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| Bhim Singh II | |
|---|---|
| Maharao ofKotah Uprajpramukh ofRajasthan FirstRajpramukh ofRajasthan | |
 Bhim Singh II,KCSI | |
| Maharao ofKotah | |
| Reign | 1940 – 15 August 1947 |
| Predecessor | Umed Singh II |
| Successor | Brijraj Singh |
| Born | 14 September 1909 |
| Died | 20 July 1991(1991-07-20) (aged 81) |
| Spouse | HH Maharaniji Sa Rathorji Shri Shiv Kanwarji Saheba d.of HH Maharajadhiraj Maharaja Sir Shri Ganga Singhji ofBikaner State |
| Issue | Brijraj Singh Indra Kumariji m.to HH Raja Rawat Sir Vikramaditya Singhji ofRajgarh State Bhuvaneshwari Kumariji m.to Thakur Devi Singhji of Malasar inBikaner State |
| House | Madhani Hada-Chauhan |
| Father | Umed Singh II |
| Mother | HH Maharaniji Sa Kachwahiji Shri Gulab Kanwarji Maji Saheba ofIsarda inJaipur State |
| Rajpramukh ofRajasthan | |
| In office 25 March 1948 – 18 April 1948 | |
| Succeeded by | Bhupal Singh |
| Uprajpramukh ofRajasthan | |
| In office 18 April 1948 – 31 October 1956 | |
Brigadier HH Shri Maharajadhiraj Maharaja Mahim Mahendra Maharao Raja Sir Bhim Singh II Bahadur,KCSI (14 September 1909 – 20 July 1991) was the last rulingMaharaja of theHadaChauhan dynasty of thePrincely State ofKotah from the year 1940 to 1947.
The only son and heir of HH Maharao SirUmed Singhji II, Bhim Singhji II succeeded his father following his death in 1940. He immediately entered into service with theBritish Indian Army as an officer, serving during the Second World War and being promoted to Major by 1948. Although he planned several education and modernisation programs for Kotah, they did not reach fruition beforeIndian independence. He was knighted with the KCSI in 1947, and signed the Instrument of Accession to theDominion of India on 15 August. The following year, on 25 March 1948, Sir Bhim Singhji merged Kotah into the Rajasthan Union of states and became its firstRajpramukh, but was demoted toUprajpramukh (Deputy Rajpramukh) when the Maharana ofUdaipur, who was of a higher rank than Sir Bhim Singhji, acceded to the Rajasthan Union. Sir Bhim Singhji continued in the office of Uprajpramukh until it, along with the office of Rajpramukh, was abolished by theGovernment of India on 31 October 1956.
In 1956, Sir Bhim Singhji served as an Alternate Delegate to theUnited Nations General Assembly that year. Conversely, since 1959 he had been President of the Rajasthan Board for the Preservation of Wildlife.
An expert shooter, he was Captain of the Indian shooting team at the Singapore Shooting Championships in 1969, at the1976 Summer Olympics and at the1978 Asian Games.[1]
On 30 April 1930, Bhim Singhji II married RathorjiMaharani Shivkumari Sahiba (1 April 1916–), a younger daughter of General Maharaja SirGanga Singh ofBikaner. The couple had one son and two daughters:
As part of the mass derecognisation of Indian rulers in 1971 under the Indira Gandhi regime, Sir Bhim Singhji was stripped of ruling powers and titles. He died two decades later on 20 July 1991, aged 81, after a reign of 51 years, and was succeeded by his only son,Brijraj Singh.
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Bhim Singh II Born: 14 September 1909 Died: 20 July 1991 | ||
| Regnal titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Umed Singh II (as Maharao of Kotah) | Maharao of Kotah 1940–1948 | Succeeded by |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by Post created 25 March 1948 | Rajpramukh of the Rajasthan Union 1948 | Succeeded by Bhupal Singh, Maharana of Udaipur |
| Preceded by Post created 25 March 1948 | Uprajpramukh of the Rajasthan Union 1948–1956 | Succeeded by Post abolished by theRepublic of India 31 October 1956 |
| Titles in pretence | ||
| Preceded by None | — TITULAR — Maharao of Kotah 1948–1991 Reason for succession failure: Monarchy abolished in 1948 | Succeeded by |