Yadavindra Singh

Born in Patiala City, Patiala State, within the British Raj (now in Punjab, India) in 1914 into a Jat Sikh family of the Sidhu clan,{{Cite book |last=Balfour |first=Edward |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vlsIAAAAQAAJ&dq=%22the+Maharaja+of+Patiala+is+descended+from+Rama%2C+the+second+son%2C+and+is+a+Sikh+of+the+Sidhu+Jat+tribe.%22&pg=PA161 |title=The Cyclopædia of India and of Eastern and Southern Asia: Commercial, Industrial and Scientific, Products of the Mineral, Vegetable, and Animal Kingdoms, Useful Arts and Manufactures |date=1885 |publisher=B. Quaritch |language=en |access-date=30 January 2023 |archive-date=15 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240215101355/https://books.google.com/books?id=vlsIAAAAQAAJ&dq=%22the+Maharaja+of+Patiala+is+descended+from+Rama,+the+second+son,+and+is+a+Sikh+of+the+Sidhu+Jat+tribe.%22&pg=PA161 |url-status=live }} Yadavindra Singh attended Aitchison College in Lahore. He served in the Patiala State Police, became its Inspector General and served in Malaya, Italy and Burma during the World War II. In 1935, he married his first wife, Hem Prabha Devi of Saraikela State (1913–2014).

Singh succeeded his father, Bhupinder Singh, as the Maharaja of Patiala on 23 March 1938 and subsequently married his second wife, Mehtab Kaur (1922–2017), in 1938. Although the stated reason for his second marriage was his first wife being issueless, it was speculated that the actual reason was the influences of Akali leaders who wanted the future Maharaja of Patiala to marry a woman from a Jat Sikh family in order to beget genuine Sikh heirs.{{Cite web|url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/comment/tales-from-two-punjabs/446088.html|title=Tales from two Punjabs|last=Singh|first=K.C.|date=3 August 2017|website=tribuneindia.com|access-date=25 September 2018|archive-date=25 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180925180457/https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/comment/tales-from-two-punjabs/446088.html|url-status=live}}

Following his accession to the throne of Patiala, Singh pursued a political and diplomatic career, serving as chancellor of the Chamber of Princes from 1943 to 1944. In 1947, when India gained independence, he was the pro-chancellor of the Chamber of Princes. At a special session he said "After centuries time has come when India has gained independence from foreign rule and it's the time when we all (princely states) should unite for our motherland" and persuaded many other rulers to join India.

Singh also served as president of the Indian Olympic Association from 1938 to 1960.{{Cite news |last=PTI |date=2022-12-10 |title=PT Usha becomes first woman IOA president |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/sports/pt-usha-becomes-first-woman-ioa-president/articleshow/96130836.cms?from=mdr |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221210135441/https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/sports/pt-usha-becomes-first-woman-ioa-president/articleshow/96130836.cms?from=mdr |archive-date=10 December 2022 |access-date=2024-06-20 |work=The Economic Times |issn=0013-0389}} He led the founding and organization of the first Asian Games in Delhi in 1951.{{Cite web |last=Sengupta |first=Rudraneil |date=17 September 2023 |title=Asian Games 2023: India's brightest medal prospects |url=https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/trends/sports/asian-games-2023-indias-brightest-medal-prospects-11362451.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231227063947/https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/trends/sports/asian-games-2023-indias-brightest-medal-prospects-11362451.html |archive-date=27 December 2023 |access-date=21 June 2024 |website=Moneycontrol}}{{Cite news |last=Majumdar |first=Boria |date=2010-11-12 |title=How India gave Asia its Games |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/asian-games-history/how-india-gave-asia-its-games/articleshow/6911333.cms |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230830203749/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/asian-games-history/how-india-gave-asia-its-games/articleshow/6911333.cms |archive-date=30 August 2023 |access-date=2024-06-20 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}} He was a noted horticulturist by passion and later served as chairman of Indian Horticulture Development Council. Patiala House, which was then the residence of the Maharaja of Patiala in New Delhi and later became a district courts complex, was completed by Singh.{{Cite web |last=Thakur |first=Nirbhay |date=21 July 2024 |title=From a British war room to WHO headquarters, the journey of Patiala House Court |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/books-and-literature/from-a-british-war-room-to-who-headquarters-the-journey-of-patiala-house-court-9466145/ |access-date=29 April 2025 |website=The Indian Express}}

