Gaj Singh

{{Short description|Titular Maharaja of Jodhpur [The Cpital of Marwar], Indian politician and diplomat}}

{{Infobox royalty

| name = Gaj Singh II

| image = Maharaja Gaj Singh.jpg

| succession1 = Head of the House of Rathore

| reign-type1 = Tenure

| reign1 = 26 January 1952 – present

| predecessor1 = Hanwant Singh I

| successor1 = Shivraj Singh

| suc-type1 = Heir apparent

| succession2 = Maharaja of Jodhpur

| reign-type2 = Tenure

| reign2 = 26 January 1952 – present

| coronation2 = 12 May 1952

| predecessor2 = Hanwant Singh

| successor2 = Position abolished
{{small|Shivraj Singh (heir)}}

| regent2 = Krishna Kumari

| suc-type = Heir apparent

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1948|01|13}}

| birth_place = Jodhpur, Jodhpur State, India

| death_date =

| death_place =

| place of burial =

| spouse = {{marriage|Hemlata Rajye|19 February 1973}}

| issue = Shivranjani Rajye
Shivraj Singh

| father = Hanwant Singh

| mother = Krishna Kumari

| religion = Hinduism

| dynasty = Rathore

| module = {{Infobox person | embed=yes

| education = Cothill House
Eton College

| alma_mater = {{nowrap|Christ Church, Oxford}}

}}

{{Infobox person | embed=yes

| relatives = Chandresh Kumari
Shailesh Kumari
Hukum Singh

}}

File:1927 Rolls Royce Phantom I Windovers Limousine (43903386944).jpg

Gaj Singh II (born 13 January 1948), known as 'Bapji' (meaning 'father'),{{Cite web |date=2023-01-20 |title=The Epitome of Elegance and Grace |url=https://openthemagazine.com/columns/the-epitome-of-elegance-and-grace/ |access-date=2023-01-21 |website=Open The Magazine |language=en-GB}} is the titular Maharaja of Jodhpur since 1952, as well as an Indian politician and diplomat.

Early years and accession

Gaj Singh was born on 13 January 1948 to Hanwant Singh and his first wife, Krishna Kumari, in the Zenana (women's quarters) of Umaid Bhawan Palace.{{Cite book |last=Singh |first=Dhananajaya |url=https://archive.org/details/houseofmarwarsto0000sing |title=The house of Marwar : the story of Jodhpur |date=1996 |publisher=New Delhi : Roli Books |others=Internet Archive |isbn=978-81-7436-026-7 |pages=11, 12, 18, 189, 203-5, 212, 215}}{{Cite book |last=Sharma |first=C. L. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WHgo_xlOqaQC |title=Ruling Elites of Rajasthan: A Changing Profile |date=1993 |publisher=M.D. Publications Pvt. Ltd. |isbn=978-81-85880-13-6 |pages=103–106 |language=en}} When his father, Hanwant Singh, lost his life in an air accident in 1952,{{Cite news |date=2012-02-24 |title=Rajasthan museum seeks maharaja's plane crash wreckage |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-17136859 |access-date=2024-08-24 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}} the throne and titles were passed to him at the age of four.{{Cite web |last1=Magazine |first1=Smithsonian |last2=Malhotra |first2=Sonia Faleiro,Dhruv |title=The Fall and Rise of a Modern Maharaja |url=https://www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/royal-palaces-maharaja-culture-india-180957796/ |access-date=2024-08-24 |website=Smithsonian Magazine |language=en}} To mark his accession, a safa of five colors—pink, white, red, saffron, and green, which are also the colors of the Jodhpur State flag—was designed and is called Gaj Shahi.

During his minority, his mother, Krishna Kumari, acted as regent.{{Cite web |date=2018-07-09 |title=In Memoriam: Krishna Kumari (1926 –2018) |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/jodhpur-in-memoriam-krishna-kumari-death-saurashtra-rajputana-queen-1926-2018-5251314/ |access-date=2024-08-24 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Krishna Kumari {{!}} Krishna Kumari Jodhpur {{!}} Maharani Krishna Kumari {{!}} LA POLO |url=https://lapolo.in/blog/rajmata-krishna-kumari-jodhpurs-last-reigning-maharani |access-date=2024-08-24 |website=lapolo.in}} He received a privy purse of 10 lakh rupees and continued to receive it until the 26th Amendment in 1971 abolished it.{{Cite book |last=Jhala |first=Angma Dey |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WGpECgAAQBAJ |title=Royal Patronage, Power and Aesthetics in Princely India |date=2015-10-06 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-317-31657-2 |pages=125 |language=en}}

Education

He received his early education at home. At the age of eight in 1956, he was sent first to Cothill House, a prep school in Oxfordshire, and then in 1961 to Eton College, Eton, and Christ Church, Oxford, where he graduated in 1970 with a degree in Politics, Philosophy, and Economics.

