BaileyMetzler: made initial bio first draft

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made initial bio first draft

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{{Short description|Maharaj Rana of Jhalawar from 1899 to 1929}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2024}}
{{Use Indian English|date=January 2016}}
{{Infobox royalty
| name = Bhawani Singh
| title = Maharaj Rana
| image = Jhalawar-Maharaj-Rana-Sir-Shri-BHAWANI-SINGH-Bahadur-1.jpg
| caption = Portrait of Bhawani Singh
| succession = [[Jhalawar State|Maharaj Rana of Jhalawar]]
| reign = 6 February 1899 – 13 April 1929
| cor-type = Investiture
| predecessor = [[Zalim Singh II]]
| successor = [[Rajendra Singh of Jhalawar|Rajendra Singh]]
| birth_date = {{birth date|1874|09|04|df=yes}}
| birth_place = Fatehpur, [[Jhalawar State]], [[British Raj|British India]]
| death_date = {{death date and age|1929|04|13|1874|09|04|df=yes}}
| death_place = [[Aden]], [[Yemen]]
| spouse =
| issue = [[Rajendra Singh of Jhalawar|Rajendra Singh]]
| full name = Bhawani Singh Jhala
| house = {{flagicon image|Flag_of_Jhalawar.svg}} [[Jhalawar State|Jhalawar]]
| house-type =
| father = Chhatrasal Jhala
| investiture = 6 February 1899
| dynasty = [[Jhala (clan)|Jhala]]
}}

[[Sir]] '''Bhawani Singh''' [[Order of the Star of India|KCSI]] (4 September 1874 – 13 April 1929) was the Maharaj Rana of [[Jhalawar State|Jhalawar]] from 1899 until his death.

== Birth ==
Bhawani Singh was born on 4 September 1874 to Thakur Chhatrasal of Fatehpur, a descendant of Madho Singh, the first Jhala [[Faujdar|Foujdar]] of the [[Kingdom of Kota|Kota State]] troops.<ref name=":3">{{Cite book |last=Aitchison |first=C. U. |url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.35556 |title=A Collection Of Treaties, Engagements, And Sanads Relating To India And Neighbouring Countries Volume Iii Containing The Treaties Amp C., Relating To The States In Rajpuratana |date=1909 |pages=366}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite book |last=Purushotam Vishram Mawjee |url=https://archive.org/details/DurbarAlbum1 |title=(1911) Imperial durbar album of the Indian princes, chiefs and zamindars, Vol. I. |date=1911 |pages=89–90}}</ref>

== Education ==
He received his education at [[Mayo College]], [[Ajmer]], which he entered in 1881 and left in 1891.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2">{{Cite book |last=Bayley |first=C. S. |url=https://archive.org/details/chiefsleadingfam00csba |title=Chiefs and leading families in Rajputana |date=2004 |publisher=New Delhi : Asian Educational Services |others=Public Resource |isbn=978-81-206-1066-8 |pages=87}}</ref><ref name=":4">{{Cite book |last=Feilden |first=Charles |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Wr4-AQAAMAAJ |title=The Indian Empire Royal Book: Containing a True Account of the Commercial Relations of Great Britain and the Indian Empire... |date=1912 |publisher=BPBC |pages=84 |language=en}}</ref> During his time there, he excelled in both academics and outdoor sports.<ref name=":1" /> Following the completion of his education, he was employed by the Jhalawar State Police.<ref name=":2" />

== Succession ==
On 22 March 1896, [[Zalim Singh II]] was deposed due to his inability to govern Jhalawar effectively.<ref name=":4" /> Following this, the Government of India reconstructed the [[Jhalawar State]] by restoring a significant portion of the tracts ceded by [[Kingdom of Kota|Kota State]] in 1838 to create the [[principality]] of [[Jhalawar State|Jhalawar]] on 1 January 1899.<ref name=":3" /> At the same time, the title was reduced from ''Maharaj Rana'' to ''Raj Rana'', and the [[gun salute]] was decreased from 15 to 11 guns.<ref name=":5" /> Thus, a new state was formed, of which Bhawani Singh was installed as the first chief and invested with full powers on 6 February 1899 by Sir Arthur Martindale, the then Governor-General's Agent in [[Rajputana]].<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":1" />

