Director: Prahlad Sharma
Producer: Chitra Vihar
Cast: Bharat Bhushan, Nazima, Murad, Bipin Gupta, Simi, Kamaljeet

Title: Madhav ki kahab sundri roope
Artist: Mohammad Rafi

Title: Jai Gange Maa Gange
Artist: Mohammad Rafi

Maithili Film: Mamata Gawe Geet (1961-70)

Title: Bakri ghas kho
Artist: Geeta Dutt

We are grateful to our dear friend Sounak Gupta for sharing this rare and excellent song.

Courtesy: YouTube

Jha was born in 1963 in Sultanganj, Bihar, India. He received a Ph.D. in electronic and electrical engineering from the University of Strathclyde and a B.S. in engineering from the University of Liverpool.

Career

On August 4, 2008 it was announced he would be the new CEO for the Motorola Mobile Devices business.

Before joining Motorola, Sanjay Jha was COO of Qualcomm and president of Qualcomm CDMA Technologies. As COO, Jha was overlooking Corporate Research and Development and Qualcomm Flarion Technologies (QFT) in addition to his role as president of QCT, the chipset and software division of Qualcomm Incorporated.

Before joining Qualcomm, Jha held lead design engineering roles with Brooktree Corporation in San Diego, and Hirst Research Centre in London.

Jha began his career at Qualcomm in 1994 as a senior engineer with the Qualcomm very-large-scale integration group working on the Globalstar satellite phone, and later on the first 13k vocoder application-specific integrated circuit, which was integrated into Qualcomm’s MSM2200 chipset. In 1997, Jha was promoted to vice president of engineering, where he was responsible for leading the integrated-circuit engineering group. Jha led and oversaw the development of five generations of modem and cell site chipsets, both digital baseband and RF (radio frequency), and system software. He was promoted to senior vice president of engineering in 1998.

In 2002, Jha led the formation of Qualcomm Technologies & Ventures, where he managed both the technology investment portfolio and the new technology group as senior vice president and general manager. Jha became executive vice president of Qualcomm and president of Qualcomm CDMA Technologies in 2003. He was named COO in December 2006.

Jha serves two prominent industry roles in addition to his leadership at Qualcomm. In June 2005, he was elected to the board of directors of the Semiconductor Industry Association. He also serves as vice chairman of the Fabless Semiconductor Association.

Compensation

As a Co-CEO of Motorola in 2008, Sanjay Jha earned a total compensation of $8,462,544, which included a base salary of $905,769, a $836,931 cash bonus, stocks granted of $2,356,136, and options granted of $4,004,000.

Sources:
- Sanjay Jha, Wikipedia
- Sanjay Jha, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
- The Pay at the Top

The influence of Nepal, where Saivism has a very great holds, is clearly one of the reason why there are so many Shiva temples in these boarder districts. Many of these Shiva temples are visited by thousands of pilgrims from Nepal.

The Singheshwar temple at the village Singheshwar in Saharsa district is one of the ancient Shiva temples in Bihar. It is visited by lakhs of pilgrims in the course of a year although it is not very easily accessible from the other parts of Bihar.

Most of the villages of Saharsa district remained water-logged for most of the year. There were hardly any long-distance roads and the pathways could be negotiated by bullock-carts only. Kosi floods frustrated the people and made them listless fatalists. Their songs, folk literature etc. evolved round the dreaded mother Kosi. Their children could not be easily married, as people in non-Kosi areas would not give their children in marriage, to parties in the Kosi region. Mothers would sing lullaby songs to the children that if they do not behave, Kosi mother would come and sweeps them away.

The writer has seen young children tied up to post oil the verandahs of huts by the Kosi River as no one knew when the Kosi flood would come. Kosi has been known to change her course quite a few times and has devastated thousands of acres of land. Kans and Pater, peculiar kinds of thick long grasses with rapidly spreading roots would grow and turn fertile fields into jungle patches harboring wild boar and deer.

It is said that the late Maharajadhiraja Sir Rameshwar Singh of Darbhanga had expressed his desire to reinstate the head of’ the image. Accordingly, an order was placed and the head was carved out. Before the installation of the head he had a dream in which the goddess told him, ”I am the creator and you want to create my head. Do you think it is proper for you to create my head?”The Maharajadhiraja was upset. The Mahantha of Uchaitha temple had also the same dream. At last it was decided that the head should not be installed.

The priests of the temple took the head from the Maharajadhiraja and kept it near the image to offer it the usual offerings. The stone head is still lying in the temple precincts. A few years ago, the tank was cleaned and a number of images were found. All of them were removed to the Patna Museum. The site is very old and an excavation may yield good results.

In front of the temple of the goddess Durga there is newly constructed a temple of Lord Shiva. There is also a small temple of Bhairava in the rear side of the Shiva temple. Just below these temples flows the river Kamla.

