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Sir Bhupindar Singh, Maharaja of Patiala

1911 Encyclopedia Britannica

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"SIR BHUPINDAR SINGH PATIALA, MAHARAJA OF (1891), head of the Sikh community in India, was born Oct. 12 1891, to the soldier-sportsman Maharaja Sir Rajendra Singh, whose death in Nov. 1900, at the age of 28, brought him to the gadi. He was carefully trained, and on receiving full ruling powers at the close of 1910 maintained and greatly developed the progressive policy of the council of regency, applying himself with great assiduity to the moral and material welfare of his people. Inheriting sporting and soldierly qualities, he was a skilful poloplayer and batsman, becoming well known to British crowds when he captained the Indian cricket eleven in 1911. He also inherited the conspicuous loyalty of his house to the paramount Power. In the autumn of 1914 he set out with the Indian Expeditionary Force to France, but serious ill-health compelled his return to India after reaching Aden. The contribution of Patiala to the Indian army, including Imperial Service troops, was increased from about 4,000 men to 28,000, and as the recognized head of the Sikh race the Maharaja exercised an enormous influence in promoting recruitment from other parts of the Punjab. His subjects saw active service in nearly all the theatres of war, and won 125 battle distinctions. His gifts in material and money were constant and generous. He visited his troops in France, Palestine and elsewhere when deputed to England in the summer of 1918 with Sir S. P. (Lord) Sinha on selection as a member of the Imperial War Cabinet, being the second Indian prince to be called to Empire councils. In the Punjab disturbances in the spring of 1919 important responsibilities were assigned to him by the British authorities, and tranquillity was maintained throughout his state and adjacent British districts. In the third Afghan War which immediately followed he volunteered his personal services as well as the loan of his troops, and held a staff appointment in a trying hot-weather campaign, not returning from the frontier until an armistice was granted the Amir Amanulla. He took a prominent part in promoting the inauguration of the Chamber of Princes in 1921 and was elected to the small standing committee. He was raised to the rank of major-general, his permanent local salute was raised from 17 to 19 guns, and he held the grand crosses of the Star of India, the Indian Empire and the British Empire.