cooch6

COOCH BEHAR

The Narayan Dynasty

GENEALOGY

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1913 - 1922 H.H. Sri Sriman Maharaja Sir Jitendra Narayan Bhup Bahadur, Maharaja of Cooch-Behar, KCSI (1.1.1917). b. in London, 20^th December 1886, second son of Colonel H.H. Sri Sriman Maharaja Sir Nripendra Narayan Bhup Bahadur, Maharaja of Cooch Behar, GCIE, CB, by his wife, H.H. Maharani Sri Sri Suniti Devi Sahiba, CI, sometime Maharani Regent of Cooch Behar and Presdt of the State Council, educ. Carter’s Prep Sch, Farnborough, Hampshire, Eton Coll, Berkshire, Edinburgh Univ, Scotland, and with the Imperial Cadet Corps (ICC), Dehra Dun. Attended the Coronations of the King-Emperor Edward VII in 1902 and King-Emperor George V in 1911. Hon Magistrate 3^rd class 1908-1913. Succeeded on the death of his elder brother, 1^st September 1913. Proclaimed and ascended the gadi at the Cooch Behar Royal Palace (Rajbhari), 16^th September 1913. Installed at the Cooch Behar Royal Palace (Rajbhari), 17^th November 1913. Presdt Sovabazar Club. Patron Cooch Behar Mutual Provident Fund 1911-1922, Indian Assoc for the Cultivation of Science 1914-1922, Assam Research Soc 1914-1922, Cooch Behar Club 1914-1922, Kalighat Sangit Samaj, Indian Gymkhana Club 1920, etc. Fellow Zoological Soc of London 1919-1922. Mbr United Grand Lodge of England (Courage with Humanity Lodge) 1912-1916, Princes’, Royal Automobile, Automobile Assoc, Motor, Calcutta, Orient, Royal Calcutta Turf Clubs, etc. Author of “Hello Darjeeling: An Original Revue Produced at Darjeeling, October, 1914” (1916). Rcvd: Coron medals (1902 and 1911), Delhi Durbar silver (1903 and 1911), Cooch Behar Durbar (1911) and Accession (1913) medals. m. at the Buckingham Palace Hotel (relig.), and Westminster Register Office (civil), London, 25^th August 1913, H.H. Maharani Sri Sri Indira Devi Sahiba (b. at Laxmi Vilas Palace, Baroda, 19^th February 1892; d. at Bombay, Maharashtra, 12^th September 1968), educ. privately, Regent and Presdt of the Cooch Behar Regency Council from 20^th December 1922 to 6^th April 1936, Presdt The Lake Club (Dhakuria) 1928, Patron Acad of Fine Arts (Calcutta) 1933, Mbr Bengal Flying Club, Cooch Behar Flying Club, etc, rcvd: George V Silver Jubilee (1935), George VI Coron (1937), Cooch Behar Investiture (1936), Cooch Behar Silver Jubilee (1947), Jaipur Silver Jubilee (1947), Baroda Golden Jubilee (1926), Diamond Jubilee (1936), and Installation (1939) medals, the only surviving daughter of H.H. Farzand-i-Khas-i-Daulat-i-Inglishia, Shrimant Maharaja Sir Sayaji Rao III Gaekwad, Sena Khas Khel Shamsher Bahadur, Maharaja of Baroda, GCSI, GCIE, by his second wife, H.H. Maharani Shrimant Akhand Soubhagyavati Gajra Bai Sahiba, CI, daughter of Shrimant Sardar Bajirao Amritrao Ghatge, Sarjerao, of Dewas state. He d. at a nursing home in London, 20^th December 1922 (crem. at Golders Green Crematorium, London and his ashes buried in Cooch Behar), having had issue, two sons and three daughters:

