Mewar Encyclopedia

Concise History of Mewar

A chronology of Mewar's 76 Rulers and their times (AD ca 569-2001) including some parallel events in India.
Conflicting dates exist for the reigns of Guhil and his two immediate successors, Bhoj and Mahendra I. Some texts maintain Guhil's reign began as early as 566 AD. The following dates must still be considered approximate.

71.	Ruler & Title: Maharana SHAMBHU SINGH Reign: 1861-1874 Capital: Udaipur Family: Sisodia	*Mewar:* 1861-1874, Builds Shambhu Niwas (1865), Kamal Pol (Opposite ADC’s Room), Basant Chowk (Fountain area of Shambhu Niwas), Chandra Chowk (1865-66) 1863, Jun, 1st Govt. library/school in Mewar, Shambhu Ratna Pathsala opens behind Jagdish Temple. 1865, English introduced into Mewar schools. 1866, Oct 19, 1st girls’ school opens in Udaipur. 1867, Jun 26, 19-gun salutes for Udaipur sanctioned by British. 1870, Mint at Salumbar closes. Adopts Sajjan Singh who succeeds him. *India:* 1861, Establishment of Imperial Legislative Council with Indian members nominated by the viceroy. 1865, birth of Mahatama Gandhi.
72.	Ruler & Title: Maharana SAJJAN SINGH Reign: 1874-1884 Capital: Udaipur Family: Sisodia	*Mewar:* 1876, Dec 28, Delhi Durbar, British present Mewar with standard on which Surya the Sun God replaces monkey god Hanuman. Sajjan Singh given full rights to govern Mewar. 1877, Jan 1, Sajjan Singh attends Delhi Durbar. High Court established. 1878, Land settlement introduced. 1879, publication of paper Sajjan Kirti Sudhakar begins. 1880, Aug 20, Mahendras Sabha established. 1881, British award Sajjan Singh the Star of India; Bhils revolt against census. 1882, Sajjan Singh honours Hindi poet laureate Harish Chandra; invites classical singer Dagar and Rishi Dayanand to Court at Udaipur. Commissions Shayamal Das to write Vir Vinod (History of Mewar). Builds Khasi Odi Hunting Lodge; Sajjan Niwas Gardens and Sajjan Vani Vilas Library; repairs Padmini's Palace, Chittor; builds Sajjangarh (Monsoon Palace). Adopts Fateh Singh who succeeds him. *India:* 1877, Queen Victoria, Empress of India. 1880, British defeated in Afghan war; British P.M. Gladstone sends Lord Ripon to India as viceroy.
73.	Ruler & Title: Maharana FATEH SINGH Reign: 1884-1930 Capital: Udaipur Family: Sisodia	*Mewar:* Remains aloof from British administrators. Builds Badal Mahal, Kumbhalgarh; 1889, Fateh Sagar embankment; 1890, Victoria Hall in Sajjan Niwas Gardens. 1884, natural son, Bhupal Singh born. 1895, Feb 22, 1st telegraph office opens in Udaipur. 1897, Udaipur Railway officially established. 1903, Fateh Singh goes to Delhi but does not attend Durbar. Builds Durbar Hall, Fateh Prakash Palace; extends Shambhu Nivas and completes Shiv Nivas palaces; Fateh Prakash Mahal, Chittor. 1909, son Bhupal Singh contracts TB and crippling spinal disorder. 1921, British curtail Maharana's power. Nov, British give Crown Prince Bhupal Singh some administrative powers. *India:* 1885, 1st National Congress meets in Bombay. 1892, reform of Legislative Councils. 1905, partition of Bengal; national agitation, boycott of British goods. 1906, foundation of Muslim League. 1907, split of National Congress into "Moderates" and "Extremists". 1909, Morley-Minto reform; separate electorates for Muslims. 1916, Lakhnau Pact between National Congress and Muslim League. 1918, split of National Congress; National Liberation Federation established. 1919, Rowlatt Acts and Gandhi's Rowlatt satyagraha. 1920, Montagu-Chelmsford reform. 1920-22, Gandhi's non-cooperation campaign; agitation of Indian Muslims. 1929, Lord Irwin's declaration of "Dominion status"; Congress dissatisfied.
