Giriraj Kaur was a Maharani of Bharatpur as the wife of Ram Singh. After her husband's deposition in 1900, she was the regent of Bharatpur during the minority of her son Kishan Singh.
| Giriraj Kaur | |
|---|---|
| Maaji Sahiba | |
 | |
| Regent of Bharatpur State | |
| Tenure | 27 August 1900 – 28 November 1918 |
| Died | 24 August 1922 Lohagarh Fort, Bharatpur, Rajasthan, British Raj (now India) |
| Spouse | Ram Singh |
| Issue | Kishan Singh |
| House | Bharatpur (by marriage) |
Background
editShe was the daughter of the Zamindar of Deoli in Bharatpur and married Ram Singh, the Maharaja of Bharatpur, as his second wife.[1] She had a son with her husband, Kishan Singh, who was born on 4 October 1899 at Moti Mahal, Bharatpur.[2][3]
Regent of Bharatpur
editHer husband, Ram Singh, visited Mount Abu in 1900, where he killed one of his private servants.[4][5] As a consequence, he was deposed by the Government of India on 27 August 1900,[6] and his infant son, Kishan Singh, was installed on the same date on the throne of Bharatpur.[2][3][4][5] During his minority, his mother, Giriraj Kaur, acted as regent from 27 August 1900 to 28 November 1918, until he came of age.[3] She sent her son to Mayo College, Ajmer, and appointed special tutors to guide his studies.[7]
She was granted the Imperial Order of the Crown of India in the 1918 New Year Honours list.[8] She took great interest in the art of her country, particularly in architecture and gardening, and was compared to Nawab Shahjahan, Begum of Bhopal.[9]
Visits to England
editDuring her son Kishan Singh's minority, she, along with him, extended visits to England in 1908 and 1910 for the benefit of his health and were presented to George V and Mary of Teck.[10]
After regency
editOn 28 November 1918, Kishan Singh was invested with full ruling powers by Viscount Chelmsford, thereby becoming the de facto ruler of Bharatpur.[11] Kishan Singh wasted so much money that he nearly bankrupted Bharatpur.[6][12] In 1924 alone, he spent 7.8 million rupees, which was more than twice the State's income.[12] His mother, during her lifetime, had striven her best to stop his excesses.[13]
Delhi Durbars
editShe attended the Delhi Durbars of 1903 and 1911.[14][15]
Durbar of 1903
editShe, along with her son, Kishan Singh, then only three years, attended the Delhi Durbar of 1903.[14]
Durbar of 1911
editShe, along with her son, Kishan Singh, attended the Delhi Durbar of 1911, and at a reception held on 13 December 1911 by Winifred Hardinge, she was presented to Mary of Teck.[15]
Philanthropy
editLady Hardinge Medical College
editShe contributed a sum of Rs. 7,500 for the marble flooring of the entrance hall of Lady Hardinge Medical College, which is named after Winifred Hardinge.[16]
World War I
editDuring World War I, she placed all the resources of her State at the disposal of the Government of India,[17] including two motor cars and a chauffeur, with all expenses covered, and contributed Rs. 2,000 to the Indian Relief Fund.[18][19]
Moti Mahal Palace
editIn 1916, she built the Moti Mahal Palace in white sandstone.[20][21]
Death
editShe died at Lohagarh Fort, Bharatpur on 24 August 1922.[3][22]
Honours
edit| Country | Year | Honour | Class | Ribbon | Post-nominal letters |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 British India
|
1903 | Delhi Durbar Medal (1903)[14] | Gold | 
|
|
| British India
|
1911 | Delhi Durbar Medal (1911)[15] | Gold | 
|
|
| British India
|
1918 | Imperial Order of the Crown of India[8] | 
|
CI |
References
edit- ^ Bayley, C. S. (2004). Chiefs and leading families in Rajputana. Public Resource. New Delhi : Asian Educational Services. p. 92. ISBN 978-81-206-1066-8.
- ^ a b Purushotam Vishram Mawjee (1911). (1911) Imperial durbar album of the Indian princes, chiefs and zamindars, Vol. I. p. 41.
- ^ a b c d Encyclopaedia Indica: Princely states in colonial India-I. Anmol Publications. 1996. p. 144. ISBN 978-81-7041-859-7.
- ^ a b Ajmer-Merwara (India) (1902). Report on the Administration of Ajmer-Merwara. p. 26.
- ^ a b Department, India Foreign and Political (1909). A Collection of Treaties, Engagements and Sanads, Relating to India and Neighbouring Countries. Superintendent Government Printing, India. p. 262.
- ^ a b Menon, Kumara Padmanabha Sivasankara (1965). Many Worlds: An Autobiography. Internet Archive. p. 160.
- ^ Speeches by lord Hardinge of Penshurst : viceroy and governor-general of India. Superintendent of Government Printing, Calcutta. 1913. p. 434.
- ^ a b Committee, Indian National Congress British (1918). India. Published for the Proprietors, Indian National Congress. p. 7.
- ^ Country Life. 1915. p. 831.
- ^ ACL-ARCH 00269 Indian Princes And The Crown. p. 92.
- ^ Chelmsford, Frederic John Napier Thesiger (1919). Speeches by Lord Chelmsford, viceroy and governor general of India. Cornell University Library. Simla : Printed at the Government Monotype Press. pp. 115–121.
- ^ a b "OBITUARY:The Maharaja of Bharatpur". The Independent. 13 July 1995. Retrieved 9 September 2024.
- ^ Lothian, sir Arthur Cunningham (1951). Kingdoms Of Yesterday. p. 97.
- ^ a b c History of the Delhi Coronation Durbar : held on the first of January 1903 to celebrate the Coronation of his Majesty King Edward vii Emperor of India. John Murray Albemarle, London. 1904. pp. 107–108.
- ^ a b c The Historical Record of the Imperial Visit to India, 1911. government of India. 1914. pp. 127–128.
- ^ Penshurst, Charles Hardinge Baron Hardinge of (1916). Speeches. Superintendent, Government Print., India. p. 7.
- ^ United Empire. 1916. p. 148.
- ^ Pati, Budheswar (1996). India and the First World War. Atlantic Publishers & Dist. p. 23. ISBN 978-81-7156-581-8.
- ^ Provinces (India), Central (1914). The Central Provinces Gazette. p. 8.
- ^ Scott, Jack Denton (1959). Forests of the night. Internet Archive. New York, Rinehart. p. 181.
- ^ BharatpurState. p. 4.
- ^ Meena, R. P. RPSC RAS Prelims: History of Rajasthan Complete Study Notes With MCQ. New Era Publication.