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Sawai Man Singh II of
Jaipur. Life and Legend
In 1880, the direct line of the Kachhwahas of Jaipur, who had ruled for centuries, came to an end with the adoption of a 19-year-old sepoy in the Tonk infantry, Kayam Singh of Isarda. He assumed the title of Madho Singh II. Madho Singh II did not have any children despite having five queens and 40 concubines. He had to adopt Mor Mukut Singh, son of a jagirdar of Isarda. Both these events were preceded by palace intrigues. Mor Mukut Singh took the title of Sawai Man Singh 11. He was born a commoner and with the merger of the kingdoms he died a commoner. The direct line of Kachhwahas are claimed to have ruled Jaipur for centuries. Their rule was not always absolute and they were mere vassals of the Mughals, given a high noble rank without any kingdom. Later, they had to submit to Maratha and British rule. The Kachhwahas are also accused of offering their daughters to the Mughals. Sawai Man Singh 11 assumed power as the ruler of Jaipur in 1931 at 20, under the treaty of 1818 between the East India Company and the Maharaja. The power was not absolute, a tribute of Rs 8 lakh was given annually and an Agent posted at the capital to keep an eye on the ruling house. Their military power was kept in check and they could be deposed. Man Singh spent most of his time in hunting, playing polo and wooing Gayatri Devi. No wonder he found the threat of British interference, the steady stream of favour seekers and the ultimate hollow quality of power as exacting and demanding. Man Singh’s love for Gayatri Devi is legendary. He first met her in 1931, when he was 21 with two wives and Gayatri was barely 12 years old. For nine long years, he wooed her to get married in 1940. The authors give a bare account of the Sikar rebellion in 1938 and the freedom struggle waged by the Jat Mahasabha, who refused to pay rent in 1933 and the Praja Mandal agitation. The princes signed the Instrument of Accession either willingly or by coercion. The Jaipur House was one of those who did it willingly and also agreed to reorganise the princely states into Rajputana and to be known as Rajasthan in January 1949. He remained with the Congress party despite broken constitutional promises and the fact that the Jaipur ruler was removed from the hereditary post of Rajpramukh of Rajasthan in 1956. Maharani Gayatri Devi opposed the Congress and for this she had to bear the brunt of Indira Gandhi’s fury when she was imprisoned during the Emergency. The authors have skirted these issues which could have made the biography more interesting. |
THIS biography of Sawai
Man Singh II of Jaipur brings out his adoption, passion for polo and
love for the beautiful Gayatri Devi. The Jaipur rulers meekly gave in to
the elected rulers as they had given in to the Mughal rulers. We do not
get the inside story of palace life, intrigues and jealousies just as
the real story behind the accession and the broken constitutional
promises is not revealed.