1) Sri Sri Maharajkumar Jagaddipendra Narayan Bahadur, who succeeded as H.H. Sri Sriman Maharaja Sir Jagaddipendra Narayan Bhup Bahadur, Maharaja of Cooch Behar- see below.
2) Lieutenant-Colonel Sri Sri Maharajkumar Indrajitendra Narayan. b. at Poona, Bombay, 6^th July 1918, educ. Gibb’s Sch, London, Harrow Sch, Middlesex, Mayo Coll, Ajmer, Rajputana, and the Indian Military Acad, Dehra Dun. Cmsnd as 2^nd-Lieut IA 6/7/1939 attached to Prince Albert Victor’s Own Cavalry, prom Lieut 3/10/1941, transf Central India Horse 1942, prom Capt 12/3/1945, prom Maj 1/5/1945, served in WW2 1939-1945 in the Western Desert, India, Assam-Burma, and South East Asia, Deputy Development Cmsnr Cooch Behar 1947-1949. Mbr Calcutta, and Darjeeling Gymkhana clubs. Rcvd: Coron (1937), 1939/45, Burma, Africa and Pacific stars, Defence, War and IGS (1945), Indian Independence (1948), Cooch Behar Investiture (1936), Cooch Behar Silver Jubilee (1947), Baroda Golden Jubilee (1926), Baroda Diamond Jubilee (1936), and Jaipur Silver Jubilee (1947) medals. m. at Madras, 28^th February 1941, Ishorani Kamala Devi (b. Pithapuram Fort, Godavari district, Madras, 1920; d. 1987), fourth daughter of Meherban-i-Dostan Sri Maharaja Ravu Venkata Kumara Mahipathi Surya Rao Bahadur Garu, Sardar, Rajahmundry Circar and Maharaja of Pithapuram, CBE, in the Godvri district of the Madras Presidency, by his first wife, Maharani Chinnamamba Devi, eldest daughter of Sri Raja Venkata Ramaya Appa Rao Bahadur, Zamindar of Kapileswarapuram (Nuzvid), in the Godavari district of the Madras Presidency. He was k. in a house fire at Chevremont Villa No 1, Darjeeling, West Bengal, 4th April 1951, having had issue, one son and one daughter:
- a) Rajkumar Virajendra Narayan, who succeeded as H.H. Sri Sri Maharaja Virajdendra Narayan Bhup Bahadur, Maharaja of Cooch-Behar - see below. Copyright© Christopher Buyers
- a) Rajkumari Uttara Devi [H.H. Maharani Uttara Devi Sahiba, of Kotah]. b. at Cooch-Behar, 25^th July 1942, educ. in Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Switzerland. m. 21^st May 1963, as his second wife, H.H. Maharajadhiraj Maharaja Mahimahendra Maharao Raja Shri Brijraj Singhji Sahib Bahadur, Maharao Raja of Kotah (Shri Brij Raj Singh-Kotah) (b. 21^st February 1934), eldest son of Brigadier H.H. Maharajadhiraj Maharaja Mahimahendra Maharao Raja Shri Sir Bhim Singhji Sahib Bahadur, Maharao Raja of Kotah, KCSI, by his wife, H.H. Maharani Shiv Kumari Kanwarji Sahiba, second daughter of General H.H. Sri Raj Rajeshwar Maharajadhiraj Narendra Sawai Maharaja Shiromani Sir Ganga Singhji Bahadur, Maharaja of Bikaner, GCSI, GCIE, GCVO, GBE, KCB, KIH. She had issue, one son and one daughter - see India (Kotah).

1) Sri Sri Maharajkumari Ila Devi. b. at Woodlands, Alipur, Calcutta, Bengal, 1^st October 1914, educ. Ravenscroft, Eastbourne, and the Tagore Sch, Shantiniketan, Bengal. Mbr Bengal Flying Club 1935. Rcvd: Cooch-Behar Installation (1936), Baroda Golden Jubilee (1926), Baroda Diamond Jubilee (1936) medals. m. at Woodlands, Alipur, Calcutta, Bengal, 12^th June 1936, Major Rajkumar Ramendra Kishore Dev Verma (d. at Calcutta, West Bengal, 1975), late 7^th Rajput Rifles, son of Lieutenant-Colonel Mahamanyabar Maharajkumar Shri Brajendra Kishore Deb Barman Bahadur, by his wife, a daughter of Major H.H. Maharaj Rana Shri Nihal Singh Lokendra Bahadur, Maharaj Rana of Dholpur, CB. She d. of ptomaine poisoning at Darjeeling, West Bengal, 1945, having had issue, two sons and one daughter - see India (Tripura).

2) Sri Sri Maharajkumari Ayesha Devi [H.H. Maharani Shri Gayatri Devi Sahiba, of Jaipur]. b. at St Marylebone, London, 23^rd May 1919, educ. Glendower Sch, London, Les Noisetiers, Cergnat near Leysin, Vaud and Brillantmont International Sch, Lausanne, Switzerland, and the Tagore Sch, Shantiniketan, Bengal. MP (Lok Sabha) for Jaipur 1962-1976, imprisoned under the “Emergency” government of Mrs Gandhi 1975. Co-author of “A Princess Remembers” (1976) and “Gourmet’s Gateway: A Royal Collection” (1999). Chair Maharani Gayatri Devi Girls’ Sch (Jaipur) Brd of Governors 1943-2009, Rajasthan Tourism Development Corp 1977, Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh Benevolent Trust, etc. Presdt Badminton Assoc of India, and Jaipur Sports Assoc. Vice-Presdt Tennis Assoc of India. Chief Patron Jaipur Riding and Polo Club. Patron Jaipur Ladies’ Club, the Elephant Family Charitable Trust, etc. Rcvd: Coron (1937 and 1953), Cooch-Behar Installation (1936), Cooch-Behar Silver Jubilee (1947), Baroda Golden Jubilee (1926), Baroda Diamond Jubilee (1936), and Jaipur Silver Jubilee (1947) medals. m. at the Victor Jubilee Palace, Cooch-Behar 9^th May 1940, as his third wife, Lieutenant-General H.H. Saramad-i-Rajha-i-Hindustan Raj Rajendra Shri Maharajadhiraja Maharaja Sir Sawai Man Singh II Bahadur, Maharaja of Jaipur, GCSI, GCIE (b. at Isarda, 21^st August 1911; d. at Cirencester, 24^th June 1970), second son of Lieutenant-Colonel Raja Shri Sawai Singhji, Raja of Isarda, by his wife, Thakuraniji Sri Sugan Kunwar Sahiba, daughter of Thakur Umrao Singh, of Kotla, in the United Provinces. She d. at Santokba Durlabhji Memorial Hospital (SDMH), Jaipur, Rajasthan, 29^th July 2009, having had issue, an only son - see India (Jaipur).

