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Maharana
Mewar Institution Trust
A
Private Trust
created
by
MAHARANA BHAGWAT
SINGHJI
5
July 1955 - 3 November 1984
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The
preamble to the late Maharana Bhagwat Singhji’s last will and testament
reads:
“I
am deeply aware and conscious that a man’s duties and obligations cannot
and should not be broken particularly when they bear the sanctity of traditions
and unbroken heritage of the family, and even more so, of the Institution
of Maharana. Therefore, being aware of my duties and responsibilities firstly
to humanity in general and to the people of Mewar in particular, and secondly
to the members of my progeny…”
Maharana
Bhagwat Singh was the last legitimately recognised Ruler of Mewar by The
President of India. He was a visionary who was well ahead of his times.
A man who deeply understood the significance of his great responsibility
towards the people of Mewar
"It
was my father’s vision and far-sightedness that propelled him to convert
feudalism into corporatism. He inherited a vast number of unproductive
assets by way of immovable properties which were a huge financial drain.
He incorporated several companies with the objective of optimising fresh
commercial opportunities which successfully safeguarded the financial health
of the House. It was The late Maharana’s astute foresight which led him
to convert the Jagnivas Palace, in 1961, into the world famous Lake Palace
Hotel. ”
--
Arvind Singh Mewar
In 1971,
in contravention and in breach of the covenant entered upon during Independence
in a bilateral treaty between two high parties, Parliament decided that
the Rulers should be dispossessed of their vestigial privileges, stripped
of their titles and robbed of their Privy Purses. At this critical juncture,
in order to preserve the sanctity and time honoured tradition of a Maharana’s
service towards his State Bhagwat Singhji made two important decisions.
The
first was to settle his personal moveable and immovable assets into public
charitable trusts to independently fulfil the religious and social welfare
obligations of the House.
The
second decision came after the Constitutional Amendment Act of 1971. It
was to legally ensure the continuity of the “Institution of Maharana”.
He was determined to discover a formula which would preserve this Institution.
He
observed:
“For
the first seventy-five generations, the institution was invested in a person,
an individual; henceforth it would be vested in a Trust.”
“I
have already created the following Public and Private Charitable Trusts
to serve in whatever form and manner possible in the changed circumstances…
All my movable and immovable properties which I may be owning at the time
of my demise, of whatever description, I give to and place in a trust which
shall be known as Maharana Mewar Institution Trust.”
--
Extract from the late Maharana’s last testament.
What the
Maharana represents, more than anything, is unity of purpose and respect
for duty, which can never be renounced. Maharana Bhagwat Singh set about
evolving measures, which would enable him and his successors to perpetuate
the traditions of service to the people of Mewar under the prevailing circumstances.
The late Maharana instructed his executors to first pay off all his taxes
and obsequious expenses and willed all his remaining personal assets to
a Private Trust named the Maharana Mewar Institution Trust.
A
private trust is not exempt from taxation; therefore, once the taxes had
been paid off and all the dues were clear, he further decreed in his will
that the remaining income was to be distributed amongst the beneficiaries
first and thereafter for public charitable purposes.
Bhagwat
Singhji legally perpetuated the "Institution of Maharana" for formal
identification of the Mewar family. The Maharana Mewar Institution Trust, therefore, came into being as a consequence of his last will and testament dated 15th May 1984. The High Court probated this will on 13th November 1987. The Hon’ble Supreme Court upheld the probate on 9th May 1994. Upon his death on 3rd November 1984 this Trust was automatically invested with the status of a juristic person and the State of Mewar became totally Institutionalised.
Like
all Maharanas of Mewar Bhagwat Singhji too was a Diwan of Shri Eklingji,
administering on behalf of the Deity as his ancestors had done for hundreds
of years. In keeping with age-old tradition, Bhagwat Singhji appointed
Trustees to manage the affairs of the Trust, albeit under different circumstances.
Bhagwat Singhji’s heirs would also conduct their duties towards the people
of Mewar in the traditions inherited from Bapa Rawal. No Individual would
become the sole successor. Through the Board of Trustees the Managing Trustee,
acting like a Diwan would administer the affairs of the Trust and therefore
the State. To this position he appointed his son Arvind Singh Mewar and
ensured that::
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The State
of Mewar continues to receive social and educational support from the new
Diwan acting as trustee of the Public Trust funds established by Maharana
Bhagwat Singhji.
-
The assets
which belonged to the State do not get misspent but remain bound in a Trust.
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The system
of Diwan as trustee of erstwhile Mewar continues. The ‘Managing Trustee’
therefore is the modern version of the earlier Diwan.
The current
custodian Arvind Singh Mewar, or for that matter any other successor, cannot
personally hold the title of Maharana. Legally the Title of ‘Maharana Mewar’
has been immortalised, but only under the aegis of the Institution Trust.
Even though Arvind Singh Mewar is the present Managing Trustee, and honoured
to use the Title, he prefers simply to use the older family name of Mewar
as his surname.
Thus
the late Maharana circumvented this conundrum and firmly placed it in perpetuity,
within the ‘four corners of law’. A final, equitable and irrevocable solution
to a complex problem was achieved. The legacy of the House of Mewar has
been preserved through the judicious common sense of a man who understood
his duty towards his people and his family.
Mewar
therefore continues to be administered in Trust in the ancient time honoured
tradition on behalf of the Ruler Prameshwaraji Maharaj Shri Eklingji.
His late Highness
Maharana Bhagwat Singhji
5
July 1955 - 3 November 1984
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