KareemOman9338 at 20:58, 13 November 2025

2025-11-13T20:58:30Z

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{{Short description|Last ruling Maharawal of Dungarpur from 1918–1949}}
{{other people}}
{{more citations needed|date=October 2014}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2021}}
{{Infobox royalty
| name = HH Maharawal Sir Lakshman Singh
| image =
| caption = photograph of Laxman Singh of Dungarpur
| title = [[Dungarpur|Maharawal of Dungarpur]]
| succession = Maharawal of Dungarpur
| birth_date = {{birth date|df=yes|1908|3|7}}
| birth_place = Udai Vilas Palace, [[Dungarpur]] [[Dungarpur State]], [[Rajputana]], [[British Raj]]
| death_date = {{death date and age|1989|6|6|1908|3|7|df=y}}
| death_place = Udai Vilas Palace, [[Dungarpur]], [[Rajasthan]], India
| spouse = HH Maharaniji Sa Bisenji Shri Brajraj Kanwarji of [[Bhinga]] Estate

HH Maharaniji Sa Rathorji Shri Manhar Kanwarji of [[Kishangarh State]]
| issue = [[Mahipal Singh]]

Maharajkumarji Jai Singh

Maharajkumarji Raj Singh

Maharajkumariji Baiji Lal Rajendra Kanwarji m.to Thakore Saheb Dharmendra Sinhji of [[Muli State]]

Maharajkumariji Baiji Lal Sushila Kanwarji m.to HH [[Maharaja Karni Singh]] of [[Bikaner State]]

Maharajkumariji Baiji Lal Hemant Kanwarji m.to HH Maharana Prithviraj Sinhji of [[Danta State]]

Maharajkumariji Baiji Lal Krishna Kanwarji m.to HH [[Raja]] [[Lalit Sen]] of [[Suket State]]
| father = HH [[Maharawal]] [[Sir]] [[Bijai Singh]]
| mother = HH Maharaniji Sa Rathorji Shri Devendra Kanwarji Saheba d.of HH [[Maharaja]] [[Sir]] [[Jashwant Singh II]] of [[Sailana State]]
| reign = 1918–1949
| predecessor = HH Maharawal Sir Bijay Singh
| successor = [[Mahipal Singh]]
| succession2 = [[Speaker of Rajasthan Legislative Assembly]]
| reign2 = 1977–1979
| predecessor2 = [[Ram Kishore Vyas]]
| successor2 = [[Gopal Singh (politician)|Gopal Singh]]
| royal house =
| dynasty = [[Guhila dynasty]]
}}

'''HH Rai-e-Rayan Mahi Mahendra Maharajadhiraj Ravi Kula Bhushan Shri Shri 108 Maharawal Sir Lakshman Singh Bahadur''' [[Knight Grand Commander of the Most Eminent Order of the Indian Empire|GCIE]], [[Knight Commander of the Most Exalted Order of the Star of India|KCSI]] (7 March 1908 – 6 June 1989), was the last ruling [[Ahar, Rajasthan|Ahar]] [[Guhilot]] Maharawal of the [[princely state|Princely State]] of [[Dungarpur]] from the year 1918 to 1989, a former [[Member of parliament|MP]] in the [[Rajya Sabha]] and speaker of the [[Rajasthan Legislative Assembly]] from July 1977 to June 1979.

==Early life==
Maharawal Sir Lakshman Singh was born on 7 March 1908 at Udai Villas, [[Dungarpur]], the eldest son and heir apparent of Maharawal Sir [[Bijai Singh]] of the [[princely state]] of [[Dungarpur]]. He was the elder brother of [[Nagendra Singh]], later the President of the [[International Court of Justice]].

In November 1918, during the [[Spanish flu|influenza pandemic]], both Lakshman Singh and his father contracted the disease; though Singh survived, his father developed double pneumonia and died.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Allen |first1=Charles|last2=Dwivedi |first2=Sharada |date=1984 |title=Lives of the Indian Princes |location=Great Britain |publisher=Century Publishing Co. |page=301 |isbn=0517556898}}</ref> As a result, he succeeded to the throne at the age of 10, ruling under the [[Regent|regency]] of the Dungarpur [[Political officer (British Empire)|political agent]] until he came of age in 1928.

