History

Kachwaha Rulers of Modern Alwar State

1. Pratap Singh Prabhakar Bahadur (1775–1791) Rao Raja of Alwar: Founded the princely state of Ulwar.

2. Bakhtawar Singh Prabhakar Bahadur (1791–1815) Rao Raja of Alwar

1. He also devoted himself to the work of extension and consolidation of the territory of the State.
2. Maharao Raja Bakhtawar Singh rendered valuable services to Lord Lake, during the latter’s campaign against Marathas, in the battle of Laswari, in the Alwar territory when the State troops assisted him in finally breaking the Marathas and Jat powers.
3. As a result, in 1803, the First Treaty of Offensive and Defensive Alliance were forged between Alwar State and the East India Company. Thus, Alwar was the first princely State in India to enter into Treaty Relations with the East India Company.

3. Bane Singh Prabhakar Bahadur (1815–1857) Maharao Raja of Alwar

4. Sheodan Singh Prabhakar Bahadur (1857–1874) Maharao Raja of Alwar

5. Mangal Singh Prabhakar Bahadur (1874–1892) Maharaja of Alwar

6. Jai Singh Prabhakar Bahadur (1892–1937) Maharaja of Alwar

• It was in the times of Jai Singh that name of state was changed from Ulwar to Alwar.

     7. Tej Singh Prabhakar Bahadur (1937–1971) Maharaja of Alwar

• Following the independence of India in 1947, Alwar acceded unto the dominion of India. On 18 March 1948, the state merged with three neighboring princely states (Bharatpur, Dholpur and Karauli) to form the Matsya Union.
• This union in turn merged unto the Union of India. On 15 May 1949, it was united with certain other princely states and the territory of Ajmer to form the present-day Indian state of Rajasthan.

Kachwaha Rulers of Jaipur

Kachwaha are dynasty of Kush the son of Ram and Sita. They called Suryavanshi and dulha rao is the known as the founder of the Rajput kingdom Amer in 1037 AD and they fought with Meena many year. Kachwaha won the amber from the Meena raja. They built many palaces, temples and many buildings around the Amer. Amber was the capital of Kachwaha. After that the Sawai Jai Singh II built the first planned city ‘jai nagar’. Now jai nagar is called as Jaipur.

The Kachwaha are a Suryavanshi Rajput clan who ruled a number of kingdoms and princely states in India such as Dhundhar, Alwar, and Maihar, while the largest and oldest state was Amber, now part of Jaipur. The Maharaja of Jaipur is regarded as the head of the extended Kachwaha clan. There are approximately 71-sub clans of the Kachwaha, including the Rajawat, Shekhawat, Sheobramhpota, Naruka, Nathawat, Khangarot, and Kumbhani. They claim descent from Kusha, the younger of the twin sons of Rama. The Kachwaha clan ruled in Jaipur right up until modern times. The last ruling Maharaja of Jaipur was Sawai Man Singh II of Jaipur (1917–1970). Shortly after India’s independence in 1948, Sawai Man Singh peacefully acceded the state of Jaipur to the Government of India. He then was appointed the first Rajpramukh of Rajasthan. Kachwaha clan Gotra is Gautam and Kuldeviis Jamwai Mata & Ishta is Ramchandra ji.

1. Mirza Raja Sawai Jai Singh II (1699 – 1743)

1. In 1699, given title of Sawai by Aurangzeb.
2. Formed marriage alliance with Marwar & mewar to expel Mughal out of rajputana.
3. However, patch up again, and appointed as governor of Malwa & Agra. 1721, the Mughal emperor Muhammad Shah bestowed upon him the title of Saramad-i-Rajaha-i-Hind.
4. In 1723, added the titles of Raj Rajeshvar, Shri Rajadhiraj and Maharaja Sawai.
5. Performed Ashwamedha Yajya & Vajapeya (after centuries)
6. Built five astronomical observatories (Jantar Mantar) at Delhi, Mathura, Benares and Ujjain & Jaipur.
7. In 1727: Laid foundation of Jaipur – designed by Vidhydhar Bhattacharya and translated works by people like John Napier.

