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Bhupinder Singh of Patiala

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Sir Bhupinder Singh
GCSI GCIE GCVO GBE
Maharaja of Patiala (more)
Bhupinder Singh, c. 1911
Maharaja of Patiala
Reign8 November 1900 – 23 March 1938
PredecessorRajinder Singh
SuccessorYadavindra Singh
Minister of State
See list
Born(1891-10-12)12 October 1891
Moti Bagh Palace, Patiala, Patiala State, Punjab Province, British India
Died23 March 1938(1938-03-23) (aged 46)
Patiala, Patiala State, Punjab Province, British India
Spouse10
Issue
Detail		Estimated at 52, including Yadavindra Singh and Bhalindra Singh
DynastyPhulkian
FatherRajinder Singh
MotherJasmer Kaur Manshahia
ReligionSikhism
Cricket information
Domestic team information
YearsTeam
Hindus
Marylebone Cricket Club
Career statistics
Competition FC
Matches 27
Runs scored 643
Batting average 17.37
100s/50s 0/1
Top score 83
Balls bowled 72
Wickets 2
Bowling average
5 wickets in innings 0
10 wickets in match 0
Best bowling 2-40
Catches/stumpings 4/0
Source: ESPNcricinfo
Bhupinder Singh of Patiala
2nd President of Indian Olympic Association
In office
1928 - 1938
Preceded byDorabji Tata
Succeeded byMaharaja Yadavindra Singh

Sir Bhupinder Singh (12 October 1891 – 23 March 1938) was the Maharaja of Patiala and a cricket player. Singh's reign as Maharaja of the princely state of Patiala, in British India, lasted from 1900 to 1938.[1] He was a member of the Phulkian dynasty. During his reign, Singh was most noted for his extravagance, contributions to sports, and for being an ally to the British Raj.[2]

Early life and background

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Seated painting of Singh as a young prince

Bhupinder Singh was born on 12 October 1891 in Moti Bagh Palace, Patiala.[3] Singh was born into the Jat Sikh Phulkian dynasty and Sidhu clan.[4] He was educated at Aitchison College in Lahore. Singh was sent to the princely state of Dholpur, supposedly because of threats to his life due to intrigues in the Patiala court.[5] He returned to Patiala in the beginning of 1900, only months before his father's death.[5]

At the age of 9, Singh succeeded as Maharaja of Patiala State upon the death of his father, Maharaja Rajinder Singh, on 9 November 1900. Rajinder Singh had died due to alcoholism; Singh's mother, Jasmer Kaur, had died some years before 1900 due to tuberculosis.[5][6] A Council of Regency ruled in his name until he took partial powers shortly before his 18th birthday on 1 October 1909, and was invested with full powers by the Viceroy of India, the 4th Earl of Minto, on 3 November 1910.

Reign

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Inspecting a BL 12-inch Railway Howitzer in France, August 1918

Administration and foreign policies

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Singh was well known for the construction of buildings with bold architectural designs in Patiala, including the Shri Kali Devi Temple. Other buildings he constructed include Chail View Palace in the summer retreat of Kandaghat, Chail Palace and Oak Over and Cedar Lodge in Shimla, which are now the residence of the Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh and the Punjab State Guest House, respectively.[7] He had a unique monorail system built in Patiala, known as Patiala State Monorail Trainways.[8] Singh founded the State Bank of Patiala in 1917. Although Patiala was a 17-gun salute state, Singh himself received a personal 19-gun salute.[9] Singh was a member of Freemasonry and in 1916, he consecrated a Masonic lodge in Patiala.[10]

He represented India at the League of Nations, was Chancellor of the Chamber of Princes for 10 years between 1926 and 1938, and was a representative at the Round Table Conference.[11][12] During his tenure as Chancellor of the Chamber of Princes, Singh fought for the rights of princely states in various jurisdictional and administrative matters.[12] However, his proposals were rejected by the British Raj and even the larger 21-gun-salute states did not join him in his efforts.[12]

Military support

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The British Empire's Imperial War Cabinet in 1918. Singh is seated second from left

Singh served on the General Staff in France, Belgium, Italy and Palestine in the First World War as an honorary lieutenant-colonel, and was promoted honorary major general in 1918 and honorary lieutenant-general in 1931. During the First World War, Singh also served on the Imperial War Cabinet in 1918 and on the Imperial War Conference.[13][14] He was awarded 43 medals during the First World War.[2] Most of the buildings of the Chail Military School, in Himachal Pradesh, were donated by Singh to the Government of India.