On the other side of the river, towards the south-east of the temple, is the site of what is believed to be the pathshala of Kalidasa. In local dialect and survey records it is mentioned as Kaildasko Chaupdi i.e., the college of Kalidasa. Chaupdi is derived from the Sanskrit word Chatushpathi i.e., where the four Vedas are read and taught. It is an elevated piece of ground measuring about one bigha in area.

So far as the architecture is concerned, the temple is reconstructed in the Indo-Aryan style. There is a square cella for the image. It is curvilinear and there is no trace of storeys and the massive circular coping stone i.e., amalaka, on which the kalasa has been put, surmounts it.

The priests of the temple are of the Vaishnava sect. The temple is their ancestral property. It is not under any trust. About 300 visitors come to offer prayer daily. Ladies of the locality bring pitha (made of flour) and milk to offer to the goddess on the occasion of Vijaya- dashami. People from all over the locality take little pieces of earth from here to erect pindi (small globes) in their houses, more particularly on the occasion of the sacred thread ceremony of their sons. Some earth of this place is preserved in Darbhanga at the Mithila Institute of Post graduate Studies and Research in Sanskrit.

“Mithila Tairbhuhischa Vaidehi Naimikananm
Jnankhestra Kripapitha Swarn Langal Paddhatiah.

Janaki Janmbhumischa Nitpeksha Vikalmasha
Ramanandkari Vishvabhavini Nityamangala.”

Meaning thereby Mithila. Tirbhukti, Vaidehi, Naimikanan, Jnanshila, Kripapeetha, Swarn Langal Paddhati, Janaki Janmbhumi, Vikalmasha, Ramanandkari, Vishvabhavini and Nityamangala are 12 names of Mithila.

Mithila’s meaning:

“Antarvahyascha Sarvatra madhyante Ripavah sada
Mithilanam Sajneya Janakasch kritamahi.

 Makaro Vishwakarta cha  Thakarsthitipalakah
Lakaro laykarta vai trimara Shaktyobhavan.”

(Inside and outside, who churn out enemies always Mithila be understood that where Janaks were ruling the land.

‘Mi’s Makar signifies Founder of the world and ‘Thi’s Thakar signifies Who looks after ‘La’s Lakar signifies the Destroyer and Trimatra is for the Power.”

After 71 Chatryugi one Indra comes to throne who reins 3,67,20,000 human years. He is called Manu and Manwatar is the time frame. Such 14 Indras are coming to throne.

Those live very long are called CHIRANJIVI. At the present moment there are 8 CHIRANJIVIS i.e. Ashwatthama, Bali,Vyasa, Hanuman, Bibhishan, Kripacharya, Parshuram and Markandeya.

During the 24th Chaturyugi Brahma asked Vashstha to go to Mrityubhuvan for becoming priest of Suryavanshi Kings. Vashishtha protested that Purohiti is prohibited profession. Then Brahma said that Lord Vishnu Himself would take birth at that Suryavanshi kings in Tretayug. Vashistha then said that he would go but wanted one correction.

Brahma asked what correction?

Vashishtha said,”You say Ramavatar will be in Treta. Now Satyayug is going on, then Dwapar will come and then  Treta will come. I cannot live for so long in Mrtyubhuvan as: Satyayuga is of 1,72,800 years. Dwapar is of 12,96,000 years. Treta is of 8,64,000 years, and Kaliya is of 4,32,000 years. If you make treat after Satyayug, I may go.”

Brahma accepted that and since then Treta is coming after Satyayuga. Before that 24 times Satyayuga was follwed by Dwapar and then Treta. On the acceptance by Brahma, Vashishtha came to Mrityubhuvan and became priest of Suryavanshis.

Who were Suryavansis?

The son of Sun was Manu who had four sons- 1. Ang, 2. Bang, 3. Nimiya and 4. Awadh on whose names were named  Angdesh, Bangdesh, Nepaldesh and Awadh.

After Satyayug, came  Tretayug when Ram was born but how he could marry Sita of his own Gotra  and Dynasty and hence, Brahma  had to make a way.

One day Brahma distracted mind of Nimiya who requested Vashishtha to have a Yajna so that he could reach Swarag with the body as Kaliyag’s time cycle had been only 5,087 years. Vashistha replied,”OK”, and he went his home. Nimaya started arrangements for Yajna. Seers were invited. All except Vashshtha was present on due time. A messanger was sent for him.

Vashishtha became angry and said he had committed Indra before him for the Yajna and hence he was going to Indra.

Knowing that Nimaya was in deep grief and proclaimed for the cancellation of Yajna. But all seers said that in the absence of  Vashishtha, the yajna be held with appointing Gautam as Acharya.

Gautam started yajna. That time kings had the Gotra of Gurus and so now Nimiya;s Gotra was changed  to Gautam from Vshistha  and yajna sankalpa was for 500 years.