2. Mirza Raja Sawai Ishwari Singh (1743 – 1750)

After the death of Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh, his 25 years old son Ishwari Singh ascended the throne.  Madho Singh, stepbrother of Ishwari Singh laid siege around Jaipur in 1748 with the combined forces of the states of Jodhpur, Kota, Bundi, Shahpura, Mewar and Marathas.  The two armies clashed near Bagru, about 20-25 kms from Jaipur.  The combined forces of Madho Singh got a battering at the hands of Ishwari Singh.  It was a major victory for Jaipur and to commemorate this occasion, Sawai Ishwari Singh built a second storied tower in 1749 which got the name Isar laat popularly known as Sarga Suli in the Tripolia Bazar.  A person named Ganesh Khowal was entrusted with its construction.  All the 7-stories of Isat laat are octagonal and after every two storeys is a round gallery.

1. Maharaja-Ishwari Singh committed suicide as he was perturbed by treason of his step brother and his general. 
2. The memorial of this Maharaja, who ruled Jaipur for 7-turbulent years, is situated near the lake Tal Katora near the City Palace complex.  It has attractive wall paintings on it.

3. Mirza Raja Sawai Madho Singh I (1750 – 1768)

Madho Singh I was at Udaipur when his stepbrother Ishwari Singh committed suicide.  In January 1751, about 4000 Marathas entered Jaipur and started ransacking the city causing a riot to break out.  The citizens of Jaipur retaliated furiously killing about 1500 Marathas and leaving many more wounded.  Ultimately Madho Singh patched up the whole thing with the Marathas.

• He was rewarded the fort of Ranthambhore by the Mughal Emperor
• He Founder of City Sawai Madhopur
• Got Shaikh Sadi’s Gulistan translated to Sanskrit.
• Freed the Kachhawaha Kingdom from the Maratha

Muhammad Shah’s younger son Ahmad Shah was the Emperor of Delhi at that time.  He was under great pressure because of the rebels outside and his own wazir inside.  The wazir had become the de facto emperor.  Ahmad Shah sought the help of Madho Singh who arrived at Delhi in October 1753 to meet the Emperor.  Subsequently, he held long negotiations with Jat Raja Surajmal of Bharatpur and wazir Safdarjung returned to his own province of Awadh.  As recognition for his services Ahmad Shah granted Madho Singh the fort and district of Ranthambhore.  In January 1763, he founded the town of Sawai Madhopur near Ranthambhore.

In February 1768, Madho Singh defeated Raja Jawahar Singh of Bharatpur at Kama and it was the last battle that he fought.  He died in 1768 after a rule of 17 years and was succeeded by his son Prithvi Singh.

4. Mirza Raja Sawai Prithvi Singh II (1768 – 1778)

Maharaja Sawai Madho Singh had two sons.  At the time of his death Prithvi Singh was 5-years old whereas Pratap Singh was only three. Being elder Prithvi Singh succeeded his father on the throne and his mother became the regent.  One of his nobles, Pratap Singh Naruka separated himself from the State of Jaipur and established an independent kingdom at Macheri near Alwar.  That is how Alwar became a separate state independent of Jaipur; Prithvi Singh ruled for 10 years and died in 1778 at the age of 15, leaving behind a widow of 11year.

5. Mirza Raja Sawai Pratap Singh (1778 -1803)

Sawai Pratap Singh became the Maharaja at the age of 14 after the death of his brother Prithvi Singh.  He ruled from 1778 to 1803.  HIs 25-year rule witnessed many spectacular achievements and strategic failures.  Being constantly goaded by the Marathas and the Mughals, he had to face repeated threats and heave drainage of funds.

