SIRMUR

The Plassia Dynasty

GENEALOGY

1933 - 1964 Lieutenant-Colonel H.H. Shri 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. Shri Maharaja Sir Amar Prakash Bahadur, Maharaja of Sirmur, KCSI, KCIE, by his wife, H.H. Shri Maharani Mandalasa Kumari Deviji Sahiba, educ. privately. Mbr Sirmur Council of Administration 1932-1933. 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, at Nahan, 13^th February 1935. Reigned under a Council of Regency, until invested 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. Established internal self-government by inaugurating a fully elected Raj Parishad (but retaining an appointed Executive Council) 10^th January 1946. Signed the Instrument of Merger with the Dominion of India 13^th March 1948, and merged his state into the Punjab and Eastern States Union (PEPSU) 15^th April 1948 (when he ceased being sovereign). Mbr Bombay Natural History Soc 1934-1964. Dir Nahan Foundry Ltd, Jagatsons International Corp, Great Eastern Movietone Ltd, etc. Rcvd: King George V Silver Jubilee (1935), King George VI Coron (1937), 39/45, Italy and Africa Stars, British War, India Service (1945), and Indian Independence (1948) medals. m. (first) at Unchhera, Nagod, 15^th April 1936, H.H. Shri Maharani Badilala Durga Kumari Deviji Sahiba (b. at Satna, 1917; d. January 2000), daughter of Maharaja Shrimant Jadavendra Singh Ju Deo [Shambhu Das], Raja of Nagod. m. (second) at Palitana, 12^th December 1941, H.H. Shri 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) Shri Maharajkumari Nalini Deviji Sahiba. b. at Unchhera, Nahan, October 1937 (or 2^nd December 1938) (d/o Durga Deviji). m. 30^th November 1952, Kanwar Vidurji Singh (b. at Alipura Fort, 16^th December 1928; d. 28^th November 1979), younger son of Rao 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) Shri Maharajkumar Udai Prakash*. 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. He subsequently assumed the headship of the Royal House of Sirmur together with the name of Udai Prakash Bahadur and the title of His Highness the Maharaja of Sirmur, but neither these nor his adoption received official 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 long 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 be approved by members of the wider Royal family and clan, not given for the adoption at the time and never since. Lastly, Hindu custom usually requires that the eldest son in a family continue his paternal 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 obsequies at her death and succeed to her own personal property, but no rights to either the succession or the property pertaining to her husband’s house. The family inheritance remained a matter of legal dispute with his maternal aunt and grand aunts, including the Maharani of Jaipur, to whom her father had willed his estate according to the then Indian civil laws of inheritance. After many years, these were finally settled and disposed of by mutual agreement in 2011. m. at Lucknow, 18^th February 1984, Shri Rani Rasika Raje Sahiba (b. 4^th December 1964), daughter of Maharaj Shri Balwant Singh Sahib, of Shahpura, by his wife, Rani Shri Alka Raje Sahiba. He has issue, two daughters:
• i) Shri Rajkumari Nileshwari Kumari. b. 28^th January 1985. m. (?) Divyendra Singh.
• ii) Shri Rajkumari Divyashree Kumari. b. 5^th August 1990. Copyright© Christopher Buyers
• 2) Shri Maharajkumari … Deviji Sahiba. b. at Unchhera, Nagod, 8^th July 1942 (d/o Durga Deviji). She d. at Unchhera, Nagod, 21^st October 1943.
• 3) Shri 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, Haryana, near Delhi, 16^th April 2011, crem. at Gaitore-ki-Chhatri, Jaipur), 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:
• a) Maharajkumari Diya Kumari Baiji Lal Sahiba [Rani Narendra Singh Rajawat]. b. at Jaipur, 30^th January 1971, educ. the Modern Sch, New Delhi, and Maharani Gayatri Devi Girls’ Sch, Jaipur. Trustee cum Sec Maharaja Sawai Man Singh II Museum and Jaigarh Public Charitable Trust (JPCT). Sec Brd of Governors of The Palace Sch (Jaipur) and Maharaja Sawai Bhawani Singh Sch. Chair Tourism and Hospitality with The Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM). Patron Rays. Mbr Governing Body Ashok Club. m. 1994 (privately by Arya Samaj rites) and at Jaipur, 6^th August 1997 (publicly), Maharaj Narendra Singh Rajawat, invested the personal title of Maharaj at Chandra Mahal, Jaipur, 6^th October 2003, Chartered Accountant, Chair Royal Jaipur Polo Fndn (RJPF), Capt Royal Jaipur Polo Team, Trustee cum Sec Jaigrah Fort Museum, Dir Jaipur Palace Hotels Pvt Ltd, Indian Ambassador to International Polo Fed (FIP), Mbr Governing Body Ashok Club, Rajasthan Polo Club, All England Polo Club, etc, son of Thakur Budh Singh Rajawat, of Kotda, under Tonk. She has issue, two sons and one daughter:
• i) Maharajkumar Shri Sawai Padmanabh Singhji Bahadur, who was adopted by his maternal grandfather and succeeded as H.H. Saramad-i-Rajaha-i-Hindustan Raj Rajendra Shri Maharajadhiraj Maharaja Sawai Padmanabh Singhji Bahadur, Maharaja of Jaipur – see India (Jaipur).
• ii) Rajkumar Lakshayraj Singhji, who succeeded as H.H. Shri Maharaja Lakshayraj Prakash Bahadur, Maharaja of Sirmur - see below.
• i) Rajkumari Gorvi Devi Sahiba. b. at Jaipur, 1999.