Rajkumar Bindeshwari Nandan Singh (1895-1928) - SHEOHAR RAJ

राजकुमार बिन्देश्वरी नंदन सिंह शिवहर राज्य के राजकुमार लछमी नंदन सिंह के ज्येष्ठ पुत्र थे। कद में छेह फीट और रंग रूप से बिलकूल श्वेत। बहुत अच्छे से  घोड़े की  सवारी करते थे और बन्दुक चलने में निपुण थे।आप जमींदारी के कार्य में अपने दादाजी राजकुमार गिरजा नंदन सिंह के  भी खूब मददगार थे। इनके पिताजी भी बहुत मेहनती थे और उनका कारोबार औरंगाबाद और टिकरी में भी था। इनकी शादी खुद महाराजाधिराज काशी नरेश सर प्रभु नारायण सिंह ने इनके दादा - राजकुमार गिरजा नंदन सिंह को पत्र लिखकर अपनी भतीजी - सीया देवी (गभीरार एस्टेट) से करवाया।

इनके तीन पुत्र थे -
१. कुमार विशेश्वरी नंदन सिंह
२. कुमार ईश्वरी नंदन सिंह
३. कुमार कामेश्वरी नंदन सिंह

ऊपर के राजकुमार साहेब बहुत बड़े दिल के थे। जब शिवहर में आकाल था तो इन्होने अपने रयत का कर माफ कर दिया। बाबूसाहब में इंसानियत था और बड़े परोपकारी थे। शिवहर में विध्यार्थियों  को किताब-कलम, रुपये -पैसे से मदद करते। तभी थो सर प्रभु नारायण सिंह - सर्वे सर्वा भूमिहारों के इनका हाथ मांगे थे अपनी भतीजी के लिए ।

राजकुमार बिन्देश्वरी नंदन सिंह बहुत धार्मिक थे। इन्होने अपनी टिकारी वाली दादी को 'चार - धाम ' यात्रा कराया। वाह पोता हो थो ऐसा। जगह जगह मंदिरों में दान दिया और एक आदर्श इंसान के रूप में जाने गए। ॐ नमः भगवते वासुदेवायः नमः।

राजकुमार साहेब  का देहांत काफी कम ऊम्र में हो गया। इनके दादाजी - राजकुमार  गिरजा नंदन सिंह ने अपने पोते का पित - ज्वर (येलो फीवर) का इलाज़ कलकत्ता में भी कराया मगर अंततः इस राजकुमार का देहांत पित - ज्वर से हो गया।

Rajkumar Bindeshwari Nandan Singh - SHEOHAR RAJ

Rajkumar Lachmi Nandan Singh had 3 children - 2 sons and 1 daughter from his marriage to Sia Kishori Kuer, Atri Estate 

Eldest Son - Rajkumar Bindeshwari Nandan Singh (shown above)

married Sia Devi of Gabhirar Estate (Eksariya)

Second Son - Rajkumar Ratneshwari Nandan Singh

Daughter (Rajkumari) - Married Thakur Prasad Singh of Bagoura.

RAJA BAHADUR SEORAJ NANDAN SINGH of SHEOHAR RAJ - 1890

Above is the portrait of Raja BAHADUR SEORAJ NANDAN SINGH, who as RAJA of SEOHAR attended KING GEORGE V's CORONATION DURBAR of DELHI in 1911.
(By the Grace of God, King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Iceland
and of the British Dominions beyond the seas, Defender of the Faith, Emperor of India ).

Some of the other Bhumihar rulers who also attended the coronation were -

His Highness the Hon'ble Maha- Raja Sir Prabhu Narayan Singh Bahadur, G.C.I.B of Benaras.

The Hon'ble Maharaj -Kumar Gopal Saran Narayan Singh of Tikari.

Raja Ragho Prasad Narayan Singh of Baraon.

The daughter of RAJA BAHADUR SEORAJ NANDAN SINGH would be married into the EKSARIA FAMILY of MAJHA ESTATE while his nephew and RAJA GIRISH NANDAN SINGH would also marry into MAJHA ESTATE.