When Vashishtha returned from Indra’s place, his son Shaktiji informed him the matter. Vashishtha reached Nimiy’s place and both had hot talks. Vashishtha taking water in his hands gave curse, “Sadyah Videho Bhava”.

Nimiya also cursed him. With the curse of Vashishtha  Nimiya died. With the curse of Nimiya Vashishtha reached Varun’s place seeking life by “Parkaya Pravesh”.

Varun listening to his prayer gave place to Vashishtha’s soul in his heart and since then was known as Mitravarun.

Once, Mitravarun had sperm fall seing the numph Urvashi. That sperm was kept in a Ghat. Agastya was born to that  and hece he is called Ghat-Yoni utpanna.

Some sperm fell on the Lotus leaf from which Vashishtha was born who is called a  Veshyaputra.

After the death of Nimiya, he was asked  to remain as hair above the eyes (Eye-brows- the NIMI)  seers churned out  a son (Mathi Kaya) of his dead body who was hence, called MITHI.

Mithi established a good capital, which was named on him as MITHILAPURI.

Being born of the body of father  he took title of JANAK. Since that day whoever be the king was called JANAK. Father of Sita was 21st  JANAK. He was  named  Kushadhwaj.

In that Nimi’s yajna  19 seers came from the different parts of the country who settled down in Mithila whose sons are called from that Gotra.

Due to change of Gotra and  body Ram’s marriage could be held with Sita.

According to Panini, where enemies were eradicated out that country was called Mithila. The people there had been with valor.

Siradhwaj Janak under whose time Jagdamba Janki took reincarnation had defeated the King of Sakanshya.

There had been 57 kings in the dynasty of Videh Janak. People use to long-lived in those days.

By the time of DWAPAR that kingdom was weakened and was divided in the East and West Mithila. Hence, Western Mithila (Tirhut) accepted the ascend of Hastinapur and had sided with Kauravas during Mahabharata but Eastern Mithila (MATSYA JANPADA)’s King Virat had sided with the Pandavas. Viratnagar was his capital where Pandavas spent secretly their period of their AJNATVAS.

The last King of Janak Dynasty was of bad character, hence, the public under the leadership of Acharyas dethroned him and Mithila remained Kingless for hundreds of years for want of a suitable person. In fact, Mithila was the first democracy of the world, which worked on the basis of a Panchayati system under the guidance of Acharyas. People were  disciplined afraid of Dharmadand. It was said:

“Na Raja Na Cha Rajyasit, Na Dandyo Na Cha Dandika
Dharme naiv praja saevaih Rakshantim parasparam.”

Meaning thereby there was neither king, nor punishment nor punishment giver- the subjects were disciplined by the fear of Dharmdanda and were safe.

Including Vaishali in whole of the Mithila such state continued for long. Then outsiders started attacking.  It was not difficult to defeat the simpletons of Mithila and Vajjisangh, Lichhavis, Shaishunag, Nand Dynasty, Shung Dynasty, Kant Dynasty, Gupta Dynasty, Vardhan Dynasty etc. ruled there from time to time.

In the same time period (5th-6th century) – Jaywardhan Raja Salhesh became who made his capital at Mahisautha-Sirha (presently in Nepal which was then limited to the Kathmandu valley and nearby hilly terrains).

Tibetans had attacked on Mithila several times which was successfully defended by King Salhesh. Hence, he was called Shailesh (king of Mountains) from Jaywardhan which in local dialect was called Salhesh. His valor could make whole north-eastern India safe.

By: Dr. Kamal Kant Jha, Pt. Sri ganeshrai Vidyabhushan, Dr. Dhanakar Thakur

Source: http://www.bihar.ws/info/Cultural-regions-of-Bihar/A-Brief-History-of-Mithila-State.html

The legend of Mithila extends over many centuries. Both Gautama Buddha and Vardamana Mahavira are said to have lived in Mithila. It also formed the center of Indian history during the first millennium, and has contributed to various literary and scriptural works.

The name Mithila is derived after Mythical King ‘Miti’. He was supposed to have been created from body of his father King Nimi. He established the capital of his kingdom at Mithilapuri and hence the region came to be called Mithila. Since he was born out of body of his father, he took the title Janaka. After this, the Kings of Mithila were called Janaka. The most famous Janaka was Kushadhwaja, father of Sita. He was 21st Janaka of Mithila. This Dynasty was also called Videha Janaka. There were 57 kings in the dynasty of Videha Janaka.

Ancient History and Myths

The most important reference to Mithila is in the Hindu epic, Ramayana where Lord Rama’s wife Sita is said to have been the princess of the land, born to King Janaka, who ruled Mithila from Janakpur. Other famous kings of Mithila during ancient period are King Bhanumath, Satghumanya, Suchi, Urjnama, Satdhwya, Kriti, Anjan, Arisnami, Srutayu, Supasyu, Suryasu, Srinjay, Sourmabi, Anena, Bhimrath, Satyarath, Upangu, Upgupt, Swagat, Snanand, Subrachya, Supraswa, Subhasn, Suchurut, Susurath, Jay, Vijay, Critu, Suny, Vith Habya, Dwati, Bahulaswa, Kriti Tirtiya.

