Indian Princely States

NILGIRI (Princely State)

VILLAGES: x

AREA: 736 km²

LOCATION: Orissa

PRIVY PURSE: Rs 40,000

REVENUE: Rs

DYNASTY: Bhanj

ACCESSION: 1st January 1948

RELIGION: Hindu

POPULATION: 50,972 (1892)

PRESENT RULER: Raja JAYANT CHANDRA MARDRAJ HARICHANDAN, 39th Raja Saheb of Nilgiri since the 30th May 2001

born 1956, educated at Hartley's School, Calcutta, at Stewart School, Cuttack, at Rajkumar College, Raipur, at B.J.B. College, Bhubaneswar and at Utkal University (B.A., LL.B.); he is a very strong enthusiast and activist in the Preservation of Wild Life; General Secratary, Art and Culture Cell, Orissa Pradesh Congress Committee 2003/2004; Member, State Election Committee, Youth Congress, 1996; President (nominee) P.K.Bidya mandir, Dompara, 1989/1992; Vice President of the Governing Council of Rajkumar College, Raipur 2001/2004; Member, Managing Committee 2009/2014; Honorary Wild life Warden, Forest Dept., Odisha; Member State Board for Wild Life, Govt., Odisha; Member, State Expert Committee, critical wild life habitat, Forest Dept., Odisha; Member, Executive Committeem, Nature Wildlife Conservation Society; Member, Odisha State Wildlife Fund for Nature (WWF-India), New Delhi; Secretary/Co-convenor, Natural Heritage division, Odisha chapter, INTACH-New Delhi (Indian National Trust of Art and Cultural Heritage); Member, Selection Committee, State Afforestation Awards, Forest Dept., Odisha 2000/2001; Member, District Environment Society, collectorate, Khurda 2001/2003; Member, District Implementation and Monitoring Committee, Eco-Clubs, N.G.P.C., Odisha; Team Leader, Status survey of Birds 2001/2004; Member Irrawady dolphin census; Approved Consultant, Wildlife tourism Simlipal/Nilgiri Govt. Tourist Dept., Odisha; Chief Advisor, Relocation and Rehabilitaion;Y.R.D.O. tiger reserve, Odisha; Advisor Tribal medicinal Research project; Member, Expert study team, O.E.S. Mahendragiri hills mini-Biosphere; Consulting editor, American Biograpical Institute Inc (A.B.I.), North Carolina, U.S.A.; he has been honoured with awards for his contribution to the conservation of Heritage by INTACH, Bhubaneswar chapter, Odisha [14.04.2011] and for his contribution to the protection of Environment by the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation, Odisha [20.08.2011]; married Rani Manoja Manjari Devi, eldest daughter of Raja Kirti Chandra Deo Harishchandra Jagadev of Surangi, and his wife, Rani Soubhagya Manjari Devi; she was also the adopted daughter of the Senior Rani Srimanta Manjari Devi, wife of Raja Kishore Chandra Deo Samanta of Athmalik; she was educated at St. Joseph’s Convent and Sailabala Women’s College, Cuttack and has a diploma in Interior Decoration and a Post Graduate Degree in Psychological Counselling. She is a Reiki Grandmaster (Reiki is a healing therapy recognized by the W.H.O. as an alternate therapy). She is the Director of Svadhyaya Foundation involved in Reiki teaching and practising. She is also a Founder Member of AOL Bhubaneswar Chapter. She is proud to have represented AOL in World Faith Conference in 1999 as its youngest delegate. She was associated with the Training Division of Amway International, which was awarded for its express efforts at setting up the Pick up Centre at Bhubaneswar. She is the Hereditary Trustee and President of Nilgiri Debotar and is involved in many religious and charitable services through it. She is a Trustee of Visamo Foundation involved in educating brilliant children from BPL families. Besides Social activities, her literary awards have been rewarded by Swami Tejomayananda in Chinmay International Magzines. Some of her works have been published in Asian Age, Sambad and Bhubaneswar Club Magazine of which she was on the Editorial Board. She has addressed the Rotary Club of Bhubaneswar on two occasions, once on Reiki and recently on Life After Death; and has issue, one son.

Yuvraj Janmejay Chandra Mardaraj Harichandan, born 25th May 1986; educated at Rajkumar College Raipur, at Delhi Public School, Ahmedabad, at Utkal University (B.Com., Hons. with Distinction) and at Asia Pacific Insi.. Management studies, New Delhi (M.B.A.).

PREDECESSORS AND SHORT HISTORY: The state was founded in 1125?. Rulers were...

