Maharana Fateh Singh

Maharana Fateh Singh GCSI, GCIE, GCVO (16 December 1849 – 24 May 1930) was the Maharana of Mewar, a princely state in Rajputana (present-day Rajasthan), ruling from 1884 to 1930. Belonging to the Sisodia dynasty, he ruled from the historic City Palace in Udaipur, the capital of Mewar.

Delhi Durbars and Royal Defiance

Maharana Fateh Singh remains the only king in India who did not attend either of the Delhi Durbars held in 1903 and 1911, events organized to honor the coronation of British monarchs. In sharp contrast, rulers from across India—including Marathas of Satara, Indore, Gwalior, and Baroda, Sikhs of Patiala and Nabha, and Rajputs of Jodhpur, Jaipur, and Jaisalmer—were present and paid homage to the British Crown.

Despite repeated invitations, the proud Maharana chose not to participate in what he considered a humiliation to the ancient House of Mewar. When Edward VIII, the son of King George V, visited Udaipur in 1921, Maharana Fateh Singh refused to receive him, maintaining the tradition of independent dignity that defined Mewar for centuries.

Governance and Resistance

Inspired by tales of his ancestors, the Maharana's reign was marked by a devotion to self-rule and the preservation of Rajput sovereignty. When the British-supported Prime Minister Rai Pannalal grew too powerful, Maharana Fateh Singh removed him from office, defying colonial pressure and never reinstating him despite continuous threats from British officers.

He also rejected British attempts to interfere in Hindu social structures, banning their reforms in Mewar while simultaneously embracing progressive modernization. During his reign, the number of schools in the kingdom rose from 16 to 42, and he established numerous lakes and educational institutions for both boys and girls.

Legacy

Maharana Fateh Singh is widely regarded as the last great major ruler in India who actively resisted British imperialism. His unyielding stance made Mewar a sanctuary of national pride. While the rest of India bowed, the "Hindua Suraj"—as he was reverently called—stood firm, safeguarding the dignity of Indian civilization.

His defiance ensured that British punishment never materialized, largely due to the immense respect and reverence the House of Mewar commanded among the Indian populace. He is remembered as a king who, even in colonial times, kept the dream of Swaraj alive and proved that honor could not be subjugated.