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[[Maharaja]] [[Sir]] '''Lakshmeshwar Singh, Maharaja of Darbhanga''' {{postnominals|country=GBR|GCIE}} (25 September 1858 – 16 November 1898) was the Zamindar and principal landowner of [[Darbhanga]] in the [[Mithila (region)|Mithila]] region, presently in the | [[Maharaja]] [[Sir]] '''Lakshmeshwar Singh, Maharaja of Darbhanga''' {{postnominals|country=GBR|GCIE}} (25 September 1858 – 16 November 1898) was the [[Maithil Brahmin|Maithali Brahmin]] [[Zamindar]] and principal landowner of [[Raj Darbhanga|Darbhanga]] in the [[Mithila (region)|Mithila]] region, presently in the state of [[Bihar]], India. His philanthropic works, administrative abilities and management of his estate ([[Raj Darbhanga]]) were highly appreciated and led to development of his estate. | ||
==Biography== | ==Biography== | ||
Lakshmeshwar Singh was the eldest son of Maharaja Maheshwar Singh of Darbhanga, who died when Lakshmeshwar was aged two. The [[British Raj]] placed the estate of Darbhanga under the control of the [[Court of Wards (India)|Court of Wards]] because the heirs to the estate were minors. | Lakshmeshwar Singh was the eldest son of Maharaja Maheshwar Singh of Darbhanga, who died when Lakshmeshwar was aged two. The [[British Raj]] placed the estate of Darbhanga under the control of the [[Court of Wards (India)|Court of Wards]] because the heirs to the estate were minors.{{cn|date=October 2023}} One of his tutors was a Scottish-Englishman, Chester Macnaghten until his majority, then became the founding principle of the [[Rajkumar College, Rajkot]]. | ||
<!--- >>>> Impact of the following para on the | <!--- >>>> Impact of the following para on the Darbhanga Princely order especially the young prince Lakshmeshwar educated under western system of education as the norm of the British to impart Western aspects and the mother and family at large wanting to also Brahmin cultural education may also have educated the tutor with training of Princely Orders which was manifested in training some 170 tutors at the first public school in British India at the Rajkumar College Rajkot>>>>> of the and also the Maharaja Lakshmeshwar Singh Bahadur (ruled 1860 to 1898) (born 25 September 1858, died 17 December 1898). He was a philanthropist. His statue (by Edward Onslow Ford) was installed in Calcutta in 1904 at Dalhousie Square as a tribute to him. Lakshmeshwar Singh was only two years old his father's death, so Raj Darbhanga was placed under Ward of Court. He was the first Maharaja of Darbhanga to receive a western education, from a British tutor, Chester Mcnaughton (who was later the founding principal of the Rajkumar College, Rajkot), and took over the reins of Raj Darbhanga on 25 September 1879 after attaining his majority. He devoted himself to public works and was recognized as one of the greatest nobles and philanthropists of India at that time. On 22 June 1897, he was advanced to the rank of Knight Grand Commander of the Most Eminent Order of the Indian Empire.[10][11] --> | ||
For the next 19 years, | For the next 19 years, until he attained majority, he was caught in political one-upmanship between his mother, who was supported by family priests, and the Tutors appointed by the British Government, who wanted him to be free from ''Zenana'' influence. He along with his younger brother Rameshwar Singh (who became Maharaja of Darbhanga after Lakshmeshwar Singh's death) received a western education from Government appointed tutors as well as a traditional Indian education from a [[Sanskrit]] [[Pandit]], one of his uncles, a [[Maulvi]] and a Bengali gentleman. During the period when Lakshmeshwar Singh was under the guardianship of the Court of Wards, he received a monthly allowance of [[Rupee|Rs.]] 5 a month even though the annual income of his estate was equivalent to a six-digit figure in pounds sterling. {{cn|date=October 2023}} | ||
On attaining his majority, Lakshmeshwar Singh devoted himself entirely to public duties of his position. He was appointed and served as a Member of the Legislative Council of the Viceroy | On attaining his majority, Lakshmeshwar Singh devoted himself entirely to public duties of his position. He was appointed and served as a Member of the Legislative Council of the Viceroy.{{cn|date=October 2023}} He was also one of nine members of the [[Royal Commission on Opium]] of 1895, formed by the British Government. [[Haridas Viharidas Desai]], the Diwan of [[Junagadh]], was the only other Indian member.<ref>Royal Opium Commission, First Report of the Royal Commission on Opium: with Minutes of Evidence and Appendices, Eyre & Spottiswolde for HM Stationery Office, 1895</ref> | ||
{{ | |||
Lakshmeshwar Singh championed freedom of speech, personal and political rights. | In 1875, Tirhut Railway was one such privately-owned train service which was introduced by Maharaja Lakshmeshwar Singh of Darbhanga way back in 1874 to serve the drought-hit general public in North Bihar. It is also known as the first private train of the country. [[Railway Line]] opened in [[Darbhanga]] between [[Mokama]] and Darbhanga by Local King [[Lakshmeshwar Singh]] of [[Raj Darbhanga]] through [[Tirhut Railway]]. <ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.etvbharat.com/english/state/bihar/palace-on-wheel-darbhangas-glorious-railway-history-lies-in-ruins/na20191026121137569|title=Darbhanga's once glorious railway history, now lies in ruins | ||