• He is known as the great ruler for his devotion to Lord Krishna.
• The fountains behind the Govind Dev temple are credited to him, his poetic talent and patronage of Arts and Crafts.
• Sawai Pratap Singh was the only king after Sawai Jai Singh who had a literary taste.
• During his time, the art of paintings reached to its peak.
• Mughal Empire was almost in shambles and the artists were fleeting to Delhi.
• Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh gave them patronage and they came and settled in Jaipur.
• It was these artists who made such good painting that Jaipur school of paintings became world famous.

The finest example of his connoisseurship is the unique monument of Hawa Mahal the palace of the Winds and few rooms of City Palace, which he got constructed.  A large number of scholarly works were produced during his time.  He himself was a good poet and wrote poems in Brij bhasha and Dhundhari under the pen name of Brajnidhi.

6. Mirza Raja Sawai Jagat Singh II (1803 – 1818)

Sawai Jagat Singh son of Sawai Pratap Singh reigned for 15 years.  The most hapless ruler in the proud line of the Kachhawaha, Jagat Singh, is remembered not so much as a king but as a lover and a reckless dandy.  He did not hesitate to lead an army against Jodhpur king to win the hand of Princess Krishna Kumari of Mewar, a famed beauty.  It ended in a sad fiasco when the princess committed suicide.  Jagat Singh had 21 Queens and 24 Concubines.

He later became enamored of a dancing girl of exceptional beauty and mellifluous voice, Ras Kapur and was prepared to make her the queen of half of his Kingdom.  Powerful nobles saved the downfall of the King by engineering her removal and imprisonment in the fort of Nahargarh, also called Veer Niwas at that time.  Her room made of transparent glasses in Sankotha House in Johari bazaar near Sanganeri Gate still reminds us of that infamous chapter in the history of Kachhawas and Jagat Singh.

• British started meddling with the affairs of Jaipur during the time of Jagat Singh.
• In 1818, after long negotiations he signed a treaty with East India Company for perpetual friendship, alliance and unity of interest.
• Hereafter, he and his successors had to act as subordinates to the British Government.
• He died just a few months after signing the treaty.

7. Mohan Singh (regent) (1818 –1819): Installed on throne by nobles, but was soon deposed.

8. Mirza Raja Sawai Jai Singh III (1819 -1835)

After the heirless state, Jaipur adopted Mohan Singh from the Thikana of Narwar, the Bhatiyani queen of Jagat Singh gave birth to a son 4-month and 4-days after her husband’s death and the line of Kachhawas thus remained unbroken.  The boy was named Jai Singh III and declared king.

• A tragic figure in the history of Jaipur, he spent the first 9 years of his life within the confines of the zenana, making his first public appearance in a procession to the Jamwa Mata Temple after the people of Jaipur insisted that they wanted to see their ruler.
• The task of administration was entrusted to Rawal Berisal of Samode.
• There were constant troubles created by Sanghi Jhutha Ram and Roopan Badaran, the former already suspected for the sudden death of Jagat Singh.
• In 1812 Jaipur’s first Political Agent J. Stewart, moved into Maji ka Bagh, a garden that had been laid by Jai Singh II’s queen. 
• This came to be known as the Residency and is now the Raj Mahal Hotel.

Jai Singh died on 6th February 1835 amidst a cloud of suspicion.  His body was found wrapped in a tent.  It was universally suspected that he was poisoned and murdered.

9. Mirza Raja Sawai Ram Singh II (1835 -1880)

When Maharaja Jai Singh III who succeeded Sawai Jagat Singh died, his son Ram Singh was only one and 1/2 years old.  He reigned from 1835 till 1880, was known as the colourful Maharaja.  During his rule, Jaipur was named Pink City, the reason for the autumnal colours on the facades of all the old city buildings for the forthcoming trip by the Prince of Wales (later King Edward VII) in 1876 for which the capital was being decorated.

• The colour was chosen after several experiments to cut down the intense glare from the Reflection from the blaring rays of the sun.
• To this day, the buildings are uniformly rose pink.
• He was different from his ancestors in most respects.

He was a Shaivite, an ardent devotee of Shiva and he had some very modern stretches, he enjoyed photography and is the first great prime who martyred ballroom dancing.