It is said that the last King of Janak Dynasty was of bad character. He was dethroned by public under leadership of Acharyas (Learned Men). Thereafter, Mithila remained without King for hundreds of years. Instead of King, a democratic system was followed were the ruler was elected by the people and the decisions were taken in a collective manner. In fact, Mithila can be said to be the first democracy of the world. This continued for several centuries till the region was attacked and conquered by Maghadan Empire.

Thereafter several dynasties such as Vajjisangh, Lichhavis, Shaishunag, Nand, Maurya, Shung, Kant, Gupta, Vardhan etc. ruled there from time to time. There was no significant ruler in Mithila after Janaks till 5th–6th century when Jaywardhan Raja Salhesh became King. He made his capital at Mahisautha-Sirha (presently in Nepal). He defended the region against attacks by Tibetans several times. Hence, he was called Shailesh (king of Mountains) from Jaywardhan which in local dialect was called Salhesh.

Ruling Dynasties of Mithila

In the Medieval & Modern History of India, Mithila has never been ruled as a separate state. Till the 14th century, Mithila being a part of erstwhile Bengal, was ruled by Bengal Kings. Later on, after fall of Bengal to Muslim Rulers, Mithila became a part of Ghulam/Tuglaq/Mughal kingdoms. Starting with the Oinwara dynasty, all the rulers of Mithila listed hereunder were not independent kings. Their status was more or less of Rent paying Rajas/ Subedars/Jamindars despite the fact that several of them were granted the Titles of Raja/ Maharaja/Maharajadiraj by Muslim/English Rulers.

Around 6th century to 9th century (Pal Dynasty)

Mithila, being part of erstwhile Bengal, was ruled by Pal Dynasty for three centuries. Pal Dynasty were followers of Buddhism.The last king of Pal Dynasty was Madanpal. Madanpal proved to be a weak king and was defeated by Adishur Samant Sen’s army.

Around 9th century to 11th century (Sen Dynasty)

Sen Dynatsy were followers of Hinduism and hence people of Mithila, being followers of Hinduism, helped Samant Sen in defeating Madanpal. Mithila thus came under the rule of Sen Dynasty. Eminent scholar Vachaspati Mishra (from Village Thardhi in Madhubani district) was from this period, Sen Dynasty had five kings – Samant Sen, Hemant Sen, Vijay Sen, Vallal Sen and Laxman Sen (until the 11th century).

Around 11th century to 14th century (Deva Dynasty)

Nanya Deva defeated the last King of Sen Dynasty, Laxman Sen and became King of Bengal and thereby Mithila which till bifurcation of Bihar from bengal was a part of that State. Nanya Deva had come from west and had his first capital at Simraun Garh (Birganj).

Krnat Dynasty also had five kings namely Nanya Dev, Gang Dev, Narshingh Dev, Shakrasingh Dev and Hari Singh Dev. Of these Hari Singh Dev became the most famous. He was instrumental in initiating and implementing PANJI Prabandha system in Maithil Brahmins and Maithil Kayasthas (Karn Kayasthas). He was also great patron of art and literature. In the court of Hari Singh Dev the Royal Priest was Pt. Kameshwar Thakur the author of ‘VARNA RATNAKAR’, which is considered to be the first prose, an encyclopedia in any north Indian language. Pt. Kameshwar Thakur later became founder of Oinwar Dynasty.

Kings from 1326AD to 1526 (Oinwar Dynasty)

In 1326, Firoz Shah Tughlak attacked and conquered Mithila region. The last king of Karnat Dynasty Harisingh Dev fled to Nepal. According to historian Dr. Upendra Thakur anarchy prevailed in Mithila region for next 27 years. In 1353 Firoz Shah Tughlak appointed Pt. Kameshwar Thakur as KARAD RAJA (rent paying king). Kameshwar Thakur belonged to village named Oini, which is presently in SAMASTIPUR District. The dynasty was named after the village Oini as Oinwar Dynasty. Kameshwar Thakur, being of scholarly nature, was unable to collect and pay tax to Firoz Shah Tughlak. Thus, Kameshwar Thakur was dethroned and his son, Bhogishwar Thakur was made next King of Mithila region. This dynasty was one of the few ruling dynasties of India who were Brahmins. Thereafter, the Mithila region had Kings from Brahmin caste only.

