Information

Present Head/Ruler

HH Shri Huzur Maharaja Rajyavardhan Singh Sahib Bahadur, Maharaja of Narsinghgarh, born 1953, married Maharani Kalpaneshwari Devi, daughter of HH Raja Bijay Bhushan Singh Ju Deo of Jashpur, and his wife, HH Rani Jaya Kumari Devi, and has issue, two sons.

• Maharaj Kumar Veer Vikram Singh, born 1^st July 1978 in Indore, married Maharaj Kumarani Neha Kumari of Delhi, and has issue.
  • Bhanwarbai Saheba Ujjaiti Kumari Singh, born 1^st January 2007.
  • Bhanwarbai Saheba Tvisha Kumari Singh, born 2^nd May 2012.
  • Bhanwarbai Saheba Tavishi Kumari Singh, born 2^nd May 2012
• Maharaj Kumar Vishwa Pratap Singh, born 1^st September 1980 in Indore.

Short History

The State of Narsinghgarh was carved out of the state of Rajgarh by Paras Ramji, the younger brother of the then Ruler of Rajgarh, Rawat Mohan Singhji in 1681.

Gotrachara

Arms

Paly of six argent and gules; on a bordure vert, eight cinquefoils.

Crest: Wings endorsed ensigned with a flame proper.

Supporters: Boars.

Lambrequins — Argent and gules.

Motto: Ma kshobhaya nrasinhoyam, meaning “Do not disturb me, I am a lion amongst men.” Or “May Narsinghgarh Raj continue unmolested.”

Note: The descent of the Chief from the Malwa Paramāras is signified by the boars as supporters, and the origin from the sacred fire-pit at Mount Abu is symbolized by the flame.

Banner

The State banners are red, featuring figures of a katar (dagger) and a khanda (big, double-edged sword) in yellow, along with a red figure of Hanuman

