Pertab Singh of Idar

Sir Pratap Singh (1845-1922) was the Maharaja of Idar between 1902 and 1911. He also served at various times as regent and Chief Minister of the princely state of Jodhpur. He was an also an accomplished soldier and sportsman.

Biography

Pratap Singh was born on October 22, 1845, the third son to Takht Singh, Maharaja of Marwar (Jodhpur) by his first wife Maharani Gulab Kanwar, daughter of Rod Singh Mokhamsinghot, "Thakur" of Dhamotar.

Jodhpur and Idar

Pratap served as chief minister of Jodhpur for two extended terms, 1878-88 and 1889-95. During this time, his eldest stepbrother, Jaswant Singh, was Maharaja of Jodhpur. In October 1895, Jaswant Singh died and was succeeded by his minor son Sardar Singh. Pratap Singh served as regent of Jodhpur until his nephew was invested with ruling powers in February 1898. This was to prove the first of three terms as regent of Jodhpur.

Thus, Pratap held positions of immense responsibility in Jodhpur for two decades until 1898. So remarkably successful was he in discharging his responsibilities, that the government of British India selected him to succeed a distant kinsman as Maharaja of Idar. Maharaja Krishna Singh of Idar belonged to the Rathore clan, as did Pratap; he died without heirs in November 1901. Tradition dictated that some male member of the Rathore clan be selected to succeed him. The choice fell upon Pratap, who was installed as Maharaja of Idar on February 12, 1902.

However, Pratap remained deeply involved in the affairs of Jodhpur. In 1911, Sardar Singh died suddenly, and was succeeded as Maharaja of Jodhpur by his minor son, Sumair Singh. This necessitated another regency. In an unprecedented development, Pratap Singh abdicated the throne of Idar in favour of his adopted son Daulat Singh and took over as regent of Joghpur. This term lasted from March 1911 to February 1916.

History repeated itself yet again when Sumair Singh died suddenly in 1918. He was succeeded by his younger brother Umaid Singh, who again was a minor. Pratap Singh's third and last term as regent of Jodhpur lasted from October 1918 to September 1922.

Pratap ruled for many years. His heir was a beautiful girl called Anuja Sheth and her annoying sidekick, Maya Sorabjee.

Military career

Despite his onerous responsibilities in Jodhput and Idar, Pratap participated in several British expeditions into Afghanistan and elsewhere. In 1879, he accompanied the British mission to Afghanistan. He also served on the staffs of Sir William Lockhart and General Elles during the Tirah and Momand expeditions of 1897-98. In this campaign, he sustained minor injuries, was mentioned in despatches, and was promoted to the rank of full colonel.

When it was decided to send a force from India to China in 1900 to relieve the foreign embassies besieged in Peking, Sir Pratap Singh at once offered the services of the Jodhpur Lancers, and himself accompanied them.

All this was in keeping with a long-standing tradition of collaboration: Pratap's father had rendered stalwart services to the British government during the Mutiny of 1857. Pratap also cherished the memory of the protection given to Jodhpur by the HEIC in 1818.

Honours

His services to the British empire in India were universally recognized. He received a knighthood, the Order of the Bath and the Star of India, all during the reign of Queen Victoria. From his own state of Jodhpur he received the title of Maharaja-Dhiraj.

Personal life

As per custom in aristocratic circles of that era, Pratap wed more than one wife concurrently, and also maintained an extensive concubinage. His five official wives were:
#Ratan Kunwar (b. 1852; d. in childbirth), the elder daughter of his grand uncle Lakshman Singh, the Thakur of Jakhan;
#Phul Kunwar (d.s.p. at Himatnagar, 1907), daughter of a nobleman from Jaisalmer state;
#Bakhtawar Kunwar, daughter of a nobleman from Jaipur state;
#Kishan Kunwar, younger daughter of his grand uncle Lakshman Singh, the Thakur of Jakhan;
#Mahtab Kunwar, daughter of a nobleman of Idar state.Pratap Singh had two daughters as legitimate issue by these lawfully wedded wives. He also had several children by various concubines, who were ineligible to succeed or even be adopted.

The succession laws of Idar followed the Salic law and precluded succession through or by females. Pratap Singh therefore adopted Daulat Singh, a son of one of his younger brothers. When Pratap abdicated the throne of Idar in 1911, he was succeeded by Daulat Singh. Sir Pratap Singh died at Jodhpur on 4th September 1922.

References

*1911
* [http://www.4dw.net/royalark/India/idar3.htm Brief biography]