Raja NARAYAN SINGH Bhujang Mandhata Birat Basant Harichandan, Raja of Nilgiri 1521/1564, a scion of the Chota-Nagpur Royal Family, married about 1510, a daughter of Raja Pratap Rudra Dev of Orissa.

...... (23 intervening rulers)

Raja RAM CHANDRA MARDRAJ HARICHANDAN, 32nd Raja of Nilgiri 1797/1832

Raja GOVIND CHANDRA MARDRAJ HARICHANDAN, 33rd Raja of Nilgiri 1832/1833, married Rani Chira Devi.

Rani Chira Devi, 34th Rani of Nilgiri 1833/1843

Raja KRISHNA CHANDRA MARDRAJ HARICHANDAN, 35th Raja of Nilgiri 1843/1893, born 1827, succeeded 22nd November 1832 ⁽^#1⁾, the title of Raja was formally recognized in 1874; married and had issue, as well as adoptive issue. He died spm in 1893.
- Rani Labanya Manjari Devi, married Raja Jaya Bhujanga Divyasimha Mandhata, 38th Sarbarikhar of Kaptipada, and had issue.
- (A) Raja Shyam Chandra Mardraj Harichandan (qv)

Raja SHYAM CHANDRA MARDRAJ HARICHANDAN, 36th Raja of Nilgiri 1893/1913, born 6th January 1877, as the son of Maharaja Krishna Chandra Bhanj of Mayurbhanj, he was adopted in 1882, and succeeded to the gadi on 11th May 1893; married, and had issue, one son and one daughter.
- Rani Basant Manjari Devi, born 1900, entered politics as the Rajmata of Ranpur; M.L.A. (Orissa) 1952/1961 (two terms); Deputy Minister, Health (20.2.1952) - (6.4.1957); Health Minister of Orissa (27.4.1957) - (22.5.1959), she was the first Woman of the State to be included to the State Ministry; she proved to be popular and a TB Hospital in Chandpur is named after her; married 1928, Yuvaraj Biranchi Narayan Singh Deo of Ranpur, and had issue. She died 7th June 1961.
- Raja Kishore Chandra Mardraj Harichandan (qv)

Raja KISHORE CHANDRA MARDRAJ HARICHANDAN, 37th Raja of Nilgiri 1913/1960, born 2nd February 1904 and succeeded as the 37th Raja Saheb of Nilgiri on 6th July 1913 ⁽^#2⁾, he was granted full ruling powers on 2nd February 1925, and installed on 20th April 1925; educated at Mayo College, Ajmer; married 1stly, 28th February 1922, Rani Anand Kumari, daughter of HH Raja Sir Pratap Singhji of Alirajpur, married 2ndly, 19th June 1925, Rani Giriraj Kumari Devi, daughter of the Thakore Saheb of Thakurgaon in Ranchi, Bihar, and had issue, five sons and three daughters. He died 29th March 1960.
- Rajkumari Kamlesh Manjari Devi (by Rani Anand Kumari), born 1923, married 1944, Maharaj Naharsinghji, born 1909, died 1966, of Chhota Udepur in Gujarat, and had issue, one son. She died 2010.
  - Maharaj Tarun Dev
- Rajkumari Swarnalata Manjari Devi (by Rani Giriraj Kumari), born 1924, married Maharajkumar Shri Shri Shri Madhav Sundar Gajapathi Narayana Deo of Parlakhimedi (later Raja Madhav Sundar Gajapati Narayan Deo of Delang, Balaramnagar and Manikprasad), born 1919, died 1995, second son of Capt. Maharaja Saheb Shri Shri Shri Krishna Chandra Gajapathi Narayana Deo of Parlakhimedi, and had issue, one son.
  - Rajkumar Birendra Gajpati, born 1947, died unmarried 2001.
- Raja Rajendra Chandra Mardaraj Harichandan (by Rani Giriraj Kumari) (qv)
- Rajkumari Snehalata Manjari Devi [Maharani Suryamani Pattamahadei of Puri] (by Rani Giriraj Kumari), born 1935, married Sri Gajapathi Maharaj Bira Kishore Deb of Puri, and had issue, two sons and one daughter. She died in 1994.
- Rajkumar Chotrai Bharatendra Chandra Mardaraj Harichandan, born 1941, married the daughter of Lal Saheb of Thakurgaon, Ranchi and has issue, one son and two daughters.
  - Kumar Gautam Mardaraj
  - Kumari Upasana Devi, married in Lucknow, Kunwar Myankeshwar Sharan Singh of Tiloi, and has issue.
  - Kumari Archana Devi, married.
- Rajkumar Routrai Saheb Rathendra Chandra Mardaraj Harichandan (by Rani Giriraj Kumari), born 1943 in Nilgiri, educated at Rajkumar College, Raipur; married 9th May 1976 in Badagaon, Balasore, Rajkumarani Prativa Devi, daughter of Shri Radhashyam Das of Badagaon, Balasore, and has issue, one son and one daughter.
  - Kumar Sandeep Mardaraj
  - Kumari Vidya Devi
- Rajkumar Badkumar Surendra Chandra Mardaraj Harichandan (by Rani Giriraj Kumari), born 1945, married the daughter of the Raja of Kalkala Estate, Cuttack, and has issue, one son. He died 2011.
  - Kumar Hara Prasad Mardaraj, married and has issue.
- Rajkumar Sankumar Kirendra Chandra Mardaraj Harichandan (by Rani Giriraj Kumari), born 1947, married Rajkumarani Renuka, daughter of a Lal Saheb of Jharia Estate, Ranchi, and has issue, two sons.
  - Kumar Prakash Chandra Mardaraj M.Sc., born 6th May 1981, Ranchi, Jharkhand, educated, graduated in 2006 with an M.Sc. degree in Wildlife and Conservation Biology, he is working with the Wildlife Institute, Dehradun and is presently pursuing a Doctorate degree on the Ecology of the Sloth Bear in Mount Abu, Rajasthan.
  - Kumar Bikash Chandra Mardaraj

