Maharaja Duleep Singh

Who was this man? This is his fascinating story … 

For as long as I can remember, I have had an interest in these vintage images of Maharajas (Great Kings). I have a whole collection and books too! Endless visits to the V&A museum to draw, always led me to one room. An absolute favourite. The Indian textiles and crafts of South East Asia!

Now, having spending more time in India, on our Art and Craft Holidays, it all makes perfect sense. These mysterious, faded, sophisticated photographs of the past are strikingly beautiful, and I am constantly attracted to them. They are a big part of insatiable my passion for India. If you are a follower of my social media, you will see I often post about them.

Here are some painted sketches I did in the V&A a while ago of the “Sarpech”, the striking jewelled turban broaches.

“Those eyes and those teeth are too beautiful”. Queen Victoria was said to remark.

She was godmother to several of his children, and he was always a favourite of the Queen.

I wanted to share with you this intriguing story I came across while searching for information about this handsome man whose regal photograph hung in the hallway of my hotel in Udaipur.

‘The Black Prince of Perthshire’

6 September 1838 – 22 October 1893 

It stretches back to the mid-19th century when, at the age of 13, Maharaja Duleep Singh was exiled to Britain after being dethroned and his country was annexed by the British East India Company.

Singh was the youngest son of the legendary ‘Lion of the Punjab’, Maharaja Ranjit Singh, who became the first ruler of the Sikh Empire which was based in the Punjab region of Northern India and existed from 1799 to 1849.

During the early years of Duleep Singh’s life in Lahore, he enjoyed a lavish lifestyle, learning falconry and military skills and riding the best horses and elephants. But politics soon shattered the dream and following the defeat of the Khalsa Army in 1846, the Sikh Empire he ruled was reduced to half its size by the British. Singh was removed from his throne. The ruler was exiled to a town called Fatehghar, never to return to his seat of power.

He was separated from his mother and encouraged by his guardians to become a Christian. A year later he set sail for England, where he quickly gained a royal audience and was an immediate success with Queen Victoria. She commissioned a famous portrait painter to paint him during one of his numerous stays at Buckingham Palace.

Singh’s friendship with the Queen continued and he presented her with the famous Koh-i-Noor diamond. He later moved to Scotland in 1855 where he was awarded an annual pension and was officially under wardship of Sir John Spencer Logan, who leased him Castle Menzies, near Aberfeldy, as a home.

He was the first Indian prince to visit Scotland and was soon afforded the name “the Black Prince of Perthshire”. A colourful character known for his love of the good life and game shooting, it was said he liked to dress in Highland costume.

In 1860, Singh returned to India briefly and rescued his mother from political exile in Nepal. They later moved to Elveden Hall on the Elveden Estate where he redesigned the interior in Mughal palaces style. Singh returned to India after his mother’s death, to cremate the body and it was there he met his future wife, an Arabic-speaking woman called Bamba Muller, who returned with him to Scotland.

Maharaja Duleep Singh died in Paris in 1893 but his body was taken to Elveden Church, Thetford in Suffolk, where his grave now in the churchyard.

I now have a trip to Elveden on the horizon!

FALL IN LOVE WITH INDIA THIS OCTOBER

Travel with me, Debra Luker, on our Art Holiday and Craft Holiday to compile an artistic journal filled with precious moments in time in the country that has captured my heart and passion for so long.

Stories, drawings, ancient temples, majestic palaces, streets and markets.

Visit creative environments. See artisans at work. Try the ancient craft of block-printing, amongst the rainbow-coloured drying fields of the villages who still practise it.

Let your heart skip a beat!

Our Creative Journey are for all abilities.

And for first time visitors to India, or those who are already well and truly in love!

Only a few places left. Please get in touch for more details: info@thepigmenttrail.com

Be inspired. Explore www.thepigmenttrail.com