Arjun Singh. There were several leading members of clans who had this name. They came from Bassi (Choondawat); Shivrati (Ranawat); Kurabad (Choondawat), and Taloli (Choondawat). Others were: 1. Kunwar Arjun Singh, son of Prince Pratap Singh of BHUPALGARH and brother of BHAGWAT SINGH, the seventy-fifth ruler of the Mewar Dynasty (1955-1984); uncle of the present head of the Dynasty, ARVIND SINGH MEWAR. 2. Arjun Singh, a 13-year-old chief of the SANGAWATS, a minor branch of the leading CHOONDAWAT clan of Kurabar. Their estate was the district around the town of BASAI. Arjun was the grandson of clan Thakur (chief), TAKHAT SINGH. The constant need for conflict was an adrenalin rush for Rajput warriors, with the result that the clans of Mewar not only fought invaders of their realm, they also fought each other. The in-fighting was, quite often, merely a war of words over disputed territory. There is evidence of this in a dispute that arose in the late 1700s between the Choondawats and their junior branch, the Sangawats. Sangawat Takhat Singh, a successful veteran of all Maratha attempts to take over Basai but now too old to head the clan, decided to retire. His son and heir having died, the chief passed the reins of Basai to his teenage grandson, 13-year-old Arjun Singh. In a ceremony, the Maharana of the time (Bhim Singh) officially gave Basai to Arjun Singh, and girt him with the sword of investiture. Not that Arjun Singh's inheritance was in any way considerable: The cost of mounting defensive campaigns against the Marathas had reduced the Sangawats to a state of poverty. Unfortunately, it appeared to be an embarrassment for the Choondawat chieftain of Salumbar (also named Bhim Singh) to have a destitute relative. Added to this was the fact that, because of old feuds, there was distinct hatred between Takhat Singh and Bhim Singh. Therefore Bhim Singh decided to add Basai to his own domain.

So, what the Marathas had failed to achieve by force, Bhim Singh accomplished, using his position and power. He moved to dispossess young Arjun and give the estate to a junior member of his clan, Birad Singh. To achieve this, the Choondawat chief proposed an illegal double-deal. First, a fine of ten thousand rupees was imposed upon the young Sangawat chieftain, which, of course, he had no chance of paying. Then a fee of ten thousand rupees was to be paid to Arjun as compensation for the loss of his domain when it was handed to Bhim Singh's appointee, Birad. Thus no money at all was involved with a fine or compensation payment. The Choondawat hierarchy, not wanting to cross their powerful leader, gave the illegal installation their full approval-as did the Maharana who originally gave Basai to Arjun Singh. The takeover infuriated Sangawat elder Takhat Singh. Three years after Arjun Singh lost Basai, all the chieftains of Mewar went to the royal court at Udaipur to renew their homage to the Maharana. Retired Sangawat, Takhat Singh took his grandson, Arjun with him. Whilst in Udaipur, both adversaries in this land dispute made it their business to call upon the British Agent, James TOD. Bhim Singh of Salumbar came first, hoping to gain British backing, as well, for his action. He took his protégé, Birad Singh, to meet Tod. The British Agent was not impressed either by the aspirant or by Bhim Singh's power play. Then came the old, disgruntled Sangawat and Arjun to seek British intervention and justice. Both Arjun Singh and Birad Singh were thirteen years of age. Arjun was a typical, enterprising Rajput youth: lean and athletic, ruggedly handsome with a dark complexion, and highly intelligent. Birad was the exact opposite: fair in colour, stout and heavy in appearance, and of average acumen. As Tod would later remark to an associate, "Merit and justice on one side; stupidity and power on the other." Takhat Singh argued that though good fortune and the sword had hitherto preserved their rights, now he was poor and without power. He was vulnerable, unlike Bhim Singh who had money and the Maharana's friendship. Arjun Singh's cause was now in the hands of the Maharana and, of course, Tod (the British representative who really governed the kingdom).

The British Agent took Arjun Singh's case of injustice to the Maharana who left the case to Tod's adjudication. Tod decided in favour of the Sangawat faction. The contest for his birthright, and his success, was of great advantage to the youth. Even Takhat Singh benefited: he was selected to defend the frontier fortress of Jahazpur against the Marathas, a duty he performed well. Arjun accompanied his grandfather, and was often left in command while the old man looked after the estate. Two years later, both Sangawats again visited Tod while he was at Chittor and the British Agent was happy to hear that the young chieftain, Arjun Singh was showing signs of being a great leader.

Arsi Vilas (sometimes spelled Arshi), a small island on PICHOLA LAKE, Udaipur, west of the island palace of JAG NIWAS (Lake Palace). Maharana ARI SINGH II built it. Today, it is a sanctuary for a variety of birds, including tufted ducks, coots, terns, egrets, cormorants and kingfishers.

Art: see MEWAR PAINTING.

Arts and Crafts of Mewar. Mewar is significantly rich in its art, architecture, literature and folk culture. Its puppetry is known internationally for excellence; its performance arts and painting are also well known. (see MEWAR PAINTING). Exhibition space for Arts and Crafts to promote the work of local artisans is part of Arvind Singh Mewar's planned CITY WITHIN A CITY. Udaipur has a number of accomplished artists and art trainees in poky ateliers scattered throughout the city, meeting the tourist demand for exquisite reproductions of famous miniatures. Centralising many of these art schools will be a boon for the artists and an all-under-the-one-roof convenience for art connoisseurs. See also SHILPGRAM.

