MAHARAJA RAJENDRA NARAYAN SINGH DEO: A Man Among Princes by Pabitra Mohan Nayak

An extraordinary story of a forbearing and compassionate Maharaja, who identified with the masses and worked diligently for his people.

Born in a royal family in the erstwhile Bihar and Orissa Province of British India, Maharaja Rajendra
Narayan Singh Deo was adopted by the Maharaja of Patna State to become heir to a coveted throne
that had witnessed betrayal and tragedy. Educated at the best institutions in India, he became the ruler
of Patna State in the turbulent 1930s. Inspired by Gandhian principles of simple living, he remained
detached from power and implemented in his state a uniquely democratic system of governance,
development, infrastructure and welfare measures far ahead of its time. Until one day, it all ended.
Rajendra Narayan became the first ruler of a princely state to sign the merger agreement for accession
into the Union of India in December 1947. Led by his example, other princely states followed suit.
He discarded his princely duties and left Patna State, planning to live a simple life in a Himalayan
cave. But fate had other plans.
His people beseeched him to return and take charge of state politics.
Throughout his political career, he was lovingly addressed as Maharaja by his people, subordinates
and even other political figures of the time. His legacy of reforming the socio-economic and cultural
ethos of Odisha and its governance both as Maharaja of Patna and later as a parliamentarian and
chief minister of Odisha in the 1960s is an extraordinary tale of service, political acumen and
intellectual brilliance.