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)