Predecessors

• Raja PARAS RAMJI, Raja of Narsinghgarh 1681/1695, son of Raja Chhatar Singh of Umatwara; Diwan of Rajgarh 1660/1681 and founder of Narsinghgarh in 1681, a just and a capable Ruler, he named his state after Shri Narsingh Bhagwan, who was his deity and aradhya Dev; afterwards he founded the town of Narsinghgarh and transferred his capital there and constructed the temple of his aradhya Dev Shri Narsingh Bhagwan, he also constructed a tank known as Paras Ram Sagar, married and had issue.
• Rawat DALEL SINGHJI, Rawat of Narsinghgarh in 1695, married and had issue. He died 1695.
  • Rawat Moti Singhji (qv)
• Rawat MOTI SINGHJI, Rawat of Narsinghgarh 1695/1751. He transferred the capital back to Patan. During his time the Umaths were granted certain lands by Bhim Singh of Koth which later on gave rise to demand for tanka. He married and had issue. He died 1751.
• Rawat KHUMAN SINGHJI, Rawat of Narsinghgarh 1751/1766, during his rule, Mughul power declined in Malwa and the Marathas gained the ascendancy and Umaths were forced to submit, he agreed to pay a yearly tribute of 85000 Salim Shahi to Holkar; he married and had issue.
  • Rawat Achal Singhji (qv)
• Rawat ACHAL SINGHJI, Rawat of Narsinghgarh 1766/1795, a brave and wise ruler, he transferred the capital back to Narsinghgarh, he married the daughter of the Maharana of Udaipur, and had issue. He died 1795.
  • Rawat Sobhagh Singhji (qv)
• Rawat SOBHAGH SINGHJI, Rawat of Narsinghgarh 1795/1827. He ruled during the settlement of Malwa by Sir John Malcolm. An agreement was then mediated in 1818 between him and the rulers of Indore, Dewas, and Gwalior, guaranteeing the regular payment of the tribute due to Holkar. Additionally, it ensured the receipt of Rs. 1200 as tanka from Scindia and Rs. 5102 from Dewas, settling certain claims on the Shujalpur and Sarangarpur parganas. In 1819, he exhibited signs of imbecility, and the administration was entrusted to his only son, Chain Singh. However, when Chain Singh was killed, he resumed the management of his State and ruled for three years. He married the niece of Maharana of Udaipur, and had issue. He died 9^th March 1827.
  • Rajkumar Chain Singhji, born 1800, courageous, brave and intelligent, he was placed in charge of the administration of the state due to the illness of his father, but he fell foul of the British Government and a battle ensued at Sehore in 1824¹In 1824, Chain Singh, who held his own views on how his state should be governed, views that did not quite align with those of the British Government, openly murdered two ministers of his state, Anand Ram Bakshi and Roop Ram Bohra. Mr. Wellesley, the Resident at Indore at the time, was instructed to remove Chain Singh from the administration of the state. However, Chain Singh resisted the execution of the order. When Mr. T. H. Maddock, the Political Agent at Bhopal, summoned him, he refused to submit and stated that he accepted the invitation not only for himself but for his available armed forces as well. On 24^th July 1824, he, along with some 400 fighting men, arrived at the outskirts of Sehore and was confronted by a portion of the Bhopal Contingent and a small party of the 60^th Native Infantry under the command of Captain De Waal. In the ensuing conflict, Chain Singh and 44 of his followers were killed, and the survivors were either captured or dispersed. A memorial tomb marking the scene of this encounter is known as “Chain Singh’s Chattri” and is the object of considerable veneration. See Cenotaph of Kunwar Chain Singh., a town about 37 kilometers west of Bhopal, in he which he died fighting valiantly, married and had adoptive issue. He died in battle in 1824 at Sehore.
    • (A) HH Raja Hanwant Singhji (qv)
• HH Raja HANWANT SINGHJI, Raja of Narsinghgarh 1827/1873, Raja (Hereditary)[cr. xx.5.1872], as the nearest heir and rightful successor to the gaddi, he was adopted from Bhatkhera²He was the fifth lineal descendant of Jait Singh, the brother of Ajab Singh. by the dowager Rani of the late Rawat Saheb with the consent of Sirdars of Narsinghgarh State in 1827; a generous, noble and high-minded Ruler with a great administrative capabilities. In 1872, he received the hereditary title of Raja and a salute of 11 guns. He married and had issue. He died in March 1873.
  • Rajkumar Bhawani Singhji, married Rajkumari Rukmani Kumari, born 1842, daughter of Raja Shivnath Singh of Khetri, and had issue. He died vp before 1873.