Sports

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Singh was noted both as a sportsman and a patron of sports. He was captain of the Indian cricket team that visited England in 1911,[15] and played in 27 first-class cricket matches between 1915 and 1937.[16] For the season of 1926/27, he played as member of the Marylebone Cricket Club.[17] He was selected as the captain of India on its first Test tour of England in 1932, but dropped out for reasons of health two weeks before departure and Natwarsinhji Bhavsinhji, the Maharaja of Porbandar, took over.

Singh was a co-founder of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), the national sports administration body for cricket in India, and the donated the Ranji Trophy in honour of Kumar Shri Ranjitsinhji, Jam Sahib of Nawanagar.[18][19] Singh's cricket and polo teams, Patiala XI and Patiala Tigers, were among the best in India.[6]

Extravagance

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Singh is largely noted and remembered for his extravagance. During his life, Singh developed a reputation for being a generous host, throwing lavish parties, and entertaining doctors, artists and people of repute from around the world.[6] He was noted for collecting various items, including cars, jewels, medals, paintings, watches, wines, and spending sprees in Europe.[6]

A group photograph of Bhupinder Singh, the Maharaja of Patiala (reg. 1900–1938) with the cricketer Sir Ranjitsinhji Vibhaji Jadeja, known as Ranji, and other guests and servants. Patiala, circa 1910

In 1925, he made the largest ever single order to Cartier to date for jewelry worth ₹1,000 million (equivalent to ₹210 billion, US$2.6 billion or €2.6 billion in 2023).[20] One of his wives, Maharani Bakhtawar Kaur, presented Queen Mary of the United Kingdom with a necklace on behalf of the Ladies of India during the Delhi Durbar of 1911.[21] He was also known for an exceptional collection of medals, believed to be the world's largest at the time.[22] Singh also owned a fleet of 44 Rolls-Royce cars.[23] Singh was the first Indian to own a private plane and built an airstrip in Patiala.[24]

Personal life

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Singh married ten times and had numerous consorts.[25] From those unions, he sired 88 children, of which 52 survived to adulthood.[25] Singh's health began deteriorating, and he died on 23 March 1938 due to ill health.[26]

Wives and concubines

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Singh's wives and concubines included:

This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by adding missing items with reliable sources.
  • Maharani Sri Bakhtawar Kaur Sahiba (1892–1960). Daughter of Sardar Gurnam Singh, Sardar Bahadur of Sangrur, OBI. Married Bhupinder Singh in 1908.
  • Maharani Vimala Kaur Sahiba (original name Dhan Kaur) of Ubbewal (1906–1992). Married Maharaja Bhupinder Singh 1920, OBI.
  • Maharani Yashoda Devi.[27]
  • Maharani Manjula Devi of Darkoti.
  • 3 other wives who were members of the royal family of Darkoti.[28]

Children

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Yadavindra Singh, Singh's eldest son and successor as the Maharaja of Patiala, circa 1930s

Singh's children included:

This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by adding missing items with reliable sources.

Notable descendants

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Through his children, Singh has many notable descendants, including:

This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by adding missing items with reliable sources.

