Arvind Singh Mewar
Rana Sriji Arvind Singh Mewar (born 13 December 1944) is the 76th custodian of the Mewar dynasty.[1] The Maharanas are considered not rulers but custodians of the kingdom on behalf of Sri Eklingji (Lord Siva). He is the second son of Bhagwat Singh Mewar and younger brother of Maharana Mahendra Singh Mewar. Upon the death of his father Bhagwat Singh Mewar in 1984, he became the disputed head of his branch of the family as elder brother Maharana Mahendra Singh Mewar split from family but retained the title of Maharana.
A graduate of the Mayo College, Ajmer he did a hotel management course in the UK and then went on to Chicago, USA where he learnt the job thoroughly which reportedly included washing dishes, changing linen and serving the guests. He has a crystal collection in the palace as well as a fleet of antique cars. These are open to the public.
Mewar is married to Princess Vijayaraj of Kutch, Gujarat, they have three children: Princess Bhargavi Mewar, Princess Padmaja Mewar and Prince Lakshyaraj Singh Mewar.
Arvind Singh Mewar is Managing Trustee for the Maharana Mewar Charitable Foundation and Chairman and Managing Director of the HRH Group of Hotels. Both these organisations were established by his father Bhagwat Singh Mewar. After the independence of India in 1947, Bhagwat Singh Mewar started focusing on the preservation of Palaces, tradition of House of Mewar and earning money through these palaces by converting them to Heritage Hotels.[2]
Mewar runs a tourism company called Historic Resort Hotels, which was started by his father in 1963. The HRH group has former palaces throughout Rajasthan. The Shiv Niwas palace of Udaipur received the Heritage Award for Ecellence in 1999 from the Prime Minister. Staff totals over 1200 personnel employed in the family's heritage hotels, resorts and charitable institutions.
References
- The Kingdom of Mewar by Irmgard Meininger. D.K. Printworld, New Delhi.