During the partition of India in 1947, numerous pogroms occurred in and around the princely state of Patiala.{{cite news|last1=Mustafa Janjua|first1=Haroon|title=Daily Times – Unheard cries: atrocities in Patiala, 1947|url=https://dailytimes.com.pk/106317/unheard-cries-atrocities-in-patiala-1947/|date=7 January 2014|access-date=5 February 2018|archive-date=6 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180206002612/https://dailytimes.com.pk/106317/unheard-cries-atrocities-in-patiala-1947/|url-status=live}} In several cases, organized bands of Sikhs were responsible for atrocities. The late Harkishan Singh Surjeet, of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), witnessed the events and claimed in an interview: 'The communal attacks on the minorities were definitely planned. I know more about the persons involved in the eastern wing because I was there. I saw those dreadful acts with my own eyes. In that conspiracy, the Maharaja of Patiala was involved. The idea was that if the Muslims were driven out.' The attacks on Sikhs and Hindus in March 1947 in Rawalpindi are regarded as one of the major crimes that triggered off others. Nehru believed the Maharaja had sought to ethnically cleanse the territory of Muslims as part of this effort. Maharajas of Patiala and Faridkot, and Yadavindra Singh is quoted as having said "We won't leave a Muslim here" at a party with British officers.{{cite book|last1=Hajari|first1=Nisid|title=Midnight's Furies: The Deadly Legacy of India's Partition|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=eAUnCgAAQBAJ&pg=PT158|isbn=9781445648095|date=15 June 2015|publisher=Amberley Publishing Limited |access-date=6 December 2021|archive-date=3 May 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220503024100/https://books.google.com/books?id=eAUnCgAAQBAJ&pg=PT158|url-status=live}} The Foreign Minister of Patiala, Sardar Bari Ram Sharma issued a denial stating "I definitely assert that no Patiala soldier has associated himself with or has been involved in any killings in any part of the East Punjab."{{cite journal|last1=Singh|first1=Ganda|title=A Diary of the Partition Days – 1947|journal=Journal of Indian History|date=1960|volume=XXXV|issue=Part I, No. 112|page=270|url=https://archive.org/stream/ADiaryOfThePartitionDays1947Dr.GandaSingh/A+Diary+Of+The+Partition+Days+1947+-+Dr.+Ganda+Singh_djvu.txt}}

Singh agreed to the incorporation of the Patiala State into India.{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NjtuAAAAMAAJ |title=Panjab Past and Present |publisher=Department of Punjab Historical Studies, Punjabi University. |year=2000 |location=Patiala |pages=94–97 |language=en |access-date=12 June 2024 |archive-date=20 June 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240620210207/https://www.google.co.in/books/edition/Panjab_Past_and_Present/NjtuAAAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv |url-status=live }} Singh was Rajpramukh of the new Indian state of Patiala and East Punjab States Union until it was merged with Punjab in 1956.{{Cite book |last1=Graça |first1=J. Da |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=M0YfDgAAQBAJ |title=Heads of State and Government |last2=Graça |first2=John Da |date=2017-02-13 |publisher=Springer |isbn=978-1-349-65771-1 |location=New York |page=459 |language=en}}

In 1956, Singh donated the Anand Bhawan, a 150 bigha palace, to the Government of Punjab (before the creation of Himachal Pradesh).{{Cite web |last=Sidhu |first=Lovedeep Kaur |date=8 January 2013 |title=The last of the Maharajas |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/chandigarh/the-last-of-the-maharajas/story-0TgPzgISVR6xv2n8zoEAaO.html |access-date=21 June 2024 |website=Hindustan Times}} Singh also donated Moti Bagh Palace to the Government of India, which became the Netaji Subhas National Institute of Sports.

He later founded Yadavindra Public School. Lal Bagh Palace, the building in which Yadavindra Public School is housed was donated by Singh. The Yadavindra Public School, Mohali is also named after him and was established by the members of his family.

