The Indian Biographical Dictionary (1915)/Orchha, Maharaja of; H.H. Saramad I-Majah-I-Bundelkhand-Maharaja Mabindra Swami, Sir Pratap Singh Bahadur
Orchna, Maharaja of; H.H. Saramad I-Majah-I-Bundelkhand-Maharaja Mabindra Swami, Sir Pratap Singh Bahadur, K.C.I.E. (1898), G.C.I.E. (1900), G.C.S.I. (1906); b. 1854; succeeded his brother, Maharaja Hamir Singh Bahadur, 1874; placed in charge of the administration, June 1874; hereditary title of Saramad-i-Rajah-i-Bundelkhan recognised, 1886; attended the Delhi Durbar, 1903 and obtained the Gold Medal; head of the Bundala family of Gharwar Rajputs; inaugurated famine works on an extensive scale costing about 10 lakhs in the famine of 1897 and remitted a large amount of land revenue to his ryots; made advances to cultivators in the famine of 1905 and allowed them to repay it by easy instalments; started a school for girls, the first of its kind in Bundelkhand; made education free in his State, the government undertaking even the supply of books and defraying other expenses of those who go up for University Examinations; area of the State, 2,080 square miles; population, over 300,000; revenue, over 7 lakhs; entitled to a personal salute of 17 guns. Address: Tikamgarh, Bundelkhand, Central India.