|date=26 October 2019|newspaper=[[ETV Baharat]]|access-date=28 October 2019}}</ref> | |||
Lakshmeshwar Singh championed freedom of speech, personal and political rights. In 1898, he and W. C. Banerjee, were the only prominent Indians to publicly criticise and fight against the proposed widening of scope of section 124-A and 153-A of the Indian Penal Code that was meant to suppress freedom of press in reporting news that could be deemed seditious in nature or against Government policy and insertion of section 108 in Indian Penal Code that gave right to postal authorities to seize any material that was suspected of containing matter obnoxious to section 124-A and 153-A of [[Indian Penal Code]].<ref>All India Political Parties, (major groups, A-Z) at page 244. Author – O. P. Ralhan</ref>{{full|date=October 2023}} | |||
Lakshmeshwar Singh died on 17 December 1898. He did not have any children and thus his younger brother, Rameshwar Singh, succeeded him as Maharaja | Lakshmeshwar Singh died on 17 December 1898. He did not have any children and thus his younger brother, Rameshwar Singh, succeeded him as Maharaja.{{cn|date=October 2023}} | ||
==Public charity== | ==Public charity== | ||
[[File:Maharaja Lakshmeshwar Singh, 1888.jpg|thumb|Lithograph Print of Maharaja Lakshmeshwar Singh published in ''Graphic Magazine'', December 1888]] | [[File:Maharaja Lakshmeshwar Singh, 1888.jpg|thumb|Lithograph Print of Maharaja Lakshmeshwar Singh published in ''Graphic Magazine'', December 1888.]] | ||
He built an Anglo-vernacular school at a cost of £1490, which he maintained, as well as nearly thirty vernacular schools of different grades; and subsidised a much larger number of educational institutions.<ref>Non—fictional Indian prose in English, 1960–1990 By Hetukar Jha, Sahitya Akademi</ref> | He built an Anglo-vernacular school at a cost of £1490, which he maintained, as well as nearly thirty vernacular schools of different grades; and subsidised a much larger number of educational institutions.<ref>Non—fictional Indian prose in English, 1960–1990 By Hetukar Jha, Sahitya Akademi</ref> | ||
The Maharaja was also one of the founders of [[Indian National Congress]] as well as one of the main financial contributor thereto.<ref>A Centenary history of the Indian National Congress, 1885–1985, Volume 1 by B. N. Pande, Indian National Congress (I). All India Congress Committee</ref> | |||
The Maharaja was also one of the founders of [[Indian National Congress]] as well as one of the main financial contributor thereto<ref>A Centenary history of the Indian National Congress, 1885–1985, Volume 1 by B. N. Pande, Indian National Congress (I). All India Congress Committee</ref> | |||
==Other information== | ==Other information== | ||
On the occasion of the [[Golden Jubilee of Queen Victoria|Golden Jubilee of Great Queen Victoria]], Lakshmeshwar Singh was created a [[Order of the Indian Empire|Knight Commander of the Most Eminent Order of the Indian Empire]], being promoted to Knight Grand Commander in 1887.<ref>A Golden Book of India – A Genealogical and Biographical Dictionary of Ruling Princes, Chiefs, Nobles and Other Personages, Titled or Decorated, of the Indian Empire. Author – Sir Roper Lethbridge. First published 1893.</ref> | On the occasion of the [[Golden Jubilee of Queen Victoria|Golden Jubilee of Great Queen Victoria]], Lakshmeshwar Singh was created a [[Order of the Indian Empire|Knight Commander of the Most Eminent Order of the Indian Empire]], being promoted to Knight Grand Commander in 1887.<ref>A Golden Book of India – A Genealogical and Biographical Dictionary of Ruling Princes, Chiefs, Nobles and Other Personages, Titled or Decorated, of the Indian Empire. Author – Sir Roper Lethbridge. First published 1893.</ref> | ||
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[[Category:Indian philanthropists]] | [[Category:Indian philanthropists]] | ||
[[Category:Indian Hindus]] | [[Category:Indian Hindus]] | ||
[[Category:Indian royalty]] | [[Category:People from British India]] | ||
[[Category:19th-century Indian royalty]] | |||
[[Category:19th-century philanthropists]] | |||
Latest revision as of 05:50, 9 February 2026
| Lakshmeshwar Singh | |
|---|---|
| Maharaja of Darbhanga | |
 | |
| Reign | 1860–1898 |
| Predecessor | Maharaja Maheshwar Singh |
| Successor | Maharaja Rameshwar Singh |
| Born | Darbhanga |
| Died | 1898 |
| House | Raj Darbhanga |
| Father | Maheshwar Singh Bahadur |
| Religion | Hinduism |
Maharaja Sir Lakshmeshwar Singh, Maharaja of Darbhanga GCIE (25 September 1858 – 16 November 1898) was the Maithali Brahmin Zamindar and principal landowner of Darbhanga in the Mithila region, presently in the state of Bihar, India. His philanthropic works, administrative abilities and management of his estate (Raj Darbhanga) were highly appreciated and led to development of his estate.
