Jaswant Singh of Bharatpur

Early life

Maharaja Jaswant Singh was born at Deeg on 1 March 1851. He was the only son of Maharaja Balwant Singh. He was educated privately. He had knowledge of the Hindi, English and Persian languages.

Ascended the throne

Jashwant Singh succeeded on the death of his father on 21 March 1853. He ascended the gaddi (throne) on 8 July 1853, reigning under a Council of Regency until he came of age. He assumed limited ruling powers on 10 June 1869 and was invested with full ruling powers on 28 March 1872.

He married at Patiala on December 1859 with Maharani Bishan Kaur, the third daughter of Narendra Singh of Maharaja Patiala. His second marriage was at Deeg in 1870 with Darya Kaur, the sister of Chaudhari Birbal Singh of Jagina in Bharatpur.

He received a sanad of adoption on 11 March 1862 like other Maharajas of India. He attended the Imperial Durbar at Delhi in January 1877. The Maharaja Phaltan Regiment of Infantry was raised in his name in 1857. Bharatpur supported British rule in the 1857 war of independence.

A popular ruler

Jashwant Singh received the Prince of Wales's gold medal (1876) and the KIH gold medal (1877). He did manage the affairs of state with success in the interest of the public. The people of Bharatpur still remember his love and justice to the people. He removed the levy on all items except intoxicating items. He got surveyed the land titled maphi by the patwaris in 1886.

He donated Rs 50000 for the establishment of Mayo College Ajmer. He also helped the Maharaja Shyaudan Singh of Alwar to get a loan of Rs 3 lakhs from the Seths of Mathura.

Death and succession

He died at the Deeg Palace on 12 December 1893, having had issue, four sons and three daughters. His successor was Maharaja Ram Singh.

Name and titles

His official full name and title was: His Highness Shri Maharaja Jashwant Singh, 11th Maharaja of Bharatpur, GCSI.