End of an era as last queen of Darbhanga Raj dies at 96

Patna: Maharani Kamasundari Devi, the third and only surviving queen of Maharaj Kameshwar Singh, the last ruler of the Darbhanga Raj, passed away on Monday at her residence, Kalyani Niwas, in Darbhanga. She was 96 and had been unwell for the past several months. With her death, an era closely linked to one of India’s most illustrious royal lineages has drawn to a close.

The last rites were performed at the Shyama Mai Temple complex within the royal estate, in keeping with long-standing tradition of the Darbhanga royal family. Senior political leaders, including JD(U) national working president Sanjay Jha, BJP state president Sanjay Saraogi and social welfare minister Madan Sahni, expressed condolences.

Maharani Kamasundari Devi married Maharaj Kameshwar Singh in 1940 as his third wife. His earlier marriages were to Maharani Rajlakshmi Devi and Maharani Kameshwari Priya Devi. The Maharaj passed away in 1962. Rajlakshmi Devi died in 1976 while Kameshwari Priya Devi had died in the year of Kamasundari Devi’s marriage.

Childless, the Maharani nevertheless played a defining role in preserving the legacy of the Darbhanga Raj after the Maharaj’s death. Maharaj Kameshwar Singh had no children from any of his three marriages. To ensure continuity of the estate’s religious, cultural and philanthropic responsibilities, Maharani Kamasundari Devi later appointed Kumar Kapileshwar Singh — a member of the extended Darbhanga royal family from a collateral branch — as trustee of the Darbhanga Raj.

Known for her dignified public silence, Maharani Kamasundari Devi focused her efforts on institution-building. After the Maharaj’s death, she established the Kalyani Foundation in his memory and set up a library named after him, which today houses more than 15,000 books, reflecting the Darbhanga Raj’s deep association with learning and scholarship.

Though she largely stayed away from public life, her stewardship symbolised the enduring values of a royal house known for its contributions to education, culture and national causes. Her death marks the passing of the last direct link to the personal world of the Darbhanga Maharajs, whose influence once extended far beyond Mithila and into the making of modern India.

Beyond its regal lineage, the Darbhanga royal family occupied a singular place in India’s public life through sustained contributions to education, culture and nation-building. Long before independence, the estate emerged as one of the country’s foremost patrons of learning, donating land and resources for universities and colleges across eastern India. The family played a key role in the establishment of Banaras Hindu University and extended support to Patna University, Allahabad University and institutions in Darbhanga.

The Darbhanga rulers were also among the earliest supporters of India’s freedom movement, extending financial and organisational backing to national leaders at critical moments. Their support helped sustain early political mobilisation and public discourse during a formative phase of the struggle.