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Image below, first from bottom: Yadavindra Singh speaking at a Nairobi, Kenya, gurdwara, 1959. Photo by Ajit Singh Chaggar. Courtesy: Amarjit Singh Chandan Collection.at the

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Yadavindra Singh:
The Great Maharaja of The Sikh Kingdom of Patiala

ROOPINDER SINGH

 

 

Today, January 7, 2013, marks the birth centennial of Maharaja Yadavindra Singh (January 7, 2013 - June 17, 1974).

 

Nature gave him the height, variously recorded as 6’4” or 6’5”. His accomplishments made him look taller in the eyes of his contemporaries.

Indeed, what first struck anyone who saw Maharaja Yadavindra Singh of Patiala was his towering personality and immaculate appearance.

Born a century ago on this date, he was a king who led from the front, be it in running the affairs of the state; in leading the princes of India into incorporating their states into the Union of India; in rehabilitating refugees after the Partition of Punjab and India; in promoting the Punjabi language, sports, horticulture, agriculture; and in diplomatic and other assignments.

Maharaja Yadavindra Singh ascended the throne of the Kingdom of Patiala at the age of 25 after the demise of his father, the famous Maharaja Bhupindra Singh.

A course at the Police Training School at Phillaur and an attachment to the 11th Sikhs added to his expertise which was put to use in the Patiala Police Force. His appointment as Secretary in the Departments of Forests and Horticulture allowed him to work on something he was passionate about. He also assisted his father, who was the Chancellor of the Chamber of Princes.

After his accession to the throne in 1938, Maharaja Yadavindra Singh was instrumental in cutting down much waste in state expenditure, and in promoting education and sports. When World War II broke out in 1939, he founded the Khalsa Defence of India League, and led the effort to recruit Sikhs in the British Army. He also went to the war-front in Italy, the Middle East and Malaya.

He also played a major role in the resettlement of the refugees: Muslims who had to be repatriated to Pakistan and the large number of Sikhs and Hindus who were welcomed into the state. Among them were teachers and students of Aitchison College, Lahore. The Yadavindra Public School in Patiala came about as a place that would continue the education and traditions of his alma mater in Patiala.

When the Patiala & East Punjan States Union (“PEPSU”) was merged with East Punjab in 1956, he ceased to be the Rajpramukh of the state. In 1958, he represented India in Paris at the 10th annual conference of UNESCO and put his knowledge of horticulture to good use as the leader of the Indian delegation to the UN Food and Agricultural Organisation for a decade or so.

He became Indian Ambassador to Rome in 1965, and served till 1967, when he returned to Punjab to stand as an Independent candidate to the Punjab legislature. He won, but soon realised that politics was not his cup of tea. He presided over the annual sessions of Sikh Educational Conference and was chairman of the Punjabi University Commission.

In 1971, he became the Indian Ambassador to the Netherlands. It was in The Hague that he suffered a severe heart attack on June 17, 1974, and did not survive. He was 61.

Maharaja Yadavindra Singh is still remembered as a king who stood tall among his contemporaries. He played a crucial role in pre and post-Independence India. He contributed significantly to the fields of sports and education and was a person who left behind a legacy that has ensured his place in history.

