Jagaddipendra Narayan

Sir Jagaddipendra Narayan Bhup Bahadur,

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. His close relatives stayed in Jaipur, Baroda, Dewas, Kota, Allahabad and Calcutta.

Personal life

His first marriage took place privately at Cooch Behar, 1949 to Nancy Valentine of

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 1 January 1950.

He died in

Cricket

He captained the Bengal Cricket XI.

Honours

• 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

See also

Royal State Transport (Now "North Bengal State Transport Corporation")

North Bengal State Transport Corporation (NBSTC) is a West Bengal state government undertaken transport corporation. It plys buses in North Bengal and other parts of West Bengal to Kolkata. NBSTC owns many depots in West Bengal to station their buses.This organisation was inaugurated by the then King of Cooch behar His Highness Jagaddipendra Narayan Bhup Bahadur Lt.Col. in a bright sunny 1 April morning in the year 1945.Started with three buses and trucks; initially operated "Royal Mail" service and slowly introduced its passenger version to Mansai Ghat,Burnish Ghat,Alipurduar,Tufangaunge etc.The vehicles were of 'Thames and Chevrolet'make,later came 'Ford' makes.Thanks to the far farsightedness of erstwhile rulers, this organisation provided and still providing lively hood and means of transport. To scores of peoples of North Bengal Region and lower Assam.As a matter of fact it is most probably the oldest STU in India.NBSTC received national productivity award in the year 1996.It is deeply weaved with the social,financial, cultural life of the peoples of this region.No other organisation,no matter how strong it is? Can barely match with NBSTC,in terms of impact on life of the peoples of this region.

• Koch dynasty

References