Colonel H.H Maharaja Kishan Singh KCSI, was the ruler of Bharatpur(1918 – 1929) and Successor of Maharani Girraj Kaur KCIE.
Maharaja Kishan Singh, was born at Moti Mahal Palace, Bharatpur on 4th October 1899. He was eldest son of Maharaja Ram Singh by his second wife, Maharani Girraj Kaur. He got education at Mayo College, Ajmer and Wellington. He succeeded on the deposition of his father on 27th August 1900. Installed on the gadi at Bharatpur on 30th August 1900. He reigned under the regency of his mother until he came of age and was invested with full ruling powers on 28th November 1918. He was a promising student of the Ajmer Mayo College Ajmer.
Honours:-
On Tuesday, the 27th February 1906, when only seven years old he had the honour to pay his respect at Agra to Her Gracious Majesty the Queen Empress (then Princess of Wales) on her Indian tour of 1905-6.
Attended the funeral of the King-Emperor Edward VII in 1910. He received Delhi Durbar gold medal in 1911 and GO of the Order of the Crown of Belgian on 12 February 1926.
He went on a voyage to England in 1910 and rendered obeisance to His late Majesty Emperor Edward VII of blessed memory and when the heart-rending event of His Majesty’s demise occurred he joined the funeral procession on the 14th May and represented the Indian aristocracy under the care of Sir Dunlop Smith in St. George’s Chapel at the interment of His late Majesty on the 22nd May. On the 13th June 1910, His Gracious Majesty Emperor George V very kindly received him at the Marlborough palace.
H.H Maharaja Brijendra Sawai Kishan Singh Bahadur Jung took an important part in the recent Coronation Darbar held by His Gracious Majesty the King-Emperor at Delhi. Being appointed a page to attend upon Their Imperial Majesties in the Darbar ceremonials, he went to Delhi on tho 20th November 1911, met the Darbar Committee and learnt all that he had to do in that capacity. To his great credit he discharged his duties thoroughly and efficiently when the occasion required.
He was among the principal Rajputana ruling chiefs on the representation to the reception by His Majesty the King-Emperor in the pavilion in the fort before the state entry and in His Majesty’s camp in the afternoon on the 7th December 1911.
Along with his equally vigilant colleague Sumer Singh the Maharaja of Jodhpur, Maharaja Kishan Singh cut a prominent figure in the picturesque group of young princes that lined the steps on Their Imperial Majesty’s proceeding to the throne in the Darbar Shamiana on the 12th December 1911 and supported the purple and white coronation robes of His Majesty, and the train of Her Majesty. Similarly he followed Their Imperial Majesties in their investiture procession on the 14th December 1911.
His swiftness and alacrity were particularly displayed when leaving his place amongst the pages on the dais he advanced to the front of the throne, looked a charming veritable prince in shining garments broidered with gold, duly paid his homage to Their Imperial Majesties and moved backwards without, the least tottering in his steps.
Likewise he had a very enthusiastic reception in the review on the 4th December when in his brilliant uniform and riding on his beautiful horse with golden saddle cloth and trappings, he led his Imperial Service Infantry, “the MaharajPaltan,” past with steady and proportionate pace.
Personal Life :-
He married on 3rd March 1913 with Maharani Rajendra Kaur, youngest daughter of Raja Balbir Singh Brar Raja of Faridkot.
Social service :-
He reorganized army in 1919. He made Hindi as state language. He toured to Sri Lanka and established ‘Brij-mandal’ in Shimla. He also made primary education compulsory. He promulgated social reforms act. He introduced the system of participation of public in state affairs through credit banks, issuing society and village panchayat acts. He promoted the establishment of Ayurvedic hospitals. He started organizing exhibition in Bharatpur every year to promote trade and arts. He took steps towards the protection of cows. The steps taken by him in 1924 famine in the interest of public are always remembered. He was proud to be a Jat and presided over the 1925 Kshatriya Jat Mahasabha Adhiveshan organized at Pushkar and the Maharajrana of Dholpur and the Maharaja of Patiala were also involved in this session.
Death:-
He died at Agra on 27th March 1929, having had issue, four sons and three daughters. His eldest son Maharaja Brijendra Sawai Brijendra Singh succeeded him.
Acknowledgement :-
- H.H Maharani Divya Singh Sahiba of Bharatpur