Last queen of Darbhanga, Maharani Kamsundari Devi, who donated 600kg gold during 1962 India-China war passes away at 93

Maharani Kamasundari Devi, the third and only surviving queen of Maharaj Kameshwar Singh, the last ruler of the Darbhanga Raj, passed away in the early hours of Monday at her residence, Kalyani Niwas, in Darbhanga.

All about the Queen's demise

She expired at 93 after being unwell for the past several months. Her death marks the end of an era closely linked to one of India’s most illustrious royal lineages.

The last rites were performed at the Madhmeshwar Temple premises, within the royal estate, the private crematorium of the Darbhanga Raj, where the funeral pyre was lit by her grandnephew, Ratneshwar Singh, in accordance with traditions.

Bihar’s Industries and Road Construction Minister, Dilip Kumar Jaiswal, attended the funeral on behalf of the state government.

Paying tribute, he shared that the Darbhanga royal family had made immense contributions to the nation. “Whenever the country needed support, the Maharajas of Darbhanga opened their treasury for the nation. The contributions of the royal family will always be remembered,” he said.

Senior political leaders, including JD(U) national working president Sanjay Jha, BJP state president Sanjay Saraogi and social welfare minister Madan Sahni, expressed condolences.

About Maharani Kamasundari Devi and Bihar's royal family

Maharani Kamasundari Devi was married to Maharaj Kameshwar Singh in 1940 as his third wife. The Maharaja’s earlier marriages were to Maharani Rajlakshmi Devi and Maharani Kameshwari Priya Devi.

He passed away in 1962. Rajlakshmi Devi died in 1976, while the other queen, Kameshwari Priya Devi, died in the year of Kamasundari Devi’s marriage.

Maharaj Kameshwar Singh had no children from any of his three marriages. For the continuity of the estate’s religious, cultural and philanthropic responsibilities, Maharani Kamasundari Devi appointed Kumar Kapileshwar Singh, a member of the extended Darbhanga royal family from a collateral branch, as trustee of the Darbhanga Raj.

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

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.

Though Maharani Kamasundari Devi largely stayed away from public life, her stewardship symbolised the values of a royal house known for its contributions to education, culture and national causes.

Long before independence, the Darbhanga royal family emerged as one of the country’s foremost patrons of learning, for its extraordinary support during the 1962 India-China war.

Responding first to the government’s appeal for assistance, the royal family donated 15 maunds (about 600 kg) of gold for national defence at Indrabhavan ground in Darbhanga.

They also transferred three private aircraft and a 90-acre airstrip to the government that later became Darbhanga Airport. 

The estate also 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 support to national leaders at critical moments. Their backing enabled sustaining early political mobilisation and public discourse during a formative phase of the struggle.

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