Jai Singh Prabhakar, Maharaja of Alwar with members of the Council and Colonel Fagan

This is a photograph taken by Bourne and Shepherd in 1903 of the Maharaja of Alwar, Jai Singh Prabhakar (1882-1937), with members of the Council and Colonel Fagan.

The state of Alwar (present-day Rajasthan) was one of the princely states of the Rajputana region of British India. Founded by Rajput chief Pratap Singh in 1775, Alwar would become a favoured ally of the East India Company forces thanks to their support of the British during the Second Anglo-Maratha War (1803-1805). British officer Colonel Fagan is seen here with Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh and his council. The Maharaja was the sixth ruler of Alwar studied at Ajmer’s Mayo School. He was known as a keen polo player and a big spender. To pay the state bills, taxes were raised, which sparked widespread farmers’ uprisings against the king. He was removed from the throne in 1933.