After succeeding his father, Bhupinder Singh, as the Maharaja of Patiala, Singh supported his siblings financially and arranged many of their marriages.{{Cite web |date=1954 |title=Representation from Lt.Col Kunwar Brijindra Singh,the younger brother of H.H. Maharaja of Patiala regarding -1).Cut in his monthly allowance. 2). Restoration of Jewellery of his wife and his mother and a House in Chail. 3).Share from Trust fund of Rs.16 Lakhs for marriage of Members of H.H. family. |url=https://indianculture.gov.in/archives/representation-ltcol-kunwar-brijindra-singhthe-younger-brother-hh-maharaja-patiala-0 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240630004924/https://indianculture.gov.in/archives/representation-ltcol-kunwar-brijindra-singhthe-younger-brother-hh-maharaja-patiala-0 |archive-date=30 June 2024 |access-date=30 June 2024 |website=Indian Culture |via=National Archives of India}}{{Cite web |date=1954 |title=Representation from Raja Raghavendra Singh, brother of H.H. the Maharaja of Patiala against the Maharaja of Patiala |url=https://indianculture.gov.in/archives/representation-raja-raghavendra-singh-brother-hh-maharaja-patiala-against-maharaja-patiala |access-date=23 June 2024 |website=Indian Culture |page=5 |via=National Archives of India}} One of his sisters, Naginder Kumari Khanna married Vipin Khanna.{{Cite book |last=Rana |first=Mahendra Singh |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yInZdHn-pKoC&dq=arvind+khanna+sangrur&pg=PA367 |title=India Votes: Lok Sabha & Vidhan Sabha Elections 2001–2005 |date=2006 |publisher=Sarup & Sons |isbn=978-81-7625-647-6 |language=en |access-date=6 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230413193202/https://books.google.com/books?id=yInZdHn-pKoC&dq=arvind+khanna+sangrur&pg=PA367 |archive-date=13 April 2023 |url-status=live}}{{Cite web |date=3 July 2012 |title=Arvind Khanna Bereaved |url=https://www.pressreader.com/india/hindustan-times-jalandhar/20120703/281694021877201 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211221133423/https://www.pressreader.com/india/hindustan-times-jalandhar/20120703/281694021877201 |archive-date=21 December 2021 |access-date=7 June 2024 |website=PressReader}} Singh's uncle from the Patiala family, Mahesh Inder Singh, served as his Military Secretary during Singh's tenure as Rajpramukh.{{Cite web |date=2020 |title=Punjab Vidhan Sabha Compendium of Who's Who of Members (1937–2017) (Updated till 25-10-2019) |url=https://punjabassembly.nic.in/images/docs/Vidhan%20Sabha%20Compendium.pdf |access-date=1 May 2025 |website=Punjab Vidhan Sabha |publisher=Punjab Vidhan Sabha Secretariat |page=262 |format=PDF}}{{Cite book |last=Singh |first=Gursharan |url=https://www.google.co.in/books/edition/History_of_Pepsu/5UNuAAAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv |title=History of Pepsu: Patiala and East Punjab States Union, 1948-1956 |date= |publisher=Konark Publishers |year=1991 |isbn=978-81-220-0244-7 |location=Delhi |pages=135 |language=en}} Mahesh Inder Singh was also a Member of the Punjab Legislative Assembly from Sunam as an independent politician and a Freemason who served as the Worshipful Master of the Masonic lodge in Patiala.{{Cite book |last=Rizvi |first=Jamil Hussain |url=https://www.google.co.in/books/edition/Pakistan_Story/NckzAAAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv |title=Pakistan Story |date= |publisher=Zia H. Rizvi |year=1973 |page=22 |language=en}}

File:Event at Guru ka Bagh in 1947.jpg Udham Singh Nagoke, Maharaja Yadavindra Singh of Patiala and Major General. Mohindar Singh Chopra at Guru Ka Bagh, Amritsar (1947).]]