Return to Jodhpur

In 1970, following the completion of his education, he returned to Jodhpur to fulfill his duties as the Maharaja of Jodhpur, assuming control of his vast inheritance as well as the manifold social and cultural responsibilities that accompanied it.{{Cite news |date=2012-02-29 |title=Heart in heritage |url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/history-and-culture/heart-in-heritage/article2946054.ece |access-date=2024-08-24 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}{{Cite web |title=Why wealthy Indian maharajas don't make it to billionaire lists |url=https://www.rediff.com/money/slide-show/slide-show-1-special-why-wealthy-indian-maharajas-dont-make-it-to-billionaires-list/20140313.htm |access-date=2024-08-24 |website=Rediff |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2023-09-04 |title=Meet Maharaja Gaj Singh II of Jodhpur, from the house of Marwars; know about his lifestyle, net worth, royal marriage, and more |url=https://www.financialexpress.com/life/lifestyle-meet-maharaja-gaj-singh-ii-of-jodhpur-from-the-house-of-marwars-know-about-his-lifestyle-net-worth-his-royal-marriage-and-more-3231607/ |access-date=2024-08-24 |website=Financialexpress |language=en}}

Derecognition

On 28 December 1971, following the assent of the then President of India, V. V. Giri, the 26th Amendment to the Constitution of India was enacted by Parliament.{{Cite book |last=Parliament of India |url=https://archive.org/details/E13841971009161722/ |title=The Constitution of India (26th Amendment) Act 1971 |date=1971}} This amendment abolished the official recognition of titles, privileges, and special rights that had been granted to the rulers of the former princely states.