== Reign ==
One of his first acts upon assuming the reins of the administration was the grant of remission of Rs. 3,64,627 in the arrears of rent owed to the State.<ref name=":1" /> After his investiture, he also had to deal with the [[Indian famine of 1899–1900]], which had struck [[Jhalawar State|Jhalawar]].<ref name=":1" /> He personally supervised the relief work.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":6" /> He quickly set up shelters for the poor, saving thousands of lives.<ref name=":1" /> At the same time, he brought in a large quantity of food grains from the [[United Provinces of Agra and Oudh]], which were sold to government workers and the public at prices significantly lower than those people were paying at the time.<ref name=":1" /> He remitted the arrears of rent amounting to about four lacs to the subjects.<ref name=":8">{{Cite book |last=Vadivelu |first=A. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LfoxAQAAMAAJ |title=The Ruling Chiefs, Nobles and Zamindars of India |date=1915 |publisher=G.C. Loganadham |pages=295–297 |language=en}}</ref> He adopted the Imperial Postal Union and British currency and weights in his state.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":8" /> He introduced the [[Nāgarī script]] in the courts and offices of the state and remitted a number of petty, vexatious taxes.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":8" /> He promoted social improvements such as the removal of untouchability, supported widow remarriage, and encouraged education for girls.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Lyons |first=Tryna |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cKnGJGOEQukC |title=The Artists of Nathadwara: The Practice of Painting in Rajasthan |date=2004 |publisher=Indiana University Press |isbn=978-0-253-34417-5 |pages=175 |language=en}}</ref> He established several Mofussil and girls' schools.<ref name=":8" /> Education in all schools, including the high school, was provided free of charge,<ref>{{Cite book |last=Seesodia |first=Jessrajsingh |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ctBAAAAAIAAJ |title=The Rajputs: a Fighting Race: A Short Account of the Rajput Race, Its Warlike Past, Its Early Connections with Great Britain, and Its Gallant Services at the Present Moment at the Front |date=1915 |publisher=East and West, Limited |pages=142–147 |language=en}}</ref> and books and other school materials were distributed gratis.<ref name=":8" /><ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fg87AQAAMAAJ |title=Asian Review |date=1915 |publisher=East & West |pages=423 |language=en}}</ref> The initiatives he undertook to encourage female education led to significant improvements in female literacy.<ref name=":9">{{Cite book |last=Saxena |first=Rajendra Kumar |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6S8iAAAAMAAJ |title=Education and Social Amelioration of Women: A Study of Rajasthan |date=1978 |publisher=Sanghi Prakashan |pages=67 |language=en}}</ref> His state had the highest number of educated women in India,<ref name=":8" /> and The Indian Ladies' Magazine praised him, stating that he had done more for female education than any other Indian ruler.<ref name=":9" />
[[File:Group photograph of Indian royalty at Motimahal Bundi Govindnathji Temple in 1921.jpg|thumb|Bhawani Singh with other Indian royals at Govind Nath Ji's temple at Moti Mahal, Bundi, in 1921.]]
In 1908, he was appointed [[Knight Commander of the Most Exalted Order of the Star of India]] and received the insignia at the investiture held in [[Kolkata|Calcutta]] in February 1909.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":8" />

In 1912, during his time in [[London]], he studied the methods of the [[Parliament of the United Kingdom|UK Parliament]].<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=d8RSAAAAIBAJ |title=The Morning Leader |publisher=The Morning Leader |pages=4 |language=en}}</ref> After returning to [[Jhalawar State|Jhalawar]], he introduced a constitutional government but kept considerable power for himself.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tVZCAAAAIBAJ |title=The Grape Belt |publisher=The Grape Belt |pages=2 |language=en}}</ref>

== Delhi Durbars ==
{{Main|Delhi Durbar}}
He attended the [[Delhi Durbar|Delhi Durbars]] of 1903 and 1911.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Not Available |url=https://archive.org/details/coronationdurbar030742mbp |title=Coronation Durbar Delhi 1911 |date=1911 |publisher=Superintendent Government Press |others=Osmania University, Digital Library Of India |pages=209}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Wheeler Stephen |url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.207683 |title=History Of The Delhi Coronation Durbar 1903 |date=1904}}</ref>

