Brigadier Bhawani Singh (English: Brigadier Bhawani Singh, born- 22 October, 1931; died- 17 April, 2011) was the Maharaja of Jaipur. He was awarded the ‘Mahavir Chakra’ in 1972 in recognition of his bravery in the Bangladesh War in the Indo-Pak war of 1971. Maharaja Sawai Bhawani Singh was the Maharaja of Jaipur from 24 June 1970 to 28 December 1971. After this he served in the Indian Army. He was awarded the rank of Brigadier after retirement. Sawai Bhawani Singh was born to Maharaja Sawai Mansingh II of Jaipur. Maharaja Bhawani Singh of Jaipur was born to Maharani Marudhar Kanwar Devi, the first wife of Maharaja Sawai Man Singh II. He was born on October 22, 1931. A big celebration was made in the entire royal family on the birth of Maharaja Bhawani Singh, because after many years the Maharaja of Jaipur was blessed with a son. It is said that after several generations a male heir was born in Jaipur. Many earlier Maharajas were made Maharajas by adoption.
Bhavani Singh’s birth ceremony was celebrated with full pomp and show. At that time, countless champagne bottles were opened, causing bubbles all around. For this reason, the Maharaja of Jaipur had nicknamed Bhawani Singh ji ‘Bulbule’. Maharaja Sawai Bhawani Singh wanted to serve the country by joining the Indian Army. After completing his education, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the 3rd Cavalry Regiment in 1951. In 1954 he was selected as the President’s bodyguard. In 1970, he also helped the army in training ‘Muktivahini’ before the Bangladesh Liberation War. In the 1971 war with Pakistan, the 10th Regiment under his leadership had captured Chhacharo in Sindh province of Pakistan. For his contribution to the army, he was awarded the second highest gallantry award ‘Mahavir Chakra’. In 1972, he took voluntary retirement from the army.
Bhawani Singh ji retired from the Army as a Colonel, but during ‘Operation Pawan’ in 1974, he went to Sri Lanka on the special request of the then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and was successful in boosting the morale of the 10th Para Regiment. After returning from Sri Lanka he was awarded the retired rank of Brigadier. He then served as the Indian High Commissioner to Brunei from 1994–1997. After the untimely death of Bhawani Singh’s father Sawai Man Singh II in 1970, Brigadier Sawai Bhawani Singh ascended the throne of Jaipur on June 24, 1970. The title of Maharaja was abolished by the Indira Gandhi government in 1971 with the 26th amendment to the Constitution of India. Till 1971, all the princely states enjoyed privileges. He was one of the richest kings after independence.
Brigadier Sawai Bhawani Singh joined the National Congress Party and also contested the 1989 Lok Sabha elections, but was defeated by BJP leader Girdhari Lal Bhargava. After that the Maharaja had distanced himself from active politics. His stepmother and popular among the people, Maharani Gayatri Devi of Jaipur was also involved in politics. Maharani Gayatri Devi was his father’s third wife. Gayatri Devi had won the Lok Sabha elections for 5 consecutive times.
Maharaja Sawai Bhawani Singh was married to Padmini Devi, daughter of Maharaja Rajendra Prakash, the king of Sirmur, on 10 March 1966. He became the father of a daughter. Daughter Diya Kumari is an MLA from Sawai Madhopur assembly constituency. The Maharaja adopted his daughter’s elder son in November 2002. Who was later crowned the Maharaja of Jaipur. Padmanabha, the adopted son of Maharaja Sawai Bhawani Singh and the elder son of his daughter Princess Diya Kumari, was made his successor.
