Jaswant Singh II, GCSI,[1] (6 June 1838 – 11 October 1895)[2][3] was Maharaja of Jodhpur from 4 February 1873 – 11 October 1895.
Birth
He was born in 1838 at Ahmadnagar in Gujarat and was eldest son of Takht Singh and his consort, Maharani Gulab Kanwar, daughter of Maharaja Sheo Singh of Sirohi.[4]
Marriage
He had eight wives, of which the first was the daughter of the Jam Sahib of Nawanagar, Rajba Kanwar. Puariji Bijay Kanwar was his chief consort and mother of Maharaja Sardar Singh.[5]
He also kept concubines, including his favorite Nanhi Jaan, a Muslim court dancer.[6][7]
Accession
He acceded to the throne of Jodhpur in 1873 upon death of his father, Takht Singh,[4]
Reign
The reign of Jaswant Singh II was marked with remarkable prosperity and reforms and development works. He established Courts of Justice, introduced system of revenue settlement and reorganizing all the state departments.[4] Further, he developed infrastructure of the state by introducing telegraphs, railways (Jodhpur State Railway), and developing roads.[4] He formed Imperial Service Cavalry Corps, which later rendered active service in European War.[4] He was honoured and created the Knight Grand Commander of the Most Exalted Order of the Star of India in 1875.[4][8]
Swami Dayananda incident
Jaswant Singh had invited Swami Dayananda as he was influenced by his ideas. But the tragedy occurred when Dayananda was poisoned on 29 September 1883, when he was the royal guest of Jaswant Singh II, by Dayananda's own cook, who had conspired with a court dancer Nanhi Jaan.[9] The Maharaja was quick to arrange the services of Dr. Surjamal of Jodhpur jail. His treatment relived some symptoms but could not reduce the pain. Maharaja then called Sub Assistant Surgeon Ali Mardan Khan who prescribed high dosage of medicine but Dayananda's condition continued to deteriorate. Ali Mardan Khan subsequently suggested sending Dayananda Saraswati to Mount Abu as the colder climate might help recovery. This advice was reiterated by the Residency Surgeon.[9]
Death
He died 11 October 1895 and was succeeded by his middle son Sardar Singh. [5]
Jaswant Thada
The Jaswant Thada is an architectural landmark located in Jodhpur. It is a white marble memorial built by Sardar Singh in 1899 in memory of Maharaja Jaswant Singh II.[10]
References
- ↑ The Golden Book of India: A Genealogical and Biographical Dictionary of the ... By Sir Roper Lethbridge:pp 218
- ↑ Sir William Wilson Hunter, Imperial gazetteer of India, Volume 21, Page 34
- ↑ Nirmal Upadhyaya, The administration of Jodhpur State, 1800–1947 A.D.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 Indian States: A Biographical, Historical, and Administrative Survey edited by Arnold Wright, 1922:pp 200.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Jodhpur. Retrieved 20 December 2013.
- ↑ Reversing the Gaze{{#if:Singh|, Singh}. Westview Press, 2002.(2002). ISBN 978-0-8133-3626-8
- ↑ Mediaeval History of Rajasthan: Western Rajasthan{{#if:Singh|, Singh}. Rajvi Amar Singh(1992)
- ↑ London Gazette, 31 December 1875. Retrieved 23 December 2013.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 World Perspectives on Swami Dayananda Saraswati By Gaṅgā Rām Garg :pp 96–98
- ↑ The Indian Encyclopaedia: Indo-Pak War-Kamla Karri by Subodh Kapoor – 2002 – Page 3755 Jasvvant Thada, Close to the fort complex lies this white marble cenotaph, built in 1899, in commemoration of Maharaja Jaswant Singh II. Rare portraits of Jodhpur's rulers are, also, to be seen at Jaswant Thada.
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