3) Sri Sri Maharajkumari Maneka Devi [H.H. Shrimant Akhand Soubhagyavati Maharani Maneka Prabha Raje Sahib Pawar, of Dewas Junior]]. b. in London, 5^th July 1920, educ. Glendover Sch, London, Brillantmont International Sch, Lausanne, Switzerland, and the Tagore Sch, Shantiniketan, Bengal. Rcvd: Cooch-Behar Installation (1936), Baroda Golden Jubilee (1926), and Diamond Jubilee (1936), and Jaipur Silver Jubilee (1947) medals. m. at the Cooch Behar Royal Palace (Rajbhari), 19^th February 1942, Major H.H. Meherban Shrimant Sir Yeshwant Rao [Bhau Sahib] Puar, Maharaja of Dewas (Junior), KCIE (b. 3^rd March 1905; d. 19xx), only son of H.H. Meherban Shrimant Sadashiv Rao [Khase Sahib] Puar, Maharaja of Dewas (Junior), by his wife, H.H. Shrimant Akhand Soubhagyavati Maharani Parvati Raje Bai Sahiba, from the Angre family of Alibeg. She had issue, two daughters - see India (Dewas Junior).

1922 - 1970 Colonel H.H. Sri Sriman Maharaja Sir Jagaddipendra Narayan Bhup Bahadur, Maharaja of Cooch Behar, KCIE (14.8.1947). b. at the Victor Jubilee Palace, Cooch Behar, 15^th December 1915, elder son of H.H. Sri Sriman Maharaja Sir Jitendra Narayan Bhup Bahadur, Maharaja of Cooch Behar, KCSI, by his wife, H.H. Maharani Sri Sri Indira Devi Sahiba, Maharani Regent of Cooch Behar, educ. St Cyprian’s Sch, Farnborough, Hampshire, Harrow Sch, Middlesex, Trinity Hall, Cambridge, and the Prince of Wales’s Royal Indian Military Coll, Dehra Dun. Succeeded on the death of his father, 20^th December 1922 and ascended the gadi, at the Cooch Behar Royal Palace (Rajbhari), 24^th December 1922. Reigned under the Regency of his mother until he came of age and was invested with full ruling powers, at the Cooch Behar Royal Palace (Rajbhari), 6^th April 1936. Cmsnd as 2^nd-Lieut IA 8/9/1939 attached 7^th Light Cavalry, prom Hon Lieut 1/6/1942, prom Hon Capt 11/7/1944, served in WW2 in North Africa, Assam, Burma, and South East Asia (present at the Japanese surrender at Singapore 1945), prom Hon Maj 15/8/1945, prom Hon Lieut-Col 15/10/1946. Chief Cdt Cooch Behar State Forces 1943-1949. Colonel-in-Chief The Narayan Guards Regt 15/7/1947-1949, and 1^st Cooch Behar Infantry, Cooch Behar State Forces. Colonel-in-Chief Rajendra Hazari Guards, Jaipur State Forces. Mbr Standing Cttee Chamber of Princes (Narendra Mandal). Signed the instrument of accession to the Dominion of India, 9^th August 1947. Ceded full ruling powers to the GOI 12th September 1949 and oversaw the merger of his state with West Bengal 19^th January 1950. Capt Bengal Cricket XI. Presdt Cooch Behar Kshatriya Soc 1942-1970, and Debutter Brd of Trustees 1954-1970. Patron Maharaja Jitendra Narayan Club (Cooch Behar) 1940-1970. Mbr Indian Polo Assoc, Himalayan Mountain Inst, Bombay Natural History Soc, Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), Hurlingham Club, Willingdon Sports Club (Bombay), Royal Calcutta Turf Club (RCTC), Bengal Flying Club, Hyderabad State Flying Club, Cooch Behar Flying Club, Calcutta Swimming Club 1964, etc. Rcvd: Silver Jubilee medal (1935), Coron medals (1937 & 1953), 1939/45, Burma, Africa and Pacific stars, British War and India Service medals (1945), Indian Independence (1948), Cooch Behar Investiture (1936), Cooch Behar Silver Jubilee (1947), Baroda Golden Jubilee (1926), Baroda Diamond Jubilee (1936), and Jaipur Silver Jubilee (1947) medals. m. (first) at Cooch Behar, 1949 (privately?) (div. 1952) Nancy Ann Valentine (b. St Albans, New York, USA, 21^st January 1928; m. second, at Pacific Palisades, California, USA, 31st July 1956 (div. at Santa Monica, California, 29th January 1958), Frederick Tillinghast, by whom she had one daughter. m. third, at Los Angeles, California, USA, 1^st October 1961, Everett Charles Chambers, by whom she had further issue, a second daughter), former screen actress, née Annette Valentine, daughter of Richard Foster Valentine, of Smithtown, Suffolk, New York USA, by his wife, Bertha, daughter of John Jacob Lydman, of Brooklyn, New York, USA, previously of Finland. m. (second) at Marylebone, Mdsx, September 1956 (made public 1960), H.H. Maharani Sri Sri Gina Devi Narayan (b. at London, 6^th May 1930; d. at Marbella, Spain, 14^th January 2013), educ. Purley County Grammar Sch for Girls, Old Coulsdon, Surrey, recognised as Maharani together with the style of Her Highness by the GOI in January 1960, settled in Spain after 1980, sometime fashion model with Sir Norman Hartnell and Louis Feraud, née Georgina May Egan, former wife of Douglas H. Fisher, and only daughter of Arthur Edward Egan, of Wandsworth, London, police constable, by his wife, Evangeline May, daughter of Joseph Irons, of Norwood, Lambeth, London. He d.s.p.m. suddenly at Calcutta, West Bengal, 11^th April 1970 (crem. and his ashes interred at the Keshab Ashram, Cooch Behar), having had issue:

