- Bhim Singh II of Kotah
Bhim Singh II (
14 September 1909 -20 July 1991 ) was the last rulingMaharaja of theprincely state ofKotah from 1940 to 1947.Early career
The only son and heir of Maharaja Sri Sir
Umed Singhji II , Bhim Singhji II succeeded his father following his death in 1940. He immediately entered into service with theBritish Indian Army as an officer, serving during the Second World War and being promoted to Major by 1948. Although he planned several education and modernisation programs for Kotah, they did not reach fruition beforeIndian independence . He was knighted with the KCSI in 1947, and signed the Instrument of Accession to theDominion of India on the15 August . The following year, on25 March 1948 , Sir Bhim Singhji merged Kotah into the Rajasthan Union of states and became its first "Rajpramukh ", but was demoted to "Uprajpramukh" (Deputy Rajpramukh) when the Maharana ofUdaipur , who was of a higher rank than Sir Bhim Singhji, acceded to the Rajasthan Union. Sir Bhim Singhji continued in the office of Uprajpramukh until it, along with the office of Rajpramukh, was abolished by theGovernment of India on31 October 1956 .Later Work
In 1956, Sir Bhim Singhji served as an Alternate Delegate to the
United Nations General Assembly that year. An expert shot, he was Captain of the Indian shooting team at the Singapore Shooting Championships in 1969, at the1976 Summer Olympics and at the1978 Asian Games ; conversely, since 1959 he had been President of the Rajasthan Board for the Preservation of Wildlife.Family
On
30 April 1930 ,Bhim Singhji II married RathorjiMaharani Shivkumari Sahiba (1 April 1916 -), a younger daughter of General Maharaja SirGanga Singh ofBikaner . The couple had one son and two daughters:1. Maharajkumar Sri Brijraj Singhji Sahib Bahadur, who succeeded as Maharajadhiraj Maharaja Mahimahendra Maharao Raja Sri
Brijraj Singh Sahib Bahadur (21 February 1934 -)2. Maharajkumari Indira Kumari Sahiba (1937-), who in 1960 married Raja Rawat Sri Bikramaditya Singh Sahib Bahadur (
18 December 1936 -), the Raja ofRajgarh , becoming the Rani Sahiba of Rajgarh.3. Maharajkumari Bhuvaneshwari Kumari Sahiba (
29 May 1945 -), who married in the 1970s Thakore Sri Dev Singh of Malassar, and had twins in 1978.Later years and death
As part of the mass derecognisation of Indian rulers in 1971 under the Indira Gandhi regime, Sir Bhim Singhji was stripped of ruling powers and titles. He died two decades later on
20 July 1991 , aged 81, after a reign of 51 years, and was succeeded by his only son,Brijraj Singh .Titles
*1909-1940:
Maharajkumar Sri Bhim SinghjiSahib Bahadur
*1940-1943:His Highness Maharajadhiraj Maharaja Mahimahendra Maharao RajaSri Bhim Singhji IISahib Bahadur ,Maharao Raja ofKotah
*1943-1944:Captain His Highness Maharajadhiraj Maharaja Mahimahendra Maharao RajaSri Bhim Singhji IISahib Bahadur ,Maharao Raja ofKotah
*1944-1945:Major His Highness Maharajadhiraj Maharaja Mahimahendra Maharao RajaSri Bhim Singhji IISahib Bahadur ,Maharao Raja ofKotah
*1945-1946:Lieutenant-Colonel His Highness Maharajadhiraj Maharaja Mahimahendra Maharao RajaSri Bhim Singhji IISahib Bahadur ,Maharao Raja ofKotah
*1946-1947:Colonel His Highness Maharajadhiraj Maharaja Mahimahendra Maharao RajaSri Bhim Singhji IISahib Bahadur ,Maharao Raja ofKotah
*1947-1948: ColonelHis Highness Maharajadhiraj Maharaja Mahimahendra Maharao RajaSri Sir Bhim Singhji IISahib Bahadur ,Maharao Raja ofKotah , KCSI
*1948-1991:Brigadier His Highness Maharajadhiraj Maharaja Mahimahendra Maharao RajaSri Sir Bhim Singhji IISahib Bahadur ,Maharao Raja ofKotah , KCSIHonours
*
King George V Silver Jubilee Medal -1935
*King George VI Coronation Medal -1937
*Ganga Singh Golden Jubilee Medal ofBikaner -1937
*1939-1945 Star -1945
*Africa Star -1945
*British War Medal -1945
*Knight Commander of the Order of the Star of India (KCSI)-1947
*Indian Independence Medal-1947
*Arjuna Award -1971References
* [http://www.4dw.net/royalark/India/kotah6.htm Detailed biography]
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