    • HH Raja Pratap Singhji (qv)
  • HH Raja Mehtab Singhji (qv)
  • Rajkumar Chhatrashalji
  • Rajkumari Bijai Kunwar Bai Sahiba, married HH Maharaja Jashwant Singhji II of Jodhpur, and had issue.
• HH Raja PRATAP SINGHJI, Raja of Narsinghgarh 1873/1890, succeeded his grandfather in March 1873; on this occasion, Maharaja Holkar demanded the succession nazrana, but his claim was not admitted by the British Government. In 1880, he abolished all transit duties on salt passing through his territories. On 1 January, 1885, he eliminated all transit duties within his territory, except for opium, and in the same year, contributed Rs. 56,000 towards the construction of the Biaora-Sehore road. He attended the Imperial Assemblage at Delhi in 1877, was the first Rajput Chief to visit England in 1887, and during his visit, was received by Queen-Empress Victoria; at the same time, he received an honorary D.C.L. from the University of Edinburgh. Married in 1890 to Rani Fateh Kanwar, a niece of Maharaja Jaswant Singh of Jodhpur. He died without issue in April 1890 and was succeeded by his uncle, Mehtab Singh.
• HH Raja MEHTAB SINGHJI, Raja of Narsinghgarh 1890/1895, succeeded 28^th June 1890, the only surviving son of Raja Hanwant Singhji, he was as capable as his father, and often toured his state every year and dispensed even-handed justice to all his subjects on the spot, whenever it was required. He died sp 1895.
• HH Shri Huzur Raja Sir ARJUN SINGHJI Sahib Bahadur, Raja of Narsinghgarh 1895/1924, selected by the Government of India from Bhatkhera as successor, born 10^th January 1887, educated at Mayo College, Ajmer and Daly College, Indore; trained with the Imperial Cadet Corps in Dehradun; K.C.I.E., married 1^stly, 1907, HH Rani Shiv Kunwarji, daughter of HH Raja Sir Jashwant Singhji Bahadur of Sailana, D.B.E.(civil) [cr.1924], married 2^ndly, a Princess of Talsana in Gujarat, and had issue, one son and three daughters. He died 22^nd April 1924.
  • HH Shri Huzur Raja Sir Vikram Singhji Sahib Bahadur (by Rani Shiv Kunwarji) (qv)
  • Rajkumari Damyanti Kumaribai Sahiba [HH Maharani Damayanti Devi of Jaisalmer] (by Rani Shiv Kunwarji), married 1926 (as his first wife), HH Maharajadhiraj Maharawal Girdhar Singhji of Jaisalmer, and had issue. She died 1997.
  • Rajkumari Hemant Kumaribai Sahiba [Rani Hemant Kanwar of Jubbal] (by Rani Shiv Kunwarji), born 13^th September 1913 in Narsingarh, married 31^st January 1932, Raja Rana Digvijay Chandra of Jubbal, and had issue. She died 11^th March 1964 in Delhi.
  • Rajkumari Basant Kumaribai Sahiba [Rani Basant Kumari of Indargarh] (by the Talsana Rani), she married Raja Sumer Singhji of Indargarh in Rajasthan.
• HH Shri Huzur Raja Sir VIKRAM SINGHJI Sahib Bahadur, Raja of Narsinghgarh 1924/1957, K.C.I.E. [cr.1941], born 21^st September 1909 and succeeded 23^rd April 1924, invested with full ruling powers in 1929; educated at Daly College, Indore, and Mayo College, Ajmer; he was generally acknowledged by all as a kind hearted and highly respected Ruler who enjoyed good standing amongst his brother Princes and Rulers of India; he signed the Instrument of Accession to the Dominion of India on 15^th August 1947 and concluded an agreement to form Madhya Bharat on 15^th June 1948 with other rulers; he was engaged to Maharajkumari Jeet Kunwarba Sahiba, daughter of HH Maharao Swaroop Ram Singhji of Sirohi, but the princess fell ill the very morning of the marriage and died just before the marriage ceremony, he married 1929, HH Rani Dev Kumariji, daughter of HH Maharajadhiraj Mirzan Maharao Shri Vijayarajji Khengarji Sawai Bahadur of Kutch, and his wife, HH Maharani Shri Padmakunwar Ba Sahiba, he adopted Kunwar Bhanuprakash Singhji, son of Maharaj Prabhunath Singhji of Dhuwankheri in 1942. He died sp 17^th July 1957 dearly loved and respected by all his subjects.