This deprived him and other rulers of the government annuities that had been guaranteed to them both in the Constitution and in the covenants of accession through which their states had been merged with the Dominion of India in 1947.{{Citation|url=http://indiacode.nic.in/coiweb/amend/amend26.htm|title=The Constitution (26 Amendment) Act, 1971|publisher=Government of India|work=indiacode.nic.in|year = 1971|accessdate=9 November 2011}}{{cite book|last=Ramusack|first=Barbara N.|authorlink=Barbara Ramusack|title=The Indian princes and their states|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Kz1-mtazYqEC&pg=PA278|year=2004|publisher=Cambridge University Press|isbn=978-0-521-26727-4|page=278}}, "Through a constitutional amendment passed in 1971, Indira Gandhi stripped the princes of the titles, privy purses and regal privileges which her father's government had granted." (p 278).{{citation|last=Naipaul|first=V. S.|authorlink=V. S. Naipaul|title=India: A Wounded Civilization|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XYeWbmq7pkIC&pg=PT37|year=2003|publisher=Random House Digital, Inc.|isbn=978-1-4000-3075-0|page=37}} Quote: "The princes of India – their number and variety reflecting to a large extent the chaos that had come to the country with the break up of the Mughal empire – had lost real power in the British time. Through generations of idle servitude they had grown to specialize only in style. A bogus, extinguishable glamour: in 1947, with Independence, they had lost their state, and Mrs. Gandhi in 1971 had, without much public outcry, abolished their privy purses and titles." (pp 37–38).{{citation|last=Schmidt|first=Karl J.|title=An atlas and survey of South Asian history|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FzmkFXSgxqgC&pg=PA78|year=1995|publisher=M.E. Sharpe|isbn=978-1-56324-334-9|page=78}} Quote: "Although the Indian states were alternately requested or forced into union with either India or Pakistan, the real death of princely India came when the Twenty-sixth Amendment Act (1971) abolished the princes' titles, privileges, and privy purses." (page 78).{{citation|last=Breckenridge|first=Carol Appadurai|authorlink=Carol Breckenridge|title=Consuming modernity: public culture in a South Asian world|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LN4MN35b-r4C&pg=PA84|year=1995|publisher=U of Minnesota Press|isbn=978-0-8166-2306-8|page=84}} Quote: "The third stage in the political evolution of the princes from rulers to citizens occurred in 1971, when the constitution ceased to recognize them as princes and their privy purses, titles, and special privileges were abolished." (page 84).{{citation|last=Guha|first=Ramachandra|authorlink=Ramchandra Guha|title=India After Gandhi: The History of the World's Largest Democracy|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2fvd-CaFdqYC&pg=PA441|year=2008|publisher=HarperCollins|isbn=978-0-06-095858-9|page=441}} Quote: "Her success at the polls emboldened Mrs. Gandhi to act decisively against the princes. Through 1971, the two sides tried and failed to find a settlement. The princes were willing to forgo their privy purses, but hoped at least to save their titles. But with her overwhelming majority in Parliament, the prime minister had no need to compromise. On 2 December she introduced a bill to amend the constitution and abolish all princely privileges. It was passed in the Lok Sabha by 381 votes to six, and in the Rajya Sabha by 167 votes to seven. In her own speech, the prime minister invited 'the princes to join the elite of the modern age, the elite which earns respect by its talent, energy and contribution to human progress, all of which can only be done when we work together as equals without regarding anybody as of special status.' " (page 441).{{cite book|last=Cheesman|first=David|title=Landlord power and rural indebtedness in colonial Sind, 1865–1901|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rtBi1MgVD0AC&pg=PA10|year=1997|publisher=Routledge|location=London|isbn=978-0-7007-0470-5|page=10}} Quote: "The Indian princes survived the British Raj by only a few years. The Indian republic stripped them of their powers and then their titles." (page 10).{{citation|author=Merriam-Webster, Inc|title=Merriam-Webster's geographical dictionary|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Co_VIPIJerIC&pg=PA520|year=1997|publisher=Merriam-Webster|isbn=978-0-87779-546-9|page=520}} Quote: "Indian States: "Various (formerly) semi-independent areas in India ruled by native princes .... Under British rule ... administered by residents assisted by political agents. Titles and remaining privileges of princes abolished by Indian government 1971." (page 520).{{citation|last=Ward|first=Philip|title=Northern India, Rajasthan, Agra, Delhi: a travel guide|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KubCD2jHjEsC&pg=PA91|date=September 1989|publisher=Pelican Publishing|isbn=978-0-88289-753-0|page=91}} Quote: "A monarchy is only as good as the reigning monarch: thus it is with the princely states. Once they seemed immutable, invincible. In 1971 they were "derecognized," their privileges, privy purses and titles all abolished at a stroke" (page 91)

Family

On 19 February 1973, in a simple ceremony at Dehradun, he married Hemlata Rajye, the daughter of Shiv Rattan Dev Singh, Raja of Poonch, and his wife, Nalini Rajya Lakshmi Devi, the daughter of Tribhuvan Bir Bikram Shah Dev.{{Cite book |last=Grewal |first=Brigadier J. S. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uOl-EAAAQBAJ |title=Poonch: India's Invincible Citadel |date=2022-08-01 |publisher=Lancer Publishers |isbn=978-81-7062-345-8 |pages=142 |language=en}}

They have two children: a daughter, Shivranjani Rajye (born 22 August 1974), and a son, Shivraj Singh (born 30 September 1975).{{Cite book |last=Jhala |first=Jayasinhji |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gSZqDwAAQBAJ |title=Genealogy, Archive, Image: Interpreting Dynastic History in Western India, c. 1090-2016 |date=2018-07-19 |publisher=Walter de Gruyter GmbH & Co KG |isbn=978-3-11-060129-9 |pages=76 |language=en}}

He has two sisters, Chandresh Kumari and Shailesh Kumari, and a stepbrother, Hukum Singh, who was murdered.{{Cite web |date=2013-11-21 |title=Curious case of Jodhpur royal Hukam Singh and his grisly murder |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/crime-stories/story/19810615-curious-case-of-jodhpur-royal-hukam-singh-and-his-grisly-murder-772963-2013-11-21 |access-date=2024-09-03 |website=India Today |language=en}}{{Cite news |date=2018-07-04 |title=Krishna Kumari passes away at 92 |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/jodhpur/krishna-kumari-passes-away-at-92/articleshow/64847976.cms |access-date=2024-09-03 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}

