Vibhuti Narayan Singh
Dr. H.H. Maharaja Vibhuti Narayan Singh (1927–2000) was king of Benares, a holy city located in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. He was the last king of the Kingdom of Kashi.
Childhood
Vibhuti Narayan Singh was born on November 5, 1927. He was adopted at the age of eight by Maharaja Aditya Narain Singh, king of Kashi, and succeeded his adoptive father to the throne upon his death in 1938. Since he was still a minor at that time, a working committee was formed to look after the kingdom.[citation needed]
Education
Singh studied at Mayo College, Ajmer. He received his Master's degree in Sanskrit from Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, where he studied with the famous grammarian, Vagish Shastri. He was a scholar of Sanskrit, Veda and Purana.[1]
Kingship
On becoming an adult in 1947, Singh took charge of his inheritance. He lived at Ramnagar fort and had a keen interest in cultural activities. His ancestors had staged street plays based on epic stories and under his guidance these remained popular in Benares.[citation needed]
His kingdom was dissolved and merged into India on 15 October 1948.[citation needed]
Contribution
After the independence of India, Singh became Chancellor of Banaras Hindu University, from where he was awarded a D.Litt.. He also established Vishwa Sanskrit Pratisthanam for the upliftment of Sanskrit research under the guidance of Vagish Shastri. He established Akhil Bhartiya Kashiraj Nyas which published several books on oriental studies. He established Kashi Raj trust which also runs the museum comprising exhibits like palanquins, costumes, swords, sabres etc.[citation needed]
On January 28, 1983 the Vishwanath Temple was taken over by the government of Uttar Pradesh and its management was transferred to a trust of which Singh was president.[2]
In 1947, under his leadership, the Shree Kashi Naresh Education Trust laid the foundation of the Kashi Naresh Government Post Graduate College (KNPG), in the Gyanpur of Bhadohi district (U.P).[3]
Singh died in 2000.[4]
An intermediate college is named after him in Gyanpur, Uttar Pradesh.
References
- ↑ Baldev Upadhyaya Kashi ki Panditya Parampara, Vishwavidyalaya Prakashan, Varanasi.
- ↑ Official website of Varanasi
- ↑ KNPG College home page
- ↑ Kashi ki Aatma, Dainik Aaj, 31.12.2000
7. ^ Nakkatayya festival in Varanasi