Maharaja Bodhchandra Singh or Bodhachandra Singh (1908–1955) was the last ruler of the princely state of Manipur under the British Raj as well as the Dominion of India. He ruled between 1941 and 15 October 1949.[3] During his term, India was decolonised by the British, receiving independence on 14 August 1947. The Maharaja presided over a transition to democracy, passing the Manipur State Constitution Act 1947. He signed the Instrument of Accession, joining India shortly before the British departure. In 1949, a few months before India became a republic, he signed a merger agreement, whereby Manipur became an integral part of India governed by the Constitution of India. He was granted a privy purse of Rs. 300,000 per annum.[4]
Maharaja Bodhchandra | |
|---|---|
 Preparation for the coronation of Maharaja Bodh Chandra Singh, by his Prime Minister in 1944 | |
| Born | 24 July 1908[1] |
| Died | 9 December 1955 (aged 47)[2] |
| Occupation | Maharaja of Manipur |
| Father | Churachand Singh |
| Relatives | Priyobrata Singh (brother) |
Life
editBodhchandra Singh was born to Maharaja Churachand Singh, the ruler of Manipur installed in 1891. He was born to the second Rani of Churchand Singh on 24 July 1908. He was educated at Rajkumar College, Raipur between ages 12 and 20. He was joined by his younger brother Priyobrata Singh at the college.[5]
He married Rajkumari Tharendra Kishori (Rajkumari Ram Priya Devi), a daughter of the Raja of Bodo Khimedi, in 1929. He divorced her in 1941, and subsequently married Iswari Devi, daugher of Prince Ramaraja of Ramnagar, who was a cousin of the King of Nepal.[5]
Succession
editThe Maharaja retained his title for his lifetime and passed it on to his son and heir Okendrajit Singh. Afterwards, the royal titles were abolished by the Indian Parliament.[6]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Kārāma Manimohana Siṃha: [Hijam Irabot Singh and political movements in Manipur], B.R. Pub. Corp., 1989, p. 147
- ^ Pathou, Wahengbam (5 December 2013). "Biography of His Highness Maharaja Bodhachandra (Last King of Manipur) - Part 3". The Sangai Express – via e-pao.net.
- ^ Ben Cahoon. "Indian Princely States K-Z". worldstatesmen.org. Retrieved 24 October 2015.
- ^ Choudhury, Northeast India: A Political History (2023), pp. 136–137.
- ^ a b Reid, Frontier Areas Bordering on Assam (1997), p. 77.
- ^ Henry Soszynski. "Manipur Princely State - (11 gun salute)". members.iinet.net.au. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015.
Bibliography
edit- Choudhury, Samrat (2023), Northeast India: A Political History, Hurst, ISBN 9781787389526
- Choudhury, Samrat (2023), Northeast India: A Political History, Hurst, ISBN 9781805261070 (ebook)
- Reid, Robert (1997) [1942], History of the Frontier Areas Bordering on Assam, From 1883–1941, Guwahati: Spectrum Publications – via archive.org
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