Home > Indian History > History of India > Bhupinder Singh of Patiala
Bhupinder Singh of Patiala
Bhupinder Singh of Patiala was the Maharaja of the princely state of Patiala. On 3rd November 1910 he was invested with full powers by the 4th Earl of Minto.

Share this Article:

Bhupinder Singh of Patiala, Maharaja of PatialaMaharaja Bhupinder Singh of Patiala, GCSI, GCIE, GCVO, GBE was the ruling Maharaja of the princely state of Patiala from the year 1900 to 1938. He was born on October 12, 1891 at the Motibagh Palace in Patiala. He later studied at the Aitchison College. After his father Maharaja Rajinder Singh died when he was merely 9 years of age on 9th November 1900, Bhupinder Singh succeeded as the next Maharaja. A Council of Regency ruled in his name until he received partial powers on 1st October 1909, before his 18th birthday. Later on 3rd November 1910 he was invested with full powers by the 4th Earl of Minto, the Viceroy of India.

Career of Bhupinder Singh
Maharaja Bhupinder Singh of Patiala also served on the General Staff in Belgium, France, Palestine and Italy in the World War I as an Honorary Lieutenant Colonel. In the year in 1918, he was promoted to Honorary Major General and in 1931 he became Honorary Lieutenant General. In 1925, he represented the country at the League of Nations. He was also Chancellor of the Indian Chamber of Princes for around ten years between the period 1926 and 1938. Bhupinder Singh was a representative at the Round Table Conference as well.

Rule of Bhupinder Singh
Maharaja Bhupinder Singh of Patiala was renowned for the construction of various reputed edifices and buildings that contain valiant architectural designs in Patiala. These include Kali Temple in Patiala, Chail View Palace in Kandaghatalong, Oak Over and Cedar Lodge in Shimla etc. He was also a well known sports person and a great patron of sports. Singh constructed the world`s highest cricket pitch at 2443 m at Chail in the year 1893. Bhupinder Singh established an exceptional monorail system called Patiala State Monorail Trainways. He also founded polo and cricket teams named Patiala Tigers and Patiala XI which were one of the best teams in the country. In the year 1917, Sir Bhupinder Singh established the State Bank of Patiala. From 1926 to 1931, he served as the Chancellor of Chamber of Princes. He diligently worked for the development and betterment of his kingdom and his subjects and implemented various social reforms in Patiala.

Maharaja Bhupinder Singh of Patiala was the first Indian the first in the first decade of the twentieth century. He also developed an airstrip at Patiala. He is possibly the most popular Maharaja of Patiala, recognized for being a cricketer and for his extravagance.

Cricket Career of Bhupinder Singh
Bhupinder Singh the captain of the Indian cricket team which visited England in the year 1911. He played 27 first class matches between 1915 and 1937. He also played as member of Marylebone Cricket Club. In honour of the Jam Sahib of Nawanagar, Kumar Shri Ranjitsinhji, Singh donated the Ranji Trophy. In 1932, he was chosen as the captain of India on its first Test tour of England.

Personal Life of Bhupinder Singh
Maharaja Bhupinder Singh of Patiala had more than ten wives and also had several consorts as well. It is estimated that he father almost 88 children through his various relationships. Singh was also the owner of the The Patiala Necklace, which is well known through out the entire world. Maharaja Yadavindra Singh, his elder son and Raja Bhalindra Singh, his younger son, served as President of Indian Olympic Association and played first class cricket. On 23rd March 1938, Yadavindra Singh was crowned as the Maharaja. He was the first ruler after the incorporation of Patiala into the newly independent India on 5th May 1948. Yadavindra became the Rajpramukh of the East Punjab States Unionand the new state of Patiala.

Captain Amarinder Singh, the grandson of Maharaja Bhupinder Singh is the former Chief Minister of Punjab (2002- 2007).

