Laxman Singh
Encyclopedia
Lakshman Singh was the last ruling Maharawal (Maharaja) of the princely state
of Dungarpur
from 1918 to 1989, a former MP
in the Rajya Sabha
and speaker of the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly
from July 1977 to June 1979. He was brother to Nagendra Singh
, the President of the International Court of Justice
.
, the eldest son and heir apparent of Maharawal Sir Bijaya Singh of the princely state
of Dungarpur
. He succeeded to the throne in 1918 at the age of 10 following the death of his father, ruling under the regency
of the Dungarpur political agent until he came of age in 1928.
, and was knight
ed with the KCSI in 1935. In 1947, he was appointed a GCIE. Following Independence
, he established an interim legislature for Dungarpur, then with his fellow rulers formed the United State of Rajasthan
on 25 March 1948. Tbe following year, this became the Greater Rajasthan Union to which Dungarpur acceeded on 30 March. From 1952 to 1958, Sir Lakshman served as an MP
for Aspur in the Rajya Sabha
, then became President of the Swatantra Party
in Rajasthan from 1961 to 1969. From 1962 until his death, he also served as President of the All-India Kshatriya Mahasabha and as an MLC
for Chittor in the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly
, serving as speaker from 1977 to 1979; he also served as the leader of the Opposition from 1962 to 1979.
(1914–1975); the couple had three sons and two daughters.
government in 1971, Sir Lakshman continued to serve in politics to the end of his days. He died while in office at his birthplace, Udai Villas at Dungarpur, on 6 June 1989 after a reign of 71 years, aged 81. At the time of his death he was also the second-to-last surviving Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire
(Chithira Thirunal of Travancore would die two years later). Lakshman Singh was succeeded as titular Maharawal of Dungarpur by his eldest son, Mahipal Singh II.
Princely state
A Princely State was a nominally sovereign entitity of British rule in India that was not directly governed by the British, but rather by an Indian ruler under a form of indirect rule such as suzerainty or paramountcy.-British relationship with the Princely States:India under the British Raj ...
of Dungarpur
Dungarpur
Dungarpur is a city in the southernmost part of Rajasthan state of India. It is the administrative headquarters of Dungarpur District. The rail line between Udaipur and Himatnagar in Gujarat runs through the town, shortest distance to the National Highway 8 from Dungapur town is...
from 1918 to 1989, a former MP
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
in the Rajya Sabha
Rajya Sabha
The Rajya Sabha or Council of States is the upper house of the Parliament of India. Rajya means "state," and Sabha means "assembly hall" in Sanskrit. Membership is limited to 250 members, 12 of whom are chosen by the President of India for their expertise in specific fields of art, literature,...
and speaker of the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly
Rajasthan Legislative Assembly
The Rajasthan Legislative Assembly or the Rajasthan Vidhan Sabha is the unicameral legislature of the Indian state of Rajasthan. It is situated in Jaipur — the capital of the state. Members of the Legislative assembly are directly elected by the people. Presently, the legislative assembly...
from July 1977 to June 1979. He was brother to Nagendra Singh
Nagendra Singh
Maharaj Sri Nagendra Singh was president of the International Court of Justice...
, the President of the International Court of Justice
International Court of Justice
The International Court of Justice is the primary judicial organ of the United Nations. It is based in the Peace Palace in The Hague, Netherlands...
.
Early life
Maharawal Sir Lakshman Singh was born on 7 March 1908 at Udai Villas, DungarpurDungarpur
Dungarpur is a city in the southernmost part of Rajasthan state of India. It is the administrative headquarters of Dungarpur District. The rail line between Udaipur and Himatnagar in Gujarat runs through the town, shortest distance to the National Highway 8 from Dungapur town is...
, the eldest son and heir apparent of Maharawal Sir Bijaya Singh of the princely state
Princely state
A Princely State was a nominally sovereign entitity of British rule in India that was not directly governed by the British, but rather by an Indian ruler under a form of indirect rule such as suzerainty or paramountcy.-British relationship with the Princely States:India under the British Raj ...
of Dungarpur
Dungarpur
Dungarpur is a city in the southernmost part of Rajasthan state of India. It is the administrative headquarters of Dungarpur District. The rail line between Udaipur and Himatnagar in Gujarat runs through the town, shortest distance to the National Highway 8 from Dungapur town is...
. He succeeded to the throne in 1918 at the age of 10 following the death of his father, ruling under the regency
Regent
A regent, from the Latin regens "one who reigns", is a person selected to act as head of state because the ruler is a minor, not present, or debilitated. Currently there are only two ruling Regencies in the world, sovereign Liechtenstein and the Malaysian constitutive state of Terengganu...
of the Dungarpur political agent until he came of age in 1928.
Political career
From 1931 to 1947, Lakshman Singh was a member of the standing committee of the Chamber of PrincesChamber of Princes
The Chamber of Princes was an institution established in 1920 by a royal proclamation of the King-Emperor to provide a forum in which the rulers of the Indian princely states could voice their needs and aspirations to the government of British India...
, and was knight
Knight
A knight was a member of a class of lower nobility in the High Middle Ages.By the Late Middle Ages, the rank had become associated with the ideals of chivalry, a code of conduct for the perfect courtly Christian warrior....
ed with the KCSI in 1935. In 1947, he was appointed a GCIE. Following Independence
Independence
Independence is a condition of a nation, country, or state in which its residents and population, or some portion thereof, exercise self-government, and usually sovereignty, over its territory....