Titles

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  • 1891–1900: Sri Yuvaraja Sahib Bhupinder Singhji
  • 1900–1911: His Highness Farzand-i-Khas-i-Daulat-i-Inglishia, Mansur-i-Zaman, Amir ul-Umara, Maharajadhiraja Raj Rajeshwar, 108 Sri Maharaja-i-Rajgan, Maharaja Bhupinder Singh, Mahendra Bahadur, Yadu Vansha Vatans Bhatti Kul Bushan, Maharaja of Patiala
  • 1911–1914: His Highness Farzand-i-Khas-i-Daulat-i-Inglishia, Mansur-i-Zaman, Amir ul-Umara, Maharajadhiraja Raj Rajeshwar, 108 Sri Maharaja-i-Rajgan, Maharaja Sir Bhupinder Singh, Mahendra Bahadur, Maharaja of Patiala, GCIE
  • 1914–1918: Lieutenant-Colonel His Highness Farzand-i-Khas-i-Daulat-i-Inglishia, Mansur-i-Zaman, Amir ul-Umara, Maharajadhiraja Raj Rajeshwar, 108 Sri Maharaja-i-Rajgan, Maharaja Sir Bhupinder Singh, Mahendra Bahadur, Maharaja of Patiala, GCIE
  • 1918–1921: Major-General His Highness Farzand-i-Khas-i-Daulat-i-Inglishia, Mansur-i-Zaman, Amir ul-Umara, Maharajadhiraja Raj Rajeshwar, 108 Sri Maharaja-i-Rajgan, Maharaja Sir Bhupinder Singh, Mahendra Bahadur, Maharaja of Patiala, GCIE, GBE
  • 1921–1922: Major-General His Highness Farzand-i-Khas-i-Daulat-i-Inglishia, Mansur-i-Zaman, Amir ul-Umara, Maharajadhiraja Raj Rajeshwar, 108 Sri Maharaja-i-Rajgan, Maharaja Sir Bhupinder Singh, Mahendra Bahadur, Maharaja of Patiala, GCSI, GCIE, GBE
  • 1922–1931: Major-General His Highness Farzand-i-Khas-i-Daulat-i-Inglishia, Mansur-i-Zaman, Amir ul-Umara, Maharajadhiraja Raj Rajeshwar, 108 Sri Maharaja-i-Rajgan, Maharaja Sir Bhupinder Singh, Mahendra Bahadur, Maharaja of Patiala, GCSI, GCIE, GCVO, GBE
  • 1931–1935: Lieutenant-General His Highness Farzand-i-Khas-i-Daulat-i-Inglishia, Mansur-i-Zaman, Amir ul-Umara, Maharajadhiraja Raj Rajeshwar, 108 Sri Maharaja-i-Rajgan, Maharaja Sir Bhupinder Singh, Mahendra Bahadur, Maharaja of Patiala, GCSI, GCIE, GCVO, GBE
  • 1935–1938: Lieutenant-General His Highness Farzand-i-Khas-i-Daulat-i-Inglishia, Mansur-i-Zaman, Amir ul-Umara, Maharajadhiraja Raj Rajeshwar, 108 Sri Maharaja-i-Rajgan, Maharaja Sir Bhupinder Singh, Mahendra Bahadur, Maharaja of Patiala, GCSI, GCIE, GCVO, GBE, GCSG

Honours

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Maharaja Bhupinder Singh

(ribbon bar, as it would look today)

[citation needed]

British

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Foreign

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Other

[edit]

