Who killed Raja Man Singh of Bharatpur? The mystery remains unsolved even 33 years after his death on February 21, 1985. The event keeps returning to mindspace with TV channels playing up the long-drawn-out legal case (with 15 suspects) that has figured in the Rajasthan High Court in Jaipur, in Gujarat and now in UP after the Supreme Court directive, with a galaxy of lawyers camping on the lawns. Incidentally, three dozen judges and lawyers have been associated with the case, which caused a big sensation in Delhi when the alleged murder took place. It was said to be the fallout of a dispute between Man Singh and the then Rajasthan Government, with the Congress assuring the Raja that in the forthcoming election the Chief Minister, S. C. Mathur would not canvass against him. But even so the CM arrived in Bharatpur in a helicopter for the purpose which angered the mercurial Raja so much that he drove his jeep twice into it, wrecking the copter. The next day when Man Singh was driving through the grain market there was a shoot-out between his party and the police in which the Raja was killed, causing tension not only in Bharatpur but the whole of Rajasthan. The repercussions were felt in Delhi too, where the Central Government was also caught in the loop at the outrage.
Raja Man Singh was the second of four brothers of Maharaja Brajendra Singh, an honorary Colonel, who had succeeded his father, Maharaja Kishen Singh to the gaddi in 1929. Their connection with Delhi begin in mid-18th Century. After his succession, Brijendra Singh also became the custodian of the once impregnable fort of Bharatpur (Mitti-ka-Qila or mud citadel which had defied the might of the British under Lord Lake in 1805 and was captured only in 1826 when Lord Combermere lead the assault. The first man to enter it was Anthony John (Antonious Jonadies) a Greek soldier of fortune who later became a gem merchant and started the chain of the once famous Johns’ Mills in Delhi, Agra, Kanpur and other places.
Delhi connection
Raja Man Singh was a frequent visitor to Delhi, staying at the Bharatpur House and also the one at Agra. I met him once but it was his brother, Maharaja Brajendra Singh with whom I had at least three meetings during Army events. He was a prominent presence wearing a blue blazer. Man Singh was also a nattily dressed man, conspicuous in a felt cap, like the one sported by Dev Anand in Bollywood films. He was wearing the same sort of cap when he met his end. One thing worth mentioning is that both the Maharaja and Raja were robust Jat-Rajputs physically very fit for the Army. Raja Man Singh was a lieutenant when he left service because of State pressures.
One thing that always comes to mind is the Bharatpur duck shoot which my brother and I attended in 1962 as Press representatives, along with Nawabzada Farooqur Rahman Khan. We were housed in a palace room and after a lively evening were taken to the shoot-site the next morning.
The experience that followed is worth recounting. Bharatpur is among the places where you can find a wide assortment of vintage cars owned by members of the former ruling family, their nobles and officials. The cars are still in use and hardly raise an eyebrow as they weave in and out of narrow bazaars and streets. They are an accepted mode of life just as the surrounding medieval havelis are. Bharatpur brings back memories of the duck shoot held during the time that General “Timmy”. Thimayya was the Army chief. He was among the guests, along with all the rajas and maharajas.
The Maharaja of Mysore was conspicuous. It was from his family that the Bharatpur ruler had married a princess, who became his second wife. Another name that is not forgotten is that of the junior Rani of Dewas. All of them came in cars of different vintage. Some members of the diplomatic community were also there, and among them one who got rather tight at dinner on the evening preceding the shoot. Housed in the same building as the journalists, he returned around midnight, calling out, “Press, Press, where are you?” Rahman Khan replied, “The Press is resting now”. “Very good,” said the old colonel, “rest well for tomorrow you are going to have a hectic time”.
And so it turned out to be. Early in the morning the invitees moved to the jheel in a fleet of cars, which should all now qualify for the Vintage Rally. The rajas and maharajas, the ranis and special guests had their gun-bearers. The others moved about with their own weapons. The collection of guns was amazing. There were modern weapons and some very old ones too.
Hunting expedition
The obese Maharaja of Mysore was not particularly mobile and just sat in one place; his attendants handing over the guns to him. But his aim was good like that of Raja Man Singh. As the first shots were fired, the birds rose with a great flapping of wings and it seemed as though a huge cloud had descended on the lake. Everybody who counted had been assigned a butt. The shooting continued till lunch time. The junior Rani of Dewas was a good shot and bagged a large number of birds. There were other ladies shooting too, but none to beat her or Brajendra Singh. The afternoon repast was taken. It was sumptuous amid a picnic atmosphere. Gin and beer were aplenty and those not keen on shikar excelled themselves in guzzling. But later Colonel Brajendra Singh bid goodbye to hunting and converted the lake and its environs into the Keoladeo National Park with the help of Raja Man Singh. But the question remains: Who killed him?
