Krishna Kumari
Krishna Kumari, 1794-1810, princess of Udaipur, Rajasthan. One of the most tragic figures in the annals of Rajasthan, she was the daughter of Rana Bhim Singh of Mewar. Because of the special privileges enjoyed by a daughter of Udaipur house, since 1708, her hand was sought both by Sawai Jagat Singh of Jaipur, and Maharaja Man Singh of Jodhpur. Both of them regarded it a point of honour to have this Sisodia princess as their bride, and they sought to decide the issue on the battlefield. The war between two claimants, neither of which was prepared to give up his claim, continued for about four years, which completely wrecked the once flourishing states of Jaipur, Jodhpur and Udaipur. Unable to find any way out, the cravenly father induced his daughter to swallow a cup of poison. She was only 16 at that time, and was believed to be very beautiful. The reputation of the once proud house of Udaipur was completely ruined, and the Maharaja accepted British suzerainty a few years later.