• HH Shri Huzur Maharaja BHANUPRAKASH SINGHJI Sahib Bahadur, Maharaja of Narsinghgarh from 17^th July 1957 to 24^th January 2019. Born June 1929, son of Maharaj Prabhunath Singhji of Dhuwankheri, uncle of HH Shri Huzur Maharaja Sir Vikram Singhji, who adopted him in the 1942, he succeeded to the gadi on 17^th July 1957; educated at Mayo College Ajmer, Daly College, Indore and St. John’s College, Agra; entered politics in 1962 and fought the general election as an Independent candidate and won both the Assembly seat from Narsinghgarh and the Rajgarh Lok Sabha seat from Madhya Pradesh, Convener of the Madhya Pradesh Youth Congress to 1966, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Communications in 1966, he donated the Arjun Niwas Palace, to be used as a college for post-graduate classes in Arts, Science and Commerce, appointed as Secretary to the Central Citizens Council in 1966, elected to the 4^th Lok Sabha in 1967 and was appointed a deputy Minister in the Ministry of Industrial Development, Internal Trade and Company Affairs, appointed to the Ministry of Petroleum and Chemicals and Mines and Metals in 1970, delegate from India to the World Conference of the Working People’s Socialist Union in Belgrade in 1966, Leader of the Indian Delegation to the Second Session of the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) held at Vienna in April 1968, led the official Indian Delegation for Small Scale Industries to Japan in 1969, Convener of the Madhya Pradesh Rashtra Bhasha Prachar Samiti and President of the All India Rajput Parishad, President of the Board of Governors of the Daly College Indore 1971/1980, appointed as the Governor of Goa and Administrator of Daman & Diu and Dadra & Nagar Haveli from 18^th March 1991 to 4^th April 1994, the Maharaja Sahib is widely travelled and is interested in sports, particularly hockey and cricket, a lover of wild life, he was a keen Shikari in his earlier days; he married Rajkumari Lakshmi Kumari [HH Maharani Lakshmi Kumari of Narsinghgarh], daughter of Maharajkumar Shri Bijai Singhji of Bikaner, and has issue, five sons and an adopted daughter. He died on 24^th January 2019 in Indore after a prolonged illness.
  • Maharajkumar Shiladitya Singh, born 1951, married Rajkumari Madhulika Kumari (div. 1980), born 1951, daughter of Maharaja Mahendra Ripudaman Singh of Bhadawar, and his wife, Maharani Braj Shree Devi, and has issue, two daughters.
    • Bhanwarbai Sahiba Yogeshwari Kumari, born 6^th February 1978, married HH Sawai Maharaja Ajayraj Singh of Ajaigarh (div. 2011), married 2^ndly to Sameer Parikh, living in Mumbai.
    • Maharajkumari Sahiba Poornamrita Kumari, born 9^th January 1980.
  • Maharajkumar Rajyavardhan Singh (qv)
  • Maharajkumar Giri Ratna Singh, born 1955, married Rajkumari Gayatri Kumari of Gabhana, U.P., daughter of Rajkumar Raghuraj Singhji, and grand daughter of Captain Raja Devraj Singhji, and has issue, one son.
    • Bhanwar Saheb Divya Ratna Singh, born 1989.
  • Maharajkumar Bhagyaditya Singh, born 1957, married Kumari Yashodhara Kumari from Ujjain (div. 1995), and has issue, one daughter.
    • Bhanwarbai Sahiba Shraddha Kumari
  • Maharajkumar Yashovardhan Singh, born 1959, he renounced the World and became a Sanyasi at the age of 22 years and succeeded to the gadi of his guru Avadhoot Bhagwan Ram in 1992 at Aghorpeeth Shri Sarveshwari Samooh Sansthan Devsthanam (Awadoot Bhagwan Ram Kushta Seva Ashram, Padav, Varanasi – 221102, U.P.); he is now known as Gurupad Sambhav Ramji.
• HH Shri Huzur Maharaja Rajyavardhan Singh Sahib Bahadur, Maharaja of Narsinghgarh (see above)

Note(s)

• 1
  In 1824, Chain Singh, who held his own views on how his state should be governed, views that did not quite align with those of the British Government, openly murdered two ministers of his state, Anand Ram Bakshi and Roop Ram Bohra. Mr. Wellesley, the Resident at Indore at the time, was instructed to remove Chain Singh from the administration of the state. However, Chain Singh resisted the execution of the order. When Mr. T. H. Maddock, the Political Agent at Bhopal, summoned him, he refused to submit and stated that he accepted the invitation not only for himself but for his available armed forces as well. On 24^th July 1824, he, along with some 400 fighting men, arrived at the outskirts of Sehore and was confronted by a portion of the Bhopal Contingent and a small party of the 60^th Native Infantry under the command of Captain De Waal. In the ensuing conflict, Chain Singh and 44 of his followers were killed, and the survivors were either captured or dispersed. A memorial tomb marking the scene of this encounter is known as “Chain Singh’s Chattri” and is the object of considerable veneration. See Cenotaph of Kunwar Chain Singh.
• 2
  He was the fifth lineal descendant of Jait Singh, the brother of Ajab Singh.