The # # king Pushpraj Singh Ju Deo (Vikram Samvat 2002-Continue)
Born on 3rd July 1960, in the Royal Family of Rewa Maharaja Pushpraj Singh is the son of late Maharaja Martand Singh, who caught the 1st White Tiger in 1951 and later influenced the then Prime Minister of India, Smt. Indra Gandhi to make Bandhavgarh a National Park in 1967-68 and went on a campaign to influence the resourceful pe
ople of the region to give up shooting! Maharaja Pushpraj Singh further carried the noble path of his late father. He came into public life at an early age after completing his education in 1982. It is during this time he held a National Seminar on Environment in Rewa and strongly advocated the return of White Tigers back to Rewa along with other important factors of conservation & improvement of the Kaimore ranges, saving the link corridors between Sanjay & Bandhavgarh National Parks etc! Legislature, he took up issues of environment and was put on the State Wild Life Board in 1994-95. He became a Minister in 1997 for “Urban Development” & “Local Self Govt.” but because of his sheer expertise and zeal on the wild life board! He was made a Convener of the Tiger State Committee, which was to recommend laws for improving the Habitat & suggested affective measures for the Protection of the Tiger in M.P., which was declared as a “Tiger State” in India! Maharaja Pushpraj Singh formed the Bandhavgarh Foundation in 1997 mainly to work along with the other NGOs of the world. He got an opportunity to work with illustrious people like Late Mr. Godrej, who got influenced & visited Bandhavgarh to launch the prestigious WWF Tiger Conservation Programme. He was instrumental in influencing people to donate for Pachmari, Bori & Satpura National Parks! Today his views are even aired by channels like National Geography, D.D., Aaj Tak & many others. His main focus is on wildlife conservation and improving the man & nature relations, with the Tribal on the center stage! Pushpraj Singh has produced & written scripts for documentary films on wildlife like “Baghin” & “changing habitats of Bandhavgarh”. of India recognized the works of Bandhavgarh Foundation and put it on the “Wild Life Board” of India as an institutional member, reflecting hard work done.
“Rewa re-discovered” a Seminar in 2004 can be deemed as a milestone in the history of Rewa, as after 3 decades the Tourism Industry began to rethink to send or promote foreign tourist, which was the out-come of Maharaja Pushpraj Singh. His interests on Heritage Conservation has lead to major repairs of the Rewa Fort, which was on neglect of many years. Influenced as Minister for School Education, he opened a school in the Fort named “Bandhav Public School”, which is targeting the future generation to face the new challenges of the modern world! State Co-convener for INTACH org. and Chairman Bandhavgarh Foundation (Member Indian Wild Life Board. GOI), which is headed by the P.M. Born in an era where Tiger Shoot was a status symbol amongst Royalties, Pushpraj Singh may be the ONLY exception, for which he takes pride!