Titles of Bhupinder Singh
Maharaja Bhupinder Singh of Patiala held many titles, such as-
* Sri Yuvaraja Sahib Bhupinder Singhji (1891- 1900)
* 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 (1900- 1911)
* 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, Yadu Vansha Vatans Bhatti Kul Bushan, Maharaja of Patiala, GCIE (1914- 1918)
* 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, Yadu Vansha Vatans Bhatti Kul Bushan, Maharaja of Patiala, GCIE, GBE (1918- 1921)
* 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, Yadu Vansha Vatans Bhatti Kul Bushan, 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, Yadu Vansha Vatans Bhatti Kul Bushan, Maharaja of Patiala, GCSI, GCIE, GCVO, GBE, GCSG (1935- 1938)

Honours of Bhupinder Singh
Bhupinder Singh of Patiala was honoured several times, mostly by the British administration. These are mentioned below-
* Delhi Durbar Gold Medal (1903 and 1911)
* King George V Coronation Medal (1911)
* Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire- GCIE (1911) a
* 1914 Star
* British War Medal (1918)
* Victory Medal (1918)
* Mentioned in Despatches (1919)
* Grand Cross of the Order of the Crown of Italy (1918)
* Grand Cordon of the Order of the Nile of Egypt (1918)
* Grand Cordon of the Order of Leopold of Belgium (1918)
* Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire (1918)
* Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Star of India- New Year Honours (1921)
* Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order (1922)
* Grand Cross of the Order of the Crown of Romania (1922)
* Grand Cross of the Order of the Redeemer of Greece (1926)
* Grand Cross of the Order of Charles III of Spain (1928)
* Grand Cross of the Order of the White Lion of Czechoslovakia (1930)
* Grand Cross of the Legion d`Honneur of France (1930)
* King George V Silver Jubilee Medal (1935)
* King George VI Coronation Medal (1937)
* Grand Cross of the Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus of Italy (1935)
* Grand Cross of the Order of St Gregory the Great of the Vatican (1935)
* Grand Cross of the Order of Dannebrog of Denmark


Share this Article:

Subscribe to Newsletter
Learn unknown facts about India from a curated list of informative articles.