, he established an interim legislature for Dungarpur, then with his fellow rulers formed the United State of Rajasthan
Rajasthan
Rājasthān the land of Rajasthanis, , is the largest state of the Republic of India by area. It is located in the northwest of India. It encompasses most of the area of the large, inhospitable Great Indian Desert , which has an edge paralleling the Sutlej-Indus river valley along its border with...
on 25 March 1948. Tbe following year, this became the Greater Rajasthan Union to which Dungarpur acceeded on 30 March. From 1952 to 1958, Sir Lakshman served as an MP
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
for Aspur in the Rajya Sabha
Rajya Sabha
The Rajya Sabha or Council of States is the upper house of the Parliament of India. Rajya means "state," and Sabha means "assembly hall" in Sanskrit. Membership is limited to 250 members, 12 of whom are chosen by the President of India for their expertise in specific fields of art, literature,...
, then became President of the Swatantra Party
Swatantra Party
The Swatantra Party was a classical liberal political party in India founded by Chakravarti Rajagopalachari and N. G. Ranga in August 1959. The party opposed the Nehruvian socialist outlook of the Congress Party by advocating free enterprise and free trade, and opposing the licence-permit Raj...
in Rajasthan from 1961 to 1969. From 1962 until his death, he also served as President of the All-India Kshatriya Mahasabha and as an MLC
MLC
-Technology:*Multi-level cell, a type of flash memory*Multi-Platform Language for Calculators*Multileaf collimator, a tool used for shaping radiation beams in external-beam radiotherapy.*Mobile Location Center, a network element in GSM Telephony Networks...
for Chittor in the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly
Rajasthan Legislative Assembly
The Rajasthan Legislative Assembly or the Rajasthan Vidhan Sabha is the unicameral legislature of the Indian state of Rajasthan. It is situated in Jaipur — the capital of the state. Members of the Legislative assembly are directly elected by the people. Presently, the legislative assembly...
, serving as speaker from 1977 to 1979; he also served as the leader of the Opposition from 1962 to 1979.
Personal
On 8 February 1920 at Benares, Lakshman Singh married Biswanji Maharani Shri Brijraj Kunwari Ba Sahiba of Bhinga (1907–1982); the couple had two daughters. On 8 March 1928, he married Rathorji Maharani Shri Manhar Kunwar Ba Sahiba of KishangarhKishangarh
Kishangarh is a city and a municipality in Ajmer district in the Indian state of Rajasthan. It lies 18 miles north-west of Ajmer. It is well connected via Indian Railways and National Highway #8. It is the birth place of the Kishangarh style of painting, which is known for the beautiful depiction...
(1914–1975); the couple had three sons and two daughters.
Later life
Despite being officially deprived of his titles as a monarch by the Indira GandhiIndira Gandhi
Indira Priyadarshini Gandhara was an Indian politician who served as the third Prime Minister of India for three consecutive terms and a fourth term . She was assassinated by Sikh extremists...
government in 1971, Sir Lakshman continued to serve in politics to the end of his days. He died while in office at his birthplace, Udai Villas at Dungarpur, on 6 June 1989 after a reign of 71 years, aged 81. At the time of his death he was also the second-to-last surviving Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire
Order of the Indian Empire
The Most Eminent Order of the Indian Empire is an order of chivalry founded by Queen Victoria in 1878. The Order includes members of three classes:#Knight Grand Commander #Knight Commander #Companion...
(Chithira Thirunal of Travancore would die two years later). Lakshman Singh was succeeded as titular Maharawal of Dungarpur by his eldest son, Mahipal Singh II.
Titles
- 1908-1918: Maharajkumar Shri Lakshman Singh SahibSahibSahib is an Urdu term which literally translates to "Owner" or "Proprietor". The primary Arabic meaning of Sahib is "associate, companion, comrade, friend" though it also includes "Sahib is an Urdu term which literally translates to "Owner" or "Proprietor". The primary Arabic meaning of Sahib...
BahadurBahadurBahadur * Banda Singh Bahadur , a Sikh warrior and martyr* Coote Bahadur was a name given the Irish soldier Sir Eyre Coote by his troops* Bahadoor , a comedic actor in Malayalam-language films...
, Yuvaraja of DungarpurDungarpurDungarpur is a city in the southernmost part of Rajasthan state of India. It is the administrative headquarters of Dungarpur District. The rail line between Udaipur and Himatnagar in Gujarat runs through the town, shortest distance to the National Highway 8 from Dungapur town is... - 1918-1935: His Highness Rai-i-Rayan, Mahimahendra, Maharajadhiraj Maharawal Shri Lakshman Singh Sahib Bahadur, Maharawal of Dungarpur
- 1935-1947: His Highness Rai-i-Rayan, Mahimahendra, Maharajadhiraj Maharawal Shri SirSirSir is an honorific used as a title , or as a courtesy title to address a man without using his given or family name in many English speaking cultures...
Lakshman Singh Sahib Bahadur, Maharawal of Dungarpur, KCSIOrder of the Star of IndiaThe Most Exalted Order of the Star of India is an order of chivalry founded by Queen Victoria in 1861. The Order includes members of three classes:# Knight Grand Commander # Knight Commander # Companion... - 1947-1989: His Highness Rai-i-Rayan, Mahimahendra, Maharajadhiraj Maharawal Shri Sir Lakshman Singh Sahib Bahadur, Maharawal of Dungarpur, GCIE, KCSI
Honours
- King George V Silver Jubilee MedalKing George V Silver Jubilee MedalThe King George V Silver Jubilee Medal was a commemorative medal made to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the coronation of King George V.-Issue:...
-1935 - Knight Commander of the Order of the Star of India (KCSI)-1935
- King George VI Coronation MedalKing George VI Coronation MedalThe King George VI Coronation Medal was a commemorative medal made to celebrate the coronation of King George VI.-Issue:For Coronation and Jubilee medals, the practice up until 1977 was that United Kingdom authorities decided on a total number to be produced, then allocated a proportion to each of...
-1937 - Indian Independence Medal-1947
- Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire (GCIE)-1947