Dictionary of Indian Biography/Balrampur, Maharaja, Sir Drigbijai Singh, of

2579935Dictionary of Indian Biography — Balrampur, Maharaja, Sir Drigbijai Singh, ofCharles Edward Buckland

BALRAMPUR, MAHARAJA, SIR DRIGBIJAI SINGH, of (1818–1882)

Son of Raja Arjun Singh: descendant of a long line of chieftains of the Janwar clan of Rajputs: succeeded his brother Raja Jai Narain Singh, in 1836: spent his early years fighting with his neighbours, the Pathans of Utraula and the Chauhan Rajas of Tulsipur, also with the Oudh revenue officials: driven out of Balrampur by Raja Darshan Singh, who pursued him into Nipal territory: restored to his Raj: distinguished himself in the mutiny as one of the five loyal talukdars: received the fugitives from Sikraura and Gonda, 19 persons, and several children: sheltered and escorted them to Gorakhpur: remained faithful, and was proscribed by the rebels: joined the advancing British forces and remained in the field till the restoration of order: rewarded with the title of Maharaja Bahadur and vast landed estates confiscated from rebels, with a reduced land revenue assessed in perpetuity: in 1866, K.C.S.I.: salute of 9 guns, in 1877: Member of the Governor-General's Legislative Council: a great patron of education, instituting schools on his estates before their general introduction elsewhere: founded one of the first hospitals in Oudh outside Lucknow, and a medical school: a noted sportsman: a fall from an elephant hastened his death, which occurred on May 27, 1882.