Maharana of Udaipur
Date of Accession | 24th May 1930 |
Predecessor | Fateh Singh |
Father | Fateh Singh |
Capital | Udaipur |
Lineage | Rajput Sisodia of Mewar |
Successor | Bhagwat Singh Mewar |
Reign | 24 May 1930– 4 July 1955 |
Shri Maharana Bhupal Singh was the ruler of the princely state of Udaipur (Mewar) from 1930 and Rajapramukh of Rajasthan from 1948 until his death on 4th July 1955. He envisaged a life for himself and his people and fought the evil outside and within. He went on to guide Mewar and Rajasthan through modern India’s tumultuous era with a deep sense of patriotism and courage.
• REIGN
He ascended the throne in 1930 after his father’s death but was indirectly exercising power since 1921 after the British curbed his father’s power and advised him to resign in favour of his nominated heir. Maharana Bhopal Singh was given the power to rule and he steered India during the era of turbulence, when the nation was fighting for Independence. He encouraged major political and social transformations.Like his ancestors he served for social augmentation of his kingdom and built various schools and colleges and reformed the social and judicial powers of his state. Singh was one of the first of the Indian princes to sign an Instrument of Accession to the new Dominion of India .
• ACCESSION TO INDIA IN 1947
After independence from the British Empire, Singh became one of the first of the Indian princes to sign an Instrument of accession to the new India and on 18 April 1948 he became Rajpramukh of Rajasthan. The Maharana also convinced the other rulers and anchored the formation of state of Rajasthan. When Maharana Bhupal Sjngh received the invitation from the Maharaja of Jodhpur to join the Bhopal Plan, this descendent of Rana Pratap replied:
“My choice was made by my ancestors. If they had faltered, they would have left us a kingdom as large as Hyderabad. They did not; neither shall I. I am with India."
•LEGACY
Maharaja held titles of Honorary Major-General, Indian Army 15 October 1946 , and later as Honorary Colonel, Indian Grenadiers, 1 June 1954.
Even though the Maharana was physically challenged and lacked certain physical attributes,nonetheless his courage and wisdom fought till the end and he went on to become a great ruler and guided Mewar through India’s tumultuous era with a deep sense of patriotism, retaining the pride of his Suryavanshi ancestors.