The Sisodya Dynasty is now branching out and Bagore, Karjali and Shivrati branches are established. The growth of Mewar is reflected in the establishment of new estates, each of whom are a microcosm of the rich heritage of the Sisodya Rajputs.
 

From 1736, when the first Maratha invasion of Mewar takes place in the reign of Maharana Jagat Singh II, the Marathas begin extracting huge tributes and payments, destroying the economic base of Mewar. 
For almost 40 years, none of the Maharanas are able to counter the greed, rapaciousness and open looting by the Maratha overlords. The glorious descendants of Ikshvaku and Ram, the Maharanas are reduced to abject poverty, unable to lift themselves and their state from the morass of adversity.

Maharana Sardar Singh, adopted from the Bagore branch of the family, is still caught up in the debts of the past. It is his younger brother, Maharana Swarup Singh who begins the painful journey to recovery. He remains firm on upholding Rajput traditions in the face of British instructions to reform. During the 1857 Mutiny,  the Maharana shelters the British refugees on Jagmandir and proves, once again, that loyalty and trust are core values being upheld by Kshatriya Kings.

In the study of the arts and history,  Maharana Sajjan Singh proves to be a worthy descendant of Rana Kumbha. Learned men in his court, called the  navratnas, are encouraged to study, discuss and write treatises on diverse philosophical, historical and literary subjects. Mewari poetry reaches its apex now. Literary and scholarly pursuits bear fruit : Kaviraja Shyamaldas authors Veer Vinod and becomes the curator of the newly-formed Sajjan Vani Vilas library. 
It is a veritable renaissance under Maharana Sajjan Singh. In a short span of 10 years, the glory of the Sisodia Kings of Mewar is restored.

His courteousness, his strength of character and his strong-willed decisions are made more profound as the Maharana lacks formal education. But he is steeped in traditions of Mewar's history. And his piety derives its strength from the Hindu scriptures. In the 45 years of his reign, Fateh Singh makes it clear to the British that he is not the Maharana by the grace of any Queen of England but by order of his own people and in the service of Lord Eklingji. 

He devotes himself to developing educational institutes in Udaipur and across the state, encourages the introduction of railway lines from Udaipur, restores old mansions in Chittor and the palace at Kumbhalgarh, builds the Durbar Hall (now called Fateh Prakash ) and completes the Shiv Niwas Palace as a guesthouse for visitors, extends the water resources of the city by constructing the Feteh Sagar Lake. 
For a simple man hailing from a modest village, Maharana Fateh Singh indeed brings to life the glories of Mewar.  He remains a fountainhead of inspiration as he fulfills the Kshatriya vows of honour, decency and hospitality in his long reign.

Like Rana Pratap's heroic defence against the Mughals, Maharana Bhupal Singh's vision is born out of a deep sense of patriotism and pride in upholding the core values of Suryavanshi Kings. Confined to a wheelchair with a crippling spinal disorder, the Maharana's personal courage at all times exemplifies the triumph of the human spirit. 

He is aware of the dynamic social changes sweeping across the country and encourages the orderly growth of social and political movements. Like his famous ancestors who were relentless reformers in the field of education, the Maharana establishes the Rana Pratap Hindi University at Chittor and an Agricultural College at Udaipur. Schools, specially for girls, are set up.
He is a committed environmentalist, organising longterm afforestation programmes for the Aravalli Hills. Sustained industrial activity makes the Mewar economy more vibrant in his reign. 

With Independence, comes Maharana Bhupal Singh's finest hour. The ruler, who stood to lose the entire governance of his kingdom, became the first State to merge with the Indian Union. His historic words,  echo the glory of Rana Sangha and Rana Pratap : "Today is a day of which to be greatly proud. India is independent. It brings to fulfillment the 1400 years' struggle and endeavour of my forefathers. It becomes my holy duty, on behalf of my ancestors, to hand over to the leaders of free India, this cherished and sacred Flame of Freedom to the country as a whole." 
Maharana Bhupal Singh, acting honourably as the Diwan of Eklingji, serves the interests and welfare of his people even though it spells the end of Mewar's sovereignty which begins with Guhaditya and is proudly defended for 1500 years. The grateful Govt. of India nominates him as "Maharaj Pramukh", the only one of its kind in whole of India

Bhagwat Singh, a great-nephew of Maharana Fateh Singh, is adopted from the Shivrati branch of the family, and is witness to the epochal changes in independent India. Leading an ordinary life before he is adopted as son and heir to Maharana Bhupal Singh, Bhagwat Singh measures up to  the extraordinary circumstances and demonstrates his determination to respect the legacy of Bappa Rawal.

Maharana Bhagwat Singh is one of the first rulers to realise the potential of 'adapting' palaces and forts into luxury hotels. The Lake Palace Hotel becomes a hugely  successful venture, firmly putting Udaipur on the world tourism map.  His corporate endeavours stand the House of  Mewar in good stead when the Indian Government deals a terrible blow : In 1969, the Privy Purse is abolished, the rulers are stripped of their titles and  privileges. Maharana Bhagwat Singh, now Mr Bhagwat Singh Mewar, makes a dignified appeal to Mrs Indira Gandhi, writing "it shall be an honour for me to be of service to the country, save only that I cannot accept to be instrumental in derogation of the institution to which I belong." 
The focus is on social welfare : The Maharana Mewar Foundation is formed. Education and community welfare projects are initiated. Annual awards are instituted to reward services rendered to society. 

In his Will and Testament of 1984, Bhagwat Singh recreates the Institution of the Maharana, ensuring the name of Maharana will continue in perpetuity. His eldest son, Mahendra Singh, voluntarily disinherited himself from the family. The custodianship of the House of Mewar passes on to the younger son, Arvind Singh Mewar. 
The timeless legacy of Bappa Rawal is thus protected. And the Diwans of Eklingji continue their service through the 20th century. 

Maharana Bhagwat Singh, on the invitation of Prime Minister Nehru, visits New Delhi : fulfilling the vows of his forefathers never to enter the capital-city so long as it is under foreign rule.

Shriji, as Shri Arvind Singh Mewar is reverentially known as, is upholding the honourable values of Kshatriya kingship in an age when there are no kings. His empire today is a corporate one : developing palace-resorts and hotels, promoting of Polo and accelerating the pace of ongoing philanthropic activities. 

The guiding principles of Bappa Rawal -- self-reliance, self-respect and the dignity of Man -- are as relevant for him today as they were to his forefathers. "Change rarely invalidates the past and it does not necessarily imply a rejection of the old. A great deal can - and should be - preserved from the past. In particular we should treasure the ancient and selfless values that have stood the test of time," says Shriji, the present custodian of the House of Mewar and the 76th  Diwan of Eklingji. 

Focussing on the challenges of the future, Shriji is concentrating on developing a 'City within the City of Udaipur' as a model for sustainable development. "Schools, colleges, university, libraries, temples, museums, hospitals, hotels, restaurants, public parks : we  are currently managing them all," says Shriji."Today we are a living palace complex. Tomorrow I can see 'The City with a City'  become a model of self-sufficient and self-reliant multifaceted enterprise."  Shriji is thus bringing a tremendous synergy in the corporate and philanthropic activities of the House of Mewar. 

History and the blessings of Eklingji are with Shri Arvind Singh Mewar as he works towards turning his vision into a reality, taking the House of Mewar into the new millennium...