Behind violence, drama at Mewar dynasty coronation, a battle royale for property (2024)

On the opposing sides of the protracted dispute are BJP MLA Vishvaraj Singh, whose succession ceremony was held on November 25, and uncle Arvind Singh's family

Behind violence, drama at Mewar dynasty coronation, a battle royale for property (1) Succession proceedings in the dynasty of the Maharana of Mewar remain entangled in their long-drawn property dispute. On November 25, following the death of his father Mahendra Singh, the coronation of Vishvaraj Singh as the 77th Maharana of Mewar took place at the Fateh Prakash Palace inside Chittorgarh Fort in a widely-attended ceremony. The events of the day, however, ended up in violence.

Vishvaraj Singh is the BJP MLA from Nathdwara and now anointed the titular king of the Mewar dynasty. His wife Mahima Kumari Mewar is the BJP MP from Rajsamand.

advertisement

Most old monuments inside the Chittorgarh Fort are under the care of the Archeological Survey of India while the Rajasthan government runs a museum at Fateh Prakash Palace.

Known as ‘Tilak dastur’, the coronation event could not have been held inside the fort without consent of the state government. Vishvaraj Singh, however, was not allowed to enter the Eklingji temple inside Udaipur’s City Palace for the second part of the ceremony, known as ‘Dhunni darshan’, since the Maharana of Mewar Charitable Foundation, which controls it, declined permission.

Even the Eklingji temple trust had, through a public notice, stated that Singh won’t be allowed entry. The trust is chaired by Arvind Singh, who had a running dispute over the royal properties with his elder brother and Vishvaraj Singh’s father Mahendra Singh. However, on November 27, Vishvaraj Singh offered prayers at the Eklingji temple without any hindrance.

The denial of entry to the City Palace triggered an episode of violence on the night of November 25 between Vishvaraj Singh’s supporters and rival members of the royal family and temple trust employees, with police personnel trying to restore peace also facing a backlash. On November 26, Udaipur district collector Arvind Kumar Poswal told the media that the situation was under control and that negotiations were on between the parties involved.

Vishvaraj Singh was elected from Nathdwara assembly constituency last year—his debut in electoral politics. The BJP, making a big exception to its policy against fielding family members of an elected representative, this year gave the Rajsamand Lok Sabha ticket to his wife Mahima.

The November 25 violence has brought back into the spotlight the longstanding dispute between two brothers, Mahendra and Arvind Singh, from one of India’s most revered royalties that boasted of heroes such as Maharana Pratap, Rana Sanga and Rana Kumbha, known for their battles against attempted insubordination by Muslim invaders.

Bhagwat Singh, who became the titular ruler of Mewar in 1955, is said to have willed entire properties of the Mewar royalty to his younger son Arvind Singh as he had fallen out with his elder son Mahendra.

On November 19, 1984, thousands of Rajputs, protesting against Arvind Singh, took Mahendra Singh in a procession to the City Palace and declared him their maharana. However, under alleged pressure from the administration, Mahendra Singh left the City Palace to await the judicial outcome of his legal challenge to his father’s will.

Over the following decades, Arvind Singh has taken control of nearly every royal property, including both the City Palace and Lake Palace in Udaipur. While Arvind Singh claims legal victory from the highest court of India, Mahendra Singh alleges that successive governments in Rajasthan have deliberately ignored orders that could have furthered his claims over the properties as well as enabled him to take possession of them.

In 1989, Mahendra Singh won the Chittorgarh Lok Sabha election on a BJP ticket. Eventually, upset with BJP leaders not helping him with his property disputes, he joined the Congress. But he lost Chittorgarh contesting on a Congress ticket and shifted to Bhilwara parliamentary constituency, where he was unsuccessful again.

Many Rajputs who held Mahendra Singh in high regard felt it was wrong on his part to have left the City Palace, the BJP and Chittorgarh constituency as this went against the Sisodia dynasty’s core values of loyalty. At the same time, many hailed Arvind Singh for putting Udaipur on the world map through various award ceremonies, high maintenance of the properties and attracting tourists.

advertisement

Arvind Singh had apparently given indications to sort out the dispute through talks, but refusal by Mahendra Singh made him change his stance. He also once said that his elder brother had lost claim over the throne by voluntarily leaving it in 1984. Mahendra Singh was forced to spend his life in a small haveli with little income.

The mass response at Vishvaraj Singh’s accession ceremony shows that the erstwhile Rajput generals and their families have total faith in him as the ‘successor’ of the dynasty. Vishvaraj Singh and wife Mahima’s landslide election victories too point to the respect they command.

Lakshyaraj, the son of Arvind Singh, has accused the local administration of pressuring his family to let Vishvaraj Singh offer prayers at the temple. He said that except for legal course, nobody can force entry into a private property. However, Vishvaraj Singh has said that he had only wanted to offer prayers as per tradition and that such a visit should not be seen as an attempt to seize any property.

advertisement

At the same time, since Arvind Singh stakes claim to the throne, he could not have facilitated any ceremony at the City Palace to further his rival’s claims. Vishvaraj Singh has gracefully decided not to insist on prayers at the City Palace. The matter may come up before the courts, as both parties have indicated.

The ruckus at Vishvaraj Singh’s coronation ceremonies means he may have a tough fight ahead staking claim over what he feels is his rightful share in the royal property. On the opposing side are uncle Arvind Singh and his son. To commoners, though, this is one battle that India’s rich legacy of royalties could do without.

Late evening on November 27, Vishvaraj Singh performed ‘Dhunni darshan’ inside the City Palace complex. The deadlock, which had led to a violent face-off on November 25, ended after the administration mediated a compromise to let him and four others perform the ritual. Lakshyaraj had earlier said he had no objection to anyone visiting the temple in a ‘civilised manner’.

Subscribe to India Today Magazine

Published By:

Arunima Jha

Published On:

Nov 27, 2024

Behind violence, drama at Mewar dynasty coronation, a battle royale for property (2024)

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Recommended Articles
Article information

Author: Dan Stracke

Last Updated:

Views: 5979

Rating: 4.2 / 5 (43 voted)

Reviews: 90% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Dan Stracke

Birthday: 1992-08-25

Address: 2253 Brown Springs, East Alla, OH 38634-0309

Phone: +398735162064

Job: Investor Government Associate

Hobby: Shopping, LARPing, Scrapbooking, Surfing, Slacklining, Dance, Glassblowing

Introduction: My name is Dan Stracke, I am a homely, gleaming, glamorous, inquisitive, homely, gorgeous, light person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.