Later in his career, Singh served as the Indian delegate to the United Nations General Assembly from 1956 to 1957 and to UNESCO in 1958.{{Cite book |last=Ashton |first=S. R. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OcGxEAAAQBAJ |title=British Policy Towards the Indian States 1905–1939 |date=2023-05-03 |publisher=Taylor & Francis |isbn=978-1-000-85577-7 |language=en}} He also headed the Indian delegation to the Food and Agriculture Organization at various times from 1959 to 1969. Singh served as the Indian Ambassador to Italy from 1965 to 1966 and as the Indian Ambassador to the Netherlands from 1971 until 17 June 1974, when he died suddenly in office at The Hague from heart failure, age 60.{{Cite book |last=Singh |first=Khushwant |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Q82MDgAAQBAJ |title=Captain Amarinder Singh: The People's Maharaja: An Authorized Biography |date=2017-02-15 |publisher=Hay House, Inc |isbn=978-93-85827-44-0 |language=en |access-date=20 June 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240620210207/https://www.google.co.in/books/edition/Captain_Amarinder_Singh_The_People_s_Mah/Q82MDgAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq |archive-date=20 June 2024 |url-status=live}} On specific instructions of Indira Gandhi, he was cremated with full state honours.

Singh’s wife, Mehtab Kaur, was a politician and served as a Member of Parliament in both the Rajya Sabha and the Lok Sabha.{{Cite web |last=Singh Nibber |first=Gurpreet |date=24 July 2017 |title=Obituary {{!}} A sister, a guardian, the royal mother: Rajmata of Patiala is no more |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/punjab/obituary-a-sister-a-guardian-the-royal-mother-rajmata-of-patiala-is-no-more/story-lLHxssjXmtaWOyLyQkADSJ.html |access-date=18 April 2025 |website=Hindustan Times}} His son, Amarinder Singh, served as the Chief Minister of Punjab from 2002 to 2007 and from 2017 to 2021, and also served as a Member of Parliament in the Lok Sabha. His daughter, Heminder Kaur, was married to Natwar Singh, former Minister of External Affairs of India.

• 1913–1935: Sri Yuvaraja Yadavindra Singh Sahib-ji
• 1935–1938: Lieutenant Sri Yuvaraja Yadavindra Singh Sahib-ji
• 1938–1939: 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
• 1939–1942: 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
• 1942–1944: 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
• 1944–1945: 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
• 1945–1946: 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
• 1946–1971: 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
• 1971–1974: Lieutenant-General Sir Yadavindra Singh, GCIE, GBE{{Citation needed|date = February 2021}}

{{center|

(ribbon bar, as it would look today; UK decorations only)

100px

100px

100px

100px

100px

100px

100px

100px

100px

100px

100px

}}

{{citation needed|date=June 2020}}

• 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

File:Yadavindra Singh of Patiala.jpg

File:Yadavindra Singh.jpg

File:Yadavindra Singh with Mohinder Kaur.jpg.]]

{{reflist}}

• {{cricinfo|id=32278}}

{{commons category|Yadavindra Singh}}

• [http://www.uq.net.au/~zzhsoszy/ips/p/patiala.html Genealogy of the rulers of Patiala]
• [https://www.s-asian.cam.ac.uk/archive/films/item/wilson-pemberton-collection-film-1/ 1933 Film made by R.M. Wilson and M. Pemberton, Marriage of the Maharaj Kumar Yadavindra Singh of Patiala]

{{s-start}}

{{s-hou|Phulkian Dynasty|17 January|1914|17 June|1974}}

{{s-reg|Maharaja of Patiala}}

{{s-bef|before=Bhupinder Singh}}

{{s-ttl|title=Maharaja of Patiala| years=1938–1947}}

{{s-aft|after=Dominion of India
Amarinder Singh as titular Maharaja}}

{{s-civ}}

{{s-bef| before = Bhupinder Singh}}

{{s-ttl| title = President of the Indian Olympic Association|years = 1938–1960}}

{{s-aft| after = Bhalindra Singh}}

{{S-end}}

{{India topics}}

{{Punjab, India}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Singh, Yadavindra}}

Patiala, Yuvraj of

Patiala, Yuvraj of

Patiala, Yuvraj of

Category:People from Patiala

Category:Ambassadors of India to Italy

Category:Ambassadors of India to the Netherlands

Category:Knights Grand Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire

Category:Indian Knights Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire

Category:Maharajas of Patiala

Category:Indian cricketers

Category:Patiala cricketers

Category:Southern Punjab cricketers

Category:Hindus cricketers

Category:North Zone cricketers

Category:Rajpramukhs

Category:Cricketers from Patiala

Category:Viceroy's XI cricketers

Category:Indian sports executives and administrators