Udai Bhan Singh

Udai Bhan Singh was born on 12 February 1893.^[1][2] He received his education at Mayo College, Ajmer, where he successfully passed the Diploma examination and earned numerous prizes.^[2] He secured a prize for an essay on irrigation and a certificate from the Ambulance Society for First Aid to the Wounded.^[3] He took a short course of training at the Imperial Cadet Corps in Dehradun.^[4][3][5][6]

He succeeded his elder brother, Ram Singh, as the Maharaj-Rana of Dholpur, following his death on 29 March 1911.^{[4][7][8][1][9][5][10]} The administration of the state was entrusted to G.H. Anderson, who acted as the Superintendent of the State and Guardian to the Maharaj-Rana.^{[4][3][11][12][13]} He was assisted by selected officials under the general direction of the Political Agent. From 1911 to 1913, Anderson presided over State Council meetings and directed the administration.^[12][13] He paid a short visit to Europe, from where he returned in September 1912.^[13] He was invested with full ruling powers on the 9 October 1913.^[13][1]

His state, Dholpur, enjoyed a permanent salute of 15 guns.^[3][14][15] However, on 1 January 1921, he was granted a salute of 17 guns as a personal distinction.^{[16][13][17][18]} He was a delegate to the Second Round Table Conference in London in 1931 and stayed at the May Fair Hotel.^{[19][20][21][22][23]} Singh challenged his cousin, Maharaja Bhupinder Singh of Patiala, in the elections for the Chancellor of the Chamber of Princes; however, despite having the support of the British Raj's political departments, including that of the British Residents in the Indian States, he lost to Bhupinder Singh.^[24]

On 14 August 1947, he signed the Instrument of Accession and Standstill Agreement, through which he acceded his state to India. Louis Mountbatten, in his capacity as Governor-General of India, accordingly accepted it on 16 August 1947.^[25]

Singh was a Freemason and was installed in 1916 as Master of Holland Lodge No. 3554, Bharatpur, Mumbai, which had been consecrated on 6 January 1912 and was closed in 1927.^[26][27]

When the United States of Matsya (Matsya Union) was formed on 18 March 1948 following the merger of Alwar, Bharatpur, Dholpur, and Karauli, he was appointed as its Rajpramukh, a position he held from 18 March 1948 until 15 May 1949 when it was merged with Greater Rajasthan to form the United State of Rajasthan.^{[28][29][30][31][32][33][34][35][36]}

In 1928, Udai Bhan was a member of the General Council of Mayo College, Ajmer.^[37] During the years 1931-1932 and 1942–43, he held the office of President of the General Council of the college.^[38][39][40] In 1940–41, he served as vice-president.^[41]

He served as the Pro-Chancellor of the Chamber of Princes.^[42][43]

On 20 November 1919, during a hunting event where 4,206 birds were killed by 50 guns, 401 of these fell to his gun.^[44] On 8 December 1921, during Edward VIII's tour of India, a duck shoot was organized at a reserve in Bharatpur.^[44] During this event, the Maharaj-Rana managed to shoot down 210 ducks, the highest individual bag.^[44]

According to Conrad Corfield, he was the finest game shot in India.^[45] However, he developed such a profound love for wildlife that he renounced the use of firearms altogether.^[45][46] He had the area around Kaiserbagh Palace in Dholpur made into a sanctuary and implemented numerous improvements in the existing Ram Sagar and Satakarai Sanctuaries.^[47][45] These improvements included constructing walls, establishing good roads, and blocking nullahs, among other enhancements.^[47][45]

He was appointed as a Major in the Army on 1 January 1921.^[16][13] Later, on 24 October 1921, he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel.^[16][13]

In June 1911, he married Malvender Kaur, the daughter of Sardar Shamsher Singh of Badrukhan in Jind State.^{[16][48][13][1][6][49][2][50]} He had a daughter named Urmila Devi, who, in 1943, married Pratap Singh, the Maharaja of Nabha State.^[8][51]

As he had no male heir, following his demise, his widow adopted their daughter's son, Hemant Singh, who succeeded him.^{[52][53][48][54]}

He died on 22 October 1954 and was succeeded by his adopted grandson Hemant Singh.^[53][48]

Colonel His Highness Rais-ud-Daula Sipahdar-ul-Mulk Saramad-i-Rajah-i-Hind Maharajadhiraj Sri Sawai Maharaj-Rana Sir Udai Bhan Singh Lokendra Bahadur Diler Jang Jai Deo, Maharaj-Rana of Dholpur, GCIE, KCSI, KCVO.^{[6][5][55][56][57]}

• British Raj:
  • 1911: Delhi Durbar Gold Medal^[4][58]
• United Kingdom:
  • 1 January 1918: Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Star of India^[16][59]
  • 17 March 1922: Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order^[16][59]
  • 1931: Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire^[16]
  • 1935: King George V Silver Jubilee Medal
  • 1937: King George VI Coronation Medal
• India:
  • 1947: Indian Independence Medal^[60]