https://indianpedia.org/index.php?action=history&feed=atom&title=Brijnath_SinghBrijnath Singh - Revision history2026-07-31T15:17:35ZRevision history for this page on the wikiMediaWiki 1.45.4https://indianpedia.org/index.php?title=Brijnath_Singh&diff=492389&oldid=prevRomaineAchen489 at 11:18, 15 November 20252025-11-15T11:18:19Z<p></p>
<p><b>New page</b></p><div>{{short description|Raja of Maihar from 1911 to 1968 }}<br />
{{infobox royalty<br />
| title = [[Raja]]<br />
| succession = [[Raja]] of [[Maihar State|Maihar]]<br />
| reign = 15 December 1911 – 13 October 1968<br />
| coronation = 16 December 1911<br />
| predecessor = [[Randhir Singh (ruler)|Randhir Singh]]<br />
| successor = Govind Singh Ju Deo<br />
| birth_date = {{birth date|1886|02|22|df=yes}}<br />
| death_date = {{death date and age|1968|10|13|1886|02|22|df=yes}}<br />
| issue = {{unbulleted list|Govind Singh Ju Deo|Ram Chandra Singh|Mahendra Kumari Devi|Narayan Singh Ju Deo|Rajendra Kumari|Narendra Kumari|Devendra Kumari|Pushpendra Kumari|Chandraprabha Kumari}}<br />
| father = [[Randhir Singh (ruler)|Randhir Singh]]<br />
| investiture = 2 January 1917<br />
| spouse 2 = Surendra Kumari Devi<br />
| spouse 1 = Kausalya Devi<br />
| spouse 3 = Tej Kumari<br />
}}<br />
[[Sir]] '''Brijnath Singh''' [[Order of the Indian Empire|KCIE]] was the [[Raja]] of [[Maihar State|Maihar]] from 1911 until his death in 1968.<br />
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==Early life, family, and education==<br />
He was born on 22 February 1886 to [[Randhir Singh (ruler)|Randhir Singh]], the [[Raja]] of [[Maihar State|Maihar]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/dli.csl.8479/ |title=A Collection of Treaties Engagements and Sanads: Relating to India and Neighbouring Countries (Vol-V) |date=1930 |publisher=Government of India central publication branch,Calcutta |pages=238}}</ref> He received his education at [[Daly College]] in [[Indore]].<ref name=":1">{{Cite book |last=Manager Of Publicatuons. |url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.51641/ |title=Rulers Leading Families And Officials In The States Of Central India (1935) |date=1935 |pages=110}}</ref> He first married, in February 1915, Kausalya Devi, daughter of Daulatsinhji, the [[Thakore]] of [[Dhrol State|Dhrol]].<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Soszynski |first=Henry |title=MAIHAR |url=http://members.iinet.net.au/~royalty/ips/m/maihar.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170825055638/http://members.iinet.net.au/~royalty/ips/m/maihar.html |archive-date=2017-08-25 |access-date=2025-07-24 |website=members.iinet.net.au}}</ref> His second marriage took place in 1920, to Surendra Kumari Devi, daughter of Maharaj Chhatar Singh of Semlia, a dependency of Sailana.<ref name=":2" /> His third wife was Tej Kumari.<ref name=":2" /> His children were: Govind Singh Ju Deo, Ram Chandra Singh, Mahendra Kumari Devi, Narayan Singh Ju Deo, Rajendra Kumari, Narendra Kumari, Devendra Kumari, Pushpendra Kumari, and Chandraprabha Kumari.<ref name=":2" /><br />
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Singh's son, Govind Singh, married Yadhuvansh Kumari, the daughter of Maharaja [[Bhupinder Singh of Patiala|Bhupinder Singh]] of [[Patiala]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Singh |first=Tejinder |date=2018-05-27 |title=Jyoti Singh Opens Her Heart as Yadvi Opens on US Screens |url=https://www.america-times.com/jyoti-singh-opens-heart-yadvi-opens-us-screens/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240303121624/https://www.america-times.com/jyoti-singh-opens-heart-yadvi-opens-us-screens/ |archive-date=3 March 2024 |access-date=2024-06-22 |website=The America Times |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last= |first= |url=https://www.google.co.in/books/edition/National_Register_of_Private_Records/5oBWAAAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv |title=National Register of Private Records |date=1972 |publisher=National Archives of India |series=part 2 |location=New Delhi |page=96 |language=en |issue=1}}</ref><br />
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== Patronage of Ustad Alauddin Khan and the Rise of the Maihar Gharana ==<br />
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In the early 20th century, Ustad Alauddin Khan arrived in Maihar in a penniless state after years of musical pursuit and hardship. He was given shelter by Suraj Sahai Saxena, a local music enthusiast, who supported him for nearly two years while Khan practiced outside the Sharada Devi temple. Eventually, Suraj's cousin, Chimmanlal Saxena, who was the Dewan (Prime Minister) of Maihar State, introduced him to Maharaja Brijnath Singh.<ref name="hindu">{{cite news |last=Srinivasan |first=Anil |title=Allauddin Khan and the Maihar Gharana |url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/allauddin-khan-and-the-maihar-gharana/article7896278.ece |newspaper=The Hindu |date=19 November 2015 |access-date=3 August 2025}}</ref><ref name="ebnw">{{cite web |title=Princess Jailakshmi of Maihar shares a story on her teens in Maihar |url=https://ebnw.net/lifestyle/princess-jailakshmi-maihar-shares-a-story-on-my-teens-in-maihar-read-it-here-to-know-more-on-maihara-gharana-of-music/ |website=EBNW Story |access-date=3 August 2025}}</ref><br />
