Yadavindra Singh, formally known as Maharajadhiraj Sir Yadavindra Singh Mahendra Bahadur, GCIE, GBE, was the ruler or Maharaja of the princely state of Patiala in Punjab. He ruled over the state from the year 1938 to 1974. He was also a renowned and established Indian cricketer and played a Test match in the year 1934. Singh was born on 17th January 1913 in Patiala, Punjab. He completed his education from Aitchison College in Lahore. Yadavindra Singh served in the Patiala State Police force and was appointed as an Inspector General. During World War II, he had served in Burma, Malaya and Italy. He succeeded Maharaja Bhupinder Singh, his father, after his death in the year 1938 and ascended the throne as the Maharaja of Patiala on 23 March 1938. On 5 May 1948, he gave consent of incorporating the princely state Patiala into India.

Later he became the Rajpramukh of the new Indian state of Patiala in India. He was also appointed as the Rajpramukh of the East Punjab States Union after it was unified with Punjab in the year 1956. The Maharaja of Patiala served as the President of the British Indian Olympic Committee from the year 1938 to 1947 and also as the President of the Indian Olympic Committee from the year 1947 to 1960 as well. He was also influential in the organisation of the Asian Games.

Rule of Yadavindra Singh
Maharajadhiraj Sir Yadavindra Singh established a premier public school named Yadavindra Public School to promote and spread education and knowledge in his state. The building of the Yadavindra Public School known as Lal Bagh Palace was contributed by Sir Yadavindra Singh. He was the president of BCCI and was a reputed horticulturist, who later served as Chairman of Indian Horticulture Development Council. After Singh ascended to the royal throne of the princely state of Patiala, he followed a diplomatic and political career and served as the Chancellor of the Chamber of Princes for the period 1943 to 1944. When India achieved independence from the British East India Company in the year 1947, Maharaja Yadavindra Singh of Patiala was the Pro- Chancellor of Chamber of Princes and was amongst the foremost rulers to merge with independent India and also encouraged other Indian Princes to amalgamate with the Indian Union.

Since 1956, Sir Yadavindra Singh continued his career as Indian delegate to the UN General Assembly, from 1956 to 1957 and was also a delegate to UNESCO in the year 1958. He led the Indian delegation to the FAO frequently as well, particularly from 1959 to 1969. Maharajadhiraj Sir Yadavindra Singh Mahendra Bahadur was also appointed as the Indian Ambassador to Italy during the period 1965 to 1966. Further more, from 1971 to 1974, he was the Indian Ambassador to the Netherlands as well.

Personal Life of Yadavindra Singh
Maharaja Yadavindra Singh of Patiala was married twice; firstly to Maharani Hem Prabha Devi of Saraikela and secondly to Maharani Mohinder Kaur in the year 1938. On 17th June 1974, Sir Yadavindra Singh suddenly died due to heart failure at The Hague in Netherlands. He died at the age of 61 after a rule of 36 years. He was cremated with full state honours as per instructions of Indira Gandhi. Captain Amarinder Singh, his son, succeeded Yadavindra Singh after his death. He served as the Chief Minister of the State of Punjab from the year 2002 to 2007. The grand- daughter of Yadavindra Singh, Maharajkumari Heminder Kaur is married to Former External Affairs Minister of India, K. Natwar Singh.

Titles of Yadavindra Singh
Yadavindra Singh held numerous titles and styles through out his reign over the princely state of Patiala. These are discussed as follows-
* Sri Yuvaraja Yadavindra Singh Sahibji (1913- 1935)
* Lieutenant Sri Yuvaraja Yadavindra Singh Sahibji (1935- 1938)
* Lieutenant His Highness Farzand-i-Khas-i-Daulat-i-Inglishia, Mansur-i-Zaman, Amir ul-Umara, Maharajadhiraja Raj Rajeshwar, 108 Sri Maharaja-i-Rajgan, Maharaja Yadavindra Singh, Mahendra Bahadur, Yadu Vansha Vatans Bhatti Kul Bushan, Maharaja of Patiala (1938- 1939)
* Captain His Highness Farzand-i-Khas-i-Daulat-i-Inglishia, Mansur-i-Zaman, Amir ul-Umara, Maharajadhiraja Raj Rajeshwar, 108 Sri Maharaja-i-Rajgan, Maharaja Yadavindra Singh, Mahendra Bahadur, Yadu Vansha Vatans Bhatti Kul Bushan, Maharaja of Patiala (1939- 1942)
* Major 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 Yadavindra Singh, Mahendra Bahadur, Yadu Vansha Vatans Bhatti Kul Bushan, Maharaja of Patiala, GBE (1942- 1944)
* 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 Yadavindra Singh, Mahendra Bahadur, Yadu Vansha Vatans Bhatti Kul Bushan, Maharaja of Patiala, GBE (1944- 1945)
* 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 Yadavindra Singh, Mahendra Bahadur, Yadu Vansha Vatans Bhatti Kul Bushan, Maharaja of Patiala, GBE (1945- 1946)
* 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 Yadavindra Singh, Mahendra Bahadur, Yadu Vansha Vatans Bhatti Kul Bushan, Maharaja of Patiala, GCIE, GBE (1946- 1974)

Honours of Yadavindra Singh
Maharajadhiraj Sir Yadavindra Singh Mahendra Bahadur, GCIE, GBE was honoured many times, which are mentioned below-
* King George V Silver Jubilee Medal (1935)
* King George VI Coronation Medal (1937)
* Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire- GBE (1942)
* 1939- 1945 Star (1945)
* Burma Star (1945)
* Africa Star (1945)
* Italy Star (1945)
* British War Medal (1945)
* India Service Medal (1945)
* Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire- GCIE (1946)
* Indian Independence Medal (1947)
* Grand Cross of the Romanian Order
* Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Italy (1966); and
* Six Other Foreign Honours