Sir Kishan Singh was a prominent ruler or Maharaja of princely state of Bharatpur, which belonged to Rajputana Agency. He was born on 4th October 1899 and in a Hindu Jat family at Moti Mahal, Bharatpur. He was the eldest son of Ram Singh, Maharaja of Bharatpur, and his second wife Maharani Girraj Kaur. Kishan Singh was the successor of Maharani Girraj Kaur. He completed his education from the Mayo College in Ajmer and later from Wellington. On 27 August 1900, he succeeded his father Ram Singh after he was deposed and was installed on the gadi or throne of Bharatpur state on 30th August 1900. As he was still a minor at the time, Kishan Singh ruled under the regency of his mother Maharani Girraj Kaur. On 28th November 1918, he was invested with full ruling powers after he reached the age of majority.
Rule of Kishan Singh
Maharaja Kishan Singh of Bharatpur reorganized and restructured the state army in 1919 and made Hindi as the official language of the princely state of Bharatpur. Later he went on a tour to Sri Lanka and eventually founded the Brij Mandal in Shimla. During the reign of the eminent ruler, primary education was made compulsory. Moreover, he took various progressive and reformative steps for the development of the state and betterment of his subjects. Sir Kishan Singh commenced the system of participation of public in state affairs by means of Credit Banks, Village Panchayat Acts and Issuing Society and.
Further more, various educational institutes and medicinal facilities were also established through out the state during the rule of the Maharaja of Bharatpur. He established various Ayurvedic hospitals for the people of the state. Kishan Singh also made efforts to encourage arts and trade by organizing several annual exhibitions in the princely state of Bharatpur. He was also a strong supporter of protection and conservation of cows. In the year 1924, the state was severely affected by famine and the progressive ruler took many steps for the betterment of the people. In 1925, Kishan Singh of Bharatpur presided over the Jat Mahasabha adhiveshan which was held at Pushkar.
Honours of Kishan Singh
In the year 1910, Maharaja Sir Kishan Singh of Bharatpur attended the funeral of the King Emperor Edward VII. He was honoured with the Delhi Durbar Gold Medal in the year 1911 and was made Grand Officer of the Order of the Crown of Belgium on 12th February 1926. Singh was also appointed as Knight Commander of the Order of the Star of India (KCSI).
Personal Life of Kishan Singh
Kishan Singh, Maharaja of Bharatpur, was married to of Bharatpur on 3rd March 1913. She was the youngest daughter of Raja Balbir Singh of Faridkot of Brar dynasty. The royal couple had three daughters and four sons. He died on 27th March 1929 at Agra and was succeeded by Maharaja Brijendra Singh, who was his eldest son.
