Kameshwar Singh

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Maharajadhiraja Sir Kameshwar Singh KCIE ( Hindi : कामेश्वर सिंह , Kāmeśvar Siṃh ; * November 28, 1907 ; † November 8, 1962 ) was the ruler of the Darbhanga Raj from 1929-47 and the spiritual head of the Maithil brahmins throughout his life . Politically, he represented the interests of the conservative Indian princes in the 1930s .

origin

Founder of stately home was mahamahopadhyaya Mahesh Thakur, who from Großmogulogul Akbar the Great in the 16th century with the Principality Tirhut was invested. The family originally came from the village of Bhour, but after the award moved their headquarters to Fort Bhowarah (near today's Madhubani ).

Life path

Kameshwar Singh was the son of Sir Rameshwar Singh, who controlled the upbringing of his son by private tutors himself. After his father's death, he took over his position as one of the most important large landowners in British India . In 1933 he was knighted as Knight Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire and from then on carried the suffix "Sir". He therefore became chairman of the landowners' associations of Bihar , Bengal and all of India. The Bihar earthquake in 1934, when the Depression was also at its peak, caused temporary economic problems.

He was appointed to the Legislative Council twice . After the eligibility of this assembly was introduced, he won a seat again in 1937.

At the first two Indian Round Table Conferences , which took place in London in 1930 and 1931, he took part as a delegate of the Indian princes. At the third conference, which also helped prepare the constitutional reform, which resulted in the Government of India Act 1935 , he was unable to attend because of illness. His wife died in October 1940.

At the beginning of the Second World War , on the Kaiser’s birthday in 1940, he donated 12 ambulances and £ 5000 for three Spitfires that bore the old name of the House of Sakar-i-Tirhut . For this, and the obligation to replace the machines if necessary, he became Colonel of Honor of the 11 / 19th Hyderabad Regiment (territorial). He also made generous donations for the supply of officers. In the further course of the war he was appointed to the National Defense Council .

With independence he abdicated, his zamindars were partially expropriated during the land reforms. He had no direct descendants, which led to long disputes over inheritance. His wife died in 1941.

The Kameshwar Singh Darbhanga Sanskrit University in Darbhanga, founded in 1961, is named after him.

Literature and Sources

  • Dua, JC; Illustrated Encyclopaedia & Who's Who of Princely States in Indian Sub-Continent; New Delhi 2000, ISBN 81-7479-036-5 , pp. 196f.
  • Hetukar Jha (ed.); Courage and Benevolence: Maharajadhiraja Kameshwar Singh (1907-1962); 2007

Web links

  • Foundation (named after his wife, numerous photos; English)

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Knights and Dames: SEL – SU at Leigh Rayment's Peerage
personal data
SURNAME Kameshwar Singh
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Honorary Colonel the Honorable Mahārājādhirājā Sir Kameshwara Singh Bahādur of Darbhanga (full title)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION last Raja of the Indian princely state of Darbhanga and representative of the political interests of the Indian princes at the Round Table in London in 1930 and 1931
DATE OF BIRTH November 28, 1907
DATE OF DEATH November 8, 1962