74.	Ruler & Title: Maharana BHUPAL SINGH Reign: 1930-1955 Capital: Udaipur Family: Sisodia	*Mewar:* 1933, Archaeological Museum opens. 1939, adopts Bhagwat Singh who marries Princess Sushila Kunwarji of Bikaner. 1942, founds Municipal Board of Udaipur. 1944, builds General Hospital; opens some items of Crystal for public display. 1947, with Indian Independence 1st ruler to join Indian Union. 1948, Apr 18, Udaipur joins Rajasthan Union of States, opened by Nehru. 1949, former Princely States merged as Rajasthan. *India:* Gandhi's "salt march", civil disobedience. 1930-31, Great Depression. 1932, Gandhi-Ambedhar Pact, separate electorates for Untouchables. 1934, elections to Central Legislative Assembly; Congress wins seats. 1935, Govt. of India Act. 1936, elections, Congress wins majority in 7 provinces. 1940, Lahore ("Pakistan") Resolution; Jinnah’s "Two Nations" theory. 1942, Cripps Mission and "Quit India" resolution. 1946, elections, Muslim League successful; interim govt.; Nehru prime minister. 1947, Aug 15, Indian Independence and partition; Kashmir conflict begins. 1948, Mahatma Gandhi assassinated. 1950, Republic of India inaugurated: Nehru prime minister. 1952, 1st general election; Congress wins.
75.	Ruler & Title: (Maharana) BHAGWAT SINGH MEWAR Reign: 1955-1984 Capital: Udaipur Family: Sisodia	*Mewar:* 1956, establishes HRH Group to convert palaces into luxury hotels. 1969, Indian Govt. deletes Privy Purse. 1971, Lake Palace leased to Taj Group. 1974, opens Mewar Public School. 1975, converts Sheel Nickunj Kothi into Shikarbadi; publishes Trials and Triumphs of the Mewar Kingdom. 1978, adds 2nd storey to Shiv Nivas. Established Maharana of Mewar Charitable Foundation in 1969. 1980, inaugurates Maharana Mewar Foundation Awards. 1983, Mahendra Singh legally severs himself from family; younger son Arvind Singh appointed Managing Trustee of family's businesses. 1984, registers "Maharana" as a legally constituted name. *India:* 1957, 2nd general election; Congress wins. 1959, Dalai Lama flees to India; confrontation between China and India. 1960, Bombay divided state between Gujarat and Maharashtra. 1961, Goa liberated. 1962, 3rd general election, Congress wins; border wars with China. 1964, death of Nehru, succeeded by Shastri. 1965, Pakistan conflict over Rann of Kutch; Pakistan attacks Kashmir. 1966, death of Shastri, succeeded by Indira Gandhi; devaluation of rupee. 1967, 4th general election, Congress retains majority but loses several states. 1971, elections only in Delhi, Indira Gandhi's Congress wins; Indo-Soviet Friendship Treaty; Indian army helps to liberate Bangladesh from Pakistan. 1972, Privy Purse abolished. 1974, strike of railway workers; nuclear device tested underground. 1977, Indira Gandhi defeated; Moraji Desai prime minister; formation of Janata Party. 1978, conflicts in Janata Party; Charan Singh leads caretaker govt. 1980, Indira Gandhi wins elections. 1984, Indian army action in Amritsar's Golden Temple; Sikh rebel leader Bhindranwale killed. Indira Gandhi assassinated.
76.	Ruler & Title: SHRIJI ARVIND SINGH MEWAR Reign: 1984- Capital: Udaipur Family: Sisodia	*Mewar:* HRH Group under Arvind Singh purchasing palaces in Rajasthan and converting them into 5-star heritage hotels. 1985, birth of son and heir Lakshyaraj. Started first Solar Boat in 1999, now at Gajner, 14 Prototypes of Solar vehicles were developed in house between 1999-2004. 2000, renovates Badipal (The Promenade) and Zanana Mahal; opens Mewar Special Library; releases 1st CD in Mewar Music Collection; launches book Mewar-the World's Longest Serving Dynasty; 2001, commissions The Mewar Encyclopaedia. 2005 The Mewar Sound and Light Show started both in Hindi and English. 2009 Photography Gallery opened in Bhagwat Prakash, The Zenana Mahal. 2013 Opened Silver Gallery in Amar Mahal and Music Gallery in first floor, south side of the Zenana Mahal and Scultpture Gallery shifted to first floor east wing of the Zenana Mahal. 2014 Curtain Raiser Textile and Costume Gallery – Mewar Regalia opened in ground floor south side of the Zenana Mahal. *India:* Change in economic policy; tax cuts, private investment stimulated; scientific and technological progress emphasised; new approach to federalism; toleration of non-Congress govts. in some states.

Shiv Niwas Palace Udaipur	Fateh Prakash Palace Udaipur
Jagmandir Island Palace Udaipur	Gajner Palace Bikaner
Shikarbadi Hotel Udaipur	Garden Hotel Udaipur
The Aodhi Kumbhalgarh	Fateh Bagh Ranakpur
Gorbandh Palace Jaisalmer	Karni Bhawan Palace Bikaner