Timeline

-   Born on January 7, 1913 in Patiala
-   Got early education in England
-   In 1933, attended Aitchison College, Lahore, Punjab
-   He played in one Cricket Test Match representing the Indian team in 1934
-   Served in the Patiala State Police
-   After the demise of Maharaja Bhupindra Singh, he succeeded him as Maharaja of Patiala in 1938
-   Served in the army and was posted in Malaya, Italy and Burma during the Second World War; was later given honorary rank of Lieutenant General
 -  After Independence, Yadavindra agreed to the incorporation of his kingdom into India on May 5, 1948
-   Yadavindra was designated as the Rajpramukh of the new Indian state of Patiala and East Punjab States Union (“PEPSU”) until it was merged with Punjab in 1956
-   Yadavindra married Maharani Hem Prabha Devi of Saraikela, Orissa, in 1935. His second marriage took place with Maharani Mohinder Kaur in 1938
-   Yadavindra had four children; daughters Heminder Kaur and Rupinder Kaur and sons Capt Amarinder Singh and Malvinder Singh
-   Yadavindra also served as President of the British Indian Olympic Committee from 1938 to 1947 and as president of the Indian Olympic Committee from 1947 to 1960
-   He served as Indian delegate to the UN General Assembly from 1956 to 1957 and to UNESCO in 1958
-   The building in which the premier school Yadavindra Public School is housed was donated by Yadavindra Singh. The old Moti Bagh Palace, which now houses the National Institute of Sports, was also donated by Yadavindra Singh
-   Yadavindra served as Indian Ambassador to Italy from 1965 to 1966 and as Indian Ambassador to the Netherlands from 1971 until 17 June, 1974
-   He died suddenly at the age of 61 on June 17, 1974 in The Hague, Netherlands

 

[Courtesy: Tribune. Edited for sikhchic.com]

January 7, 2013

Conversation about this article

1: Rosalia (Baltimore, Maryland, USA), January 07, 2013, 4:37 PM.

Enjoyed reading this story! His energy and charisma jump out of his photos! What a good looking guy! Did he leave any offspring? Children and grandchildren? Any come close to possessing his intellectual, athletic and diplomatic gifts? Is anyone from his family still alive? Perhaps Sikhs already know this, so please excuse my ignorance.

2: Raj (Canada), January 07, 2013, 5:07 PM.

We had a unique opportunity to redeem ourselves and create a Sikh Raj in 1947. He was well traveled overseas, he had seen how Europe functions with small and big countries together. He should have created a confederation of Sikh States with other princely states and declared a new country. Our leaders were disillusioned and visionless jackasses. Thanks to these so-called 'nationalist' leaders, the new generations are paying for it.

3: Gur Singh (Chicago, Illinois, USA), January 07, 2013, 7:58 PM.

There is a lot more to research about the progeny of Ala Singh, who was a silent observer to the Sikh genocides in the 18th century. Was he an approver too?

4: Ajay Singh (Rockville, Maryland, USA), January 08, 2013, 8:16 AM.

I am not sure if his rejection of Jinnah's offer was his biggest miscalculation, I also don't think that 'fault' or 'failure' are the right words. Sikhs and Punjab were doomed because they had no answer to the Muslim League and no support from - as Nehru put it "We were just tired" - the Congress Party. British policy, whether genuine or mischievous, was to ensure minority rights, mainly Muslim, before giving up a part of their emoire. No such concerns from any of the principalities in India. They too knew, I am sure, that they would lose their kingdoms, but they did not secure any guarantees for their estates, subjects, history and legacy. Patiala sent its Sikh armed forces to Kashmir and saved a large chunk of it for India but it did not ask for any guarantees that Kashmiri rights or their own will be honored. Their (all principalities) fault, I think, was that they gave up their kingdoms and did not participate in any of decision making in the politics post-Independence. No input into the drafting of the Constitution, no protection of their histories, their estates or the rights of their subjects under India. I guess they had been rendered impotent a long time back and once their kingdoms were gone, they felt no obligations. I could be wrong but I have not read of any involvement by any of the principalities.

5: Ravinder Singh Khalsa (USA), January 10, 2013, 12:21 AM.

Totally weird to imagine giving up being a king/prince to being a servant to any country's system, especially India. Sikhs could have been free and respected when the British left but instead key leaders decided to side with the Indian Congress. It wasn't long after that we were brutalized, murdered, raped. One day we will be free from the unholy union of India.

6: Niraj babu Jay Prakash Yadav (Gopalganj, Bihar, India), September 29, 2013, 10:26 PM.

Jai Khalsa Jai Sikhi! Aap ki Sikhhi na hoti to aaj hamare Hindu bhi na hote.

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The Great Maharaja of The Sikh Kingdom of Patiala"









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