, under the tutelage of Michael O'Dwyer, who was acting as a settlement officer, he learned about land tenures, revenue, and other matters connected with the management of estates. [3]
When Shardul Singh died without an heir to succeed him as the Raja of Sitamau on 10 May 1900, the Government of India selected Ram Singh as his successor. [4] He was installed on the vacant throne by the political agent in Malwa on 21 November 1900, in the absence of the agent to the governor-general in Central India, who was unable to attend the ceremony. [4] As during the reign of his predecessor, the state had encountered a terrible famine, to combat which it had to take a loan of 1,25,000 rupees, and still, the state's condition had not improved. [5] [6] The government, in consideration of this, took only 40,600, or half a year's net income, as nazrana and made it payable in four installments. [5] They also presented him with a khilat valued at 10,125 rupees at his installation, in the form of a deduction from the nazrana. [5] As he was a minor at the time, the administration of the state on his behalf was carried out by the state's dewan, Pandit Balwant Rao Trimbak. [7] He was invested with full ruling powers on 28 February 1905. [5]
During his reign, Sitamau became a seat of learning and culture. [6] Following India's independence in 1947, he signed the instrument of accession and the standstill agreement, through which he acceded his state to the Dominion of India. [8] Upon the formation of Madhya Pradesh, Sitamau was merged into it, and he handed over his state's management to the newly formed state government on 20 June 1948. [8] His privy purse was 58,000 rupees, of which 48,000 rupees were dynastic and 10,000 rupees were personal. [8]
He was married three times and had three sons and two daughters. [3] He married, firstly, in 1902 to a daughter of the Raja of Chhota Udaipur; secondly, in 1903 to a daughter of the Thakur of Baleri in Bikaner; and thirdly to a granddaughter of the Thakur of Maroli in Udaipur. [2] His sons were Raghubir Singh, Govind Singh, and Raghunath Singh. [1] His daughters were Chand Kanwar and Kishan Kanwar. [1]
He was a good poet and encouraged his children and others to take part in literary activities. [6] [9] He personally taught his children English. [9]
He died on 25 May 1967, and was succeeded by his grandson, Krishan Singh, as the Raja of Sitamau. [6]
He was invested with the insignia of Knight Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire by George V on the occasion of the Delhi durbar of 1911. [1] [10]
Country | Year | Honour | Class/Grade | Ribbon | Post-nominal letters |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | 1911 | Order of the Indian Empire | Knight Commander | ![]() | KCIE |
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