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{{Short description|Raja of Raigarh from 1924 to 1947}}
{{EngvarB|date=August 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2014}}
{{Infobox royalty
| name = Chakradhar Singh
| title = [[Raja]],
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| reign = 1924 – 1947
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| predecessor = Raja Natwar Singh
| successor = Lalit Kumar Singh

| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1905|08|19|df=y}}
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| death_date = {{Death date and age|1947|10|07|1905|08|19|df=y}}
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| father = Raja Bhup Deo Singh of Raigarh
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'''Raja Chakradhar Singh ''' (19 August 1905<ref name=y/> −7 October 1947<ref name=x/>) was the [[Raja]] of [[Raigarh State|Raigarh]] and Chief of [[Bargarh]] ruled by [[Gonds|Gond dynasty]]. He was the ruler of [[Princely state of Raigarh]] from 1924 till his death in 1947. He was son of [[Bhup Deo Singh|Raja Bhup Deo Singh]], who died in 1917.<ref name=i/>

==Early life==
He completed his education from [[Rajkumar College, Raipur]].<ref name=r>{{cite web |title=King Chakradhar Singh |url=http://raigarh.gov.in/chakradharsamaroh/kingchakradhar.html |publisher=Raigarh district, Official website |accessdate=19 February 2014 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090622015137/http://raigarh.gov.in/chakradharsamaroh/kingchakradhar.html |archivedate=22 June 2009 |df=dmy }}</ref> He succeeded to throne of Raigrah upon death of his elder brother, [[Raja Natwar Singh]] in 1924. The government management however continued till 1927 when Raja was invested with powers.<ref name=y>Raigarh darbar by P. D. Ashirwadam
Agam Kala Prakashan, 1990 On the contribution of Chakradhar Singh, Raja of Raigarh, 1905–1947, to Kathak dance and Hindustani music.</ref><ref name=i>{{cite book|title=Indian States: A Biographical, Historical, and Administrative Survey edited by Arnold Wright|date=1922|pages=625–626|isbn=9788120619654|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=47sfj8DUwNgC&q=Raja+of+Raigarh+Chakradhar+Singh+brother+of&pg=PA549-IA7|last1=Bond|first1=J. W.|last2=Wright|first2=Arnold|publisher=Asian Educational Services }}</ref><ref name=m>Memoranda on the Indian States 1939– Page 118</ref><ref>Report on the Administration of the Feudatory States of the Central Provinces 1921 pp:37–38</ref>
<ref>{{cite book|title=Encyclopaedia Indica: India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Volume 100 by S. S. Shashi|date=1996|publisher=Anmol Prakashan|page=6|isbn=9788170418597|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=I_cvAQAAIAAJ&q=Raja+of+Raigarh+Chakradhar+Singh}}</ref>

==Music==
He was a great patron of Indian arts, classical dance, music invited to his capital music and dance-experts from different parts of the country. His contribution has been important in the development of the classical form of [[Kathak]]. During the reign of Raja Chakradhar Singh, experts of both the gharanas, namely, Jaipur and Lucknow gained prominent positions and were patronised by him.<ref name=x-p64>Indian Dance: The Ultimate Metaphor by Shanta Serbjeet Singh – 2000 – Page 64</ref><ref name=toi/> Even experts from [[Benares gharana]] were in his court.<ref name=toi>{{cite news|title=Kathak fusion leaves audience mesmerized|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bhopal/Kathak-fusion-leaves-audience-mesmerized/articleshow/24788218.cms|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140117063900/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-10-28/bhopal/43461730_1_kathak-maharaja-chakradhar-singh-dance-form|url-status=live|archive-date=17 January 2014|access-date=16 February 2014|newspaper=[[The Times of India]]|date=28 October 2013}}</ref> The [[Kathak#Raigarh Gharana|Raigarh Gharana]] of [[Kathak]] was established by him during his reign, which produced many luminaries, dancers, singers and musicians due to his patronage and philanthropy.<ref name=x>The India Magazine of Her People and Culture by A. H. Advani- Volume 6 – 1985– Page 250 October 7, 1947, was a sad day for the artistes, art lovers and the people of Raigarh. Raja Chakradhar Singh died suddenly and the haven of music he created came to a standstill leaving everyone bereft</ref><ref name=kk>{{cite book|title=Kathak, Indian Classical Dance Art By Sunil Kothari |date=1989 |pages=70–73 |isbn=9788170172239 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZAbMS6ynGJ8C&q=Raja+of+Raigarh+Chakradhar+Singh&pg=PA74|last1=Kothari|first1=Sunil|publisher=Abhinav Publications }}</ref><ref>The Journal of the Music Academy, Madras – Volume 62 -1991 – Page 157</ref> Among the noted Kathak exponents to have served his court were Pandit Jaggannath Prasad of Jaipur Gharana and Guru Kalaka Prasad and his sons of Lucknow Gharana.<ref name=r/> He invented a new dance form by mixing different dance forms, which led to foundation of Raigarh Gharana.<ref name=r/> Raigarh Gharana thus founded by Raja Chakradhar Singh, although the youngest of all gharanas, has its own compositions of [[thumri]]s, [[ghazal]]s, ''todas'' and ''bols'' which are unique in themselves.<ref name=y/><ref name=toi/>

