Sir Jagaddipendra Narayan Bhup Bahadur, KCIE (15 December 1915 – 11 April 1970) was Maharaja of Cooch Behar, in India. He served in British forces during World War II and ceded full ruling powers to the Government of India in 1949.
Jagaddipendra Narayan | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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 Jagaddipendra Narayan at his coronation, c. 1936 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 24th Maharaja of Cooch Behar | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Reign | 20 December 1922 – 12 September 1949 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Coronation | 6 April 1936 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Predecessor | Maharaja Jitendra Narayan | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Successor | Monarchy abolished | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Regent | Indira Devi of Baroda | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Titular Maharaja of Cooch Behar | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Period | 13 September 1949 – 11 April 1970 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Predecessor | Maharaja Jitendra I Narayan | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Successor | Prince Virajendra Narayan | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 15 December 1915 Cooch Behar Palace, Cooch Behar, Cooch Behar State, British Raj | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Died | 11 April 1970 (aged 54) Kolkata, West Bengal, India | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Spouse | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| House | Koch | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Father | Maharaja Jitendra I Narayan of Cooch Behar | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mother | Indira Devi of Baroda | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Military career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Allegiance | British Empire | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Battles / wars | World War II | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Cricket information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Domestic team information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bengal | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Career statistics | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Source: [1] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Early life
editHe was born at Cooch Behar Palace as the eldest son of Maharaja Jitendra Narayan Bhup Bahadur, the Maharaja of Cooch Behar, by his wife, Maharani Indira Devi Sahiba. He was informally known as 'Bhaiya' and was the brother of Gayatri Devi.[1]
He was educated at St Cyprian's School, Eastbourne, Harrow and Trinity College, Cambridge, and also at the Prince of Wales Royal Indian Military College, Dehradun. He became the Maharaja of Cooch Behar at the age of seven on the death of his father on 20 December 1922 and ascended the gadi, on 24 December 1922. He reigned under the Regency of his mother until he came of age and was invested with full ruling powers on 6 April 1936. His close relatives stayed in Jaipur, Baroda, Dewas, Kota, Allahabad and Calcutta.
Personal life
editHis first marriage took place privately at Cooch Behar, 1949 to Nancy Valentine of New York, who was a former screen actress.[2][3] A daughter was born but did not survive and the couple separated in 1952. His second marriage took place privately in London in 1956[4] to Georgina May Egan, who had been educated at Cambridge University[citation needed]. The marriage was made public in 1960, and his wife was recognised as Maharani together with the style of Her Highness in January 1960. Maharani Gina Narayan settled in Spain after 1980. She died there in 2013.[5][6]
Military career
editHe served with the British Army in World War II in North Africa, Assam, Burma, and South East Asia. He was present at the time of the Japanese surrender at Singapore in 1945. He was Chief Commandant Cooch Behar Military forces from 1943 to 1949, and Colonel-in-Chief 1st Cooch Behar Infantry and Rajendra Hazari Guards, Jaipur State Forces.
Political career
editHe was a Member of the Standing Committee of the Chamber of Princes (Narendra Mandal).
He signed the instrument of accession to the Dominion of India in August 1947 and ceded full ruling powers to the Government of India on 12 September 1949, overseeing the merger of his state with West Bengal on 1 January 1950.
He died in Calcutta and was succeeded by his nephew, Virajendra Narayan, whom he adopted as a son.
Cricket
editHe captained the Bengal Cricket XI.
Honours
edit(ribbon bar, as it would look today, incomplete)
- King George V Silver Jubilee Medal – 1935
- King George VI Coronation Medal – 1937
- 1939–1945 Star – 1945
- Burma Star – 1945
- Africa Star – 1945
- Pacific Star – 1945
- War Medal 1939–1945 – 1945
- India Service Medal – 1945
- Knight Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire (KCIE) – 1947
- Indian Independence Medal – 1947
- Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal – 1953
See also
editRoyal State Transport (Now "North Bengal State Transport Corporation")
North Bengal State Transport Corporation (NBSTC) is a West Bengal state government undertaken transport corporation. It plys buses in North Bengal and other parts of West Bengal to Kolkata. NBSTC owns many depots in West Bengal to station their buses.This organisation was inaugurated by the then King of Cooch behar His Highness Jagaddipendra Narayan Bhup Bahadur Lt.Col. in a bright sunny 1 April morning in the year 1945.Started with three buses and trucks; initially operated "Royal Mail" service and slowly introduced its passenger version to Mansai Ghat,Burnish Ghat,Alipurduar,Tufangaunge etc.The vehicles were of 'Thames and Chevrolet'make,later came 'Ford' makes.Thanks to the far farsightedness of erstwhile rulers, this organisation provided and still providing lively hood and means of transport. To scores of peoples of North Bengal Region and lower Assam.As a matter of fact it is most probably the oldest STU in India.NBSTC received national productivity award in the year 1996.It is deeply weaved with the social,financial, cultural life of the peoples of this region.No other organisation,no matter how strong it is? Can barely match with NBSTC,in terms of impact on life of the peoples of this region.
References
edit- ^ "New book says British did not want 'non-Aryan' Gayatri Devi to marry Raja of Jaipur". Indian Express. 21 August 2020. Archived from the original on 24 November 2020. Retrieved 21 November 2020.
- ^ "Forbidden love". The Week. Archived from the original on 28 January 2021. Retrieved 20 January 2021.
- ^ "Right royal kitsch". Deccan Herald. 24 May 2020. Archived from the original on 28 January 2021. Retrieved 20 January 2021.
- ^ "Cooch Behar's blonde queen – From the London swish set to the empty royal palace". Calcutta, India: The Telegraph India. 8 January 2007. Archived from the original on 9 August 2014.
- ^ "End of an era..." Bengal Post. 17 January 2013. Archived from the original on 19 January 2013. Retrieved 30 July 2014.
- ^ "Model became an Indian princess". The Sydney Morning Herald. 27 April 2013. Archived from the original on 12 December 2013. Retrieved 30 July 2014.
External links
edit- History Book of Cooch Behar
- Further information
- Jagaddipendra Narayan at CricketArchive (subscription required)
- Jagaddipendra Narayan at ESPNcricinfo