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Maharaja Ranbir Singh of Jind
Ranbir Singh of Jind was one of the most eminent rulers of Jind. Ranbir Singh succeeded his grandfather Raghubir Singh in 1887.

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Maharaja Ranbir Singh of JindMaharaja Ranbir Singh of Jind was the first ruler of the state of Jind as well as the last Maharaja of Jind. He ruled over the region from the year 1887 to 1948. Ranbir Singh was born on 11th October 1879 to father Tikka Sri Balbir Singh Sahib Bahadur, who was the son of Raghubir Singh of Jind. He was also the heir apparent to the royal throne of Jind. His father died when he was merely 4 years of age and Ranbir Singh of Jind became the heir. After the death of his grandfather Raghubir Singh in the year 1887, Ranbir Singh succeeded him and ascended the throne as the Maharaja of Jind.

After a decade of ruling under regency, Maharaja Ranbir Singh of Jind attained the age of majority and was formally invested with full ruling powers in the year 1899.

Rule of Ranbir Singh of Jind
In the Tirah Campaign of 1897, Maharaja Ranbir Singh of Jind served with the British administration by contributing contingents of the state army. He also sent his loyal army to the East African campaign during World War I and in the Third Afghan War held in the year 1919. Ranbir Singh again contributed contingents of state army in the Malayan campaign against the forces of Imperial Japan during the World War II. The Maharaja of Jind himself had an illustrious military career and gradually rose to the rank of Brigadier in the British Indian Army.

Ranbir Singh of Jind was a progressive and competent ruler who constructed various hospitals and schools and set up charities for widows and orphans. He also instituted free primary education in the state of Jind. In the year 1909, Singh was knighted with the Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Star of India (KCSI) and after two years, he was granted the hereditary distinction of Maharaja of Jind. Ranbir Singh was appointed a Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire (GCIE) in 1916. Later in 1918, he received the additional title of Rajendra Bahadur and in the year 1926, Singh was granted an augmented permanent gun salute of 13 guns, along with a 15 gun local salute. In the year 1937, he was appointed as a GCSI.

Ranbir Singh reigned over the throne of Jind for more than 60 years in March 1947 and celebrated his Diamond Jubilee. His rule over the state was the longest reign of any of the Maharajas in the Phulkian dynasty. After five months, he signed the Instrument of Accession to the Dominion of India.

Personal Life of Ranbir Singh of Jind
Maharaja Ranbir Singh of Jind was married four times, firstly to Her Highness Maharani Dhelma Kaur Sahiba; secondly to Maharani Jaswant Kaur Sahiba (Olive Monalescu), who was the daughter of a Romanian barber; no detailed information is available about his third marriage and his fourth marriage was with Her Highness Maharani Gurcharan Kaur Sahiba.

Ranbir Singh, Maharaja of Jind, had a total of twelve children, seven daughters and five sons. Some of his children are, Maharajkumari Bibiji Dorothy Kaur Sahiba, Maharajkumari Bibiji Dhelma Kaur Sahiba, Maharajkumari Bibiji Devinderbir Kaur Sahiba, Rajkumari Bibiji Brijinder Kaur Sahiba, Maharajkumari Bibiji Ruby Rajibir Kaur Sahiba Sahiba, Maharajkumari Bibiji Diamond Balbir Rajinder Kaur Sahiba, Maharajkumar Sri Jagatbir Singh, Lieutenant General Rajkumar Sri Jasbir Singh, PVSM, Wing Commander Rajkumar Sri Gajinder Bir Singh, Rajkumari Bibiji Taranbir Kaur Sahiba and Sri Tikka Sahib Rajbir Singh, who succeeded Ranbir Singh of Jind as the next Maharaja of the state of Jind.

Ranbir Singh of Jind died at the age of 68 on 31 March 1948 after a reign of sixty one years. Rajbir Singh, his son, succeeded him and ascended the throne.

Titles of Ranbir Singh of Jind
Maharaja Ranbir Singh of Jind held several titles through out his reign, these are discussed below-
* Rajkumar Sri Ranbir Singh (1879- 1883)
* Sri Tikka Sahib Ranbir Singh Bahadur (1883- 1887)
* His Highness Farzand-i-Dilband, Rasikh ul-Itiqad-i- Daulat-i-Inglishia, Raja-i-Rajgan, Raja Sri Ranbir Singh Bahadur, Raja of Jind (1887- 1909)
* His Highness Farzand-i-Dilband, Rasikh ul-Itiqad-i- Daulat-i-Inglishia, Raja-i-Rajgan, Raja Sri Sir Ranbir Singh Bahadur, Raja of Jind, KCSI (1909- 1911)
* His Highness Farzand-i-Dilband, Rasikh ul-Itiqad-i- Daulat-i-Inglishia, Raja-i-Rajgan, Maharaja Sri Sir Ranbir Singh Bahadur, Maharaja of Jind, KCSI (1911-1916)
* His Highness Farzand-i-Dilband, Rasikh ul-Itiqad-i- Daulat-i-Inglishia, Raja-i-Rajgan, Maharaja Sri Sir Ranbir Singh Bahadur, Maharaja of Jind, GCIE, KCSI (1916- 1918)
* Lieutenant Colonel His Highness Farzand-i-Dilband, Rasikh ul-Itiqad-i- Daulat-i-Inglishia, Raja-i-Rajgan, Maharaja Sri Sir Ranbir Singh Rajendra Bahadur, Maharaja of Jind, GCIE, KCSI (1918- 1926)
* Colonel His Highness Farzand-i-Dilband, Rasikh ul-Itiqad-i- Daulat-i-Inglishia, Raja-i-Rajgan, Maharaja Sri Sir Ranbir Singh Rajendra Bahadur, Maharaja of Jind, GCIE, KCSI (1926- 1937)
* Colonel His Highness Farzand-i-Dilband, Rasikh ul-Itiqad-i- Daulat-i-Inglishia, Raja-i-Rajgan, Maharaja Sri Sir Ranbir Singh Rajendra Bahadur, Maharaja of Jind, GCSI, GCIE (1937- 1943)
* Brigadier His Highness Farzand-i-Dilband, Rasikh ul-Itiqad-i- Daulat-i-Inglishia, Raja-i-Rajgan, Maharaja Sri Sir Ranbir Singh Rajendra Bahadur, Maharaja of Jind, GCSI, GCIE (1943- 1948)

Honours of Ranbir Singh of Jind
* Delhi Durbar Gold Medal (1903)
* Delhi Durbar Gold Medal (1911)
* Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire- GCIE (1916)
* King George V Silver Jubilee Medal (1935)
* King George VI Coronation Medal (1937)
* Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Star of India- GCSI (1937) and KCSI (1909)
* Indian Independence Medal (1947)


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