The Hindu : Jaipur royal family adopts heir

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Nov 24, 2002

National

National

Jaipur royal family adopts heir

By Our Staff Correspondent

JAIPUR NOV. 23. The erstwhile royal family of Jaipur has found its heir in five-year-old Padmanabh Singh, who was formally adopted by the former ruler of the Pink City, Brigadier Bhawani Singh, at an impressive ceremony in the City Palace here on Friday. The new Crown Prince of Jaipur belongs to the family.

The adoption ceremony was attended by a galaxy of scions of the royal families of the erstwhile Rajputana and elsewhere, as well as political bigwigs. The rituals of adoption were carried out, amid chanting of Vedic hymns, in Pritam Niwas segment of the sprawling mansion in the heart of the city. A function accompanied by a display of fireworks was organised in the evening.

Padmanabh Singh is the son of Brig. Bhawani Singh's only daughter, Diya Kumari. He is a kindergarten student in Palace School opened by his mother in the City Palace premises. His father, Narendra Singh, comes from a reputed Rajput family.

The City Palace is witnessing an adoption ceremony after a gap of 81 years. Brig. Bhawani Singh's father, Sawai Man Singh II — originally hailing from Isarda county — was adopted at the same venue by the then ruler, Madho Singh II, in September 1921. He was enthroned as the King of the then Amber State in 1922.

The young Padmanabh Singh was handed over by his parents to Brig. Bhawani Singh after an hour-long `Hawan' ceremony conducted by the head priest of the royal family. The Crown Prince sat on the lap of Brig. Bhawani Singh as a mark of his adoption as heir to the throne.

The boy will inherit the royal properties in the Pink City worth crores.

However, a large part of these properties is mired in legal disputes in several courts. Many of the important regal buildings have been given on lease to the State Government for a token amount.

The royalties who attended the glittering ceremony included the young Congress MP, Jyotiraditya Scindia, from the erstwhile Gwalior State, and Arwind Singh Mewar from the former Mewar State. Also represented were the erstwhile princely States such as Alwar, Jodhpur, Bikaner, Kishangarh and Sirmaur.

The Rajasthan Governor, Anshuman Singh, and several members of the State Cabinet too were among those present. However, the Chief Minister, Ashok Gehlot, was conspicuous by his absence.

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