Maharaja Himmat Singh (2 September 1899 – 24 November 1960) was the last ruler of the princely state of Idar State. He was Maharaja of Idar from 1931 to 1948.List of Ruling Princes, Chiefs and Leading Personages by Rajputana (Agency) - 1938 - Page 107.

Birth

Himmat Singh was the eldest son of Maharaja Daulat Singh was born on 2 September 1899 at

Jodhpur Jodhpur () is the second-largest city of the north-western Indian state of Rajasthan, after its capital Jaipur. As of 2023, the city has a population of 1.83 million. It serves as the administrative headquarters of the Jodhpur district and ...

. He was educated at Mayo College at

Ajmer Ajmer () is a city in the north-western States and union territories of India, Indian state of Rajasthan. It serves as the administrative headquarters of the Ajmer district and Ajmer division. It lies at the centre of Rajasthan, earning it the ...

. He attended the Coronation of the King George V and Queen Mary, at Westminster Abbey, in London and served as Page-of-Honour to the King-Emperor at the Delhi Coronation Durbar in 1911.

Ascension

Singh succeeded on the death of his father on 14 April 1931 as Maharaja of Idar State and was installed on the ''gadi'' (throne) at Himmatnagar on 11 July 1931.The Royal Coronation Number and Who's who in India, Burma and Ceylon by Thomas Peter Sun Publishing House, 1937 pp:70-71 Upon the

independence of India The Indian independence movement was a series of historic events in South Asia with the ultimate aim of ending British Raj, British colonial rule. It lasted until 1947, when the Indian Independence Act 1947 was passed. The first nationalistic ...

, he merged his state in to the Union of India on 10 June 1948. Singh also held the title of

Colonel-in-Chief Colonel-in-Chief is a ceremonial position in an army regiment. It is in common use in several Commonwealth armies, where it is held by the regiment's patron, usually a member of the royal family. Some armed forces take a light-hearted approach to ...

of Idar Sir Pratap Infantry from 1931 to 1954. He was an outstanding all-round sportsman with varied interests of sports like - hunting, horse-racing, polo, tent-pegging and pig-sticking, cricket and football.

Personal life

He died on 24 November 1960. Singh had two sons Maharaja ''Daljit Singh'' (who succeeded him as Maharaja of Idar) and Maharaj Shri Amar Singhji.

Memorials

The town of Himmatnagar, which served as the capital of Idar State, was renamed after him from Ahmadnagar by his father Daulat Singh in year 1912, who was then the heir-apparent to the throne of Idar.Gujarat State Gazetteers: Sabarkantha - 1974 - Page 714. The old and historic name of the town was changed from Ahmednagar to Himatnagar after the name of Maharaja Shri Himmatsinghji in 1912.

Honours

Delhi Durbar Medal Delhi Durbar Medals were instituted by the British Raj, United Kingdom to commemorate the Delhi Durbar where the new Emperor of India was proclaimed, in 1903 for Edward VII, and in Delhi Durbar Medal (1911), 1911 for George V. On both occasions t ...

- silver (1911) *

King George V Silver Jubilee Medal The King George V Silver Jubilee Medal is a commemorative medal, instituted to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the accession of King George V. Issue This medal was awarded as a personal souvenir by King George V to commemorate his Silver Ju ...

- 1935 * King George VI Coronation Medal - 1937 * Indian Independence Medal - 1948 * Halvad-Dhrangadhra State Rajyabhisek Medal 1st class - 1942 * Halvad-Dhrangadhra Accession to India Medal - 25 March 1948

References

{{authority control 1899 births 1960 deaths Maharajas of Idar Indian royalty Mayo College alumni