Thaindian News

Jaipur, April 17 (IANS) Brig. Sawai Bhawani Singh, the last titular maharaja of Jaipur, passed away at a private hospital in Gurgaon, his family said Sunday. He was 79.

“Bhawani Singh died late last (Saturday) night due to multi-organ failure,” a source close to the family told IANS.

His body was brought here Sunday morning where Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, Tourism Minister Bina Kak, Health Minister A.A. Khan, Chief Secretary S. Ahmad and people from all over the state came to pay their respects.

“The funeral procession will start at 11 a.m. tomorrow (Monday) from the City Palace and proceed to Jaleb Chowk, Badi Chaupar, Chhoti Chaupar, Gangauri Bazaar and will reach Gaitor Cenotaph for the last rites,” the source said.

Bhawani Singh was the eldest son of the late Maharaja Sawai Man Singh II of Jaipur. He was born October 22, 1931, and received his early education at SheshNag (Jammu and Kashmir), Doon School (Dehradun) and Harrow (Britain).

Singh was married to Sirmur princess Kumari Padmini Devi, the daughter of Rajendra Prakash Bahadur, a ruler himself.

The couple has one daughter, princess Diya Kumari.

Bhawani Singh had adopted his grandson, Padmanabh Singh, as his heir in 2002.

In 1951, Bhawani Singh was commissioned into the Indian Army in the 3rd Cavalry Regiment as a second lieutenant. In 1954, he was selected for the Presidents’ Bodyguard. In 1963, he was posted to the 50 (Independent) Parachute Brigade.

From 1964-1967, he was adjutant at the Indian Military Academy in Dehradun. In 1967, he volunteered for the new special forces unit and was posted to 10 Para Commando as second-in-command. The following year he became the elite unit’s commanding Officer.

In 1970, he helped in training the “Mukti Bahini”, the rebel army in Bangladesh against then Pakistani rule.

In 1970, after the death of Maharaja Sawai Man Singh II, the president of India recognized him as the successor and ruler of Jaipur and a notification was issued for this.

During 1971 India-Pakistan war, he was awarded the second highest wartime gallantry award — the Mahavir Chakra.

His unit, the 10 Para Commando, also received 10 gallantry awards for their action in the war. He took voluntary retirement in 1974.

When the Indian Army was in action in Sri Lanka in the 1980s, Bhawani Singh went to Sri Lanka at the request of then prime minister Rajiv Gandhi to boost the morale of the soldiers.

For this the president of India bestowed upon him the rank of brigadier for life.

Bhawani Singh was also the first resident high commissioner to Brunei from 1993 to 1997.