Sarup Ram Singh

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Sarup Ram Singh
Maharajadhiraja
Maharao
Maharao of Sirohi
Reign29 April 1920 – 23 January 1946
Predecessor Kesari Singh
Successor Tej Ram Singh
Born(1888-09-27)27 September 1888
Died23 January 1946(1946-01-23) (aged 57)
SpouseKrishna Kumari of Kutch
House Deora Chouhan
Father Kesari Singh
ReligionHindu

Sarup Ram Singh was the Maharao of Sirohi in India from 1920 until his death in 1946.

Contents

Early life

He was born on 27 September 1888 to Kesari Singh and his first wife, Puarji, a daughter of Jalam Singh, the Maharana of Danta. [1] [2]

He received his primary education from Pandit Mansa Ram Shukul. [1] Following this, his father appointed Captain Pritchard, the Assistant to the Resident for the Western Rajputana States, to provide higher education and teach him English. [1] Pritchard taught him for two years. [1] Afterward, J. H. Smith took over and instructed him for eighteen months. [1] Smith instructed him in law, political economy, and various aspects of administration and governance. [1]

In 1910, his father abolished the posts of Diwan and Naib-Diwan and appointed him as Musahib-i-Ala of Sirohi. [1]

On his father's voluntary abdication on 29 April 1920, Sarup succeeded him as the Maharao of Sirohi. [3]

Personal life

He became engaged on 30 June 1900 to a Princess of Pratapgarh at Abu Road. [4] However, the marriage was later called off. [1] On 20 November 1907 he married Krishna Kumari, the daughter of Khengarji III, the Maharao of Kutch. [3] [4] [5] He later married a daughter of the Maharaja of Ratlam, [3] [5] then to the Thakur of Kuwar in Gujarat, [3] [5] and then to the Thakur of Junia in Ajmer. [3] [5] He converted to Islam in the 1940s to marry a Muslim woman. [6] He was advised not to publicly announce his conversion. [6] He followed this advice to prevent protests against him. [6]

He had three daughters. [1] [7] Among them were Jeet Kunverba and Gulab Kunverba. [1] [7] Gulab Kunverba married Digvijaysinhji on 7 March 1935. [4]

He also had a Khanda wife. By her, he had a son named Lakhpat Ram Singh. [8]

Death

He died on 23 January 1946 in Delhi. [6] [9] Upon his death, and in accordance with his will, he was buried according to Islamic rites. [9] This caused significant agitation within his family, his subjects, and Hindu organizations. [6] Since he had no legitimate heir, three claims were put forward before the Government of India for the vacant throne, by Tej Singh,. who belonged to the Mandar branch, by Abhai Singh, [8] who was a grandson of Umed Singh’s brother, and by Lakhpat Ram Singh. Viceroy and Governor-General recognized Tej Singh as the successor. After India’s independence, the other two resubmitted their claims to the Government of India. Ultimately, Abhai Singh was recognized as the legitimate successor. [8]

Titles, styles and honours

Titles and styles

His Highness Maharajadhiraja Maharao Shri Sarup Ram Singh Bahadur, Maharao of Sirohi. [10]

Honours

He was appointed Knight Commander of the Order of the Star of India on 3 June 1924. On 1 January 1932, he was appointed Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire. [10]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Lala, Sitaram (1920). History Of Sirohi Raj From The Earliest Times To The Present Day. pp. 360–361, 365–367, 370.
  2. 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. p. 125.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Not Available (1931). Rajputana And Ajmer List Of Ruling Princes, Chiefs And Leading Personages (six ed.). pp. 154–155.
  4. 1 2 3 Encyclopaedia Indica: Princely States in colonial India. Anmol Publications. 1996. p. 103. ISBN   978-81-7041-859-7.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Not Available (1938). Memoranda On The Indian States 1938. p. 279.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 Zaidi, Annie (28 May 2020). Bread, Cement, Cactus: A Memoir of Belonging and Dislocation. Cambridge University Press. p. 109. ISBN   978-1-108-84064-4.
  7. 1 2 Not Available (1939). Memoranda On The Indian States 1939. p. 269.
  8. 1 2 3 McClenaghan, Tony (1996). Indian Princely Medals: A Record of the Orders, Decorations, and Medals of the Indian Princely States. Lancer Publishers. p. 249. ISBN   978-1-897829-19-6.
  9. 1 2 Rajasthan (India); Sehgal, K. K. (1967). Rajasthan District Gazetteers: Sirohi. p. 239.
  10. 1 2 Not Available (1933). Rajputana And Ajmer-merwara. pp. 28, 81, 82.