Career

He served from June 1978 to July 1980 as High Commissioner of India,{{Cite web |title=High Commission of India, Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago : Previous High Commissioners |url=https://www.hcipos.gov.in/page/previous-high-commissioners/ |access-date=2024-08-25 |website=www.hcipos.gov.in}} with accreditation spanning the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago,{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2IM9EzzGK4AC |title=Translations on South and East Asia |publisher=Joint Publications Research Service |pages=19 |language=en}} Barbados, Dominica, Saint Lucia, Grenada, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NF1sAAAAMAAJ |title=Personalities Caribbean |date=1983 |publisher=Personalities Limited |pages=970 |language=en}}{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TwcuAQAAIAAJ |title=Asian Recorder |date=1978 |pages=14319 |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2023-09-21 |title=Governing Council - International Institute of Water |url=https://iiwater.org/governing-council/ |access-date=2024-08-25 |website=iiwater.org |language=en-US}}{{cite web |title=Experience a Real Palace |url=https://www.leadersmag.com/issues/2010.3_Jul/Hospitality/LEADERS-Maharaja-Gaj-Singh-II-Marwar-Jodhpur.html |accessdate=2022-11-26 |publisher=LeadersMag.com}} At the same time, he also served as Commissioner to Antigua and Barbuda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Montserrat, Turks and Caicos Islands, and the Cayman Islands.

He also served a term in the Rajya Sabha, the Upper House of the Indian Parliament.{{Cite web |date=2018-12-04 |title=Raj of the Royals (III): Rajasthan families that still have finger on power |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/research/rajasthan-assembly-elections-2018-royal-families-5477965/ |access-date=2024-08-25 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}

On 20 July 1992, he established Rajmata Krishna Kumari Girls' Public School, a day and residential school for girls, named in honor of his mother.{{Cite web |title=History : Rajmata Krishna Kumari Girls' Public School |url=https://rkkgps.com/Aboutus_History.aspx |access-date=2024-08-25 |website=rkkgps.com}}{{Cite web |date=2024-04-10 |title=Meet 7 existing Indian royal families – Know about their source of income and how they live a luxurious life |url=https://www.financialexpress.com/life/lifestyle-meet-7-existing-indian-royal-families-and-know-about-their-source-of-income-and-how-they-live-a-luxurious-life-3451351/ |access-date=2024-08-25 |website=Financialexpress |language=en}}{{Multiple image

| width = 150

| perrow = 1/1

| image1 = CoA Jodhpur 1893.png

| caption1 = Maharaja of Jodhpur's coat of arms

| alt1 = Maharaja of Jodhpur's coat of arms

}}

Philanthropy

Singh heads a number of philanthropic institutions and religious charitable trusts.

= Indian Head Injury Foundation =

When his son, Shivraj Singh, suffered serious head injuries during a polo match in Jaipur in 2005 and lapsed into a coma,{{Cite web |date=2005-03-07 |title=Shivraj Singh suffers serious head injuries during polo match in Jaipur |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/indiascope/story/20050307-shivraj-singh-suffers-serious-head-injuries-during-polo-match-in-jaipur-788253-2005-03-06 |access-date=2024-08-28 |website=India Today |language=en}}{{Cite news |date=2006-01-17 |title=After the fall |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/bombay-times/after-the-fall/articleshow/1375405.cms |access-date=2024-08-28 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}} he saw that only a few private hospitals in India could handle such cases.{{Cite web |date=2009-11-23 |title=Introducing the Indian Head Injuries Foundation |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/health/6613790/Introducing-the-Indian-Head-Injuries-Foundation.html |access-date=2024-08-28 |website=The Telegraph |language=en}} To address this, he started the Indian Head Injury Foundation to quickly treat traumatic brain injuries, especially for those in India with limited resources.{{Cite web |title=Gaj Singh calls for brain trauma awareness {{!}} Femina.in |url=https://www.femina.in/achievers/people/gaj-singh-calls-for-brain-trauma-awareness-24753.html |access-date=2024-08-28 |website=www.femina.in |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=IHIF Story {{!}} Indian Head Injury Foundation |url=https://indianheadinjuryfoundation.org/inspiration-a-ray-of-hope/ |access-date=2024-08-28 |website=indianheadinjuryfoundation.org}}