The Young Royals of India

India being a land of kings and queens, has a rich cultural heritage endowed with diverse conventions, customs, rituals and ideas culminating in one central core of self-identity. Most of the royal families in India do not retain their past glories anymore.

The descendents of the erstwhile royal families are doing their best to preserve these. While these royals are extremely dashing and magnetic, they also command respect for their royal lineage and made themselves to live socially without any egoism of being a royal. While a few own their own businesses and some involved in serving the country through politics, charitable trusts and social organization proving there is more to royalty and wealth, power and good looks. These are the young royals of India that you might have not come across.

1. Manvendra Singh

Manvendra Singh was born at Ajmer on 23 September 1965, as the son of Maharana Shri Raghubir Singhji Rajendrasinghji Sahib, he belongs to the royal family of the former princely state of Rajpipla in India.

He is also known as the first and perhaps the only gay Prince in India. His sexuality has been more talked about than his family legacy. In January 1991, he married Chandrika Kumari from Madhya Pradesh and the marriage ended in divorce when Manvendra revealed his homosexuality to his wife. He plans to adopt a child in order to keep his family heritage alive.

In 2000 he started the Lakshya Trust, which is dedicated to HIV/AIDS education and prevention. The trust also creates employment opportunity for gay men and support for other organizations. Lakshya won the Civil Society Award 2006 for its contribution in preventing HIV/AIDS among homosexual men.

2. Lakshyaraj Singh Mewar

Lakshyaraj Singh Mewar of Udaipur is the youngest child of Shriji Arvind Singh Mewar and Smt Vijayraj Kumari Mewar. Belonging to the royal family of Mewar, he is a direct descendant of Maharana Sanga and Maharana Pratap.

Lakshyaraj is keen to continue his family`s involvement in social and development causes in India and is a trustee of Mewar Charitable Foundation, set up by his grandfather Maharana Bhagwat Singhji Mewar. He is also a trustee of the Vidyadan Trust, and takes a keen interest in the administration of the schools under its remit.

He has a passion in art and photography, he is a skilled tabla player, and a keen follower of Indian classical, as well as folk and Sufi musical traditions of Rajasthan.

3. Jaivardhan Singh

Jaivardhan Singh is the son of politician Digvijay Singh, the erstwhile Raja of Raghogarh belonging to the Rajput clan and is being groomed to be among India's generation next young leaders. He is following his father's footsteps and beginning an active career in politics.

He belongs to a royal family which had many great kings and saint like, saint Pepaji, Raja Shree Lal Singhji, Raja Shree Deeraj Singhji, the courageous king Raja Jai Singhji and his father Raja Shree Digvijay Singhji.

Digvijay Singh is a senior leader of the Indian National Congress political party and a former CM of Madhya Pradesh. He first became CM of Madhya Pradesh on 7 December 1993 and continued to hold the post till Congress was voted out of power in the November 2003. He is currently a General Secretary of the All India Congress Committee.

4. Kirit Pradyot Deb Barman

Kirit Pradyot Deb Barman was born on July 4, 1978 hails from the royal family of the Manikya dynasty. He is the current head of the royal family. His grandfather Maharaja Bir Bikram Kishore Deb Barman was one of the last rulers of the princely states to accede their throne to the Union of India.

He has brought in a lot of development in his state and also serves as the Chairman of the Royal Heritage Hotel, member of the All India Congress, advisor to the North East Students Committee in Delhi and North East Regional Development Association (NERDA) and many social and cultural organizations in north eastern India.

He is also responsible for the launch of The Northeast Today, a magazine targeted at residents of the North Eastern states of India. He has also shown interest in running for political office from Tripura.

5. Shivraj Singh

Shivraj Singh was born on 30 September 1975, he is the son of erstwhile Maharaja Gaj Singh and erstwhile Maharani Hemlata Rajye belongs to the royal family of Jodhpur.

He is a passionate polo player and a known face in Delhi high society, where he stands out for both his royal lineage and striking good looks. He is primarily responsible for training the Jodhpur polo team, whose fortunes revived under his sponsorship.

He got married last year to Gayatri Kumari Pal, belonging to the royal family of Askot. It was one of the grandest weddings that the country had seen in recent times and was the talk of the town for quite a long time.