== Overseas trips ==

=== Visit to Europe ===
In 1904, he visited [[Europe]] for the benefit of his health, accompanied by Major R.A.E. Benn.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":8" /><ref name=":10" /> After visiting [[England]] and most of the countries in [[Europe]], he returned to [[India]] in November of that year.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":8" /> He recorded his experiences on that occasion in a diary, which he published in 1912 primarily for the benefit of his subjects in a book titled ''Travel Pictures: The Record of a European Tour''.<ref name=":10">{{Cite book |last=Bhavãni Singh |first=raj rama of Jhalawar |url=https://archive.org/details/travelpicturesre00bhavrich |title=Travel pictures, the record of a European tour |date=1912 |publisher=London, New York [etc.] Longmans, Green, and co. |others=University of California Libraries |pages=vii–viii, 26–28, 39–40, 74}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |title=1930MNRAS..90..370. Page 370 |journal=Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society|date=1930 |volume=90 |page=370 |doi=10.1093/mnras/90.4.370 |doi-access=free |bibcode=1930MNRAS..90..370. }}</ref> On 11 May 1904, [[Martin Gosselin]] informed him, while he was in [[Lisbon]], that he would be presented to [[Carlos I of Portugal]] the following day in [[Sintra]].<ref name=":10" /> He proceeded to [[Sintra]] immediately, and the next day, [[Martin Gosselin|Gosselin]] accompanied him to the palace, where he had an audience with [[Carlos I of Portugal|Carlos I]].<ref name=":10" /> While in [[England]], [[Curzon Wyllie]] called him and invited him to [[Buckingham Palace]], where a court was to be held on 20 May 1904.<ref name=":10" /> There, he was received in audience by [[Edward VII]], who treated him with the utmost consideration.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":8" /> While in [[London]], Bhawani Singh inspected the new premises of [[Bystander (magazine)|The Bystander]] on [[Street names of the City of London#T|Tallis Street]].<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=47QcxUwBVnsC |title=The Bystander: An Illustrated Weekly, Devoted to Travel, Literature, Art, the Drama, Progress, Locomotion |date=1904 |publisher=[[Bystander (magazine)|The Bystander]] |pages=198 |language=en}}</ref> On 18 June 1904, he laid a wreath at the [[Royal Mausoleum, Frogmore]], the tomb of [[Queen Victoria]] and her husband, [[Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha|Prince Albert, the Prince Consort]].<ref name=":10" /> Later, while in [[Mariánské Lázně]], he frequently encountered [[Edward VII]].<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":8" />

=== Visit to England ===
In 1912, he arrived in [[England]] for an extended stay, accompanied by a group of officials, including Pandit Shyam Shankar.<ref name=":12">{{Cite journal |last=Shaw |first=Napier |date=25 May 1929 |title=The Maharaj Rana of Jhalawar |url=https://www.nature.com/articles/123805a0 |journal=Nature |language=en |volume=123 |issue=3108 |pages=805–806 |doi=10.1038/123805a0 |bibcode=1929Natur.123..805S |issn=1476-4687}}</ref> He regularly attended the International Commission meetings on Maritime Meteorology and Weather Telegraphy, held in [[London]] that September.<ref name=":12" /> He visited [[Cambridge]] that year, where he was hosted for lunch and later for dinner at [[Newnham College, Cambridge|Newnham College]].<ref name=":12" />

== World War I ==
During [[World War I]], he placed all the resources of his state at the disposal of the Government of India and offered his personal services.<ref name=":5" /> He organized weekly lectures for his people during the war to spread correct information and counter the rumors.<ref name=":6">{{Cite book |last=Harris |first=Russell |url=https://archive.org/details/maharajasatlondo0000harr |title=Maharajas at the London studios : National Portrait Gallery, London |date=2001 |publisher=New Delhi : Roli Books |others=Internet Archive |isbn=978-81-7436-182-0 |pages=22}}</ref> The title of ''Maharaj Rana'' was conferred on him on 1 January 1918, as a hereditary distinction for his services in connection with the war.<ref name=":5" /><ref name=":7">{{Cite book |last=The Imperial Publishing Co. |first=Lahore |url=https://archive.org/details/TwiK_his-imperial-majesty-king-george-5-and-the-princes-of-india-and-the-indian-empir |title=His Imperial Majesty King George 5 And The Princes Of India And The Indian Empire ( Historical Biographical) Compiled By K. R. Khosla, 1937, Lahore The Imperial Publishing Co., Lahore |pages=77}}</ref> Also, the salute of his state was raised from 11 to 13 guns on 1 January 1921.<ref name=":5" /><ref name=":7" />

== Bhawani Natyashala ==
{{Main|Bhawani Natyashala}}
He built [[Bhawani Natyashala]] in 1921 for the performance of plays and cultural events, inspired by the opera houses he had seen in [[Europe]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=sudhagee |date=2017-05-04 |title=Bhawani Natyashala: The opera house at Jhalawar |url=https://sudhagee.com/2017/05/05/bhawani-natyashala-the-opera-house-at-jhalawar/ |access-date=2024-10-05 |website=My Favourite Things |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xmgkAQAAMAAJ |title=The India Travel Planner |date=1996 |publisher=Cross Section Publications (P) Limited |pages=159 |language=en}}</ref>