The list kings of Oinwar Dynasty is as under:

• Kameshwar Thakur
• Bhogishwar Thakur
• Ganeshwar Singh
• Kirti Singh
• Bhavesh Thakur (also known as Bhav Singh) – He was younger son of Kameshwar Thakur. Since Kirti Singh died issueless, the kingdom passed over to Bhavesh Thakur.
• Dev Singh
• Shiv Singh – He declared himself to be independent King and stopped paying taxes to Tughlak empire. Due to his decision to challenge authority of Tughlaks empire, Ibrahim Shah Tughlak attacked Mithila. In the battle, Shiv Singh was killed.
• Padma Singh – He was younger brother of Shiv Singh.
• Queen Bishwas Devi – Padma Singh died issueless at an early age. After his death, his wife Queen Bishwas Devi ruled Mithila region, but she too died soon after taking over reign of Mithila.
• Hari Singh – He was cousin of Padma Singh. Since Padma Singh died issueless, the throne passed to Hari Singh.
• Nar Singh
• Dhir Singh (ruled 1459–1480)
• Bhairav Singh (ruled 1480–1515) – He was a very popular king and initiated several development works like digging of ponds construction of roads, wells, temples, etc. He was a great patron of art and culture as well.
• Rambhadra Singh Dev
• Laxminath Singh Dev – He was the last King of OINWAR dynasty. Sikandar Lodhi attacked Mithila region in 1526 and Maharaja Laxminath Singh Dev was killed in the ensuing battle.

1526–1577 – Period of Anarchy

Sikandar Lodhi made his son-in-law, Alauddin, the ruler of this area. During this period, Mogul Empire was beginning to take its root in Delhi. Alauddin was not a successful ruler and for next 50 years, anarchy prevailed in Mithila region.

When Akbar became emperor, he tried to bring normalcy to Mithila region. He came to the conclusion that only after a Maithil Brahmin was made King, peace can prevail and rent can be collected in Mithila. In 1577, Emperor Akbar declared Pt. Mahesh Thakur as the ruler of Mithila. Pt. Mahesh Thakkur was of the mool ‘Kharaure Bhaur’ and hence that dynasty was called ‘Khandwala Kul’ and the capital was made in the northwest of Sarisab-Pahi and Rajgram.

1577–1947 – Khandavala Dynasty

See Kings of Darbhanga for detailed list.

Gandhi, in an interview during his visit to Bihar in 1947, said that the Maharaja Kameshwar Singh was an extremely good person and like a son to him.

Kameshwar Singh, the most honourable and well known king of Darbhanga took up the throne in 1929 when he was only 22 years old. Likewise his predecessors he continued the tradition of patronizing art, culture and education.

The good administration work of the king can be understood from the fact that only the Raj Nagar circle of the kingdom generated a whopping sum of rupees seven lakhs at that time!. In his effort to promote education he took part in the establishment of Patna University, Sanskrit Univeristy – Darbhanga, Maithili Research Institute.

Due to service to the promotion of education he chosen as the Pro Chancelor of the Banaras Hindu University. Kameshwar Singh made significant changes to the panjee system and made it simple and workable.

He died in 1962 and thus came to an end of era of Khandavala Dynasty.It is to note that queen Kamsundari is still alive but she could not stop the distintegration due to infighting among the kins as Maharaj had no offspring.

Darbhanga Aviations

Darbhanga Aviations was a private Indian airline started by Maharaja Kameshwar Singh of Darbhanga. Darbhanga Aviations was started in 1950 and became defunct by 1962.

After World War – II, many military planes had become surplus and were sold at cheap price. Darbhanga Aviation was started with four Douglas DC-3 aircraft (2 No.s of C-47A-DL and 1 No. of C-47A-DK), purchased from the U.S. Air Force.

One of these planes (Registration – VT-DEM) got destroyed in an accident near Calcutta on 01-03-1954. This plane was on Scheduled Domestic Service out of Calcutta, India, when it crashed on takeoff from Calcutta. The No.1 engine of the DC-3 caught fire immediately after takeoff from Calcutta runway 19R. The aircraft failed to gain height, stalled and crashed into trees, 3330 feet past the runway end. 2 of the 8 passengers, and all 3 crew members aboard the DC3 were killed in the crash. The 6 surviving passengers were all critically injured. Although the engine fire was the primary cause of the crash, the pilot was also cited for a delay in feathering the engine, and the extreme nose up altitude of the plane during takeoff. Both of those factors contributed to the downing of the plane.

Another plane bearing registration No. VT-AYG crashed on 24 MAY 1962 near Rajshahi in Bangladesh. The cause of crash has been attributed to fatigue failure of the no. 1 engine forcing the crew of the DC-3 to continue on a single engine (no. 2). After a while the remaining engine lost power due to overheating resulting in crash of the aircraft.

The third aircraft (registration No. VT-DEM) was taken over by Indian Air Force.

After the independence of India from British rule in 1947, the Government of India initiated several land reform actions and the Zamindari system was abolished. The fortunes of Darbhanga Raj dwindled. The last Maharaja of Darbhanga Raj was Maharaja Bahadur Sir Kameshwar Singh, K.C.I.E. He died heirless.

