Baron Sinha

Baron Sinha, of Raipur in the Presidency of Bengal, is a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. It was created in 1919 for Sir Satyendra Prasanna Sinha, a distinguished barrister and zamindar who was the first (and only) British Indian ever to be elevated to the hereditary peerage. The decision remarks that the decision was not precedent for a peer who had legally married two wives (at the same time), and that there is no British law on heirship in the case of a polygamous marriage; but in this case that difficulty did not arise - and in fact the first Lord Sinha had belonged to the Sadharan Brahmo Samaj, a branch of Hinduism which required monogamy. Having fully established his claim, Arun Kumar, now confirmed as the second Lord Sinha, was subsequently issued a writ of summons directing him to take his seat in the House of Lords. Owing to the Second World War, however, he was unable to attend Parliament until 1 August 1945, when he was finally sworn in and signed the Register of Peers. More controversy followed in the early 1950s, when he was refused a British passport: eventually, in 1955, he was issued with a passport which described him as a British subject. He continued to regularly attend sessions and speak in the House of Lords until his death in 1967. The 3rd Baron Sinha, who unlike his father and grandfather pursued a business career, only infrequently attended sessions of the Lords as he served as chairman of general merchants and holding company Macneill & Barry (now post its acquisition Williamson Magor) and as a director of several Kolkata-based firms, including the Statesman. Both siblings however were acquitted in the subsequent trial, with the fire controversially deemed to have been accidental.

The 4th Baron was succeeded in the barony by his uncle Aninda Kumar Sinha as the 5th Baron Sinha, a retired sales manager and the younger son of the second baron. Prior to the death of the 4th Baron, however, it was thought that his uncle, the heir presumptive, had predeceased his nephew, possibly without heirs. Desiring to keep his new status a secret, the new Lord Sinha did not register his claim with the British authorities. In 1996, the 4th Baron's sister, Anjana Lahiri notified the British press that her uncle was still alive and resident in the UK. He however does not appear on the Roll of the Peerage; as a result, he may not use the title in an official capacity until he registers with the College of Arms and provides the necessary documentation to be listed on the roll. The 6th Baron Sinha continues to claim the title as of 2015. As of 2005, he was working as a travel agent.

Barons Sinha (1919)

thumb|right|200px|[[Satyendra Prasanna Sinha, 1st Baron Sinha, in 1920]]

Satyendra Prasanna Sinha, 1st Baron Sinha (1863–1928)
Arun Kumar Sinha, 2nd Baron Sinha (1887–1967)
Sudhindra Prasanna Sinha, 3rd Baron Sinha (1920–1989)
Susanta Prasanna Sinha, 4th Baron Sinha (1953–1992)
Aninda Kumar Sinha, 5th Baron Sinha (1930–1999)
Arup Kumar Sinha, de jure 6th Baron Sinha (1966–present)

The heir presumptive is the present holder's brother the Hon. Dilip Kumar Sinha (b. 1967).

Line of succession

15px Satyendra Prasanna Sinha, 1st Baron Sinha (1863 – 1928)
15px Arun Kumar Sinha, 2nd Baron Sinha (1887 – 1967)
15px Sudhindra Prasanna Sinha, 3rd Baron Sinha (1920 – 1989)
15px Sushanta Prasanna Sinha, 4th Baron Sinha (1953 – 1992)
15px Anindo Kumar Sinha, 5th Baron Sinha (1930 – 1999)
15px Arup Kumar Sinha, 6th Baron Sinha (born 1966)
(1) Hon. Dilip Kumar Sinha (b. 1967)
Hon. Sisir Kumar Sinha (1890 – 1950)
(2) Indrajit Sinha (b. 1918)
(3) Premola Sinha (b. 1954)
Hon. Sushil Kumar Sinha (1894 – 1968)
(4) Sunil Kumar R. Sinha (b. 1939)
(5) Arjun Sinha (b. 19––)
(6) Ranjan Sinha (b. 19––)
Hon. Tarun Kumar Sinha (b. 1899)

Barons Sinha (1919)

Line of succession

Notes

Further reading