Jagaddipendra Narayan

Jagaddipendra Narayan Bhup Bahadur (15 December 1915-11 April 1970) was Maharaja of Cooch-Behar, in India. He served in British forces during World War II and ceded full ruling powers to the Government of India in 1949.

Jagaddipendra Narayan was born at Cooch Behar Palace, elder son of Sri Sri Maharaja Sir Jitendra Narayan Bhup Bahadur, Maharaja of Cooch-Behar, by his wife, Maharani Indira Devi Sahiba. He was educated in England at St Cyprian's School Eastbourne, Harrow and Trinity College, Cambridge, and also at the Prince of Wales Royal Indian Military College , Dehradun. He became Maharaja of Cooch Behar at the age of seven on the death of his father on the 20th December 1922 and ascended the gadi, on the 24th December 1922. He reigned under the Regency of his mother until he came of age and was invested with full ruling powers on the 6th April 1936. He was a proficient cricketer and captained the Bengal Cricket XI.

He served with the British Army in World War II in North Africa, Assam, Burma, and South East Asia. He was present at the Japanese surrender at Singapore in 1945. He was Chief Commandant Cooch-Behar Military forces from 1943 to 1949, and Colonel-in-Chief 1st Cooch-Behar Infantry and Rajendra Hazari Guards, Jaipur State Forces. He was a Member of the Standing Committee of the Chamber of Princes (Narendra Mandal).

He signed the instrument of accession to the Dominion of India in August 1947 and ceded full ruling powers to the Government of India on the 12th September 1949, overseeing the merger of his state with West Bengal on the, 1st January 1950. He died without issue at Calcutta and was succeeded by his nephew and adopted son.

His first marriage took place privately at Cooch-Behar, 1949 to Nancy Valentine of New York a former screen actress. A daughter did not survive and the couple separated in 1952. His second marriage was made privately in London to Georgina May Egan, who had been educated at Cambridge University. The marriage was made public in 1960, and his wife was recognised as Maharani together with the style of Highness in January 1960. Maharani Gina Narayan settled in Spain after 1980.

Titles

*1915-1922: Maharajkumar Sri Jagatdipendra Narayan
*1922-1939: His Highness Sri Sri Maharaja Jagatdipendra Narayan Bhup Bahadur, Maharaja of Cooch Behar
*1939-1942: 2nd Lieutenant His Highness Sri Sri Maharaja Jagatdipendra Narayan Bhup Bahadur, Maharaja of Cooch Behar
*1942-1944: 1st Lieutenant His Highness Sri Sri Maharaja Jagatdipendra Narayan Bhup Bahadur, Maharaja of Cooch Behar
*1944-1945: Captain His Highness Sri Sri Maharaja Jagatdipendra Narayan Bhup Bahadur, Maharaja of Cooch Behar
*1945-1946: Major His Highness Sri Sri Maharaja Jagatdipendra Narayan Bhup Bahadur, Maharaja of Cooch Behar
*1946-1947: Lieutenant-Colonel His Highness Sri Sri Maharaja Jagatdipendra Narayan Bhup Bahadur, Maharaja of Cooch Behar
*1947-1970: Colonel His Highness Sri Sri Maharaja Sir Jagatdipendra Narayan Bhup Bahadur, Maharaja of Cooch Behar, KCIE

Honours

*King George V Silver Jubilee Medal-1935
*King George VI Coronation Medal-1937
*1939-1945 Star-1945
*Burma Star-1945
*Africa Star-1945
*Pacific Star-1945
*War Medal 1939-1945-1945
*India Service Medal-1945
*Knight Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire (KCIE)-1947
*Indian Independence Medal-1947
*Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal-1953

ee also

*Koch dynasty

References

* [http://coochbehar.nic.in/htmfiles/history_book5.html History Book of Cooch Behar]
* [http://www.4dw.net/royalark/India/cooch4.htm for genealogy]
* [http://members.tripod.com/maharaniofjaipur/id17.htm Further information]

Persondata
NAME = Narayan, Jagaddipendra
ALTERNATIVE NAMES = Colonel H.H. Sri Sri Maharaja Sir Jagaddipendra Narayan Bhup Bahadur, KCIE
SHORT DESCRIPTION = Maharaja of Cooch-Behar
DATE OF BIRTH = 15 December 1915
PLACE OF BIRTH = Cooch Behar Palace, Cooch-Behar, Koch Bihar
DATE OF DEATH = 11 April 1970
PLACE OF DEATH =