Arvind Kumar Singh Mewar (b. December 13, 1944-), seventy-sixth ruler of the Mewar Dynasty (1984-); resides in Udaipur. He is the second son and successor, at age 44, of BHAGWAT SINGH MEWAR, his older brother, MAHENDRA SINGH, having voluntarily and formally seceded from the family of his father, was cut out of Bhagwat Singh's will. Upon the death of his father in 1984, second son Arvind Singh automatically became the head of the family and its corporative and welfare organisations. He was educated at MAYO COLLEGE, Ajmer, where he was a distinguished student, and at Maharana Bhupal College in Udaipur, where he gained his B.A. Thereafter, he majored in business studies in England and the USA. On May 15, 1972 he married Princess VIJAYARAJ of Kutch, the grand-daughter of His late Highness, the Maharao of Kutch. They have three children: a son and heir, LAKSHYARAJ, and two daughters, BHARGAVI and PADMAJA. Arvind Singh is impressive in appearance with a powerful build from his years as a keen sportsman. He was a keen cricketer in college and at university, and played first-class matches for Rajasthan for several years. However, his sporting passion then became POLO. One of the leading polo entrepreneurs in India and the UK, Arvind Singh has sponsored The Udaipur Cup tournament at the Cambridge and Newmarket Polo Club. Other such interests include the Imperial Riding and Polo Club, of which he is Vice President, and the Udaipur Equine Institute where prize polo ponies are bred and trained for the Mewar polo team. Guided by Arvind Singh's vision, Mewar Polo has emerged as a leading team, winning laurels and setting standards in a demanding sport. A skilled rider and polo player in earlier days, he remains the proud owner of several outstanding polo ponies. Since the 1980s, he has been instrumental in training and grooming young polo players and providing them with the finest possible horses and playing conditions.

Arvind Singh is Managing Trustee for the MAHARANA MEWAR CHARITABLE FOUNDATION, and Chairman and Managing Director of the prestigious HRH GROUP OF HOTELS, both organisations being established by his father Bhagwat Singh. Possessing "an amazing ability to merge the traditional with the modern", Arvind Singh is transforming the past into the future, particularly in converting many palaces throughout Rajasthan into luxury heritage hotels. Initially, he sets the target for almost all projects, then leaves it to his team of professional managers and trustees who control a staff of over 1,500 personnel employed in the family's many hotels, resorts, and charitable institutions. They operate in offices throughout India and overseas. Arvind Singh continually monitors the progress to ensure that the required direction, momentum and flow are reached. Planning starts at least two or three years ahead of the actual beginning of any project. He possesses an innate vision for interior décor and architecture (a fine example of this is his design for the new, open-style wrought iron dome which surmounts the eastern pavilion in the renovated ZANANA MAHAL in Udaipur's City Palace). When planning a new project or making renovations to existing palaces, he makes sketches of what he envisages should be. He then hands the roughs over to professionals to execute on computers, which he accepts as the working tools of today and especially of the future. He is referred to simply, but respectfully, as Shriji, not only by his staff but also by the citizens of Udaipur. Arvind Singh's private office and residence is the sumptuous, hundred-year-old Shambu Niwas Palace. There is a constant flow of people, both staff and outsiders, who have audiences with him all day long, whenever he is not 'out of station' visiting the Group's many projects.

As the successive Maharanas through history have done, Arvind Singh, a devout Hindu, makes a pilgrimage to the EKLINGJI TEMPLE 22 km. north of Udaipur, every Monday evening (Shiva's day). He is not simply upholding the Mewar tradition or performing a time-honoured duty; he is personally committed to the family deity and the principles of trusteeship, given to his ancestor BAPPA RAWAL, which he considers as sacrosanct today as they were a thousand years ago. He has stated that, "What has distinguished the institution of Maharana over the centuries, is the fact that it is based on the concept of trusteeship. This is no divine right of kingship as was being practised in medieval Europe or ancient India. The Maharana is a trustee of the people's will." A renowned philanthropist, Arvind Singh is dedicated to the ongoing achievements of the Maharana Mewar Foundation in its preservation of Rajasthan and Mewar's heritage, its charitable work, its social work and creative opportunities, and its educational facilities.

In the year 2000, he opened a state-of-the-art LIBRARY, which contains valuable books covering Mewar's history and heritage. That same year, he completely restored and modernised what was once the City Palace's women's quarters, turning them into a magnificent functions venue with display rooms. Through the MAHARANA MEWAR HISTORICAL PUBLICATIONS TRUST, he has commissioned and published or provided financial aid for research and publication of a great many history, religious and social works. Arvind Singh also commissioned the digital remastering of a series of reel-to-reel tapes of live Indian classic music performance from the 1950s, for release on the Mewar CD label (see MEWAR MUSIC COLLECTION).

Arya Samaj, a Hindu religious sect founded around 1875 by DAYANAND SARASWATI (1825-1888), who renounced idol worship and urged a return to the purer principles of the Vedas (Hindu scriptures). A monotheistic institution, it propagated the Vedic religion, Vedic education and philosophy, encouraged women's education, and practised conversion into Hinduism. For its time the movement was quite revolutionary in its social teachings, which included discouragement of idol worship, forbade caste practices, prohibited child-marriage, and allowed widows to remarry.