9788197890512
Aakar Books 2025
Language: English
131 Pages
Price INR 195.0 Not Available
Book Club Price INR 146.25 USD
Based on the primary and secondary sources, the present work on the ‘Life and Times of Maharaja Hanwant Singh’, the 38th Ruler of the erstwhile State of Jodhpur, is extremely interesting and attractive. There are some other books covering the Maharaja’s exhilarating story at the time of the accession of his State to the Dominion of India, followed by its integration in Greater Rajasthan in 1947 and 1949, respectively; but it is hard to imagine there is a better one. Continuing academic rigour with the readability of a thriller, the work is a breathtaking surveys of the events that occurred (1947-52) in the context of Jodhpur at the critical phase of India’s history. Based on verifiable facts, the work unravels the untruths and notoriously unreliable stories spread against the Maharaja, by a section of the Congressites and Lok Parishad leaders.
A riveting story of Maharaja Hanwant Singh’s life with unforgettable characters (Lord Mountbatten, Sardar Patel, Jinnah, the Nawab of Bhopal and V.P. Menon) and towering challenges, high patriotism and personal vanities, immense greatness and wild rumours, highly controversial issues and crazy moments, honest efforts and venal journalists- is magnificently told in this work. Unafraid in a stressful situation and unfazed by wild rumours, the Maharaja, despite formidable difficulties could extract successfully the ‘special concessions’ from the States’ Ministry, for the benefit of his people, while acceding his Sate to the Indian Dominion. He integrated his State into Greater Rajasthan in 1949, without hesitance, and thus promoted the cause of unity and oneness of the country. His is an example of impressive patriotism and unrivalled sacrifice in the annals of Marwar-Jodhpur. The author marshals his facts, thoughts and arguments brilliantly in this work – a work that is remarkable in understanding the life and contributions made by Maharaja Hanwant Singh.