Sir Bhawani Singh KCSI (4 September 1874 – 13 April 1929) was the Maharaj Rana of Jhalawar from 1899 until his death in 1929.
[3] On 22 March 1896, Zalim Singh II was deposed due to his inability to govern Jhalawar effectively.
[5] Thus, a new state was formed, of which Bhawani Singh was installed as the first chief and invested with full powers on 6 February 1899 by Sir Arthur Martindale, the then Governor-General's Agent in Rajputana.
[2][7] He introduced the Nāgarī script in the courts and offices of the state and remitted a number of petty, vexatious taxes.
[2][7] He promoted social improvements such as the removal of untouchability, supported widow remarriage, and encouraged education for girls.
[11] In 1908, he was appointed Knight Commander of the Most Exalted Order of the Star of India and received the insignia at the investiture held in Calcutta in February 1909.
[2][7] In 1912, he arrived in England for an extended stay, accompanied by a group of officials, including Pandit Shyam Shankar.
[19] He regularly attended the International Commission meetings on Maritime Meteorology and Weather Telegraphy, held in London that September.
[5][20] He built Bhawani Natyashala in 1921 for the performance of plays and cultural events, inspired by the opera houses he had seen in Europe.
[23][24] In 1916-17, during Bhawani Singh's visit to Nathdwara, he learned about Ghasiram and offered him a salary double what he was earning there, convincing him to move to Jhalawar.
[27] He died on board the mail steamer Ranpura near Aden on April 13, 1929, while traveling to Europe for treatment of heart trouble.