Maharaja Jaswant Singh

Maharaja Jaswant Singh (1851, r.1853-1893)
Maharaja of Bharatpur

Albumen print on carte-de-visite, c. 1875
Size: 4 x 2.5 in. (10.2 x 6.4 cm)

Inscription: HH the Maharajah of Bharatpore

Maharaja Jaswant Singh was born in Deeg on 1st March 1851. He was the only son of Maharaja Balwant Singh and came to power as a minor in 1853. He received full powers in 1871, which were handed to him over by the regent Dhau Gyuii Ram. He married at Patiala on December 1859 with Maharani Bishan Kaur and his second marriage was in 1870 with Darya Kaur.

During his reign they opened a railway and established a cavalry and infantry regiment. The Maharaja was firm in his principles and invariably observed the religious rites and family customs. He took opportunities to visit Nathdwara, Hardwar and Pushkar. He built a temple of Brajendra Bihari at Sewar and regularly attended the service there.

After a successful rule of 22 years and in the 42 year of his age he breathed his last on the 12th December 1893 and was succeeded by his son Ram Singh born on the 9th September 1872. He died at the Deeg Palace having had four sons and three daughters. In this portrait the Maharaja, is wearing a traditional outfit with leggings and footwear and isn’t wearing any jewellery but has
heavily embroidered borders on his overcoat. He is sitting on a chair and beside him he has a table with an artefact, books and a curtain draped over it.