Jaswant Singh II, GCSI,[1] (1838 – 11 October 1895)[2][3] was Maharaja of Jodhpur from 4 February 1873 – 11 October 1895.

Jaswant Singh
Maharaja of Jodhpur
Maharaja Jaswant Singh II of Marwar, c. 1880. Attributed to Narsingh. The Brooklyn Museum.
Maharaja of Jodhpur
Tenure4 February 1873 – 11 October 1895
PredecessorTakht Singh
SuccessorSardar Singh
Born1838
Ahmadnagar, Gujarat, India
Died11 October 1895(1895-10-11) (aged 56–57)
SpouseRajba Kanwar
Puariji Bijay Kanwar
Nain Raiji
Guman Kanwar
Roop Kanwar
Anand Kanwar
8 others
IssueRaja Tej Singh
Raja Sawai Singh
Suraj Kanwar
Sardar Singh
Keshari Singh
5 others
HouseRathore-Jodhpur
FatherMaharaja Takht of Jodhpur
MotherMaharani Gulab Kanwar, Princess of Sirohi
ReligionHinduism

Birth

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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

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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]

Accession

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He acceded to the throne of Jodhpur in 1873 upon death of his father, Takht Singh,[4]

Reign

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The Maharaja Jaswant Singh II of Jodhpur, G.C.S.I.

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][6]

Swami Dayananda incident

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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.[7] The Maharaja was quick to arrange the services of a doctor, but the doctor Ali Mardan Khan gave medicines laced with poison which further deteriorated health of Hrishi Dayanand. Later Maharaja arranged for Swamiji to be sent to Mount Abu upon the advice of Residency.[7]

Death

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He died 11 October 1895 and was succeeded by his middle son Sardar Singh. [5]

Jaswant Thada

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The Jaswant Thada mausoleum in Jodhpur, India

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.[8]

References

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  1. ^ The Golden Book of India: A Genealogical and Biographical Dictionary of the ... By Sir Roper Lethbridge:pp 218
  2. ^ Sir William Wilson Hunter, Imperial gazetteer of India, Volume 21, Page 34
  3. ^ Nirmal Upadhyaya, The administration of Jodhpur State, 1800–1947 A.D.
  4. ^ a b c d e f Indian States: A Biographical, Historical, and Administrative Survey edited by Arnold Wright, 1922:pp 200.
  5. ^ a b "Jodhpur". Archived from the original on 4 April 2016. Retrieved 20 December 2013.
  6. ^ "London Gazette, 31 December 1875". Archived from the original on 24 December 2013. Retrieved 23 December 2013.
  7. ^ a b World Perspectives on Swami Dayananda Saraswati By Gaṅgā Rām Garg :pp 96–98
  8. ^ 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.
Preceded by
Maharaja Takht Singh
Kunwar of Ahmednagar
1841–1843
none,state ceded to Idar
Preceded by
Maharaja Takht Singh
Rulers of Marwar (Jodhpur)
The Rathore Dynasty

4 February 1873– 11 October 1895
Succeeded by