Seoraj Nandan Singh, succeeded his father (Raja Sheo Nandan Singh) in 1867 , as  a minor. He attained majority in 1875, and was invested with the title of Raja Bahadur, and had subsequently rendered good services in the famine of 1873-74, and again in 1890. His uncle, Deo
Nandan Singh, was created a Raja in 1892. He has a brother, Rajkumar Rudraj Nandan Singh, and two nephews, Rajkumar Lachmi Nandan Singh and Rajkumar Kalika Nandan Singh.

Residence: Muzaffarpur, Bengal.

HH Maharajadhiraj Sri Sir Prabhu Narayan Singh - Indenpendent Ruler of Kashi.Ruled from 1889 - 1931

Lt. Colonel HH Maharajadhiraj Kashi Naresh Sir Prabhu Narayan Singh Sahib Bahadur, 

Maharaja of Benaras, GCSI, GCIE, KCIE.

He was born on 26th November 1855 and was adopted by his uncle Raja Ishwari Prasad Narayan Singh, who received the title of Maharaja from the British. Maharaja Prabhu Narayan Singh was honoured by being appointed as Knight Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire (KCIE) in 1892; Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire (GCIE) in 1898 and Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Star of India (GCSI) in the 1921 New Year Honours. It was given for the services provided by him in World War I.

Titles of Prabhu Narayan Singh 

Maharaja Prabhu Narayan Singh of the princely state of Benares held numerous titles and styles through out his reign over the princely state of Benares. These are mentioned below- 

* Maharaj Prabhu Narayan Singh (1855- 1889)

* His Highness Maharajadhiraja Sri Prabhu Narayan Singh Sahib Bahadur, Kashi Naresh, Maharaja of Benares (1889- 1891) 

* His Highness Maharajadhiraja Sri Sir Prabhu Narayan Singh Sahib Bahadur, Kashi Naresh, Maharaja of Benares, KCIE (1891- 1898) 

* His Highness Maharajadhiraja Sri Sir Prabhu Narayan Singh Sahib Bahadur, Kashi Naresh, Maharaja of Benares, GCIE (1898- 1919) 

* Lieutenant-Colonel His Highness Maharajadhiraja Sri Sir Prabhu Narayan Singh Sahib Bahadur, Kashi Naresh, Maharaja of Benares, GCIE (1919- 1921) 
* Lieutenant-Colonel His Highness Maharajadhiraja Sri Sir Prabhu Narayan Singh Sahib Bahadur, Kashi Naresh, Maharaja of Benares, GCSI, GCIE (1921- 1931) 

Honours of Prabhu Narayan Singh 
Prabhu Narayan Singh was honoured several times, which are mentioned as follows- 
* Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire- GCIE (1898) and KCIE (1891) 
* Delhi Durbar Gold Medal (1903) 
* Delhi Durbar Gold Medal (1911) 
* Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Star of India- GCSI (1921) 
* Grand Cross of the Order of Leopold II of Belgium (1926) 

Such was the repute of this Bhumihar Brahmin Maharaja that the English had to borrow one of his elephants named as Laxman for the Delhi Durbar of 1903. it is said that Lord Curzon himself used that elephant to arrive at the Durbar. below is the below portrait - 

The below photo of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II of England with the then Maharaja of Benaras, Maharaja Vibhuti Narayan Singh ~ 25th Jan 1961 

Prince of Wales with HH Sir Prabhu Narayan Singh (Kashi Naresh) .. at RAMNAGAR PALACE

Maharaja of Benaras and suite ...1870's

Following is the pic of Maharaja Ishwari Prasad Narayan Singh of Benaras. (Source : Wikipedia)

शिवहर राज के राजा देव नंदन सिंह महाराजाधिराज काशी नरेश  ईश्वरी प्रसाद नारायण सिंह के भगिने थे। महाराज ईश्वरी प्रसाद नारायण सिंह के कहने पर अंग्रेज़ ने इनके भगिने अतः राजकुमार देव नंदन सिंह को १८९२ में शिवहर राज्य में राजा का ख़िताब दिया ।

View of the gardens within the fort and palace of the Maharaja of Benares

Ramnagar is situated on the right bank of the Ganges River and was made the capital of the former princely state of Benares (Varanasi) by Raja Balwant Singh in 1750.
A series of courtyards lead to the white towers of the main palace within the fort, with the private apartments on one side of the tower and the Durbar Hall and reception rooms on the other.

