SIRMUR

The Plassia Dynasty

GENEALOGY

1933 - 1964 Lieutenant-Colonel H.H. Sri Maharaja Sir Rajendra Prakash Bahadur, Maharaja of Sirmur, KCIE (12.6.1947). b. at Nahan, 10^th January 1913, only son of Lieutenant-Colonel H.H. Sri Maharaja Sir Amar Prakash Bahadur, Maharaja of Sirmur, KCSI, KCIE, by his wife, H.H. Sri Maharani Mandalasa Deviji Sahiba, educ. privately. Succeeded on the death of his father, 13^th August 1933. Ascended the gadi, at Nahan, 22^nd November 1933. Installed at the Rajbishek ceremony, 13^th February 1935. Reigned under a Council of Regency, until installed with full ruling powers, at Nahan, 22^nd November 1938. Cmsnd as Hon Lieut IA 19/6/1937, served in WW2 1939-1945, prom Hon Capt 10/9/1943, Hon Maj 15/8/1945, and Hon Lieut-Col 15/10/1946. Signed the Instrument of Merger 13^th March and merged his state into PEPSU, 15^th April 1948 (when he ceased being sovereign). Rcvd: Silver Jubilee (1935), Coron (1937), 39/45, Italy and Africa Stars, British War, India Service (1945), and Indian Independence (1947) medals. m. (first) at Unchhera, Nagod, 15^th April 1936 (sep. 1941), H.H. Sri Maharani Badilala Durga Deviji Sahiba (b. at Unchhera, Nagod, 1917; d. January 2000), daughter of Raja Shrimant Jadavendra Singh Ju Deo Bahadur, Raja of Nagod. m. (second) at Palitana, 12^th December 1941, H.H. Sri Maharani Indira Deviji Sahiba (b. at Palitana, 22^nd September 1921; d. at New Delhi, February 1974), eldest daughter of H.H. Maharaja Thakore Shri Sir Bahadursinhji Mansinhji Sahib, Maharaja of Palitana, KCSI, KCIE, by his wife, H.H. Maharani Shri Sitaba Sahiba, eldest daughter of H.H. Maharaja Shri Bhojarajsinhji Bhagwansinhji alias Dada Sahib, Maharaja of Gondal. He d. at Dehra Dun, 6^th November 1964, having had issue, three daughters:

• 1) Sri Maharajkumari Nalini Deviji Sahiba. b. at Unchhera,Nahan, October 1937 (d/o Durga Deviji). m. 30^th November 1952, Kunwar Vidurji Singh (b. at Alipura Fort, 16^th December 1928; d. 28^th November 1979), younger son of Rao Shri Harpal Singh, Rao of Alipura, by his wife, Rani Vijay Kumari Sahiba, from the Hada family of Barakhera, in Bundi. She d. 2001, having had issue, three sons and two daughters - see India Non-salute (Alipura), including an eldest son:
  • a) Kunwar Shri Udai Singh. b. 30^th August 1953. Adopted by his maternal grandmother, H.H. Shri Maharani Badilala Durga Kumari Deviji Sahiba after the death of her husband on 23^rd September 1965 (not sanctioned by the GOI). He subsequently assumed the headship of the Royal House of Sirmur and the title of Maharaja of Sirmur, but neither these nor his adoption received sanction or recognition from the GOI. His grandmother had become estranged from the late Maharaja and was virtually repudiated by him over twenty years before his death, and they had ceased to form part of a joint Hindu family. She therefore did not have the Maharaja's sanction nor enjoy the right to adopt any heir on his behalf. Furthermore, family custom required any adoption to come from either a blood relative in the male line of the Sirmur family or from the same clan. Lastly, Hindu custom usually requires tha the eldest son in a family continue his paternal family line and fulfil the duties and obligations pertaining to them, adoption to another clan being sanctioned for younger sons. The Kunwar fulfilled none of these requirements. Any adoption by his grandmother consequently had only a religious significance, enabling him to perform certain religious and obsequies at her death, but conferring no rights to either succession or property pertaining to her husband's house. The family inheritance remain a matter of legal dispute with his maternal aunt, the Maharani of Jaipur, to whom her father willed his estate according to the hen Indian laws on inheritance.
• 2) Sri Maharajkumari …Deviji Sahiba. b. at Unchhera, Nagod, 8^th July 1942 (d/o Durga Deviji). She d. 21^st October 1943.
• 3) Sri Maharajkumari Padmini Deviji Sahiba [H.H. Shri Panwarji Maharani Shri Padmini Devi Sahiba, of Jaipur]. b. at Unchhera, Nahan, December 1943 (d/o Indira Deviji), educ. m. at Jaipur, 10^th March 1967, Brigadier H.H. Saramad-i-Rajaha-i-Hindustan Raj Rajendra Shri Maharajadhiraj Maharaja Sawai Bhawani Singh Bahadur, Maharaja of Jaipur, MVC (b. at the City Palace, Jaipur, 22^nd October 1931; d. after a prolonged illneass, at a private hospital at Gurgaon, 16^th April 2011), eldest son of Lieutenant-General H.H. Saramad-i-Rajaha-i-Hindustan Raj Rajendra Shri Maharajadhiraj Maharaja Sawai Sir Man Singh II Bahadur, Maharaja of Jaipur, GCSI, GCIE, by his first wife, H.H. Bada Rathorji Maharani Shri Marudhar Kanwarji Sahiba, eldest daughter of H.H. Maharaja Sir Sardar Singhji Bahadur, Maharaja of Jodhpur, GCSI. She had issue, an only daughter – see India (Jaipur). 

Copyright©Christopher Buyers, December 2006 - April 2011