Yadavindra Singh was the ninth and last ruling Maharaja of Patiala from 1938 to 1947. Singh kept his royal titles until 1971, when princely titles were abolished through the 26th Amendment to the Constitution of India. In his life, Singh was also a diplomat, sports administrator and former cricketer who played one Test in 1934.

Early life

Born in Patiala City, Patiala State, within the British Raj (now in Punjab, India) in 1914 into a Jat Sikh family of the Sidhu clan, Yadavindra Singh attended Aitchison College in Lahore. He served in the Patiala State Police, became its Inspector General and served in Malaya, Italy and Burma during the World War II. In 1935, he married his first wife, Hem Prabha Devi of Saraikela State (1913–2014). Singh succeeded his father, Bhupinder Singh, as the Maharaja of Patiala on 23 March 1938 and subsequently married his second wife, Mehtab Kaur (1922–2017), in 1938. Although the stated reason for his second marriage was his first wife being issueless, it was speculated that the actual reason was the influences of Akali leaders who wanted the future Maharaja of Patiala to marry a woman from a Jat Sikh family in order to beget genuine Sikh heirs.

Reign

Following his accession to the throne of Patiala, Singh pursued a political and diplomatic career, serving as chancellor of the Chamber of Princes from 1943 to 1944. In 1947, when India gained independence, he was the pro-chancellor of the Chamber of Princes. At a special session he said "After centuries time has come when India has gained independence from foreign rule and it's the time when we all (princely states) should unite for our motherland" and persuaded many other rulers to join India. Singh also served as president of the Indian Olympic Association from 1938 to 1960. He was instrumental in foundaing and organizing the Asian Games. He was a noted horticulturist by passion and later served as chairman of Indian Horticulture Development Council.

Partition of India (1947)

During the Partition of India in 1947, numerous pogroms occurred in and around the princely state of Patiala. In several cases, organized bands of Sikhs were responsible for atrocities. The late Harkishan Singh Surjeet, of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), witnessed the events and claimed in an interview: 'The communal attacks on the minorities were definitely planned. I know more about the persons involved in the eastern wing because I was there. I saw those dreadful acts with my own eyes. In that conspiracy, the Maharaja of Patiala was involved. The idea was that if the Muslims were driven out.' The attacks on Sikhs and Hindus in March 1947 in Rawalpindi are regarded as one of the major crimes that triggered off others. Nehru believed the Maharaja had sought to ethnically cleanse the territory of Muslims as part of this effort. Maharajas of Patiala and Faridkot, and Yadavindra Singh is quoted as having said "We won't leave a Muslim here" at a party with British officers. The Foreign Minister of Patiala, Sardar Bari Ram Sharma issued a denial stating "I definitely assert that no Patiala soldier has associated himself with or has been involved in any killings in any part of the East Punjab." Singh agreed to the incorporation of the Patiala State into India.

Donations

In 1956, Singh donated the Anand Bhawan, a 150 bigha palace, to the Government of Punjab (before the creation of Himachal Pradesh). Singh also donated Moti Bagh Palace to the Government of India, which became the Netaji Subhas National Institute of Sports. He later founded Yadavindra Public School. Lal Bagh Palace, the building in which Yadavindra Public School is housed was donated by Singh. The Yadavindra Public School, Mohali is also named after him and was established by the members of his family.

Family

After succeeding his father, Bhupinder Singh, as the Maharaja of Patiala, Singh supported his siblings and financially and arranged many of their marriages. One of his sisters, Naginder Kumari Khanna married Vipin Khanna.

Later career and death

Singh was Rajpramukh of the new Indian state of Patiala and East Punjab States Union until it was merged with Punjab in 1956. He continued his career from 1956 onwards, serving as Indian delegate to the United Nations General Assembly from 1956 to 1957 and to UNESCO in 1958. He also headed the Indian delegation to the FAO on and off during 1959–1969. Singh served as Indian Ambassador to Italy (1965–1966) and as Indian Ambassador to the Netherlands from 1971 until 17 June 1974, when he died suddenly in office at The Hague from heart failure, age 60. On specific instructions of Indira Gandhi, he was cremated with full state honours.

Personal life

He was succeeded as family head by his son Captain Amarinder Singh, who is a politician with the formerly Congress now in the Bhartiya Janata Party and who served as Chief Minister of the Indian State of Punjab from 2002 to 2007 and again starting in 2017 to 2021. His daughter, Heminder Kaur, was married to K. Natwar Singh, the former Minister of External Affairs of India.

Titles

Honours

(ribbon bar, as it would look today; UK decorations only) Order of the Indian Empire Ribbon.svg Order of the British Empire (Civil) Ribbon.png 39-45 Star BAR.svg Africa Star BAR.svg Burma Star BAR.svg Italy Star BAR.svg War Medal 39-45 BAR.svg India Service Medal BAR.svg King George V Silver Jubilee Medal ribbon.svg GeorgeVICoronationRibbon.png Indian Independence medal 1947.svg

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