Ram Leela Mela As_Performed at RamNugur before the Raja of Benares by James Prinsep 1834

RAMNAGAR FORT - View inside a courtyard of the fort and palace of the Maharaja of Benares

SUMER TEMPLE at Rambaugh Gardens - RAMNAGAR, VARANASI - Built by KASHI NARESH RAJA CHAIT SINGH

BENARES STATE - Stamp Paper used in KASHI RAJ

RAMNAGAR FORT of Kashi Naresh -

Maharaja BALWANT SINGH - KASHI NARESH (One of the EARLIER snapshot of the KINGS of BENARAS)

A snapshot of the Ramnagar Fort -

Ramnagar was made the capital of the former princely state of Benares (Varanasi), by Raja Balwant Singh in 1750. The outer ramparts of the fort date from the 17th century. A vast flight of stone steps lead to a pointed archway and a series of courtyards leads to the white tower of the main palace within the fort.

Throne of the Kingdom Of Benaras

Following is the Throne of the Maharajas of Benaras - probably kept at the National Museum, Delhi (source - Wikipedia)

MAHARAJA SIR HARENDRA KISHORE SINGH - The Last Ruler of Bettiah Raj

Maharaja Sir Harendra Kishore Singh was the last ruler of Bettiah Raj. Maharaja Sir Harendra Kishore Singh was born in 1854 and succeeded his father, the late Maharaja Rajendra Kishore Singh Bahadur in 1883 and in 1884 received the title of Maharaja Bahadur as a personal distinction and a Khilat and a sanad from the hands of the Lieutenant Governor of Bengal, Sir Augustus Rivers Thompson.^[1] He was created a Knight Commander of the Most Eminent Order of the Indian Empire on 1 March 1889.^[2] He was appointed a member of the Legislative Council of Bengal in January, 1891.^[3] He was also a member of The Asiatic Society [1] He was the last ruler of Bettiah Raj.

Maharaja Sir Harendra Kishore Singh Bahadur died issueless on March 26, 1893 leaving behind him two widows, Maharani Sheo Ratna Kuer and Maharani Janki Kuer.

So great was the esteem in which Maharaja Sir Harendra Kishore Singh was held by the Government that the Lt. Governor of Bengal Antony MacDonnell, 1st Baron MacDonnell came to Bettiah personally to offer his condolence on his death.

There are numerous educational institutions in the name of the last Maharaja of Bettiah. Some prominent ones are :

1. Maharaja Harendra Kishor Inter College at Motihari and
2. Maharaja Harendra Kishore Public Library, Bettiah (renamed in the name of the last Maharaja on his birthday in 1955 from Victoria Memorial Library)

SAGAR POKHRA Lord SHIVA Temple of BETTIAH RAJ

यह शिव मंदिर बेतीआ राज क़ी महारानी जानकी कुंवर द्वारा बनवाया गया था । हर हर महादेव।

और जिसने शिवत्व स्थापित कर दिया वो मोक्ष का भागी होता है। जय भोले नाथ। 

बोलने वाला और हांखने वाला आज के दुनिया में बहुत मिलेंगे मगर सच  कर्म और धर्म पालन करने वाले बहुत कम  हैं।  आज भी इस महान वंश का  नाम उसके परोपकारी कर्म और दान कर्म के वजह से जाग्रित है । तुलना का आधार धर्म और कर्म है और कुछ नहीं।  हर हर महादेव।  

महारानी जानकी कुंवर कॉलेज भी इसी महारानी के नाम पर है। 
  नारायण नारायण।  नारायण नारायण।  

 

Bilaspur Estate - Balaram Rai MLC - First Bihar Legislative Council of 1935-36

Shri Balram Rai of Bilaspur Estate was one of the 29 members of the 1st Bihar Legislative Council that was formed Under the Govt. of India Act, 1935. .