Maharaja Sir Kishan Singh Bahadur.
During the British rule, the hobbies and style of the native kings were unique. Whatever he saw during his trips to Europe and London, he tried to copy it in his states. Spending excessively. Sometimes this expenditure would increase so much that the state would reach the stage of bankruptcy. Then the British Resident used to interfere in this. During the reign of Maharaja Sir Kishan Singh Bahadur, the cavalry regiment, the pride of the princely state of Bharatpur, was disbanded on the initiative of the Resident. The Maharaja was deeply shocked. Fell ill and soon died. Read some interesting stories related to him.
The king of Bharatpur state considered himself a descendant of Ramchandra ji. Maharaja Sir Kishan Singh was given a nineteen-gun salute inside the state and a seventeen-gun salute outside. At the time of independence, the annual income of the state was thirty seven and a half lakh rupees. The Maharaja was very fond of the costumes of his ministers, courtiers and soldiers. Horses, bands as well as expensive decorations and their display were part of his temperament. Amidst this indiscriminate expenditure, the Maharaja was unable to think of measures for public welfare in the state. Even if the subordinates said something out of fear, nothing was possible due to shortage of money.
Spend like Buckingham in Bharatpur!
During his visit to London, the Maharaja saw the soldiers and their uniforms changing guard at Buckingham Palace. He decided to make similar arrangements in his palace also. After chatting with the British officials, the Maharaja ordered similar uniforms from Phelps and Ranken companies to be stitched for his bodyguards. These companies received lakhs of rupees from them at that time. During his visit to France, Germany and other European countries, the Maharaja started getting attracted by the uniforms of the soldiers there. He would immediately get his soldiers’ uniforms changed.
Buckingham Palace.
Gold and silver work on the uniforms of rickshaw pullers
The expenditure on these uniforms was such that embroidery and brocade work was done with gold and silver wires on the uniforms of six servants pulling the decorated rickshaws of Maharaja Kishan Singh. Shimla’s famous Phelps and Company collected an amount of fifty thousand rupees for this.
The Maharaja used to be very happy traveling on these rickshaws in Shimla in summer. He was also deeply fond of good horses. Once the horse was liked, its price did not matter. These horses were saddled with fine leather and decorated with precious metals and gems. The grandeur of the Maharaja’s procession amidst the procession of horse bodyguards and bands in colorful, gaudy uniforms was unique. Three-fourths of the state’s income was spent on these hobbies of Omaharaja.
Maharaja sitting on a tree!
Bharatpur has also been famous for its beautiful palaces and fountains. The Maharaja used to sit in the middle hall. Amidst the scorching heat, the fountains running from all sides would give the feeling of rain and the entire palace would remain cool. Diwan Jarmani Das, who was a minister in the princely states of Patiala and Kapurthala for a long time, spent a lot of time in other princely states of the country and remained in close contact with the kings there.
In his book Maharaja, he wrote, “There were tall trees all around the palace. Under whose shade, the middle hall remained protected from the sun. The Maharaja used to sit on a tree like a parrot. He had also built a bed swing between two trees at a very high height. Lying on that bed, the Maharaja used to watch the spray of fountains going higher than the tops of the trees.”
Maharaja Sir Kishan Singh Bahadur of Bharatpur.
Melody in late night parties
The list of Maharaja’s hobbies was long. Two hundred red stone chairs and tables were arranged in a semi-moon shaped circle on the roof of the palace. The late night feasts here were illuminated by the moon peeking from the sky or candles burning in carved candlesticks. Expensive liquor was served at these feasts. Famous courtesans dance. On six court occasions in a year, the Musahibs had to attend in fixed colored attire. This was the custom for women also. People walking on the road also tried to copy it. But apart from the splendor of the palace and court, the condition of the princely state and Riya was deplorable. The roads were yearning for repair for years. There was a cry of shortage of money on every issue related to basic needs including cleanliness – education – treatment – court.
Could not bear the shock of disbandment of the cavalry regiment
The Maharaja’s hobbies were so expensive that the income of the state fell short. Apart from the mounted bodyguards, the Maharaja had also established a cavalry army, which on special occasions used to salute the Maharaja wearing magnificent uniforms, shining spears and gold and silver workmen’s boots. When the income of the estate was insufficient, they started taking loans.
When the situation reached the point of bankruptcy, the British Resident intervened. The resident often advised him to avoid wasteful expenditure. The Maharaja was not ready to listen. They used to say that Maharajas of Gwalior, Mysore, Jodhpur and Jaipur also have royal cavalry, why not stop them? The Resident would remind them that the financial condition of those kings was much better. Maharaja Sir Kishan Singh was still not ready to accept. Despite his wish, the Resident disbanded the cavalry regiment of Bharatpur. The king was deeply shocked. He fell ill and then died soon after.
Also read: Not only Kohinoor, how many precious things of India are still with Britain?