==Political career==
From 1931 to 1947, Lakshman Singh was a member of the standing committee of the [[Chamber of Princes]], and was [[knight]]ed as a Knight Commander of the Order of the Star of India (KCSI) in the 1935 King's Birthday and Silver Jubilee Honours.<ref>[http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/34166/supplements/3596 The London Gazette, 3 June 1935]</ref> On 14 August 1947, he was appointed as the last Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire (GCIE).<ref>[http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/38161/supplements/7 The London Gazette, 1 January 1948]</ref> Following [[Independence]], he established an interim legislature for Dungarpur, then with his fellow rulers formed the United State of [[Rajasthan]] on 25 March 1948. The following year, this became the Greater Rajasthan Union to which Dungarpur acceded on 30 March. From 1952 to 1958, Sir Lakshman served as an [[Member of parliament|MP]] for Aspur in the [[Rajya Sabha]], then became President of the [[Swatantra Party]] in Rajasthan from 1961 to 1969. From 1962 until his death, he also served as President of the All-India Kshatriya Mahasabha and as an [[Member of Legislative Assembly|MLA]] for [[Chittor]] in the [[Rajasthan Legislative Assembly]], serving as speaker from 1977 to 1979; he also served as the leader of the Opposition from 1962 to 1979. He also served as president of [[Akhil Bharatiya Kshatriya Mahasabha]] from 1960 till his death.

==Personal life==
On 8 February 1920 at [[Benares]], Lakshman Singh married Biswanji Maharani Shri Brijraj Kunwari Ba Sahiba of Bhinga (1907–1982); the couple had two daughters. On 8 March 1928, he married Rathorji Maharani Shri Manhar Kunwar Ba Sahiba of [[Kishangarh]] (1914–1975); the couple had three sons and two daughters.
His youngest son [[Raj Singh Dungarpur]] was a president of Board of Control for Cricket in India.<ref>[[Raj Singh Dungarpur]]</ref>{{Circular reference|date=August 2019}}

==Later life==
Despite being officially deprived of his titles as a monarch by the [[Indira Gandhi]] government in 1971, Sir Lakshman continued to serve in politics to the end of his days. He died while in office at his birthplace, Udai Villas at Dungarpur, on 6 June 1989 after a reign of 71 years, aged 81. At the time of his death he was also the second-to-last surviving Knight Grand Commander of the [[Order of the Indian Empire]] ([[Chithira Thirunal of Travancore]] would die two years later). Lakshman Singh was succeeded as titular Maharawal of Dungarpur by his eldest son, [[Mahipal Singh]].

==Titles==
*1908–1918: [[Maharajkumar]] [[Shri]] Lakshman Singh [[Sahib]] [[Baghatur|Bahadur]], [[Yuvaraja]] of [[Dungarpur]]
*1918–1935: [[His Highness]] Rai-i-Rayan, Mahimahendra, [[Maharajadhiraj]] Maharawal Shri Lakshman Singh Sahib Bahadur, Maharawal of Dungarpur
*1935–1947: His Highness Rai-i-Rayan, Mahimahendra, Maharajadhiraj Maharawal Shri [[Sir]] Lakshman Singh Sahib Bahadur, Maharawal of Dungarpur, [[Order of the Star of India|KCSI]]
*1947–1989: His Highness Rai-i-Rayan, Mahimahendra, Maharajadhiraj Maharawal Shri Sir Lakshman Singh Sahib Bahadur, Maharawal of Dungarpur, [[GCIE]], KCSI

==Honours==
*[[King George V Silver Jubilee Medal]]-1935
*[[Knight Commander of the Order of the Star of India]] (KCSI)-1935
*[[King George VI Coronation Medal]]-1937
*[[Indian Independence Medal]]-1947
*[[Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire]] (GCIE)-1947

==References==
{{reflist}}
* ''Dungarpur Rajya ka Itihasa (History: Kingdom of Dungarpur)'', by [[Gaurishankar Hirachand Ojha]], First published 1936. Publisher: Rajasthani Granthaghar, Jodhpur 2000. {{ISBN|81-87720-01-8}}.

==External links==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20140301162612/http://rajassembly.nic.in/sp-photo.htm Page including a photo of Laxman Singh]
* [https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/38/38813/38813.html CricketArchive: Lakshman Singh]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Singh, Laxman}}
[[Category:Rajasthani people]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian monarchs]]
[[Category:Indian cricketers]]
[[Category:Rajya Sabha members from Rajasthan]]
[[Category:Knights Grand Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire]]
[[Category:Knights Commander of the Order of the Star of India]]
[[Category:1908 births]]
[[Category:1989 deaths]]
[[Category:Speakers of the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly]]
[[Category:Maharajas in Rajputana]]
[[Category:People from Dungarpur]]
[[Category:Rajasthan cricketers]]
[[Category:Rajasthan cricket captains]]
[[Category:Swatantra Party politicians]]
[[Category:Leaders of the opposition in Rajasthan]]
[[Category:Cricketers from Rajasthan]]
[[Category:Janata Party politicians]]

Laxman Singh - Revision history

KareemOman9338 at 20:58, 13 November 2025