Jayachamarajendra

Jayachamarajendra Wadiyar Bahadur (1919–1974) was the last ruling Maharaja of the princely state of Mysore and later served as Rajpramukh of Mysore State. He reigned as Maharaja from 1940 to 1950, and after the integration of Mysore into the Republic of India, he held the ceremonial post of Rajpramukh from 1950 to 1956. He belonged to the Wadiyar dynasty, which had governed Mysore for centuries.

Born into the Mysore royal family in 1919, he received royal education and developed a strong interest in music, literature, and the arts from an early age. He ascended the throne following the death of his father, Krishna Raja Wadiyar IV, in 1940 and led the state through a period of transition as India moved toward independence and reorganization.

During his reign, Jayachamarajendra oversaw Mysore during the crucial transition from princely rule to integration with the Indian Union. After accession, he continued to perform ceremonial duties and supported modernization and cultural initiatives within the state. In 1950, Mysore joined the Indian Union and he became Rajpramukh, a largely ceremonial role, until the office was replaced by a governor in 1956.

Jayachamarajendra Wadiyar is remembered for his patronage of the arts, particularly Carnatic music, and for contributions to cultural institutions in Mysore. His legacy includes support for music, literature, and the arts in the region. He died in 1974, leaving a lasting imprint on Mysore’s cultural and historical landscape.