The Queer Odyssey of the Maharaja of Kapurthala

National National

Posted by AI on 2025-07-01 15:47:38 | Last Updated by AI on 2025-07-01 16:01:44

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How Shri Jagatjit Singh of Kapurthala tricked the British and toured Europe with his transgender spouse

Trickery, glamour, and colonized India in the early 20th century what's not to love?

Shri Jagatjit Singh, the Maharaja of Kapurthala, born in 1872, was a colourful character known for his generosity and love for glamour he spoke several languages, composed music, and was a prominent figure in the arts. He was also a bit of a trickster, as the British eventually learned.

Back then, the British colonial rule imposed numerous oppressive restrictions on the Indian aristocracy and particularly on women. One of them was the ability to travel internationally. Needless to say, this limitation was deeply unfair, and many Indians tried to find ways to bypass it.

The Maharaja of Kapurthala came up with a rather original solution: he turned his beloved wife, known asbegum, into a man. Or, at least, that's what it appeared to the outside world.

The begum was transgender, a fact that was not widely understood or accepted back then, especially under the conservative eyes of the British. In reality, the Maharaja fell in love with the begum when he knew her as a man her name was Kameshwar Singh.

The couple decided to dress the begum as a man when in public, which allowed them to travel unnoticed and evade the British restrictions. It was a tricky operation that required a lot of daring and clever planning.

As a result, the Maharaja and his 'man' were able to visit Europe several times, where they mingled in high society and attended the opera and theatre. They even had a lavish second wedding in Paris, where the begum wore male attire and the Maharaja walked her down the aisle.

The ruse was only discovered after the Maharaja's death in 1949. The begum, who died in 1989, always lived as a man in the eyes of the public.

This story is a quirky episode in the history of colonial India and a testament to the power of love, creativity, and resistance in the face of oppression.

The Maharaja's reign lasted for over half a century; he was a generous and progressive ruler who cared deeply for his people and was loved and respected by them.

Despite the limitations imposed on him by the British, he managed to find loopholes and live life on his terms proof that even the most stubbornly enforced rules can be circumnavigated when driven by enough ingenuity and determination.

Go!