List of Kings of Raj Darbhanga

• Raja Mahesh Thakur (died 1558).
• Raja Gopal Thakur. He was the eldest son of Raja Mahesh Thakur. He was king for a short time only as he died suddenly.
• Raja Parmanand Thakur. He was the second son of Raja Mahesh Thakur. He ruled for a brief period before abdicating in favour of his younger brother Raja Subhankar Singh.
• Raja Subhankar Thakur (died 1607). He was the fifth son of Raja Mahesh Thakur.
• Raja Purushottam Thakur (ruled 1607 to 1623). He was the son of Raja Shubhankar Thakur. He was killed in 1623.
• Raja Narayan Thakur (ruled 1623 to 1642).
• Raja Sundar Thakur (ruled 1642 to 1662) (died 1662).
• Raja Mahinath Thakur (ruled 1662 to 1684) (died 1684).
• Raja Nirpat Thakur (ruled 1684 to 1700) (died 1700).
• Raja Raghu Singh (ruled 1700 to 1736) (died 1736). Raja Raghu Singh obtained a lease for the whole of Sarkar Tirhut including Darbhanga and Muzaffarpur at an annual rent of Rs.100,000, which was a huge amount at that time. The annual revenue of Sarkar Tirhut in 1685 was Rs.7,69,287. During reign of Raja Raghu Singh, Nawab Mahabat Jung, Nawab Subahdar of Behar, was jealous of the wealth of Raja Raghu Singh and imprisoned his family at Patna. Raghu Singh escaped capture and succeeded in getting the estate back along with a large grant from the Mughal Governor on the condition that he “do justice, relieve distress, and put the country in flourishing condition.” This condition was fulfilled by Raja Raghu Singh and subsequent Maharajas of Darbhanga. He built a mud fort at Bhawara near Madhubani.
• Raja Bishnu Singh (ruled 1736 to 1740) (died 1740).
• Raja Narendra Singh (ruled 1740 to 1760) (died 1760). Raja Narendra Singh died without issue. He adopted Raja Pratap Singh, great-great-grandson of Narayan Thakur, son of Raja Shubhankar Thakur, younger brother of Raja Sundar Thakur, as his successor.
• Raja Pratap Singh (ruled 1760 to 1776) (died 1776). Raja Pratap Singh built Rajbari at Darbhanga and shifted the capital to Darbhanga from Bhawara.
• Raja Madho Singh (ruled 1776 to 1808) (died 1808). He was a younger brother of Raja Pratap Singh and succeeded him upon his death. In 1776, Raja Madho Singh received a grant of land at Dharampur in Purnea district from Shah Alam II, Mughal Emperor of India. Raja Madho Singh had a long dispute with the British government over revenue payments and the extent of his rights over the land.
• Maharaja Chhatra Singh Bahadur (ruled 1808 to 1839) (died 1839). He was the second son of Raja Madho Singh. He was the first in the family to hold the title of Maharaja Bahadur. Maharaja Chhatra Singh made over his estate and title to his eldest son Maharaja Rudra Singh Bahadur on the grounds of old age in 1839. He died a few days later after the coronation of Maharaja Rudra Singh Bahadur.
• Maharaja Rudra Singh Bahadur (ruled 1839 to 1850) (died 1850). After the death of Maharaja Chhatra Singh Bahadur, the younger brothers of Maharaja Rudra Singh Bahadur were involved in a long litigation for succession to the estate. It was ultimately held by the High Court of Calcutta that the ordinary Hindu Law of Succession can not apply in this case and the Raj Darbhanga family would have to follow the family custom or Kulachar. Maharaja Rudra Singh Bahadur, being the eldest son of Maharaja Chhatra Singh Bahadur, was declared to be Maharaja of Darbhanga. This permanently settled the issue of succession and thereafter the succession was based upon primogeniture.
• Maharaja Maheshwar Singh Bahadur (ruled 1850 to 1860) (died 1860). Maharaja Maheshwar Singh Bahadur ruled for ten years. He expired in October 1860, leaving behind two sons, Lakshmeshwar Singh and Rameshwar Singh, both of whom became Maharajas of Darbhanga.
• Maharaja Lakshmeshwar Singh Bahadur (ruled 1860 to 1898) (born 25 September 1858, died 17 December 1898). Maharaja Lakshmeshwar Singh was a philanthropist. His statue (by Edward Onslow Ford) was installed in Calcutta in 1904 at Dalhousie Square as a tribute to him. Maharaja Lakshmeshwar Singh Bahadur was only two years old his father’s death so Raj Darbhanga was placed under Ward of Court. He was the first Maharaja of Darbhanga to receive a western education, from a British tutor, Mr. Chester Mcnaughton. Maharaja Lakshmeshwar Singh Bahadur took over the reins of Raj Darbhanga on 25 September 1879 after attaining his majority. He devoted himself to public works and was recognized as one of the greatest nobles and philanthropists of India at that time. He was made a Knight of the British Empire on 22 June 1897.
• Maharaja Rameshwar Singh Bahadur (ruled 1898 to 1929) (born 16 January 1860, died 3 July 1929). Maharaja Rameshwar Singh Bahadur became Maharaja of Darbhanga after the death of his elder brother Maharaja Lakshmeshwar Singh Bahadur, who died without issue. He was appointed to the Indian Civil Service in 1878, serving as assistant magistrate successively at Darbhanga, Chhapra, and Bhagalpur. He was exempted from attendance at the Civil Courts and was appointed a Member of the Legislative Council of Bengal (MLC of Bengal) in 1885. He was a Member of the Council of India of the Governor General of India in 1899 and on 21 September 1904 was appointed a non-officiating member representing the Bengal Provinces, along with Gopal Krishna Gokhale from Bombay Province.

