Jun 9, 2010

Sardar Singh, Maharaja of Jodhpur 1900

Photo of Sardar Singh, Maharaja of Jodhpur from the 'Wheeler Collection: Portraits of Indian Rulers,' was taken by Gobindram and Oodeyram c.1900. Stephen Wheeler, the donor of the collection, was presumably related to J. Talboys Wheeler, organiser of the 1877 durbar and author of 'The History of the Imperial Assemblage at Delhi' (London, [1877]).

Jodhpur, ruled by the descendants of the Rathor Rajputs, was founded c.1450. Sardar Singh (1880-1911) succeeded as Maharaja in 1895 at the age of fifteen. Sardar Singh's uncle, Maharaj Pratap Singh and a council of regency assisted him for the first three years until he reached eighteen. Sardar Singh visited Europe in 1901, and is known for his involvement in extending the railway from Jodhpur to Hyderabad.

Source: British Library (bl.uk)