THE ROYAL FAMILY OF JAIPUR

The Royal Family of Jaipur

Her Highness Rajmata Padmini Devi    Her Highness Rajmata Padmini Devi of Jaipur was born to Maharaja Rajendra Singhji & Maharani Indira Devi of Sirmur in Himachal Pradesh as the princess of Sirmur. Maharaja of Sirmur was a friend of late Maharaja Man Singh II of Jaipur and both played Polo together. He had a huge Tea Estate in Dehradun where he spent a good part of the year. Fortunes gravitated towards the two families in an unseen way. At the Indian Military Academy in Dehradum not far from the Tea Estate was an adjutant who was the most eligible bachelor prince, Col. Maharaj Kumar Bhawani Singh who was to marry the Princess of Sirmur in New Delhi in 1966 in a fairytale wedding. As a Princess Padmini Devi was given a sound convent education in Mussorie and then spent time at finishing schools in London and Switzerland. After marriage they were posted at different Army Cantonments and even had to live in tents. She was very active in the Women’s Welfare Army Associations and even helped in Army Hospitals during the 1971 War with Pakistan. Though she was exposed to high living she was never far from her Rajput roots in Gujarat, Rajasthan and Sirmur. There was never a festival in the Hindu calendar in which she fully participated with the entire Rajput families of Jaipur. She organized not just Polo Balls but also musical evenings with Rajput themes at the City Palace. Presidents and visiting celebrities were always made to feel at home at the famous Lalique Table and the level of conversation most enlightened whether it was world affairs or fashions or textiles or jewellery. Her Highness Rajmata Padmini Deviji began looking after the family fortunes in organizing the Trusts which were presided over by His Late Highness Maharaja Bhawani Singhji. She takes keen interest in the development of the Museum in the City Palace, Jaigarh and also temple of Shri Shila Mataji. She is also deeply involved in the maintenance of the cultural heritage of the rulers of Amber and Jaipur. She is in her own right, a scholar of Hindi and History and at present very much involved in the scheme of development of the museum under the two Trusts and the temple of Shri Shila Mataji.      His Highness Maharaja Sawai Padmanabh Singh   His Highness Maharaja Sawai Padmanabh Singh was born on 2nd July1998 as son of Princess Diya Kumari and Maharaj Narendra Singh. His Late Highness Maharaja Sawai Bhawani Singhji adopted him as his crown prince on 22nd November 2002 and enthroned on Jaipur Gaddi on 27th April 2011. He has passed his secondary examination from Mayo College,Ajmer in the year 2014.In the same year,he took admission in Lower sixth from at Millfield School, Street Somerset, U.K. While he was studying in Mayo College ,he started horse riding and playing polo.Maintaining the family tradition of actively encouraging the sport,Maharaja Sawai Padmanabh Singh started his journey as an active and upcoming polo player at the tender age of 15.He participated in Delhi Horse show and won many awards in equestrian activities including winning the Jr.Indian polo championship.He also played in England and Germany recently and awarded most valuable players of the tournaments.            Princess Diya Kumari    Princess Diya Kumari is the daughter of H.H Maharaja Sawai Bhawani Singhji and H.H Maharani Padmini Deviji of Jaipur. She studied at the Modern School, New Delhi and M.G.D Girls Schools Jaipur and later did a Decorative Arts course in London. Being a doting mother of three children from her marriage to Maharaj Narendra Singh, she is actively engaged in the management of the family Hotels, Museums and Schools.    A true educationist at heart, she feels that education plays a vital role in transforming both individual lives and the entire society and thus she took initiative in establishing two highly prestigious educational institutes of Jaipur known as The Palace School and Maharaja Sawai Bhawani Singh School. She takes pride and keen interest in managing them. She has played a vital role in steering the Maharaja Sawai Man Singh II Museum Trust and the Jaigarh Public Charitable Trust to new heights. With her innovative and dynamic ideas, she has infused new life into both the trusts by changing the museum from a static, staid display arena to a hub of non formal educational and cultural activities. She has also been instrumental in the revival of the 36 Kharkhanas, an old system of art and craftsmanship followed in the erstwhile Jaipur State to its new origin as “Friends of the Museum". Artisans and craftsmen including many of the national and district award winners are given shelter, patronage and opportunity to demonstrate their art and craftsmanship before visitors and directly sell their products to them.     Inspite of her busy schedule handling the businesses and schools, she ensures to take time out for works of charity and extends all possible help and support to various causes. She also encourages the youth to excel in the field of fine arts, academics, sports etc. She has established "Princess Diya kumari Foundation" for empowerment of under privileged and Gunijan Khana to empowering culture.Princess Diya kumari has been elected member of Legislative Assembly from Sawai Madhopur with thumping majority in the year 2013.