Ram Singh II
Ram Singh II (27 September 1835 – 17 September 1880), was the Maharaja of Jaipur from 1835 until 1880. He was a son of Jai Singh III, Raja of Jaipur.
About Maharaja Ram Singh II:
Maharaja Sawai Ram Singh ascended the throne in 1835. A minor at the time, the administration of the State was conducted by the Minority Council however in lieu of his intelligence, arduous application of State affairs and great grasp of details of State administration he was invested with full powers even before attaining majority.The modernization of Jaipur, under the British influence, was first brought about by Maharaja Sawai Ram Singh II. After Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II, he is considered as the most enlightened of the Jaipur rulers.
Called upon to guide the destiny of this State at a very crucial moment in history, when the country stood at the parting of ways. The great Mughal Empire, after running nearly three centuries, was tottering to its fall, while the British statesmen and politicians were engaged in the herculean task of building a new India on the ruins of the old. The East India Company emerged stronger, more stable and had extended its influence throughout the country. A shrewd observer of these new changes and developments, the Maharaja realized the importance and necessity of keeping abreast with the new tendencies and spirit within which this country had begun to pulsate. He therefore took steps to introduce new measures of reform, improvements and developments. Embellishing Jaipur with amenities of modern life and made it not only one of the most picturesque capitals of India but also a progressive and modern State.1860; after establishing peace and tranquility in the State, Maharaja Ram Singh turned his attention towards the improvement of administration and welfare of his people in which he was equally successful. He used to look into the details of every department of State and kept himself fully well informed on what was going on in the different sections of the State administration. His methods of roaming the streets incognito to check on state-officials and the wellbeing of the subjects were very effective.
On works of public utility; he built the Jaipur Water Works (1875), Gas Works (1878), the Mayo Hospital, the Ramniwas Gardens with the Museum, School of Arts, Public Library, Ramprakash Theater, Maharaja’s College (1844), Sanskrit School (1865), the Noble’s School (1862), the Girls School (1867. The Public Works Department was established in 1860. Roads and highways between Jaipur, Ajmer and Agra were constructed during his reign. Besides these dams for irrigation purposes, public buildings, and offices were also built.
He was also a reformist and it was in his reign that slavery, child infanticide, and the cruel custom of sati were officially abolished in the State of Jaipur.In the Literary field, Maharaja Ram Singh ji’s major contribution was a lithographic press that added many valuable books to the Pothikhana.
Besides being an ardent devotee of Lord Shiva the Maharaja also pursued modern activities such as ballroom dancing, billiards, polo, badminton, kite flying etc. He was the first Photographer Prince of India and the only one to start a formal course in Photography in an institution other than a photography studio. His personal studio or photukhana was filled the latest and best equipments of the time. A member of the Bengal photographic society and hired a Calcutta based English photographer, together, they recorded the building activities in Jaipur, the people, their costumes and culture.
Maharaja Ram Singh was the most enlightened and progressive ruler of his time. The British Government recognized his outstanding merits by nominating him twice a Member of the newly formed Viceroy’s Legislative Council, and by adding four guns to his salute. The title of G.C.S.I was also conferred upon him.
References
- Maharajah Ram Singh II; geni.com