References

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  1. ^ "History of Patiala from Patiala web site". Archived from the original on 7 September 2009. Retrieved 25 June 2006.
  2. ^ a b FE Lifestyle (13 October 2023). "Who was Maharaja Bhupinder Singh of Patiala: The royal who built Chail cricket ground & the genius behind Patiala peg; know about his lavish lifestyle & downfall". The Financial Express. Archived from the original on 27 May 2024. Retrieved 27 May 2024.
  3. ^ "Historical Sikh Events: Phulkian Misl". 26 January 2021. Archived from the original on 7 October 2008. Retrieved 21 February 2010.
  4. ^ Ramusack, Barbara N. (1978). The Princes of India in the Twilight of Empire: Dissolution of a Patron-client System, 1914-1939. University of Cincinnati. ISBN 978-0-8142-0272-2. Archived from the original on 7 March 2023. Retrieved 26 February 2023.
  5. ^ a b c Kidambi, Prashant (2019). Cricket Country: An Indian Odyssey in the Age of Empire. Oxford: Oxford University Press. pp. 170–172. ISBN 978-0-19-884313-9. Archived from the original on 7 June 2024. Retrieved 7 June 2024.
  6. ^ a b c d Arora, Amrtansh (23 March 2023). "Maharaja Bhupinder Singh, patron saint of Patiala peg who used Sikh identity to his advantage". ThePrint. Archived from the original on 4 June 2023. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
  7. ^ Himachal Pradesh – Solan website Archived 29 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine
  8. ^ Haidar, Faizan (14 January 2018). "Delhi: India's oldest monorail comes back to life, to chug every Thursday". Hindustan Times. Archived from the original on 28 May 2024. Retrieved 28 May 2024.
  9. ^ Epstein, M. (23 December 2016). The Statesman's Year-Book: Statistical and Historical Annual of the States of the World for the Year 1932. New York City: Springer. p. 172. ISBN 978-0-230-27061-9. Archived from the original on 6 June 2024. Retrieved 3 June 2024.
  10. ^ Tribune News Service (15 April 2016). "Polyclinic inaugurated at Lodge Phulkian". The Tribune. Retrieved 27 July 2024.
  11. ^ Copland, Ian (16 May 2002). The Princes of India in the Endgame of Empire, 1917-1947. Cambridge University Press. p. xi. ISBN 978-0-521-89436-4. Archived from the original on 28 May 2024. Retrieved 28 May 2024.
  12. ^ a b c Singh, Randhir; Singh, Shubhranshu (15 August 2019). "The forgotten third chamber of Parliament". Open The Magazine. Archived from the original on 17 August 2022. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
  13. ^ "The Imperial War Cabinet". National Portrait Gallery. Archived from the original on 1 November 2022. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
  14. ^ Mohan, Vijay (26 September 2017). "Maharajas 'helped British in WW-I'". The Tribune. Archived from the original on 28 May 2024. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
  15. ^ "How the British forged the first Indian cricket team". BBC News. 29 June 2019. Archived from the original on 29 June 2019. Retrieved 30 June 2019.
  16. ^ "Royalty on the cricket field". International Cricket Council. Archived from the original on 4 April 2023. Retrieved 18 May 2018.
  17. ^ "Maharaja of Patiala Profile: Overview". ESPNcricinfo. Archived from the original on 20 May 2024. Retrieved 20 May 2024.
  18. ^ "About BCCI: History". Board of Control for Cricket in India. Archived from the original on 17 October 2019. Retrieved 20 May 2024.
  19. ^ Biswas, Sudipta (9 April 2020). "Maharaja Bhupinder Singh and his patronage towards sports in India". Delhi Post. Archived from the original on 12 May 2024. Retrieved 20 May 2024.
  20. ^ Manmohan, Nutan (5 November 2022). "From Bahadur Shah Zafar to the Nizam of Hyderabad, a jewellery brand for the royals". ThePrint. Archived from the original on 30 September 2023. Retrieved 27 May 2024.
  21. ^ "Emerald and diamond choker". Royal Collection. Archived from the original on 21 July 2013. Retrieved 15 February 2013. Although, he was married five times, his favorite wife was his third Wife, Maharani Vimal Kaur Sahiba of Ubbewal
  22. ^ Singh, Jangveer (29 February 2004). "A medal for collecting medals". The Tribune. Archived from the original on 29 October 2020. Retrieved 28 May 2024.
  23. ^ a b Dhar, Shobita (5 April 2015). "Royal Royce tales". The Times of India. ISSN 0971-8257. Archived from the original on 27 May 2024. Retrieved 27 May 2024.
  24. ^ "This player was first Indian cricketer to buy private jet; not Virat Kohli, MS Dhoni, Kapil Dev, Sachin Tendulkar". DNA India. 27 August 2023. Archived from the original on 4 September 2023. Retrieved 9 June 2024.
  25. ^ a b "Bhupinder Singh of Patiala: The Maharaja Who Married 10 Times, Had 350 Concubines, And Sired 52 Children". Times Now. 21 May 2024. Archived from the original on 27 May 2024. Retrieved 27 May 2024.
