Sawai Man Singh II/ Kanwar Mor Mukut Singh
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Kanwar Mor Mukut Singh
EXCERPTS: Intrigues and adoptions
This book is the biography of Kanwar Mor Mukut Singh of Isarda who ruled Jaipur as Sawai Man Singh II for 27 years before the state’s merger with India
R.P. Singh and Kanwar Rajpal Singh give some background to the adoption of Mor Mukut Singh, which made him ruler of Jaipur
He was born a commoner. He died a commoner. But there was nothing common about the life of His Highness Saramad-I Rajaha-I Hindustan Raj Rajendra Maharaja Dhiraj, Lieutenant-General Sir Sawai Man Singh Bahadur the Second, G.C.S.I., G.C.I.E., Maharaja of Jaipur (1911-1970). He was the last ruler of the Kachhwaha clan of the Kshatriyas to exercise sovereignty over Jaipur, and presided over its merger with independent India on March 30, 1949. The merger brought to an end approximately a 1,000 years of Kachhwaha rule at Amber (Jaipur).
Another significant event had taken place much before the merger. In 1880 the direct line of the Kachhwahas who had ruled for centuries had ended with the adoption of Kayam Singh of Isarda (later Madho Singh II), a 19-year-old sepoy in the Tonk infantry. Kayam Singh, the younger brother of Pratap Singh, the thakur of lsarda, was to return the favour: he would adopt Mor Mukut Singh of isarda, who would be known as Sawai Man Singh II.
Kayam Singh was born in 1861 and ascended the throne at the age of 19 years. Obviously, he had neither organized education nor training for a task of such calling. Lord Curzon described Madho Singh II as “old-fashioned, conservative, reluctant to move away from his own state, liberal in the distribution of his funds, intensely loyal to the queen and the British connection, averse to being too bothered or fussed over, but capable, if skillfully and sympathetically handled, of being guided where desired.”
Lord Curzon was not off the mark. Madho Singh II turned out to be highly indolent and superstitious. However, he did not impose his ignorance on his subjects and largely adopted a policy of laissez fair. Consequently, the state improved financially.
Despite being superstitious, Madho Singh II was the first Kachhwaha ruler to travel overseas for the coronation of King Edward VII in London, in 1902. The journey was on invitation from the king and had practically been a command. Madho Singh II had no option but to go. In fact, earlier the Raja of Khetri had been banned from entering City Palace for having travelled overseas.
To justify Madho Singh II’s trip, therefore, there had to be much drama. Brahmins were consulted. Benedictions were bestowed on the king. After much religious ceremony, he sailed from Mumbai in 1902 aboard a new ship, Olympia, which was chartered and modified to suit his needs. He took the idol of his deity Gopal and necessary supplies for four months, including two huge casks carrying the holy Ganges water. The casks are prominently displayed in City Palace even today. His stay in London made headlines, thanks to his baggage and his entourage.
The old maharaja was extremely religious, which added to his gullibility. He was under the influence of his courtier Khawas Bala Bakshji, a man of doubtful integrity, and Roop Rai, a favourite concubine.
It is rumoured that Roop Rai used to eavesdrop. Whenever Madho Singh II was with his favourite queen. After this queen died, Roop Rai used to claim that the late Her Highness appeared in her dreams and asked her to carry out certain tasks. Being aware of the actual conversation, she made a convincing case before Madho Singh II. Over time, Roop Rai polished this approach to obtain a vice-like grip on the maharaja. She would even tell the maharaja that the late Her Highness had promised to meet her again in her dreams and that if he wanted to send a message, Roop Rai would convey it to her.
Madho Singh II had two morganatic sons, Ganga Singh and Gopal Singh, for whom he had great affection. Both died prematurely. Roop Rai pretended to be possessed of their souls. She would speak to the maharaja on their behalf and about Ganga Singh’s disease in the other world and demand money for his treatment. On one occasion, she asked for money for the deceased Gopal Singh’s marriage in heaven!
It was prophesied that if a son was born from Madho Singh II’s loins to any of his queens, he (the king) would die within six months of the birth. Madho Singh II probably avoided begetting children from his queens for this reason
Madho Singh II being the first king to be adopted from outside the direct line of the Kachhwahas, caused a lot of heartburn in Jhilai, which considered itself the senior branch of the ruling family. Since Madho Singh II was 19 years old when Ram Singh II adopted him on his deathbed, protests, if any, are unrecorded. Consequently, the adoption of Mor Mukut Singh (Sawai Man Singh) had more than its fair share of intrigues.
Stories and theories about Man Singh’s adoption are legion. Madho Singh II was not wanting in physical prowess. In fact, he was a man of a rather voracious sexual appetite, with five queens and almost 40 pardayats (concubines). They bore him over 50 children. According to one source, it was prophesied that if a son was born from Madho Singh II’s loins to any of his queens, he (the king) would die within six months of the birth. Madho Singh II probably avoided begetting children from his queens for this reason. That adoption had become unavoidable engendered fervent hopes in different quarters and threw up the very first question: would the person to be adopted have to be from Jhilai?
Initially, Madho Singh II had suggested adopting someone other than Mor Mukut Singh. The name of this person, believed to be of his morganatic son Gopal Singh, was conveyed to Viceroy Harding in a sealed envelope in 1916. However, Gopal Singh died in early 1920. Soon Madho Singh II wrote to His Excellency, stating that the person whose name had been enclosed in the envelope had died, and he wanted to change the name.
