COOCH BEHAR, MAHARAJA OF

Neg. No: 1855

Neg. Size: 15"x12"

Neg. Date: 6-1-99

Sitter: Colonel HH Sir Nripendra Narayan Bhup, Maharaja of Cooch Behar (1862-1911), as Lieut.-Col.

Colonel H.H. Maharaja Shri Sir Nripendra Narayan Bhup Bahadur, Maharaja of Cooch Behar, GCIE (23.2.1888), CB (m 20.5.1898). b. at the Royal Palace, Cooch-Behar, 4^th October 1862, second son of H.H. Maharaja Shri Narendra Narayan Bhup Bahadur, Maharaja of Cooch Behar, by his second wife, H.H. Rajmata Nishimayi Deo Aye Devati educ. Wards Institute, Benares, Bankipur Coll., Patna; Presidency Coll., Calcutta and Calcutta Univ.

Succeeded on the death of his father, 6^th August 1863 and was installed on the gadi that same evening. Reigned under a Council of Regency until he came of age and was invested with full ruling powers, 8^th November 1883. Hon. Colonel, IA 11/1/1902 (Hon Lt-Col. 30/7/1887, Hon Maj. 22/8/1883) attached 6^th King Edward’s Own Lancers. Served in the Tirah exped. 1896 and on the NWF 1897 (rcvd. medal). Hon ADC to HM The King-Emperor Edward VII 11/1/1902 – 1910 (and when Prince of Wales, 30/7/1887 – 1901), Extra ADC to HM The King-Emperor George V 4/6/1911. Attended the Delhi Durbar 1877 and rcvd. a sword of honour and the KIH Medal. Attended the Coronation of H.M. The King Emperor Edward VII in 1902 (rcvd medal), Delhi Durbar 1903 (rcvd. Gold Medal), and the Coronation of HM King Emperor George V in 1911 (rcvd Medal).

Married at Cooch-Behar, 6^th March 1878, H.H. Maharani Siniti Devi, CI (18.3.1887) (b. at Sens House, Calcutta, 1864; d. at Ranchi, 10^th November 1932), sometime Regent of Cooch-Behar and President of the State Council, eldest daughter of Babu Keshab Chandra Sen. He d. suddenly, at Bexhill-on-Sea, Sussex, 18^th September 1911, having had issue four sons and three daughters.

Date: 6 January 1899.

Occasion: Visit to England after NW Frontier Campaign.

Location: Lafayette studio, 179 New Bond Street, London.

Descr: FL standing.

Costume: Dismounted review order uniform of a British officer of 6th (Prince of Wales's) Bengal Cavalry. Dark blue with scarlet collar and cuffs, all with gold lace and braid. Pouch belt, 2˝" wide, laced in gold. Front of tunic adorned with five rows of round-backed gold cord. Sleeves carry the Bengal Knot. Aiguillette on right shoulder.

Orders, Decorations & Medals: (1) Star, Sash (dark blue) and Badge of a Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire [G.C.I.E.⁽¹⁾ cr. 23 February 1888]⁽²⁾ (2) Badge of an (Honorary) Military of the Order of the Bath, [C.B. cr. 1898] (3) Queen Victoria Jubilee Medal 1887 with 1897 bar (4) India Medal 1895-1902., with 3 bars, (probably) Punjab Frontier 1897-98, Samana 1897 and Tirah 1897-98.

Furniture & Props: Painted rococo-style backdrop; studio Persian rug.

Photographer: Lafayette Ltd., 179 New Bond Street, London.

Evidence of photographer at work: -

All images of sitter:

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References:

Biog: Who's Who; Who's Who In India, Lucknow, 1911; The Times, 19 September, 1911, p 6c; Sunity Devee, Maharani of Cooch Behar, The Autobiography of an Indian Princess, London, 1921; Gayatri Devi and Santha Rama Rau, A Princess Remembers: The Memoirs of the Maharani of Jaipur, London, 1984, p 40; Maharajah of Baroda, The Palaces of India, London, 1980; Pauline Rohatgi, Portraits in the India Office Library, London, 1983, pp 276-7; Charles Allen, Lives of the Indian Princes, London, 1984, p 113.

Occasion: -

Costume: 1901 regulations, quoted in A.H. Bowling, Indian Cavalry Regiments 1880-1914, London, 1971.

Orders, Decorations & Medals: (1) Burke's Peerage; (2) Burke's Peerage; Who's Who; (3) Howard N. Cole, Coronation and Royal Commemorative Medals 1887-1977, London, 1977; (4) A.N. McClenaghan, Editor, Durbar Magazine.

Reproduced: -

Acknowledgements: (Medals) Mrs. S.K. Hopkins, Head of Uniforms, Badges & Medals, The National Army Museum; (Medals & Uniform) A.N. McClenaghan, Editor, Durbar Magazine; Christopher Buyers.

1. "Her Majesty is graciously pleased to confer on me the G.C.I.E., but although greatly honoured and proud, I was sorry it was not the G.C.S.I., which I am sure is what H.M. meant to give." Cable from the Maharaja to the Maharani of Cooch Behar, quoted in Sunity Devee, op cit, pp 124-125.

2. This date given in Burke's Peerage, however Who's Who states 1887.