He was president of Bihar Landholder’s Association, president of the All India Landholder’s Association, president of Bharat Dharma Mahamandal, a member of Council of State, a trustee of Victoria Memorial in Calcutta, president of the Hindu University Society, M.E.C. of Bihar and Orissa, and Member of the Indian Police Commission (1902-03). He was awarded the Kaiser-i-Hind medal in 1900. He was the only member of the India Police Commission who dissented with a report on requirements for police service, and suggested that the recruitment to the Indian Police Services should be through a single exam only to be conducted in India and Britain simultaneously. He also suggested the recruitment should not be based on colour or nationality. This suggestion was rejected by the India Police Commission. Maharaja Rameshwar Singh was a Tantric and was known as Siddha Tantric. He was considered a Rajarsi (sage king) by his people.

• Maharaja Kameshwar Singh Bahadur (ruled 1929 to the independence of India in 1947) (born 28 November 1907, died 8 November 1962). He was member of the Council of State 1933–1946, member of the Constituent Assembly 1947–1952, and the Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha-Upper House) 1952–1958 and 1960–1962. He was the first person in India to get a bust of Mahatma Gandhi made by celebrated artist Clare Frewen Sheridan, niece of Winston Churchill. The bust was presented to the viceroy of India, Victor Hope, 2nd Marquess of Linlithgow, to be displayed in Government House (now Rashtrapati Bhawan). This was acknowledged by Mahatma Gandhi in a letter to Lord Linlithgow in 1940.

Gandhi, in an interview during his visit to Bihar in 1947, said that the Maharaja Kameshwar Singh was an extremely good person and like a son to him.

Source: Wikipedia

- Cotton, H.E.A.

Maharaja Lakshmeshwar Singh of Darbhanga (महाराजा लक्ष्मेश्वर सिंह्) (September 25, 1858 to December 17, 1898) was the King of Darbhanga in State of Bihar, India. He was best known[by whom?] as one of the most munificent of living philanthropists of his time. His philanthropic works, administrative abilities and management of his estate (Raj Darbhanga) were models followed by others in India. His contribution to upliftment and modernizing Indian Society is, sadly, unrecognized by the Indian Government.

Biography

Maharaja Lakshmeshwar Singh was the eldest son of Maharaja Maheshwar Singh of Darbhanga. Maharaja Lakshmeshwar Singh was only 2 years old when his father died in 1860. The British Government placed the estate of Darbhanga under Court of Wards since the heirs to the estate were minors. He was placed under the tutorship of Mr. Chester Macnaghten who later served as the founding Principal of the oldest Public school in India, the Rajkumar College, Rajkot from 1870 to 1896.

For the next 19 years, till he attained majority, he was caught in political one-upmanship between his mother, who was supported by family priests, and the Tutors appointed by the British Government, who wanted him to be free from Zenana influence. He along with his younger brother Rameshwar Singh (who became Maharaja of Darbhanga after Maharaja Lakshmeshwar Singh’s death) received a western education from Government appointed tutors as well as a traditional Indian education from a Sanskrit Pandit, one of his uncles, a Maulvi and a Bengali gentleman. During the period when Maharaja Lakshmeshwar Singh was under the guardianship of the Court of Wards, he received a monthly allowance of Rs.5 a month even though the annual income of his estate was equivalent to a six digit figure in pounds sterling.

On attaining his majority, Maharaja Lakshmeshwar Singh devoted himself entirely to public duties of his position as Maharaja. He was appointed and served as a Member of the Legislative Council of the Viceroy, and took a leading part in the debates of that body. During the lengthened discussions on the important Bengal Tenancy Bill, he acted (in conjunction at first with the lamented patriot, Kristodas Pal, and subsequently with the Raja Piari Mohan Mukharji, (C.S.I.) as the representative of the landowners of Bengal and Behar and received warm recognition of the ability and moderation he brought to bear on this and other questions from successive Viceroys.