1) An only daughter by Nancy Valentine. b. 1951, and died almost immediately from a kidney complaint.

Maharaja Sir Jagaddipendra Narayan Bhup Bahadur, and his second wife, Maharani Sri Sri Gina Devi Narayan, adopted his paternal nephew as his son and successor:

1) Sri Sri Maharajkumar Virajendra Narayan Bahadur, who succeeded as H.H. Sri Sriman Maharaja Virajendra Narayan Bhup Bahadur, Maharaja of Cooch Behar – see below.

1970 – [1992] H.H. Maharaja Sri Sriman Virajendra Narayan Bhup Bahadur [Viraj Narain] [Vijendra Narayan], Maharaja of Cooch Behar. b. at Bombay, 28^th December 1944, only son of Lieutenant-Colonel Maharajkumar Shri Indrajitendra Narayan, by his wife, Ishorani Kamala Devi, educ. St Paul’s Sch, Darjeeling, West Bengal, and St Stephen’s Coll, Delhi Univ. Adopted by his paternal uncle, Colonel H.H. Sri Sriman Maharaja Sir Jagaddipendra Narayan Bhup Bahadur, Maharaja of Cooch Behar, KCIE and his wife, H.H. Maharani Sri Sri Gina Devi Narayan. Succeeded on the death of his adoptive father, 11^th April 1970 (recognised by the President of India 24^th June 1970, with effect from 11^th April 1970). Ascended the gadi at the Durbar Hall, Cooch Behar Royal Palace (Rajbhari), 12^th April 1970. The Government of India amended the Indian Constitution to remove his position as a “ruler” and his right to receive privy-purse payments, 28^th December 1971. Presdt Debutter Brd of Trustees 1970-1992. Mbr Cycle Polo Fed of India, Calcutta Club, All-India Gurkha League, etc. m. (first) at Calcutta, West Bengal, 1972, (div. 198x) H.H. Maharani Sri Sri Debjani Narayan (m. second, at Calcutta, West Bengal, 198x, Arun Lal Dhir, the Indian test cricketer), from a Bengali family in Calcutta [possibly Debjani Sengupta (b. 20^th February 1949), elder daughter of Biswa Sengupta, army officer, by his wife, Aroti.]. m. (second) (div.) Reena ... m. (third) ca 1987 (div.) Anna, a Danish subject. m. (fourth) 1991, Surekha Gurung (m. second, ...), a Gurkha lady from Assam. He was d.s.p. in a car crash, at Gauhati, Assam, 10^th August 1992 (or at Calcutta, West Bengal, 11^th August 1992) (crem. and his ashes interred at the Keshab Ashram, Cooch Behar), without having adopted an heir or named a successor.

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