Maharaja of Jaipur Bhawani Singh passes away

Brigadier Sawai Bhawani Singh, 80, the former ruler of Jaipur died in the wee hours of Sunday at Medi City hospital at Gurgaon, near Delhi. His body was brought here and was laid at the City Palace in the old walled city to enable people pay their homage to the former Maharaja. He was the last titular Maharaja of Jaipur and the 39th head of the Kachwaha clan of Rajputs.

The title of Maharaja technically ended when royal entitlements were abolished along with privy purses through a Constitutional amendment in 1971 effected by late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. However, he was still considered a cultural, and religious icon of Jaipur was still referred to as His Highness, The Maharaja of Jaipur. If he was still called a Maharaja, it was because the rapport which he built with his former subjects.

Brig Bhawani Singh is survived by his wife Padmini Devi, adopted son Padmanabh Singh and a married daughter Diya Kumari. The family members were besides him when he breathed his last. His funeral would take place on Monday morning with full state honours as he was a decorated soldier who fought the 1971 war against Pakistan and saw action in the Rajasthan sector.