== Art patronage ==
Ghasiram Hardev Sharma was an artist associated with the [[Shrinathji Temple]] in [[Nathdwara]], [[Rajasthan]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Lyons |first=Tryna |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cKnGJGOEQukC |title=The Artists of Nathadwara: The Practice of Painting in Rajasthan |date=2004 |publisher=Indiana University Press |isbn=978-0-253-34417-5 |pages=174 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Relia |first=Anil |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BylQCgAAQBAJ |title=The Indian Portrait: An artistic journey from miniature to modern |date=2010-10-12 |publisher=Archer Art Gallery |pages=28 |language=en}}</ref> In 1916-17, during Bhawani Singh's visit to [[Nathdwara]], he learned about Ghasiram and offered him a salary double what he was earning there, convincing him to move to [[Jhalawar State|Jhalawar]].<ref name=":11">{{Cite web |last=sudhagee |date=2017-04-26 |title=The painted rooms of the Garh Mahal of Jhalawar |url=https://sudhagee.com/2017/04/26/the-painted-rooms-of-the-garh-mahal-of-jhalawar/ |access-date=2024-10-14 |website=My Favourite Things |language=en}}</ref> Ghasiram remained at the Jhalawar court for approximately 10 to 12 years.<ref name=":11" /> During his time in Jhalawar, he created exceptional mural paintings, portraits, and fully painted rooms at the [[Garh Palace, Jhalawar|Garh Palace]].<ref name=":11" /><ref>{{Cite book |last=Bautze |first=Joachim |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JP7qAAAAMAAJ |title=Interaction of Cultures: Indian and Western Painting, 1780-1910 : the Ehrenfeld Collection |date=1998 |publisher=Art Services International |isbn=978-0-88397-124-6 |pages=64 |language=en}}</ref>

== Personal life ==

=== Marriage ===
He was married in 1894 to the daughter of Maharaja Durjan Sal of Kherti, under [[Kota state|Kota State]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Rai Bahadur |url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.35942 |title=Report On The Administration Of The Jhalawar State(1909) |date=1909 |pages=1}}</ref>

=== Children ===
He had a son, [[Rajendra Singh of Jhalawar|Rajendra Singh]], born to him on 13 July 1900.<ref name=":0" />

== Death ==
He died on board the mail steamer Ranpura near Aden on April 13, 1929, while traveling to Europe for treatment of heart trouble.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=90A_AAAAIBAJ |title=The Glasgow Herald |publisher=The Glasgow Herald |pages=15 |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":5">{{Cite book |last=Not Available |url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.34582 |title=Memoranda On The Indian States 1930 |date=1933 |pages=141–142}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=K_YvAQAAIAAJ |title=Encyclopaedia Indica: Princely States in colonial India |date=1996 |publisher=Anmol Publications |isbn=978-81-7041-859-7 |pages=186 |language=en}}</ref> He was succeeded by his only son, [[Rajendra Singh of Jhalawar|Rajendra Singh]], as Maharaj Rana of [[Jhalawar State|Jhalawar]].<ref name=":5" /><ref name=":6" />

== Honours ==
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Country
!Year
!Honour
!Class/Grade
!'''Ribbon'''
!Post-nominal letters
|-
|{{flagu|British Raj|name=British India}}
|1903
|[[Delhi Durbar Medal (1903)]]
|Gold
|[[File:Delhi_Durbar_1903_ribbon.jpg|70x70px]]
|
|-
|{{flagu|British Raj|name=British India}}
|1911
|[[Delhi Durbar Medal (1911)]]
|Gold
|[[File:UK_King_George_V_Coronation_Medal_ribbon.svg|70x70px]]
|
|-
|{{flagu|United Kingdom|name=United Kingdom}}
|1908
|[[Order of the Star of India]]
|Knight Commander
|[[File:ImperialOrderCrownIndiaRibbon.svg|70x70px]]
|KCSI
|}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Wikisource|The Indian Biographical Dictionary (1915)/Jhalawar, Maharaja of; H.H. Maharaja Rama Sir Bhawani Singh Bahadur|Bhawani Singh}}
* [https://www.npg.org.uk/collections/search/person/mp61373/ Bhawani Singh] at the [[National Portrait Gallery, London]].
{{DEFAULTSORT:Singh, Sir Bhawani}}
[[Category:1874 births]]
[[Category:1929 deaths]]
[[Category:People from British India]]

Bhawani Singh of Jhalawar - Revision history

BaileyMetzler: made initial bio first draft