Vibhuti Narayan Singh
| H.H.Maharaja Vibhuti Narayan Singh | |
|---|---|
| Kashi Naresh | |
 | |
| Maharaja Bahadur of Kashi | |
| Reign | 5 April 1939 – 15 August 1947 |
| Predecessor | Aditya Narayan Singh |
| Successor | Office abolished |
| Titular Maharaja of Kashi | |
| Reign | 15 August 1947 - 25 December 2000 |
| Predecessor | Office established |
| Successor | Anant Narayan Singh |
| Born | 5 November 1927 Ramnagar, Varanasi, Benares State, British Raj |
| Died | 25 December 2000 (aged 73) Ramnagar, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India |
| Issue | 4 |
| Dynasty | Narayan dynasty |
| Father | Aditya Narayan Singh (adoptive) |
His Highness Maharaja Vibhuti Narayan Singh Bahadur (5 November 1927 – 25 December 2000) was the king of Benares, a city considered holy, located in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. He was the last Bhumihar Brahmin king of the Kingdom of Kashi.
Early life
[edit]Vibhuti Narayan Singh was born on 5 November 1927. He was adopted in June 1934 by Maharaja Aditya Narayan Singh (1874–1939), the King of Benares.[1] The day after the Maharaja's death on 4 April 1939, Vibhuti Narayan Singh was appointed his successor to the Narayan dynasty.[2]
Education
[edit]Singh studied at Mayo College, Ajmer. He received his master's degree in Sanskrit from Banaras Hindu University at Varanasi. He studied with the famous grammarian, Vagish Shastri. He was a scholar of Sanskrit, Vedas and Puranas.[3]
Reign
[edit]On becoming an adult in 1947, Singh took charge of his inheritance. He lived at Ramnagar Fort and had a keen interest in cultural activities. His ancestors had started the world famous Ramlila of Ramnagar based on Ramayan and under his guidance these remained popular in Benares.[4]
He had a full-fledged court of justice in his fort and an army.[5]
His kingdom was dissolved and merged into India on 15 October 1948 and his army was converted to PAC stationed at Ramnagar. [6]
Contribution
[edit]After the independence of India, Singh became Chancellor of Banaras Hindu University, from where he was awarded a D.Litt.[7] He also established Vishwa Sanskrit Pratisthanam for Sanskrit research under the guidance of Vagish Shastri.[8] He established Akhil Bhartiya Kashiraj Nyas which published several books on oriental studies.[9] He established Vidya Mandir trust which also runs the museum comprising exhibits like palanquins, costumes, swords, sabres etc.[10]
On 28 January 1983 the Kashi Vishwanath Temple was taken over by the government of Uttar Pradesh and its management was transferred to a trust of which Singh was president.[11]
In 1947, under his leadership, the Shree Kashi Naresh Education Trust laid the foundation of the Kashi Naresh Government Post Graduate College (KNPG), in the Gyanpur of Bhadohi district (U.P).[12]
An intermediate college is named after him in Gyanpur and another in Surajpur at Mau district in Uttar Pradesh.[13]
Death
[edit]Singh died on 25 December 2000. His body was cremated with state honours at Manikarnika Ghat in Varanasi.[14]
References
[edit]- ^ "Raja of Benares Passes Away". The Indian Express. 5 April 1939. Retrieved 7 May 2017.
- ^ "Successor of New Ruler Announced". The Indian Express. 6 April 1939. Retrieved 7 May 2017.
- ^ Baldev Upadhyaya Kashi ki Panditya Parampara, Vishwavidyalaya Prakashan, Varanasi.
- ^ Sanyal, Shiv. Benares under English East India Company. The world press.
- ^ Singh, Rana P. B. (2009). Banaras: making of India's heritage city. Planet earth & cultural understanding : a series. Newcastle upon Tyne, UK: Cambridge Scholars Pub. ISBN 978-1-4438-1579-6.
- ^ Allen, Charles; Dwivedi, Sharada (1998). Lives of the Indian princes (Revised ed.). Mumbai: Eeshwar. ISBN 978-81-86982-05-1.
- ^ Association of Indian Universities (1987). "Banaras Hindu University". Proceedings- Association of Indian Universities. 62: 6-8-28.
- ^ "विश्वसंस्कृतप्रतिष्ठानस्य संस्थापना". Vishva Bhasha. 5: 3, 4, 5, 6.
- ^ "Bulletin of Puran Department". Puranam All India Kashiraj Trust. 34.
- ^ "Ramnagar Fort".
- ^ Official website of Varanasi
- ^ KNPG College home page
- ^ "College History".
- ^ "Varanasi bids adieu to Kashi Naresh". The Times of India. 27 December 2000. Retrieved 7 May 2017.