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Recognizing his brilliance, Brijnath Singh appointed Alauddin Khan as the court musician of Maihar in 1907. With the Maharaja’s support, Khan established the foundation of the Maihar Gharana—a new lineage in Hindustani classical music that combined elements of dhrupad, khayal, and instrumental innovation. During this period, he trained several disciples who went on to become some of India’s most respected musicians.<br />
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Under Brijnath Singh’s patronage, Khan also founded the '''Maihar Band''', a unique orchestra composed mainly of orphaned children. The Maharaja provided essential support, including instruments, salaries, and rehearsal facilities. The band blended Indian and Western instruments and served as a rare example of socially conscious court patronage in music.<ref name="swaraalap">{{cite web |title=Maihar Band |url=https://www.swaraalap.com/book-shelf/maihar-band/ |website=Swaraalap |access-date=3 August 2025}}</ref><br />
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Brijnath Singh is also credited with naming Khan’s daughter '''Annapurna Devi''', who later became a legendary surbahar player and a key figure in the transmission of Indian classical music in the 20th century.<ref name="hindu" /><br />
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Alauddin Khan’s disciples trained in Maihar included '''Ravi Shankar''', '''Ali Akbar Khan''', '''Nikhil Banerjee''', '''Annapurna Devi''', and '''Pannalal Ghosh''', among others. Their global success helped elevate the Maihar Gharana into one of the most influential schools of Indian classical music.<br />
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Maharaja Brijnath Singh is also believed to have had a personal interest in music and reportedly studied vocal music under Alauddin Khan himself.<ref name="ebnw" /><br />
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== Reign ==<br />
Upon his father's murder on 15 December 1911, he succeeded him as the [[Raja]] of [[Maihar State|Maihar]] and was installed on the throne the next day, 16 December 1911.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Not Available |url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.35692 |title=Memoranda On The Indian States 1921 |date=1922 |pages=17–18}}</ref> As he was a minor at the time, the administration of the state was carried out by the [[Dewan]] on his behalf under the supervision of the Political Agent in [[Bagelkhand|Baghelkhand]].<ref name=":0" /> He was invested with full ruling powers on 2 January 1917.<ref name=":1" /> On 14 August 1947, he signed the [[Instrument of Accession|instrument of accession]], through which he acceded his state to the [[Dominion of India]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Reed |first=Sir Stanley |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/Indian_and_Pakistan_Year_Book_and_Who_s/EvsTAAAAIAAJ |title=Indian and Pakistan Year Book and Who's who |date=1949 |publisher=Times of India Press |pages=446, 445 |language=en}}</ref><br />
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== Death ==<br />
He died on 13 October 1968.<ref name=":2" /><br />
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== Honours ==<br />
He was made [[Knight Commander]] of the [[Order of the Indian Empire]] on 3 June 1935.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Not Available |url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.35598/ |title=Memoranda On The Indian States 1939 |date=1939 |pages=78}}</ref><br />
{| class="wikitable"<br />
|+<br />
!Country<br />
!Year<br />
!Honour<br />
!Class/Grade<br />
!'''Ribbon'''<br />
!Post-nominal letters<br />
|-<br />
|{{flagu|United Kingdom|name=United Kingdom}}<br />
|1911<br />
|[[Order of the Indian Empire]]<br />
|Knight Commander<br />
|[[File:Order_of_the_Indian_Empire_Ribbon.svg|70x70px]]<br />
|KCIE<br />
|}<br />
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==References==<br />
<references /><br />
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== External links ==<br />
* [https://indianculture.gov.in/archives/maihar-state-instrument-accession-and-standstill-agreement-signed-between-hh-maharaja-sir Maihar State - Instrument of Accession and Standstill Agreement]<br />
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Singh, Brijnath}}<br />
[[Category:1886 births]]<br />
[[Category:1968 deaths]]<br />
[[Category:20th-century Indian monarchs]]<br />
[[Category:Indian Hindus]]<br />
[[Category:Indian knights]]<br />
[[Category:Knights Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire]]</div>RomaineAchen489