Jagaddipendra Narayan

Jagaddipendra Narayan Bhup Bahadur, K.C.I.E (15 December 1915 – 11 April 1970) was Maharaja of Cooch-Behar, in India. He served in British forces during World War II and ceded full ruling powers to the Government of India in 1949.

Early life

He was born at Cooch Behar Palace as the eldest son of Maharaja Jitendra Narayan Bhup Bahadur, the Maharaja of Cooch-Behar, by his wife, Maharani Indira Devi Sahiba.

He was educated at St Cyprian's School Eastbourne, Harrow and Trinity College, Cambridge, and also at the Prince of Wales Royal Indian Military College, Dehradun. He became the Maharaja of Cooch Behar at the age of seven on the death of his father on 20 December 1922 and ascended the gadi, on 24 December 1922. He reigned under the Regency of his mother until he came of age and was invested with full ruling powers on 6 April 1936.

Personal life

His first marriage took place privately at Cooch-Behar, 1949 to Nancy Valentine of New York, who was a former screen actress. A daughter was born but did not survive and the couple separated in 1952. His second marriage took place privately in London in 1956 to Georgina May Egan, who had been educated at Cambridge University. The marriage was made public in 1960, and his wife was recognised as Maharani together with the style of Her Highness in January 1960. Maharani Gina Narayan settled in Spain after 1980. She died there in 2013.

Military career

He served with the British Army in World War II in North Africa, Assam, Burma, and South East Asia. He was present at the time of the Japanese surrender at Singapore in 1945. He was Chief Commandant Cooch-Behar Military forces from 1943 to 1949, and Colonel-in-Chief 1st Cooch-Behar Infantry and Rajendra Hazari Guards, Jaipur State Forces.

Political career

He was a Member of the Standing Committee of the Chamber of Princes (Narendra Mandal).

He signed the instrument of accession to the Dominion of India in August 1947 and ceded full ruling powers to the Government of India on 12 September 1949, overseeing the merger of his state with West Bengal on the, 1 January 1950.

He died in Calcutta and was succeeded by his nephew, Virajendra Narayan, whom he adopted as a son.

Cricket

He captained the Bengal Cricket XI.

Titles

• 1915–1922: Maharajkumar Sri Jagatdipendra Narayan
• 1922–1939: His Highness Sri Sri Maharaja Jagatdipendra Narayan Bhup Bahadur, Maharaja of Cooch Behar
• 1939–1942: 2nd Lieutenant His Highness Sri Sri Maharaja Jagatdipendra Narayan Bhup Bahadur, Maharaja of Cooch Behar
• 1942–1944: Lieutenant His Highness Sri Sri Maharaja Jagatdipendra Narayan Bhup Bahadur, Maharaja of Cooch Behar
• 1944–1945: Captain His Highness Sri Sri Maharaja Jagatdipendra Narayan Bhup Bahadur, Maharaja of Cooch Behar
• 1945–1946: Major His Highness Sri Sri Maharaja Jagatdipendra Narayan Bhup Bahadur, Maharaja of Cooch Behar
• 1946–1947: Lieutenant-Colonel His Highness Sri Sri Maharaja Jagatdipendra Narayan Bhup Bahadur, Maharaja of Cooch Behar
• 1947–1970: Colonel His Highness Sri Sri Maharaja Sir Jagatdipendra Narayan Bhup Bahadur, Maharaja] of Cooch Behar, KCIE

Honours

(ribbon bar, as it would look today, incomplete)

100px

• King George V Silver Jubilee Medal – 1935
• King George VI Coronation Medal – 1937
• 1939–1945 Star – 1945
• Burma Star – 1945
• Africa Star – 1945
• Pacific Star – 1945
• War Medal 1939–1945 – 1945
• India Service Medal – 1945
• Knight Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire (KCIE) – 1947
• Indian Independence Medal – 1947
• Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal – 1953

Political offices
Preceded by Maharaja Jitendra Narayan Bhup Bahadur	Maharaja of Cooch Behar 1936–1950	Succeeded by Maharaja Virajendra Narayan

See also

• Koch dynasty

Links and References

• History Book of Cooch Behar
• for genealogy
• Further information
• [1]