He was also a member of the Royal Commission on Opium of 1895, formed by British Government along with Haridas Viharidas Desai who was the Diwan of Junagadh. Royal Opium Commission consisted of 9 member team of which 7 were British and 2 were Indians and its Chairman was Earl Brassey.

Maharaja Lakshmeshwar Singh was outstanding champion of freedom of speech, personal and political rights. In 1898, Maharaja Lakshmeshwar Singh, along with W.C. Banerjee, was the only prominent Indian to publicly criticize and fight against the proposed widening of scope of section 124-A and 153-A of Indian Penal Code that was meant to suppress freedom of press in reporting news that could be deemed seditious in nature or against Government policy and insertion of section 108 in Indian Penal Code that gave right to postal authorities to seize any material that was suspected of containing matter obnoxious to section 124-A and 153-A of Indian Penal Code. Maharaja Lakshmeshwar Singh expired on December 17, 1898. He did not have any children and thus his younger brother Maharaja Rameshwar Singh became the Maharaja of Darbhanga.

Public Charity

Maharaja Lakshmeshwar Singh spent approximately £300,000 on relief work during the Bihar famine of 1873–74. He constructed hundreds of miles of roads in various parts of the Raj, planting them with tens of thousands of trees for the comfort of travelers, as part of generating employment for people effected by famine. He constructed iron bridges over all the navigable rivers of the Raj, and completed an elaborate system of irrigation works, for prevention of famine. The lakes, ponds, dams, and other water bodies created during his rule still exist today and form important part in irrigation in northern Bihar. In addition to the £300,000 expended in charitable relief during the Bihar famine of 1873-74, in every time of scarcity the late Maharaja’s arrangements for meeting it were on a splendid scale, and were in many cases the models for the Government measures. He built, and entirely supported, a first-class Dispensary at Darbhanga, which cost £3400; a similar one at Kharakpur, which cost £3500 ; and largely contributed to many others.

He built an Anglo-vernacular school at a cost of £1490, which he maintained, as well as nearly thirty vernacular schools of different grades; and subsidized a much larger number of educational institutions.

Most of the late Maharaja’s munificence was devoted to objects of charity pure and simple, such as famine relief, medical aid, and the like. But he also contributed very largely to objects of general public utility — as, for instance, in the gift of Rs.50,000 to the funds of the Imperial Institute. It was computed that during his possession of the Raj an aggregate sum of something like two millions sterling was expended on charities, works of public utility, and charitable remissions of rent.

The late Maharaja devoted special attention to all agricultural improvements, and especially to improvements in the breeds of horses and cattle in Bihar. He was a liberal patron of the turf, and was the owner of the largest and most valuable racing stud in India. He was also a keen sportsman.

The Maharaja was also one of the founders of Indian National Congress as well as one of the main financial contributor thereto.

He got Anand Bagh Palace ( also called Lakshmivilas Palace, after him ) built at Darbhanga, with its immense stables, its botanical and zoological gardens, and its many beautiful surroundings, also became well known in England by the sketches that appeared in the London illustrated papers. This Palace was donated by his nephew Maharaja Kameshwar Singh to the Government for establishment of a University to promote the Sanskrit language. This palace is now the head office of Maharaja Kameshwar Singh Sanskrit University, but however, the botanical and zoological garden surrounding it have vanished due to official apathy.

On the occasion of the Jubilee of the reign of Her Most Gracious Majesty the late Maharaja Bahadur was created a Knight Commander of the Most Eminent Order of the Indian Empire; and in 1897, He was created a Knight Grand Commander of the same Most Eminent Order.

Maharaja Lakshmeshwar Singh expired at a young age. As a mark of honour to him, British Governor commissioned Edward Onslow Ford to make a statue of Maharaja Lakshmeshwar Singh. This statue is installed at Dalhousie Square in Kolkata.

Source: Wikipedia

Anand Bagh Palace was donated to Government of Bihar by Maharaja Kameshwar Singh for starting a University for promotion of Sanskrit language. Currently, this palace is the head office of Maharaja Kameshwar Singh Sanskrit University.

Anand Bagh Palace was well known for its beautiful gardens surrounding it that have now sadly disappeared due to government’s apathy to maintain it. Roper Lethbridge mentions about the about Lakshmivilas Palace as under: “The new Palace at Darbhanga, with its immense stables, its botanical and zoological gardens, and its many beautiful surroundings, is well known in England by the sketches that have appeared in the London illustrated papers.” The garden surrounding the Palace had several rare species of plants such as Branched palm having over 8 branches, Rudraksha, Sandalwood, Mahogany, etc. as well as many species of orchids were planted around the Palace.

The garden was laid out on the extensice grounds of the Palace by Charles Maries, who was recommended by Sir Joseph Hooker to Maharaja Lakshmeshwar Singh for the post of Superintendent of the gardens of the Raj Darbhanga.