| Bhupinder Singh | |
|---|---|
| Maharaja of Patiala | |
| Reign | 1900-1938 |
| Born | October 12, 1891 |
| Birthplace | Moti Bagh Palace, Patiala |
| Died | March 23, 1938 (aged 46) |
| Place of death | Patiala |
| Consort to | Bakhtawar Kaur |
| Dynasty | Phulkian |
| Father | Maharaj Rajinder Singh |
Maharaja Bhupinder Singh, GCSI, GCIE, GCVO, GBE (Punjabi: ਭੁਪਿੰਦਰ ਸਿੰਘ; 12 October 1891, Patiala–23 March 1938, Patiala) was the ruling Maharaja of the princely state of Patiala from 1900 to 1938.[1]
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He was born at the Moti Bagh Palace, Patiala,[2] and educated at Aitchison College. At age 9, he succeeded as maharaja of Patiala state upon death of his father, Maharaja Rajinder Singh, on 9 November 1900. 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.
He 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. He represented India at the League of Nations in 1925, and was chancellor of the Indian Chamber of Princes for 10 years between 1926 and 1938, also being a representative at the Round Table Conference. He married 365 times, and had many children by his wives and concubines.
Maharaja Bhupinder Singh was the first man in India to own an aircraft, which he bought from the United Kingdom in the first decade of the twentieth century. For his aircraft he had an airstrip at Patiala built.
He was well known for the construction of buildings with bold architectural designs in Patiala, including Kali Temple, Patiala, and Chail View Palace in the summer retreat of Kandaghatalong with Chail Palace and Oak Over and Cedar Lodge in Shimla which now house the Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh and Punjab State Guest House respectively.[3] He was also known as a sportsman, and built the world's highest cricket pitch at 2443 m in 1893 at Chail. He was also known for an exceptional collection of medals, believed to be the world's largest at the time.[4] According to legend, Maharaja Bhupinder Singh would be driven in a motorcade of 20 Rolls Royce cars. He also got a unique monorail system built in Patiala known as Patiala State Monorail Trainways.
He is perhaps the most famous Maharaja of Patiala, best known for his extravagance, and for being a cricketer. His cricket and polo teams " Patiala XI " and " Patiala Tigers " were among the best of India. He was a great patron of sports.
Sir Bhupinder Singh founded the State Bank of Patiala in 1917.
He was captain of the Indian cricket team that visited England in 1911, and played in 27 first-class cricket matches between 1915 and 1937. For season of 1926/27, he played as member of Marylebone Cricket Club [2]. He donated the Ranji Trophy in honour of Kumar Shri Ranjitsinhji, Jam Sahib of Nawanagar. He was selected as the captain of India on its first Test tour of England in 1932, but dropped out on reasons of health two weeks before departure and the Maharaja of Porbandar took over. Cricket ground at Chail was made by Maharaja Patiala which is the highest cricket ground in the world. Most of the buildings of Chail Military School were donated by Maharaja of Patiala to Govt. of India.
He served as the Chancellor of Chamber of Princes from 1926 to 1931. He worked tirelessly for his subjects' betterment and introduced many social reforms in Patiala.
In 1930, Maharaja Bhupinder Singh felt slighted at the British Rolls Royce company’s refusal to accept an order from him for a new Rolls Royce car. Reacting to the refusal, the Maharaja put some of his old Rolls Royce cars to work hauling garbage, dung and filth in Patiala city to the chagrin of the all-powerful Rolls Royce-loving Viceroy and the British ruling establishment who quickly prevailed upon the Rolls Royce Company to comply with the Maharaja’s wishes.
His elder son, Maharaja Yadavindra Singh and younger son Raja Bhalindra Singh played first-class cricket and later served as President of Indian Olympic Association. Yuvraj played in one Test for India, in 1934.
Yuvraj Yadavindra Singh became the Maharaja on 23 March 1938. He was to be the first Maharaja, agreeing to the incorporation of Patiala into the newly independent India on 5 May 1948, becoming Rajpramukh of the new Indian state of Patiala and East Punjab States Union.
His Highness' grandson Captain Amarinder Singh is a politician in India, and served as Chief Minister of Punjab from 2002 to 2007.
Bhupinder Singh was born in a Sikh family and married at least 10 times and had numerous consorts besides. From those unions, he sired an estimated 88 children of whom at least 53 survived him. He was the proud owner of the world famous necklace "The Patiala Necklace" manufactured by the famous brand Cartier SA. His wife Maharani Bakhtawar Kaur presented Queen Mary a magnificent tiara called Delhi Durbar Tiara in the Delhi Durbar of 1911 to mark the first visit to India by any Queen Empress.
On 23 March 1938 His Highness "drifted out of the harbour on a silent tide"
some people said he had 365 wives. As well, he had numerous consorts and concubines.
Of the 10 wives (as opposed to the numerous concubines) the most notable were the 4 princesses from a Himalayan Kingdom who were sisters and were said to be his favourite Ranis. It was Bakhtawar Kaur Sahiba, however, who took part in the official ceremonies as the Maharani.
There are many interesting tales, told by the courtiers at the time, of the fierce rivalry for the affection of the Maharaja and of the way the Maharaja used his considerable diplomatic abilities in order to keep them all happy and content.
One such story relates to the legend of the Patiala Watch. The old Maharaja had purchased a beautiful Gold Pocket Watch with Moon Phase at the time of the Delhi Durbar of 1911, for Maharani Bakhtawar Kaur. It is said that as a result there was a lot of discord in the Palace specially from the four Rani Sisters. In order to placate the four Rani Sisters, the Maharaja ordered four unique Gold Pocket watches, with very ornate and beautiful Gold cases in 22 carat Gold and added features of a day and month calender as well as the phases of the moon, to be grander than the Maharani's watch. The Maharaja used the services of a Swiss based jeweller called F.Russer who was a jeweller to several members of the Royal family of Kapurthala.
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Bhupinder Singh of Patiala
Born: October 12 1891 Died: March 23 1938 |
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| Regnal titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Rajinder Singh |
Maharaja of Patiala 1900 – 1938 |
Succeeded by Yadavindra Singh |