Related Articles

More Articles in History of India

History of Indian Drama
History of Indian Drama is rich with Vedas and Indian epics and has gradually changed with time and remains unaffected by any foreign influence.
History of Khajuraho Temple
Located in the Chhatarpur district of Madhya Pradesh, Khajuraho is country’s most magnificent groups of temples.
History of Ayurveda
History of Ayurveda dates back to 5,000 years old and is widely considered to be the oldest form of health care in the world.
History of Uttar Pradesh
The state was the heart of Mahabharata war and the history of Uttar Pradesh is very much the history of India. The place finds its mentions in Hindu epics Ramayana and Mahabharata.
History of Indian Photography
An overview of the development of photography, through the various stages in India.
History of Delhi
History of Delhi began with the advent of Indian regal dynasties. Delhi witnessed the rise and fall of Hindu dynasties, Muslims and the British as well.
History of Indian Radio
History of Indian Radio dates back to late 1930s with the first establishment of All India Radio in 1936 that improved further after independence.
History of Punjab
History of Punjab dates back to the 16th century; however its formation is traced in the great epic Mahabharata.
History Of Archaeology In India
History of archaeology in India contributes a lot to define the past history and the social life of India.
History of Maharashtra
Maharashtra, the land of charismatic Marathas, unfolds the legend of diverse culture and tradition, keeping in pace with the modernity. The gallant history of Maharashtra is still echoed amidst its historical relics and archeological wonders.
History of Kerala
History of Kerala can be interpreted from the inscriptions of Ashoka, Mauryan Emperor. History of Kerala is as interesting as its wide-ranging geographical features that make the land a place of versatile appeal.
History of Bihar
History of Bihar goes back to the very dawn of the human civilizations. Many eminent personalities and leaders from Bihar contributed for India’s freedom struggle.
History of Assam
In the ancient Indian epics like Ramayana and Mahabharata, Assam was known as `Kamarupa` or `Pragjyotish`. In the Mahabharata, the Puranas, the Tantras there are references of Assam as Kamrupa kingdom.
History of Andaman and Nicobar Islands
History of Andaman and Nicobar Islands dates back to the settlement of the East India Company in the territory of the Islands.
History of West Bengal
History of West Bengal is rooted in richness and is an important episode in the history of India. The history of Bengal played an important role in shaping the history of India.
History of Jharkhand
One of the fairly newer states, Jharkhand was carved out of the southern portion of Bihar in 2000. The history of Jharkhand is seeped with a variety of cultural significances starting from the Vedic era to Mughal period and finally the British administration.
History of Sikkim
History of Sikkim declares the pre historic culture and the colonial era hilly politics and the rules of Sikkim.
History of Nagaland
The history of Nagaland mainly revolves around and deals with the customs and economic activities of the Naga Tribes and how the state has evolved since the Indian Independence.
History of Mizoram
History of Mizoram includes the various historical events and incidents which occurred during the various ages, right from before the age of the Mughals.
History of Jammu & Kashmir
History of Jammu and Kashmir involves a series of political and geographical transformations from every ancient era to the modern times also. Even now, Jammu and Kashmir has its political tension between Pakistan and India.
History of Puducherry
Puducherry was invaded by different invaders in different times. The invaders include Pallava Kingdom of Kanchipuram, dynasties of the South, Cholas of Thanjavur, Pandyas and Muslim invaders.
History of Chandigarh
In 1947, the British India was partitioned into India and Pakistan. Punjab was also included in this partition. So, there was a need for a new capital for Punjab, as the old capital Lahore became part of Pakistan during the partition. So, in 1948, under the leadership of chief architect Mr. P.L. Verma the construction of Chandigarh city began.
History of Daman and Diu
During the early stage, i.e. from 8th to 13th century, Daman and Diu was part of Goa.
History of Lakshadweep
History of Lakshadweep defines the first settlement on these islands under the Union Territory of India that was ruled by Cheraman Perumal, who was the last king of Kerala.
History of Karnataka
History of Karnataka comprised of the different rulers of different dynasties of various religions like Hindus, Buddhists, and later the Muslims.
History of Goa
History of Goa dates back to the 3rd century BC and reflects the rule of the mighty rulers and gained its independence under Jawaharlal Nehru.
History of Arunachal Pradesh
Arunachal Pradesh possesses a rich historical heritage of culture of the ancient tribes. Being a bordering state of India, Arunachal Pradesh also has a history of military unrest since ancient Indian age.
History of Andhra Pradesh
History of Andhra Pradesh traces its origin back to the 5th century BC. According to the inscriptions, Kuberaka, the oldest Kingdom in South India had an empire in the coastal Andhra during that period.
History of Himachal Pradesh
History of Himachal Pradesh narrates about the various settlements and dynasties that emerged in the region over time.
History of Uttarakhand
History of Uttarakhand finds mention in the early Hindu scriptures as Kedarkhand, Manaskhand and Himavat. Uttarakhand is called as the Land of the Gods (Dev Bhoomi) because of its various holy places and shrines.
History of Rajasthan
The history of Rajasthan is dotted with tales of valor, chivalry, camaraderie and romance.
History of Tamil Nadu
History of Tamil Nadu reveals that this ancient place in South India was ruled by various kingdoms like the Pandyas Dynasty, Cholas Dynasty, Nayakas Dynasty and Pallavas Dynasty.
History of Haryana
History of Haryana depicts various events and influences that have cast a profound effect on the culture and people of the district. The place gained statehood on 1st of November 1966
History of Odisha
History of Odisha goes back a rather long way. Most of the history of the state is replete with the dynastic as well as tribal struggle for territorial superiority. Odisha is a place where one can find the religion, culture and history flow in away that lead to cultural amalgamation of early India.
History of Manipur
History of Manipur can be traced back to the prehistoric ages and this was followed by a number of rulers who reigned the land from age to age till it came under British rule and later joined the union of India.
History of Gujarat
History of Gujarat can be dated back to the 14th century that later witnessed the supremacy of many powerful dynasties.
History of Tripura
History of Tripura is dealing with the early mythological history and the history of British rule in North eastern part of India.
History of Meghalaya
The history of Meghalaya predominantly comprises of the three tribes of the state- Garo, Khasi and Jaintia tribes. Later on Meghalaya was formed by carving out two districts from the state of Assam.
History of Chhattisgarh
History of Chhattisgarh dates back to the era of epics and traces through the reign of powerful dynasties in India like Marathas. The area developed a rich cultural heritage during British era.