Chakradhar Singh was himself a great exponent of [[tabla]] and [[pakhawaj]].<ref name=x/> He was himself also a good dancer and musician. His patronage extended to all dancers irrespective of their [[gharana]].<ref name=k>India's Kathak Dance Past, Present, Future: – Page 28</ref> His name is often taken with [[Wajid Ali Shah]] of [[Awadh]] as a patron of classical Indian dance and music, especially with respect to Kathak dance and [[Hindustani classical music]].<ref name=y/><ref name=kk/><ref name=k/><ref>Classical and Folk Dances of India 1963– Page 77</ref> Among the dancers and musicians to have performed or served his court were Pandit Makhan Lal Chaturvedi, Dr. Ramkumar Verma, Pandit Mahaveer Prasad Dwivedi, Pandit Padumlal Punnalal Bakshi. Even [[Sanskrit]] language writers like Pandit Sadashiv Das, Pandit Sharda Prasad, Pandit Kashi Dutt Jha served him, through them he translated a lot of music and dance literature in Sanskrit.<ref name=r/>

In 1938, Chakradhar Singh headed the first All India Music Conference held at [[Allahabad]].<ref name=r/> In this conference Chakradhar Singh went with his team of 60 artists.<ref name=r/> In 1939, the conference organised a welcome party for [[Viceroy of India]], where Kathak dancer [[Karthik Kalyan]] presented the dance and was assisted by Chakradhar Singh, who played tabla.<ref name=r/> He was given title of ''Sangit Samrat - (King of Music)'' by the [[The Marquess of Linlithgow|Viceroy Lord Linlithgow]] at this conference. In 1943 conference at [[Khairagarh]], he again played [[tabla]] for the dance performance of Kalyan Das.<ref name=r/>

He had a very good knowledge of Hindi, Sanskrit, Urdu and Oriya and has written several books on Indian traditional music such as<ref name=r/>
{{Div col|colwidth=15em}}
* ''Alkapuri Tilasmi''
* ''Bairagadiya Rajkumar''
* ''Joshe Pharhad''
* ''Kavya Kanan''
* ''Mayachakra''
* ''Moorj Paran Pushpakar''
* ''Mriganayni''
* ''Nartan Sarwasya''
* ''Nigare Pharhad''
* ''Prem ke Teer''
* ''Raag Ratna Manjusha''
* ''Ramyaras''
* ''Ratnahar''
* ''Taal Toynidhi''
* ''Taalbal Pushpakar''
{{div col end}}

==Death==
Raja Chakaradhar Singh died on 7 October 1947<ref name=y/><ref name=x/> just after [[independence of India]]. After his death, [[Lalit Kumar Singh]], his son succeeded him to the throne of Raigarh and ruled briefly before the [[Raigarh State]] was merged into [[Dominion of India|Union of India]] on 14 December 1947.<ref name=zz/>

The princely states of [[Jashpur State|Jashpur]], [[Raigarh State|Raigarh]], [[Sakti State|Sakti]], [[Sarangarh State|Sarangarh]] and [[Udaipur State, Chhattisgarh|Udaipur]] were united later to form the [[Raigarh district]].<ref name=zz>Publication by Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics – 1973– Issue 61 – Page 346</ref><ref>India Today 1992– Page 74</ref>

His second son [[Surendra Kumar Singh (politician)|Surendra Kumar Singh]] was a politician of [[Indian National Congress]].<ref name=z>{{cite news|title=पूर्व कांग्रेस सांसद सुरेन्द्र कुमार सिंह का निधन|url=http://zeenews.india.com/hindi/india/madhya-pradesh-chhattisgarh/former-congress-mp-surendra-kumar-singh-passes-away/260613|accessdate=31 May 2017|agency=Zee News|date=15 June 2015}}</ref>

==Legacy==
There is a music academy established after him, as his memorial at [[Raigarh]].<ref name=r/>

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Singh, Chakradhar}}
[[Category:1905 births]]
[[Category:1947 deaths]]
[[Category:Rajas of Raigarh]]
[[Category:Kathak dancers]]
[[Category:Tabla players]]
[[Category:History of Chhattisgarh]]
[[Category:Hindustani musicians]]
[[Category:Hindi-language writers]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian musicians]]
[[Category:20th-century drummers]]
[[Category:Musicians from Chhattisgarh]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian philanthropists]]
[[Category:Odia-language writers]]
[[Category:20th-century Urdu-language writers]]

Chakradhar Singh - Revision history

Vinod6176 at 12:01, 21 April 2026