Summary
HH Maharajadhiraj Shri Maharaja Mahim Mahendra Maharao Raja Sir Bhim Singh II Bahadur, KCSI (14 September 1909 – 20 July 1991) was the last ruling Maharaja of the Hada Chauhan dynasty of the Princely State of Kotah from the year 1940 to 1947.
| Bhim Singh II | |
|---|---|
| Maharao of Kotah Uprajpramukh of Rajasthan First Rajpramukh of Rajasthan | |
 Bhim Singh II, KCSI | |
| Maharao of Kotah | |
| Reign | 1940 – 15 August 1947 |
| Predecessor | Umed Singh II |
| Successor | Brijraj Singh |
| Born | 14 September 1909 |
| Died | 20 July 1991 (aged 81) |
| Spouse | HH Maharaniji Sa Rathorji Shri Shiv Kanwarji Saheba d.of HH Maharajadhiraj Maharaja Sir Shri Ganga Singhji of Bikaner State |
| Issue | Brijraj Singh
Indra Kumariji m.to HH Raja Rawat Sir Vikramaditya Singhji of Rajgarh State Bhuvaneshwari Kumariji m.to Thakur Devi Singhji of Malasar in Bikaner State |
| House | Madhani Hada-Chauhan |
| Father | Umed Singh II |
| Mother | HH Maharaniji Sa Kachwahiji Shri Gulab Kanwarji Maji Saheba of Isarda in Jaipur State |
| Rajpramukh of Rajasthan | |
| In office 25 March 1948 – 18 April 1948 | |
| Succeeded by | Bhupal Singh |
| Uprajpramukh of Rajasthan | |
| In office 18 April 1948 – 31 October 1956 | |
Early career edit
The only son and heir of HH Maharao Sir Umed Singhji II, Bhim Singhji II succeeded his father following his death in 1940. He immediately entered into service with the British Indian Army as an officer, serving during the Second World War and being promoted to Major by 1948. Although he planned several education and modernisation programs for Kotah, they did not reach fruition before Indian independence. He was knighted with the KCSI in 1947, and signed the Instrument of Accession to the Dominion of India on 15 August. The following year, on 25 March 1948, Sir Bhim Singhji merged Kotah into the Rajasthan Union of states and became its first Rajpramukh, but was demoted to Uprajpramukh (Deputy Rajpramukh) when the Maharana of Udaipur, who was of a higher rank than Sir Bhim Singhji, acceded to the Rajasthan Union. Sir Bhim Singhji continued in the office of Uprajpramukh until it, along with the office of Rajpramukh, was abolished by the Government of India on 31 October 1956.
Later Work edit
In 1956, Sir Bhim Singhji served as an Alternate Delegate to the United Nations General Assembly that year. Conversely, since 1959 he had been President of the Rajasthan Board for the Preservation of Wildlife.
Sports shooter edit
An expert shooter, he was Captain of the Indian shooting team at the Singapore Shooting Championships in 1969, at the 1976 Summer Olympics and at the 1978 Asian Games.[1]
Family edit
On 30 April 1930, Bhim Singhji II married Rathorji Maharani Shivkumari Sahiba (1 April 1916–), a younger daughter of General Maharaja Sir Ganga Singh of Bikaner. The couple had one son and two daughters:
- Maharajkumar Sri Brijraj Singhji Sahib Bahadur, who succeeded as Maharajadhiraj Maharaja Mahimahendra Maharao Raja Sri Brijraj Singh Sahib Bahadur (21 February 1934– 29 January 2022)
- Maharajkumari Indira Kumari Sahiba (1937–), who in 1960 married Raja Rawat Sri Bikramaditya Singh Sahib Bahadur (18 December 1936–), the Raja of Rajgarh, becoming the Rani Sahiba of Rajgarh.
- Maharajkumari Bhuvaneshwari Kumari Sahiba (29 May 1945–), who married in the 1970s Thakur Sri Devi Singh of Malasar, and had twin daughters Shaivya Rathore and Divya Rathore.
Later years and death edit
As part of the mass derecognisation of Indian rulers in 1971 under the Indira Gandhi regime, Sir Bhim Singhji was stripped of ruling powers and titles. He died two decades later on 20 July 1991, aged 81, after a reign of 51 years, and was succeeded by his only son, Brijraj Singh.
Titles edit
- 1909–1940: Maharajkumar Sri Bhim Singh Sahib Bahadur
- 1940–1943: His Highness Maharajadhiraj Maharaja Mahimahendra Maharao Raja Sri Bhim Singh II Sahib Bahadur, Maharao Raja of Kotah
- 1943–1944: Captain His Highness Maharajadhiraj Maharaja Mahimahendra Maharao Raja Sri Bhim Singh II Sahib Bahadur, Maharao Raja of Kotah
- 1944–1945: Major His Highness Maharajadhiraj Maharaja Mahimahendra Maharao Raja Sri Bhim Singh II Sahib Bahadur, Maharao Raja of Kotah
- 1945–1946: Lieutenant-Colonel His Highness Maharajadhiraj Maharaja Mahimahendra Maharao Raja Sri Bhim Singh II Sahib Bahadur, Maharao Raja of Kotah
- 1946–1947: Colonel His Highness Maharajadhiraj Maharaja Mahimahendra Maharao Raja Sri Bhim Singh II Sahib Bahadur, Maharao Raja of Kotah
- 1947–1948: Colonel His Highness Maharajadhiraj Maharaja Mahimahendra Maharao Raja Sri Sir Bhim Singh II Sahib Bahadur, Maharao Raja of Kotah, KCSI
- 1948–1991: Brigadier His Highness Maharajadhiraj Maharaja Mahimahendra Maharao Raja Sri Sir Bhim Singh II Sahib Bahadur, Maharao Raja of Kotah, KCSI
Honours edit
  
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- King George V Silver Jubilee Medal-1935
- King George VI Coronation Medal-1937
- Ganga Singh Golden Jubilee Medal of Bikaner-1937
- 1939-1945 Star-1945
- Africa Star-1945
- War Medal 1939-1945-1945
- Knight Commander of the Order of the Star of India (KCSI)-1947
- Indian Independence Medal-1947
- Arjuna Award-1971
References edit
- ^ Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Bhim Singh Olympic Results". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 18 April 2020. Retrieved 8 February 2020.