Ram Singh II was a great connoisseur of music and was adept at playing the Veena (multi string instrument).  He was also a reformist and it was in his reign that slavery, child infanticide and the cruel custom of Sati were officially abolished in Jaipur in 1839.

The City of Jaipur benefited largely from his close rapport with the British, which constructively manifested itself in the water works, the gas lights and roads, Sanskrit colleges as well as the Maharaja School of Arts and Crafts and the Medical College.  The Ram Niwas garden was laid out in his time with the Albert hall museum at its heart.

10. Mirza Raja Sawai Madho Singh II (1880 – 1922)

Madho Singh II was the next ruler after Ram Singh II.  Ram Singh II died in 1880 and he died heirless.  As per tradition if any King died heirless, the adoption of the first family would be from the Thakur of Thillai but Ram Singh II forsook this tradition when he chose the second son of the Thakur of Isarda.  At the time of his adoption, Kayam Singh (Later Madho Singh II) was employed in the Tonk cavalry as a Sepoy; He was about 18 years old.

Madho Singh II was devoutly religious.  Despite his marriages and his 18 official mistresses, he was heirless.  Madho Singh II’s clothes and other items are displayed at the Maharaja Sawai Man Singh II museum.  One remarkable exhibit is set of voluminous clothes of Madho Singh II who was over 2 meters tall. 1.3 meters wide and weighed 225 kgs.

He made a lot of progress in the State of Jaipur and was rewarded by the British for his loyalty; he was made Honorary Colonel of the 13th Rajputs.  There was a lot of development in the state; he had built a meter gauge live from Sangama to Sawai Madhopur which helped Jaipur to get connected to various commercial centers.  Hospitals, universities, the Secretariat, residential colonies and colleges were built as well.

Madho Singh, like his adoptive father, had repeated history by adopting his nephew from Isarda, Kanwar Mormukat Singh and the younger of the two sons of Thakur Sawai Singh of Isarda.  Kanwar Mormukat Singh was later known as Sawai Man Singh II.

11. Mirza Raja Sawai Man Singh II (1922 –1947)

He reigned from 1922 till 1949 when India gained Independence.  He was born on 21st August 1911 as Mor Mukut Singh son of Sawai Singh the Thakur of Isarda and was chosen by Maharaja Madho Singh II to be the adopted heir to the throne of Jaipur on 24th March 1921.  The Viceroy of India later accepted the adoption and he was named Sawai Man Singh II.

• Man Singh II was educated at home in Jaipur, at the Mayo College for Indian chiefs, at Ajmer and in England where he gained an up-to-date knowledge of Modern military science at the Royal Military Academy, Woodwich.
• He improved the water supply by building Ram Garh that supplied water to Jaipur and lightening, opened the State Janana Hospital the Lady Wellingdon at Sanganer, which was outside the capital.
• During his reign, civic buildings such as schools, hospitals and secretariats were built outside the original walls.  Man Singh had three wives.
• The successor of Jaipur Bhawani Singh was born from the first wife from Jodhpur.
• Maharaja Man Singh married Gayatri Devi, the princess of Kuehh Behair in 1940.  Later on he was sent to Spain as the Indian Ambassador.
• He died in Spain in 1969 while playing polo.  After the death of Maharaja Man Singh, Rajmata Gayatri Devi spent her time in social Services. 

12. Maharaja Brig. Bhawani Singh

The present head of the erstwhile Jaipur state and also served India’s ambassador to Brunei, Brig. (Retd.) Maharaja Sawai Bhawani Singh lives in the huge palace of Chandra Mahal inside the City Palace complex with his wife Maharani Padmini and his only daughter Princess Divya.  He is the eldest son of late Maharaja Sawai Man Singh II of Jaipur. Born on 22nd October 1931, he received education in Kashmir, Dehradun and then in United Kingdom.

After completing his education in 1952, Bhawani Singh joined the Army. From 1955 to 1963, he was the President’s bodyguard and then adjutant in Indian Military Academy at Dehradun. He has been a very popular officer in the army.