Fateh Singh of Udaipur and Mewar
"Hindua Suraj Mewar"
Maharana of Udaipur
Reign1884–24 May 1930
PredecessorSajjan Singh
SuccessorBhupal Singh
Born(1849-12-16)16 December 1849
Died24 May 1930(1930-05-24) (aged 80)
Udaipur, Udaipur State, British India
SpouseHH Maharaniji Sa Rathorji Shri Phool Kanwarji Saheba of Khod in Jodhpur State , Marwar


HH Maharaniji Sa Chawdiji Shri Bakht Kanwarji Saheba of Kaladwas in Udaipur State , Mewar
IssueBhupal Singh

Maharajkumariji Shri Nand Kanwarji m.to HH Maharajadhiraj Maharao Raja Sir Umed Singh II of Kota State

Maharajkumariji Shri Omkar Kanwarji m.to HH Maharajadhiraj Maharaja Sir Madan Singhji of Kishangarh State

Maharajkumariji Shri Kishor Kanwarji m.to HH Maharajadhiraj Maharaja Sir Sardar Singh of Jodhpur State
HouseRanawat Sisodia
FatherMaharaj Dal Singhji of Shivrati in Udaipur State
MotherRathorji Ajit Kanwarji d.of Rao Paney Singhji of Aalsar in Bikaner State
Maharaja Fateh Singh on royal barge, Lake Pichola, Udaipur, early 1900s
Maharaja Fateh Singh Bahadur

HH 108 Shri Maharaj Adhiraj Raj Rajeshwar Ravi Kula Bushana-Mahi Mahendra Yavadarya Kula Kamaldhivakara Chattis Rajkul Shringar Maharana Shri Sir Fateh Singhji Bahadur Hindua Suraj Hindupati GCSI GCIE GCVO (16 December 1849 – 24 May 1930), was the ruler of the illustrious Sisodia dynasty of Mewar i.e Princely State of Udaipur for nearly 46 years from the year 1884 to 1930, with Udaipur as his capital, and resided in the grandiose City Palace, Udaipur.[1][2]

Biography

He was born on 16 December 1849 at Shivrati, son of Maharaj Dal Singh of the Shivrati branch of Mewar dynasty – A descendant of the fourth son, Arjun Singh, of the Rana Sangram Singh II (AD 1710–1734). First he was adopted by his elder brother, Gaj Singh who had no heir, subsequently Maharana Sajjan Singh of Udaipur, who too had no heir, adopted him, he eventually became the Maharaja of Udaipur in 1884. In 1887, he received G.C.S.I.[3][4][5]

In 1889, he built the "Connaught Dam" on Lake Dewali to mark the visit of Duke of Connaught, son of Queen Victoria, this enlarged the lake, and it was later renamed, Fateh Sagar Lake.[2][6]

He also built Fateh Prakash Palace in Chittorgarh fort, which is an edifice with a tower on each of its four corners crowned by domed chhattris. This palace is a grand specimen of modern Indian architecture and at present houses a museum.[7]

The Shiv Niwas Palace at Udaipur was also built by him. The palace was reserved exclusively by the House of Mewar for visiting dignitaries and guests during British Raj. It now has been turned into a luxury hotel.[8]

He was the only Maharaja to not attend the Delhi Durbar, both of 1903 and 1911. Then in 1921, when Edward, Prince of Wales, son of King George V and Queen Mary, visited Udaipur, he refused to receive him, citing illness and instead sent his son. The independent attitude adopted by Fateh Singh observed in his refusal to appoint a Dewan and his direct or indirect association with people of known anti-British sentiments such as Kesari Singh Barhath and Shyamaji Krishna Verma made him a problematic figure for the British Government.[9] This left him at odds with the British, thereafter, under the garb of ignoring a social unrest in Mewar, on 28 July 1921, his powers were curtailed and he was formally deposed, he was however allowed to retain his title, the effective power was handed to his son and heir, Bhupal Singh.[2][10][11]

Personal life

Maharaja Fateh Singh, portrait by Raja Ravi Varma
Silver coin: 1 rupee of Udaipur State, Fatteh Singh, 1928

He was first married in 1867, to Rani Phool Kumari, daughter of the Thakur of Khod in Marwar, who died in 1877. Subsequently, he was married in 1878, a daughter of Thakur Chanda Kol Singh of Varsoda, and had son, Bhupal Singh, and daughters, Ankaran Bai, married in 1904 to Madan Singh of Kishangarh, and Kishor Kunwar, married 1908 to Sardar Singh of Jodhpur.

He died on May 24, 1930, at Udaipur.

See also

Further reading

  • Maharana: the story of the rulers of Udaipur, by Brian Masters. Mapin Pub., 1990. ISBN 0-944142-28-1.

References

  1. ↑ Complete title: HH 108 Sri Maharaj Adhiraj Raj Rajeshwar Ravi Kula Bushana-Mahi Mahindra Yavadarya Kula Kamaldhivakara Chattis Rajkul Singar Maharana Shri Sir Fateh Singh Hindua Suraj Hindupati.
  2. 1 2 3 Gupta, p. 256
  3. ↑ "Shivrati Genealogy". Queensland University. Archived from the original on 16 May 2011.
  4. ↑ "Udaipur State: History". The Imperial Gazetteer of India. 1909. pp. v. 24, p. 93.
  5. ↑ Solomon, p. 128
  6. ↑ "Fateh Sagar Lake: Lakes". Archived from the original on 9 January 2015. Retrieved 28 June 2010.
  7. ↑ "Hill Forts of Rajasthan".
  8. ↑ "Shiv Niwas Palace, Udaipur The crescent-shaped palace was built in the early 20th century, in the reign of Maharana Fateh Singh (period of reign: 1884–1930)". Archived from the original on 21 June 2013. Retrieved 7 June 2013.
  9. ↑ R.K. Gupta (1 January 2008). Studies In Indian History Rajasthan Through The Ages The Heritage Of Rajputs Set Of 5 Vols. unknown library. Sarup & Sons. The bold and independent attitude adopted by Maharana Fateh Singh of Mewar encouraged the patriotic feelings of the people and exposed the latent Rajput love for freedom...Maharana Fateh Singh was proving a source of trouble in several ways for the British Government. While he had refused to appoint a Dewan, he had associated himself directly or indirectly with people of anti-British convictions as Shyamji Krishna Verma, Kesari Singh Barhat, etc.
  10. ↑ Warren, p. 50
  11. ↑ "Maharana Fateh Singh (1884–1930)". Archived from the original on 2 April 2010.
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