Lakshmeshwar Singh facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lakshmeshwar Singh |
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| Maharaja of Darbhanga | |
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| Reign | 1860–1898 |
| Predecessor | Maharaja Maheshwar Singh |
| Successor | Maharaja Rameshwar Singh |
| Born | Darbhanga |
| Died | 1898 |
| House | Raj Darbhanga |
| Father | Maheshwar Singh Bahadur |
| Religion | Hinduism |
Maharaja Sir Lakshmeshwar Singh (born September 25, 1858 – died November 16, 1898) was an important leader and landowner in the Mithila area of India, which is now part of Bihar state. He was known for his generous actions, his excellent leadership, and how well he managed his large estate, called Raj Darbhanga. His work helped his region grow and develop.
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Early Life and Education
Lakshmeshwar Singh was the oldest son of Maharaja Maheshwar Singh of Darbhanga. Sadly, his father passed away when Lakshmeshwar was only two years old. Because he was so young, the British Raj (the British rule in India) placed his estate under the care of a special group called the Court of Wards.
He was taught by Chester Macnaghten, who later started the Rajkumar College, Rajkot, one of India's oldest public schools. For 19 years, until he became an adult, Lakshmeshwar Singh received a mix of Western education from British teachers and traditional Indian education. He learned from a Sanskrit Pandit (a scholar), one of his uncles, a Maulvi (an Islamic scholar), and a Bengali teacher. Even though his family's estate earned a lot of money, he received only a small allowance each month during this time.
Public Service and Leadership
Once Lakshmeshwar Singh became an adult, he dedicated himself to serving the public. He became a member of the Legislative Council, which was like a law-making body for the Viceroy (the highest British official in India). He took a big part in the discussions there.
He was especially involved in talks about the Bengal Tenancy Bill, which was an important law about land and farmers. He worked with other Indian leaders to represent the landowners of Bengal and Behar. People praised him for how skilled and fair he was in these discussions.
Lakshmeshwar Singh was also part of the Royal Commission on Opium in 1895. This group, formed by the British Government, studied the use of opium. He was one of two Indian members on the nine-person team.
He strongly believed in freedom of speech and people's rights. In 1898, he was one of the few important Indians who openly spoke out against new laws. These laws aimed to stop newspapers from reporting news that the government thought was rebellious. He fought to protect the freedom of the press.
Lakshmeshwar Singh passed away in 1898. He did not have any children, so his younger brother, Rameshwar Singh, became the next Maharaja.
Helping the Community
Maharaja Lakshmeshwar Singh was very generous. During the Bihar famine of 1873–74, he spent a huge amount of money (about £300,000) to help people. He built many miles of roads and planted thousands of trees along them to help travelers and create jobs for those affected by the famine.
He also built strong iron bridges over rivers and created a detailed system of irrigation. This helped prevent future famines by ensuring water for farming. The lakes, ponds, and dams he built are still important for irrigation in northern Bihar today. He also built and supported hospitals, like one in Darbhanga and another in Kharakpur, and helped many other medical centers.
He built an Anglo-vernacular school and supported nearly thirty other schools. He also gave money to many other educational places. It is estimated that he spent about two million pounds sterling on charity, public works, and helping his tenants by reducing their rent.
The Maharaja was very interested in improving farming and the quality of horses and cattle in Bihar. He loved horse racing and owned the largest and most valuable racing horses in India. He was also a keen sportsman.
Lakshmeshwar Singh was one of the people who helped start the Indian National Congress, a major political party in India. He also gave a lot of money to it. He is famous for buying a place called Lowhter Castle in 1888 so that the Indian National Congress could hold their meeting there, after the British government refused them permission to use any public place.
Other Interesting Facts
He built the beautiful Anand Bagh Palace in Darbhanga, which was also known as Lakshmivilas Palace, named after him. This palace became well-known in England because pictures of it appeared in newspapers there. Later, his nephew, Maharaja Kameshwar Singh, gave the palace to the Indian government to be used as a university for the Sanskrit language. Today, it is the main office for Maharaja Kameshwar Singh Sanskrit University.
In 1887, during the celebration of Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee, Lakshmeshwar Singh was given a special honor. He was made a Knight Grand Commander of the Most Eminent Order of the Indian Empire, which is a very high award.
A British Governor asked a famous artist named Edward Onslow Ford to create a statue of Lakshmeshwar Singh. This statue can still be seen in Dalhousie Square in Kolkata.