The impending adoption became a hot topic of discussion and it was impossible to keep any secret in the durbar. Once it was obvious that Jhilai would be given a go by in the race for adoption, strenuous efforts began in the search for an heir. The thakur of Jhilai, in fact, went to the extent of making a formal representation to the British Government. Bikaner backed Jhilai, to the hilt. The British evaded the issue, saying they were unaware of the maharaja‘s plans. Bikaner wrote to Chelmsford voicing concerns about overlooking Jhilai. Madho Singh II, aware of the lurking dangers, also wrote to Chelmsford requesting that the nomination not be leaked out since the situation in Rajputana was such that “publicity is sure to give rise to intrigues which may endanger my life.”
About the delay in carrying out the adoption ceremony (probably because of the prophecy), he assured Chelmsford that his nomination was fully in conformation with the traditions and established usage of Jaipur. He wrote again to seek assurance and confirmation that his wishes would be carried out. Chelmsford pressed the maharaja to go ahead with the adoption immediately and publicly. Madho Singh lI was apprehensive of the objections that would surely be raised against his nomination after his death. Even Chelmsford said that were such a situation to come to pass, the government would have no option but to take heed of the objections.
Mor Mukut Singh, the second son of Sawai Singh, the thakur of Isarda, was born on August 21, 1911. His father was not highly educated, but he was a shrewd man who doubled the income of his thikana within his lifetime. Isarda had to pay to Jaipur Rs40,000 per year as tribute at that time. Mor Mukut had one elder brother, Bahadur Singh, and three sisters. Until the age of eight they lived in Isarda, riding bullock carts, playing local games, and indulging in every activity that the children of a village thakur could.
Sawai Singh had two sisters. One was married to the Maharaja of Kota. The other was married to Major General Apji Sir Onkar Singh of Palaitha. Since there were no facilities for education in Isarda, Sawai Singh sent both his sons, Bahadur and Mor Mukut, to Kota to be educated. In Kota, they stayed in Palaitha House. Pandit Harihar Nathji Sukhia was their private tutor.
That Madho Singh II was looking towards Isarda to choose a successor was no secret. Photographs of both the sons of the thakur of Isarda had already been called for by no less a person than Roop Rai, Madho Singh II’s favourite concubine. Whether the elder son Bahadur Singh should be adopted in preference to Mor Mukut was hotly debated. Both the boys were called in person.
There are many versions of how Mor Mukut was selected over Bahadur Singh. One was Madho Singh II’s belief that the eldest son of a jagirdar should not be adopted. The second was that the reports of Bahadur Singh’s character were not very encouraging. An earlier incident exhibiting Mor Mukut’s character also seems to have impressed Madho Singh II. Once, Mor Mukut had teased an elephant. Finally the elephant had charged at him. However, the boy had not shouted for help. Whether he wanted to avoid getting caught making mischief or took pride in not acknowledging fear publicly, is difficult to say. Both reasons reflected well on the lad ...
Gur Nidhan Singh, an old timer, had another incident to narrate. Madho Singh II had gone to Indergarh (Sawai Madhopur). Isarda is located close by. Hence, the thakur of Isarda, Sawai Singh, who was Madho Singh II’s real nephew went to pay obeisance with both his sons — Bahadur Singh and Mor Mukut Singh. Madho Singh II was sitting on a carpet with some courtiers and asked the boys to sit down. Sawai Singh and Bahadur Singh sat down but Mor Mukut Singh could not find a place to sit. He innocently complained to the king that there was no place for him. Madho Singh II called Mor Mukut and made him sit on his lap. The act was prophetic.
Yet another version talks of how both the brothers were waiting in the durbar to present nazar to Madho Singh II. The younger one, Mor Mukut, got bored of waiting and pocketed the coin. His cheekiness appealed to the maharaja. As Rajmata Gayatri Devi remarks in her memoirs, A Princess Remembers, they were given an audience in City Palace, and each boy held out in his cupped hands, in a ceremonial way, a gold coin, to be accepted by the ruler in acknowledgement of their allegiance. The Jaipur legend is that while jai’s brother stood, jai, who was only 10, grew impatient at the maharaja’s slowness in accepting the tribute, dropped his hands to the side and pocketed the gold coin. This so struck the maharaja as a sign of independence and character appropriate to a prince, that he took to adopting the younger boy ...
Madho Singh II adopted Mor Mukut Singh formally on March 24, 1921. He was rechristened Sawai Man Singh. Nazars were presented to the maharaja and the new maharaj kumar. The function had all the pomp and pageantry of a royal celebration.
The viceroy was informed and a request was made to formally sanction the adoption. According to Amar Singh, there were two to three parties every night for weeks together. Now even Chomu and Diggi were keen to sign on the dotted line. However, the viceroy had not yet confirmed the adoption. Bikaner continued with the dauntless fight for Jhilai, urging the British not to accede to such an undesirable course of action. Bikaner even threatened to go to England and seek an interview with the secretary of state.
Delay in confirming validity added fuel to many speculations, although the delay was occasioned because of the change of viceroys. The new viceroy, Lord Reading, confirmed the adoption on April 21, 1921 and sent the kharita to Jaipur on June 10 for the official durbar.
Excerpted with permission from
Sawai Man Singh II of Jaipur: Life and Legend
By R.P. Singh and Kanwar Rajpal Singh
Roli Books Pvt. Ltd., M-75, G.K. II Market, New Delhi 110 048.
Tel: 91-011-2921 2271, 2921 2782, 2921 0886
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Email: roli@vsnl.com
Website: www.rolibooks.com
214pp. Indian Rs350
R.P. Singh is a lawyer who contributes regularly to army journals
Kanwar Rajpal Singh is a journalist with an interest in natural history and photgraphy. He has covered the history of Rajasthan and created awareness for the conservation of its cultural heritage