Biography[edit | edit source]
Lakshmeshwar Singh was the eldest son of Maharaja Maheshwar Singh of Darbhanga, who died when Lakshmeshwar was aged two. The British Raj placed the estate of Darbhanga under the control of the Court of Wards because the heirs to the estate were minors.[citation needed] One of his tutors was a Scottish-Englishman, Chester Macnaghten until his majority, then became the founding principle of the Rajkumar College, Rajkot.
For the next 19 years, until he attained majority, he was caught in political one-upmanship between his mother, who was supported by family priests, and the Tutors appointed by the British Government, who wanted him to be free from Zenana influence. He along with his younger brother Rameshwar Singh (who became Maharaja of Darbhanga after Lakshmeshwar Singh's death) received a western education from Government appointed tutors as well as a traditional Indian education from a Sanskrit Pandit, one of his uncles, a Maulvi and a Bengali gentleman. During the period when Lakshmeshwar Singh was under the guardianship of the Court of Wards, he received a monthly allowance of Rs. 5 a month even though the annual income of his estate was equivalent to a six-digit figure in pounds sterling. [citation needed]
On attaining his majority, Lakshmeshwar Singh devoted himself entirely to public duties of his position. He was appointed and served as a Member of the Legislative Council of the Viceroy.[citation needed] He was also one of nine members of the Royal Commission on Opium of 1895, formed by the British Government. Haridas Viharidas Desai, the Diwan of Junagadh, was the only other Indian member.[1]
In 1875, Tirhut Railway was one such privately-owned train service which was introduced by Maharaja Lakshmeshwar Singh of Darbhanga way back in 1874 to serve the drought-hit general public in North Bihar. It is also known as the first private train of the country. Railway Line opened in Darbhanga between Mokama and Darbhanga by Local King Lakshmeshwar Singh of Raj Darbhanga through Tirhut Railway. [2] Lakshmeshwar Singh championed freedom of speech, personal and political rights. In 1898, he and W. C. Banerjee, were the only prominent Indians to publicly criticise and fight against the proposed widening of scope of section 124-A and 153-A of the Indian Penal Code that was meant to suppress freedom of press in reporting news that could be deemed seditious in nature or against Government policy and insertion of section 108 in Indian Penal Code that gave right to postal authorities to seize any material that was suspected of containing matter obnoxious to section 124-A and 153-A of Indian Penal Code.[3][full citation needed]
Lakshmeshwar Singh died on 17 December 1898. He did not have any children and thus his younger brother, Rameshwar Singh, succeeded him as Maharaja.[citation needed]
Public charity[edit | edit source]
He built an Anglo-vernacular school at a cost of £1490, which he maintained, as well as nearly thirty vernacular schools of different grades; and subsidised a much larger number of educational institutions.[4]
The Maharaja was also one of the founders of Indian National Congress as well as one of the main financial contributor thereto.[5]
Other information[edit | edit source]
On the occasion of the Golden Jubilee of Great Queen Victoria, Lakshmeshwar Singh was created a Knight Commander of the Most Eminent Order of the Indian Empire, being promoted to Knight Grand Commander in 1887.[6]
The British Governor[who?] commissioned Edward Onslow Ford to make a statue of Lakshmeshwar Singh. This is installed at Dalhousie Square in Kolkata.[7]
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ Royal Opium Commission, First Report of the Royal Commission on Opium: with Minutes of Evidence and Appendices, Eyre & Spottiswolde for HM Stationery Office, 1895
- ↑ "Darbhanga's once glorious railway history, now lies in ruins". ETV Baharat. 26 October 2019. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
- ↑ All India Political Parties, (major groups, A-Z) at page 244. Author – O. P. Ralhan
- ↑ Non—fictional Indian prose in English, 1960–1990 By Hetukar Jha, Sahitya Akademi
- ↑ A Centenary history of the Indian National Congress, 1885–1985, Volume 1 by B. N. Pande, Indian National Congress (I). All India Congress Committee
- ↑ A Golden Book of India – A Genealogical and Biographical Dictionary of Ruling Princes, Chiefs, Nobles and Other Personages, Titled or Decorated, of the Indian Empire. Author – Sir Roper Lethbridge. First published 1893.
- ↑ A Handbook for Travellers in India, Pakistan, Burma and Ceylon at Page 121. Author – Laurence Frederic Rushbrook Williams