Fateh Singh of Udaipur and Mewar

Maharana Fateh Singh (1849–1930) ruled Mewar for 46 years from 1884 to 1930, with Udaipur as capital, and resided in the City Palace, Udaipur.^[1][2]

Biography

Maharaja Fateh Singh on royal barge, Lake Pichola, Udaipur, early 1900s

He was born on 16 December 1849 at Shivrati, son of Maharaj Dal Singh of the Shivrati branch of Mewar dynasty - A descendant of the fourth son, Arjun Singh, of the Rana Sangram Singh II (AD 1710-1734). First he was adopted by his elder brother, Gaj Singh who had no heir, subsequently Maharana Sajjan Singh of Udaipur, who too had no heir, adopted him, he eventually became the Maharaja of Udaipur in 1884. In 1887, he received G.C.S.I.^[3][4][5]

In 1889, he built the "Connaught Dam" on Lake Dewali to mark the visit of Duke of Connaught, son of Queen Victoria, this enlarged the lake, and it was later renamed, Fateh Sagar Lake.^{[2] [6]}

He was the only Maharaja to not attend the Delhi Durbar, both of 1903 and 1901. Then in 1921, when Prince of Wales, Edward VIII, son of Queen Mary, visited Udaipur, he refused to receive him citing illness and instead sent his son, this brought him at odds with the British Raj, thereafter, under the garb of ignoring a social unrest in Mewar, on 28 July 1921, his powers were curtailed and he was formally deposed, he was however allowed to retain his titular title, the effective power was handed to his son and heir, Bhupal Singh.^[2][7][8]

Personal life

Maharaja Fateh Singh, portrait by Raja Ravi Varma.

He was first married in 1867, to Rani Phool Kumari, daughter of the Thakur of Khod in Marwar, who died in 1877. Subsequently he was married in 1878, a daughter of Thakur Chanda Kol Singh of Varsoda, and had son, Bhupal Singh, and daughters, Ankaran Bai, married in 1904 to Madan Singh of Kishangarh, and Kishor Kunwar, married 1908 to Sardar Singh of Jodhpur.

He died on May 24, 1930 at Udaipur.

Further reading

• Maharana: the story of the rulers of Udaipur, by Brian Masters. Mapin Pub., 1990. ISBN 0944142281.

References

1. ^ Complete title: HH 108 Sri Maharaj Adhiraj Raj Rajeshwar Ravi Kula Bushana-Mahi Mahindra Yavadarya Kula Kamaldhivakara Chattis Rajkul Singar Maharana Shri Sir Fateh Singh Hindua Suraj Hindupati.
2. ^ ^{a b c} Gupta, p. 256
3. ^ "Shivrati Genealogy". Queensland University. http://uqconnect.net/~zzhsoszy/ips/s/shivrati.html. 
4. ^ "Udaipur State: History". The Imperial Gazetteer of India. 1909. pp. v. 24, p. 93.. http://dsal.uchicago.edu/reference/gazetteer/pager.html?objectid=DS405.1.I34_V24_099.gif. 
5. ^ Solomon, p. 128
6. ^ Fateh Sagar Lake: Lakes
7. ^ Warren, p. 50
8. ^ "Maharana Fateh Singh (1884-1930)". http://www.amazingudaipur.com/turn%20the%20pages.html. 

• Solomon, R. V.; , J. W. Bond, Arnold Wright, Somerset Playne (2006). Indian states: a biographical, historical, and administrative survey. Asian Educational Services. ISBN 812061965X. http://books.google.co.in/books?id=47sfj8DUwNgC&pg=RA1-PA128&dq=Fateh+Singh+of+Udaipur&hl=en&ei=T7AoTISdKM_BrAfkt5jnBA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CDAQ6AEwADgK#v=onepage&q=Fateh%20Singh%20of%20Udaipur&f=false. 
• Warren, William; Jill Gocher (2007). "Shiv Niwas Palace, Udaipur". Asia's Legendary Hotels: The Romance of Travel Authors. Tuttle Publishing. ISBN 079460174X. http://books.google.co.in/books?id=GVmAfRMHw1wC&pg=PA50&dq=Fateh+Singh+of+Udaipur&hl=en&ei=6q4oTIH4CM2GrQftsJnuBA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=9&ved=0CFoQ6AEwCA#v=onepage&q=Fateh%20Singh%20of%20Udaipur&f=false. 
• Gupta, R.K.; S.R. Bakshi (2008). "9. Maharana Fateh Singh". Studies In Indian History: Rajasthan Through The Ages The Heritage Of Rajputs. Sarup & Sons. ISBN 817625841. http://books.google.co.in/books?id=S7dCkiyLJ6EC&pg=PA256&dq=Fateh+Singh+of+Udaipur&hl=en&ei=6q4oTIH4CM2GrQftsJnuBA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=4&ved=0CEIQ6AEwAw#v=onepage&q=Fateh%20Singh%20of%20Udaipur&f=false. 

External links

• Udaipur genealogy Queensland University
• History of Mewar

Preceded by Sajjan Singh Mewar

Ruler of Mewar 1884—1930

Succeeded by Bhupal Singh Mewar

Persondata
Name	Singh, Fateh, Maharana Of Udaipur And Mewar
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	1849
Place of birth
Date of death	1930
Place of death