  26. ^ Allen, Charles; Dwivedi, Sharada (1984). Lives of the Indian Princes. New Delhi: BPI Publishing. pp. 248–249. ISBN 978-81-86982-05-1. Archived from the original on 6 June 2024. Retrieved 3 June 2024.
  27. ^ "Maharaja Bhupinder Singh Of Patiala: The Man Who Epitomised Living Life King Size". Times Now. 8 April 2024. Archived from the original on 14 April 2024. Retrieved 27 May 2024.
  28. ^ Dhole, Pradip (17 October 2017). "Bhupendra Singh (Maharaja of Patiala) and India's 1911 tour of England". Cricket Country. Archived from the original on 25 May 2023. Retrieved 3 July 2024.
  29. ^ Singh, Tejinder (27 May 2018). "Jyoti Singh Opens Her Heart as Yadvi Opens on US Screens". The America Times. Archived from the original on 3 March 2024. Retrieved 22 June 2024.
  30. ^ IANS (25 August 2017). "'Yadvi: The Dignified Princess': A one-dimensional real-life tale (IANS Review, Rating: **1/2)". Business Standard. Archived from the original on 22 June 2024. Retrieved 23 June 2024.
  31. ^ "Representation from Raja Raghavendra Singh, brother of H.H. the Maharaja of Patiala against the Maharaja of Patiala". Indian Culture. 1954. p. 5. Archived from the original on 17 July 2024. Retrieved 23 June 2024 – via National Archives of India.
  32. ^ Kapuria, Radha (15 April 2023). Music in Colonial Punjab: Courtesans, Bards, and Connoisseurs, 1800-1947. Oxford: Oxford University Press. p. 317. ISBN 978-0-19-269292-4. Archived from the original on 6 June 2024. Retrieved 3 June 2024.
  33. ^ Sarangi, Suresh Prasad (2017). "The Role of R.N. Singh Deo in the State Politics of Odisha in the Pre and Post-Independent Political Scenario: A Critical Study" (PDF). Odisha Review. p. 29. ISSN 0970-8669. Archived (PDF) from the original on 20 February 2021. Retrieved 28 May 2024.
  34. ^ Sirhindi, Manish (24 March 2019). "Younger son of Maharaja of Patiala, Kunwar Devinder Singh passes away". The Times of India. ISSN 0971-8257. Archived from the original on 28 May 2024. Retrieved 28 May 2024.
  35. ^ Rana, Mahendra Singh (2006). India Votes: Lok Sabha & Vidhan Sabha Elections 2001-2005. Sarup & Sons. ISBN 978-81-7625-647-6. Archived from the original on 13 April 2023. Retrieved 28 May 2024.
  36. ^ Committee on Public Undertakings (13 December 1967). "Fifth Report on Contract Entered into by State Trading Corporation of India Limited (with M/s Oval Industries Inc., New York for Import of sulphur) pertaining to Ministry of Commerce" (PDF). Parliament Digital Library. Lok Sabha Secretariat. p. 21. Archived (PDF) from the original on 12 February 2022. Retrieved 28 May 2024.
  37. ^ Mānavatā ke mukuṭamaṇi Mahārājā Ummedasiṃhajī (in Hindi). Jñāna. 2005. p. 34.
  38. ^ Brentnall, Mark (2004). The Princely and Noble Families of the Former Indian Empire: Himachal Pradesh. New Delhi: Indus Publishing. p. 252. ISBN 978-81-7387-163-4. Archived from the original on 12 June 2024. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
  39. ^ "Bhavenesh Kumari Patiala '50". Woodstock School. Archived from the original on 28 May 2024. Retrieved 28 May 2024.
  40. ^ "Shri Romesh Bhandari". Raj Bhavan, Uttar Pradesh. Archived from the original on 27 November 2020. Retrieved 21 June 2024.
  41. ^ Rambani, Vishal (24 June 2015). "Land mafia cheats Patiala royal family scion". Hindustan Times. Archived from the original on 27 July 2017. Retrieved 3 June 2024.
  42. ^ Jhala, Angma Dey (6 October 2015). Courtly Indian Women in Late Imperial India. Oxfordshire: Routledge. ISBN 978-1-317-31443-1. Archived from the original on 25 June 2024. Retrieved 23 June 2024.
  43. ^ Dass, Diwan Jarmani (26 August 2020). Maharaja. New Delhi: Penguin Random House India. ISBN 978-93-5349-783-5. Archived from the original on 27 July 2024. Retrieved 23 June 2024.
  44. ^ "Representation from Lt.Col Kunwar Brijindra Singh, the younger brother of H.H. Maharaja of Patiala regarding -1).Cut in his monthly allowance. 2). Restoration of Jewellery of his wife and his mother and a House in Chail. 3).Share from Trust fund of Rs.16 Lakhs for marriage of Members of H.H. family". Indian Culture. 1954. Archived from the original on 30 June 2024. Retrieved 30 June 2024 – via National Archives of India.
  45. ^ "No. 32178". The London Gazette (Supplement). 1 January 1921. p. 5.
  46. ^ "Sports University to Be Named After Maharaja Bhupinder Singh". The Pioneer. 31 July 2019. Archived from the original on 13 February 2020. Retrieved 13 February 2020.
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Bhupinder Singh of Patiala.
Bhupinder Singh of Patiala
Born: 12 October 1891 Died: 23 March 1938
Regnal titles
Preceded by Maharaja of Patiala
1900–1938 		Succeeded by
Civic offices
New title
 President of the Indian Olympic Association
1928–1938 		Succeeded by
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