Raja RAJENDRA CHANDRA MARDRAJ HARICHANDAN LL.B., M.A., 38th Raja of Nilgiri 1960/2001, born 9th April 1930, succeeded his father on 29th March 1960; educated at Rajkumar College, Raipur, at Ravenshaw College, Cuttack, at MS Law College, Cuttack (LL.B.) and at Jadavpur University, Calcutta (M.A.); joined Ganatantra Parishad in 1960; he has helped to establish the Girls M. E. School at Nilgiri; Member of Managing Committee of Rajkumar College, Raipur; M.L.A. (Orissa) for three terms 1961/1967, 1974/1977 and 1977/1980; interests and pastimes were Reading, Music and Photography, Billiards, Tennis and Shikar; married Rani Indira Devi, only daughter of Raja Amarendra Mansingh Bhramarbar Rai of Dompada in Cuttack, and his wife, Rani Pritam Kumari, and had issue, two sons and one daughter. He died 30th May 2001.
- Raja Jayant Chandra Mardraj Harichandan (qv)
- Rajkumar Jagdish Chandra Mardaraj, born 7th October 1960, educated at Rajkumar College, Raipur, and at Utkal University (B.A. (Hons.)); he is also specialized in Public Relations (PGDM) from the Indian Foundation for P.R. Education and Research; presently, he is Head Corporate Communication and Administration at RSB Metaltech Pvt. Ltd, and has worked in the past at Next Management Services Pvs Ltd as Senior Consultant; Reliance Group, VP Corporate Affairs; Reliance Industries Ltd, General Manager (Corporate Affairs); Indian Metals and Ferro Alloys Group, Manager (Liaison); Prachi Group of Hotels, Bhubaneswar, Manager (Operation, Administration & Sales). Also, he has been Founder President of Rotaract Club, Bhubaneswar; Founder Member & Chairman PRSI, Bhubaneswar, Vice President Eastern Region, PRS1 Member; Programme advisory committee, Doordarshan; Telecom Advisory Committee (Odisha Circle); ZRUCC, South Eastern Railways, Member, Bhubaneswar Club Ltd; President, Nilgiri Environmental Society; Member, Tourism Institute Bhubaneswar; Secretary, UN Organization, Orissa Chapter; married 6th December 1987, Rajkumarani Jyotsna Devi Mardaraj, eldest daughter of Sri Lalchand Navani of Delhi (Retd. Vigilance Inspector Northern Railways, (Sindhi Kshatriya from Mirpur Khas)), she has worked with Ballarpur Industries Ltd, Indian Airlines, has been an active member of Rotary Club; presently, she is the Managing Director of Pritam Kumari Consultants Pvt. Ltd., Member of INTACH, Bhubneswar Club, Bhubneswar Music Circle; and has issue, two daughters
  - Kumari Prakriti
  - Kumari Akriti
- Rajkumari Jaishree Devi, married Rajkumar Dhruv Narain Singh of Shivrati, and has issue, one son.
  - Shriman Maharaj Sahib Shri Raghav Raj Singh of Shivrati

Raja JAYANT CHANDRA MARDRAJ HARICHANDAN, 39th Raja of Nilgiri (see above)