Balwant Singh, Raja of Awagarh, (1852–1909) was a noted

zamindar A zamindar ( Hindustani: Devanagari: , ; Persian: , ) in the Indian subcontinent was an autonomous or semiautonomous ruler of a province. The term itself came into use during the reign of Mughals and later the British had begun using it as a ...

and philanthropist from

Awagarh Awagarh is a historic town and a Municipality City in Etah district in the state of Uttar Pradesh, India. It is a tehsil of many colours and contrasts. Here stands a 108-acre pristine fort of Jadaun Rajputs rulers of the Kshatriya clan, who aft ...

. He was noted for his philanthropy in field of education. He purchased land and started Rajput High School in 1885 at

Agra Agra (, ) is a city on the banks of the Yamuna river in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, about south-east of the national capital New Delhi and 330 km west of the state capital Lucknow. With a population of roughly 1.6 million, Agra is ...

with a donation of Rs. 12,00,000, which has now grown into Raja Balwant Singh College. He made an further endowment of Rs. 9,30,000 in year 1909 before his death for the college. He also donated more than 100 acres in Agra for agriculture known as Khandari Farm, attached to Rajput High School. He was a close friend of Sir Harcort Butler, who later became Governor of United Provinces and we can find mention of it in speeches of Sir Harcourt. Balwant Singh was also a close friend and associate of

Madan Mohan Malviya Madan Mohan Malaviya ( (25 December 1861 — 12 November 1946) was an Indian scholar, educational reformer and politician notable for his role in the Indian independence movement. He was president of the Indian National Congress four times and ...

. In 1898, he was party to the delegation led by Malviyaji along with Maharaja Pratap Narayan Singh of Ayodhya, Raja Ramprasad Singh of Mandu, Sri Krishna Joshi, Dr. Sunderlal to Sir

Antony McDonald Antony McDonald is a British opera and theatre designer and director. In 2013, McDonald won the Set Design Award at the International Opera Awards. He won the Golden Mask for best costume design in a musical production (Russia) for '' L'Enfant et l ...

, then deputy Viceroy requesting for inclusion of

Hindi Hindi (Devanāgarī: or , ), or more precisely Modern Standard Hindi (Devanagari: ), is an Indo-Aryan language spoken chiefly in the Hindi Belt region encompassing parts of northern, central, eastern, and western India. Hindi has been de ...

as one of the working languages in courts and government documents. It was due to their efforts Hindi was added as one of the working languages in government documents and courts. He along with Thakur Umarao Singhji of Kotla,

Raja Uday Pratap Singh Kunwar Raghuraj Pratap Singh (born 31 October 1969), popularly known as Raja Bhaiya, is an Indian politician. He is an MLA in the 18th Uttar Pradesh Assembly from his native local assembly constituency Kunda on Jansatta Dal (Loktantrik) tic ...

Bhinga Bhinga is a town, Nagar Palika and district headquarter of Shravasti district in the state of Uttar Pradesh, India. Geography Bhinga is located at . It has an average elevation of 120 metres (393 feet).Shravasti shares its border with ...

was instrumental in founding of

Akhil Bharatiya Kshatriya Mahasabha Akhil Bharatiya Kshatriya Mahasabha also known as All India Kshatriya Mahasabha was founded in the year 1897 It was formed to promote, protect and fight for rights and interests of Kshatriya community of the Indian society. Early years After Rev ...

in year 1897 He also presided over the Mahasabha for year 1897. He died in 1909.Awagarh Jagir
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References

{{authority control 1852 births 1909 deaths Indian royalty Founders of Indian schools and colleges Companions of the Order of the Indian Empire Officers of the Order of the British Empire People from Etah district 19th-century Indian philanthropists