At its peak, the Darbhanga Raj was a titan of the British Raj era. UnderMaharaja Rameshwar Singh (1898–1929), the estate became a bastion of progressive administration. He famously challenged social norms by ending the seclusion of his wife, setting a precedent for the modern Indian royalty.
Ascending the throne in 1907, Kameshwar Singh was a bridge between two worlds. He attended the Round Table Conferences and served in the Rajya Sabha. Notably, he was a member of the Constituent Assembly, actively participating in the democratic transition that would ultimately dismantle his own princely privileges.
Maharani Rajlakshmi:Lived 42 years in palace seclusion following a 1934 separation; her extensive diaries remain a hidden record of palace life.
Maharani Kameshwari Priya:A modern, educated partner who studied state administration before her untimely death.
Maharani Kamsundari Devi:Married in 1943, she was a passionate photographer who documented the transition from royalty to democracy.
The dynasty's political power effectively ended in 1962 when the Maharaja was found dead under mysterious circumstances in his suite's bathroom. Attributed to cardiac arrest, his death remains a subject of speculation due to the lack of an autopsy and the suddenness of his final rites.
