Bhim Singh II
Last ruling Maharaja of Kotah from 1940–1947
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Early career
The only son and heir of HH Maharao Sir Umed Singhji II, Bhim Singhji II succeeded his father following his death in 1940. He immediately entered into service with the British 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 before Indian independence. He was knighted with the KCSI in 1947, and signed the Instrument of Accession to the Dominion 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 first Rajpramukh, but was demoted to Uprajpramukh (Deputy Rajpramukh) when the Maharana of Udaipur, 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 the Government of India on 31 October 1956.
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Later work
In 1956, Sir Bhim Singhji served as an Alternate Delegate to the United Nations General Assembly that year. Conversely, since 1959 he had been President of the Rajasthan Board for the Preservation of Wildlife.
Sports shooter
An expert shooter, he was Captain of the Indian shooting team at the Singapore Shooting Championships in 1969, at the 1976 Summer Olympics and at the 1978 Asian Games.
Family
On 30 April 1930, Bhim Singhji II married Rathorji Maharani Shivkumari Sahiba (1 April 1916–), a younger daughter of General Maharaja Sir Ganga Singh of Bikaner. The couple had one son and two daughters:
- Maharajkumar Sri Brijraj Singhji Sahib Bahadur, who succeeded as Maharajadhiraj Maharaja Mahimahendra Maharao Raja Sri Brijraj Singh Sahib Bahadur (21 February 1934– 29 January 2022)
- Maharajkumari Indira Kumari Sahiba (1937–), who in 1960 married Raja Rawat Sri Bikramaditya Singh Sahib Bahadur (18 December 1936–), the Raja of Rajgarh, becoming the Rani Sahiba of Rajgarh.
- Maharajkumari Bhuvaneshwari Kumari Sahiba (29 May 1945–), who married in the 1970s Thakur Sri Devi Singh of Malasar, and had twin daughters Shaivya Rathore and Divya Rathore.
Later years and death
As part of the mass derecognition 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.
Titles
- 1909–1940: Maharajkumar Sri Bhim Singh Sahib Bahadur
- 1940–1943: His Highness Maharajadhiraj Maharaja Mahimahendra Maharao Raja Sri Bhim Singh II Sahib Bahadur, Maharao Raja of Kotah
- 1943–1944: Captain His Highness Maharajadhiraj Maharaja Mahimahendra Maharao Raja Sri Bhim Singh II Sahib Bahadur, Maharao Raja of Kotah
- 1944–1945: Major His Highness Maharajadhiraj Maharaja Mahimahendra Maharao Raja Sri Bhim Singh II Sahib Bahadur, Maharao Raja of Kotah
- 1945–1946: Lieutenant-Colonel His Highness Maharajadhiraj Maharaja Mahimahendra Maharao Raja Sri Bhim Singh II Sahib Bahadur, Maharao Raja of Kotah
- 1946–1947: Colonel His Highness Maharajadhiraj Maharaja Mahimahendra Maharao Raja Sri Bhim Singh II Sahib Bahadur, Maharao Raja of Kotah
- 1947–1948: Colonel His Highness Maharajadhiraj Maharaja Mahimahendra Maharao Raja Sri Sir Bhim Singh II Sahib Bahadur, Maharao Raja of Kotah, KCSI
- 1948–1991: Brigadier His Highness Maharajadhiraj Maharaja Mahimahendra Maharao Raja Sri Sir Bhim Singh II Sahib Bahadur, Maharao Raja of Kotah, KCSI
Honours
- King George V Silver Jubilee Medal-1935
- King George VI Coronation Medal-1937
- Ganga Singh Golden Jubilee Medal of Bikaner-1937
- 1939-1945 Star-1945
- Africa Star-1945
- War Medal 1939-1945-1945
- Knight Commander of the Order of the Star of India (KCSI)-1947
- Indian Independence Medal-1947
- Arjuna Award-1971