MaharanaMahendra Singh Mewar (24 February 1941 – 10 November 2024) was an Indian politician who was a Member of Parliament in the Lok Sabha. He was the eldest son of Maharana Bhagwat Singh Mewar. Mahendra was the 76th Maharana of the House of Sisodia and the head of the erstwhile Kingdom of Mewar. The seat was disputed with his younger brother Arvind and he is possibly his successor.
During the lifetime of Late Maharana Bhagwat Singh ji Mewar, he assisted in the formation of the Maharana Mewar Charitable Foundation, managed the world-famous Lake Palace Hotel when it was first recognised as a five-star hotel and the Garden Hotel, also at Udaipur when it was accorded with a three-star status.[citation needed]
He was also the President, Maharana Bhupal Institutions (under Vidya Pracharini Sabha, Udaipur, Rajasthan); St. Vice-President, General Council and Board of Governors, Mayo College, Ajmer; Patron, Akhil Bharatiya and Mewar Kshetra Kshatriya Mahasabha.[3]
Personal life
Mahendra Singh Mewar was the eldest son of Mewar's titular ruler Bhagwat Singh.[11] He graduated from Mayo College, Ajmer where he was a sportsman. He completed his B.A. at Government College, Ajmer and resided in Samor Bagh.[12]
Mahendra Singh was married to Princess Nirupama Kumari of Tehri Garhwal.[13] Mahendra Singh Mewar has one son and one daughter. His son Vishvaraj Singh is married to Mahima Kumari, daughter of Jagdishwari Prasad Singh Deo of Panchkot, and have two children, one daughter named Baisa Jayati Kumari and a son named Devajaditya Singh.[14] His daughter, Kanwrani Trivikrama Kumari Jamwal is married to Divya Ashish Singh ji Jamwal of Akhnoor.
There has been some controversy between branches of the family about the leadership of the House of Mewar and subsequently the holder of the custodianship. The lines are between Arvind Singh Mewar on the one hand and Mahendra Singh Mewar on the other.
Mahendra Singh Mewar died on 10 November 2024, at the age of 83.[15]
Dispute over succession
In 1984, Maharana Bhagwat Singh willed his entire property through a trust to younger son Arvind. He not only made Arvind the executor of the will, but also included daughter Yogeshwari Kumari as a trustee. Elder son Mahendra Singh, who had a year before accused his father of wasteful expenditure, polygamy and sought division of the vast property, was left out.[16]
However, after the demise of Late Bhagwat Singh ji Mewar of Udaipur, as his eldest son, Mahendra Singhji Mewar was 'Crowned' the Maharana of Mewar -76th Custodian of the Shrine, in a Raj Tilak ceremony on 19 November 1984, with the religious ceremonies and public participation within the City Palace, Udaipur, and thereafter the procession and "darshan" before Shri Eklingji at Kailashpuri.[citation needed]
His younger brother, Arvind Singh Mewar has since however, claimed that he is the Head of the Family. The Estate of Late Bhagwat Singh Mewar of Udaipur has been declared a H.U.F (Hindu United Family - Joint Family) by the Income Tax Tribunal in 1981 and is subject to a partition suit since 1983. Stay orders have been applicable on this Estate since and the activities initiated, expanded, alterations undertaken by Shri Arvind Singh Mewar have been during the pendency of these orders.[citation needed] Mahendra Singh Mewar had filed a petition in the court demanding equal share of property for family members and finally the decree has been passed in his favour.[17] The court has also put an immediate stop to all commercial activities at movable and immovable properties like Shambu Niwas, Badi Pal and Ghasghar which have not been given to any companies or trusts so far. All movable and immovable properties which have not been transferred to the company, trustees or persons, such as Shambhu Niwas, Badi Pal, Grass House, etc will be used by three parties -- Mahendra Singh, Arvind Singh and Yageshwari Devi for four years. Since these properties are currently with Arvind Singh, he has been asked to give the said assets, accounts and documents to his elder brother, Mahendra Singh on 1 April 2021. Mahendra Singh will give the property to Yageshwari on 1 April 2025. After this, Yageshwari on 1 April 2029 will hand over these assets to Arvind Singh. The asset transfer process will start from January 2021.[17][18]
Arvind Singh's place of residence is Shambhu Niwas Palace and their ancestral hunting lodge Shikarbadi Palace. On the demise of Late Bhagwat Singh Mewar of Udaipur, parts of the Palace, specifically those in which Late Maharana Bhagwat Singh ji Mewar of Udaipur was residing were sealed by Mahendra Singh Mewar. Against orders of the High Court of Rajasthan, the government / administration handed over these parts to Arvind Singh for which a contempt petition is under adjudication before the Supreme Court of India. Mahendra Singh Mewar had been permitted by the Supreme Court of India to take steps to repossess these parts of the Palace. It is under these circumstances that Arvind Singh has been residing in the City Palace.[citation needed]
The relationship between the two branches of the family have remained tense.[19][20] While in the international press, Arvind Singh Mewar is mentioned as the current head of the family, the local old noble families of Udaipur recognised Maharana Mahendra Singhji Mewar as the rightful head.[21][22][23]
