Sir Lakshman Singh KCSI GCIE was the last ruling Maharawal of the princely state of Dungarpur from 1918 to 1989, a former Member of Parliament in the Rajya Sabha and speaker of the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly from July 1977 to June 1979.
Background
Maharawal Sir Lakshman Singh was born on 7 March 1908 at Udai Villas, Dungarpur, the eldest son and heir apparent of Maharawal Sir Bijaya Singh of the princely state of Dungarpur. He succeeded to the throne in 1918 at the age of 10 following the death of his father, ruling under the regency of the Dungarpur political agent until he came of age in 1928.
Career
He was the elder brother of Nagendra Singh, later the President of the International Court of Justice. Following Independence, he established an interim legislature for Dungarpur, then with his fellow rulers formed the United State of Rajasthan on 25 March 1948. The following year, this became the Greater Rajasthan Union to which Dungarpur acceeded on 30 March.
From 1962 until his death, he also served as President of the All-India Kshatriya Mahasabha and as an MLC for Chittor in the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly, serving as speaker from 1977 to 1979.
He also served as the leader of the Opposition from 1962 to 1979. On 8 February 1920 at Benares, Lakshman Singh married Biswanji Maharani Shri Brijraj Kunwari Ba Sahiba of Bhinga (1907–1982).
The couple had two daughters. Despite being officially deprived of his titles as a monarch by the Indira Gandhi government in 1971, Sir Lakshman continued to serve in politics to the end of his days.
He died while in office at his birthplace, Udai Villas at Dungarpur, on 6 June 1989 after a reign of 71 years, aged 81.
1908-1918: Maharajkumar Shri Lakshman Singh Sahib Bahadur, Yuvaraja of Dungarpur.
Politics
From 1952 to 1958, Sir Lakshman served as an Member of Parliament for Aspur in the Rajya Sabha, then became President of the Swatantra Party in Rajasthan from 1961 to 1969.
Membership
From 1931 to 1947, Lakshman Singh was a member of the standing committee of the Chamber of Princes, and was knighted as a Knight Commander of the Order of the Star of India (KCSI) in the 1935 King"s Birthday and Silver Jubilee.