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Maharaja of Patiala

The Maharaja of Patiala was the title of the ruler of the princely state of Patiala, in British India. The first ruler of Patiala was Baba Ala Singh (1691 – 1765), who held the title of Raja.[1] The second and third rulers, Amar Singh and Sahib Singh, respectively, held the held the title of Raja-e-Rajgan (King of Kings).[2][3] Karam Singh, the fourth ruler, was the first ruler of Patiala who held the title of Maharaja.[2][3] By the time of the seventh Maharaja, Rajinder Singh (1876 – 1900), the Maharaja of Patiala was recognized as the leader of the Sikh community and the most foremost prince in Punjab.[4][5] During the British Raj, the Patiala maharajas were entitled to a 17-gun salute and had precedence over all the other princes in Punjab.[6]

Maharaja of Patiala
Details
StyleHis Highness
First monarchAla Singh
Last monarchYadavindra Singh
FormationMarch 29, 1761
AbolitionAugust 15, 1947
ResidenceQila Mubarak, Patiala
Pretender(s)Amarinder Singh

Yadavindra Singh (1914 – 1974) became the maharaja on 23 March 1938. He was the last independent maharaja, agreeing to the accession of Patiala State into the newly independent Union of India in 1947.[7] On 5 May 1948, he became Rajpramukh of the new Indian state of Patiala and East Punjab States Union (PEPSU).[8] The former Patiala royal family has had multiple notable members in post-independence India, including those in politics, diplomacy, the Indian army, and other fields.[9] The title of Maharaja of Patiala and other royal titles were retained by members of the Patiala royal family until they were abolished in India in 1971 through the 26th Amendment to the Constitution of India.

In 1940, Dr. V.S. Bhatti proposed the creation of a Sikh nation called 'Sikhistan,' to be led by the Maharaja of Patiala. He envisioned a "Khalistan" where the Maharaja would be aided by a cabinet comprising representatives from various federating units.[10][11][12][13] These units included the central districts of Punjab province directly administered by the British at that time, including Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Ambala, Firozpur, Amritsar, and Lahore. It also encompassed the princely states of the Cis-Sutlej region, including Patiala, Nabha, Faridkot, and Malerkotla, as well as the states in the 'Shimla Group'.

After the Partition of India in 1947, a Sikh publication called The Liberator advocated for Khalistan, proposing that it should include East Punjab merged with the Patiala and East Punjab States Union (PEPSU), with the Maharaja of Patiala as its monarch.[14]

Origins and lineage

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A panel of seven portraits of rulers of Patiala State. Starting anti-clockwise from top: Ala Singh, Amar Singh, Sahib Singh, Karam Singh, Narinder Singh, Mahendra Singh and in the centre is Rajinder Singh.

The Maharajas of Patiala were Jat Sikhs of the Sidhu clan.[15][16] The Patiala maharajas are direct descendants of Rawal Jaisal Singh, who founded the Kingdom of Jaisalmer in 1156.[17] The maharajas of Patiala, through Jaisal Singh's ancestor, are direct descendants of Rao Bhatti, a 3rd-century Hindu monarch.[18][19][20] Over the centuries, some of Jaisal Singh's descendants established themselves in the Punjab region, and Khewa, a descendant of Jaisal Singh, married the daughter of a Jat Sidhu zamindar, whose children were known by their mother's caste.[17] Khewa's descendant was Baba Phul, the common ancestor of the Phulkian dynasty, and Baba Phul's grandson was Ala Singh, the first ruler of Patiala.[17][21]

 
Map of the Patiala Kingdom labelled "Protected Areas" in White.
 
Nine courtiers and servants of the Raja of Patiala[22]

Mythological lineage and descent

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The maharajas of Patiala claimed to be direct descendants of Yadu, a mythological Hindu king from whom Bhatti claimed descent.[18][23][24] According to Hindu mythology, Yadu was the founder of the mythological Yadu dynasty, a branch of the legendary Lunar dynasty (IAST: Candravaṃśa).[18][20][24]

List

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No. Name

(Birth–Death)

Portrait Reign Enthronement Ref.
Rajas
1 Raja Ala Singh
(1691 or 1695 – 1765) 		  1709 – 1765 ? [2][3]
Raja-e-Rajgans
2 Raja-e Rajgan Amar Singh
(7 June 1748 – February 1781) 		  1765 – 1781 ? [2][3]
3 Raja-e Rajgan Sahib Singh
(18 August 1773 – 26 March 1813) 		  1781 – 1813 ? [2][3]
Maharajas
4 Maharaja Karam Singh
(12 October 1797 – 23 December 1845) 		  1813 – 1845 30 June 1813 [2][3]
5 Maharaja Narinder Singh
(26 October 1824 – 13 November 1862) 		  1845 – 1862 18 January 1846 [2]
6 Maharaja Mahendra Singh
(16 September 1852 – 13 or 14 April 1876) 		  1862 – 1876 29 January 1863 [2]
7 Maharaja Rajinder Singh
(25 May 1872 – 8 November 1900) 		  1876 – 1900 6 January 1877 [2]
8 Maharaja Bhupinder Singh
(12 October 1891 – 1938) 		  1900 – 1938 ? [2]
9 Maharaja Yadavindra Singh
(7 January 1913 – 17 June 1974) 		  1938 – 1974 ? [2]
Titular
10 Maharaja Amarinder Singh
(born 11 March 1942) 		  1974 – ? ? [25][26]
11 Yuvraj Raninder Singh — — —

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ Singh, Kirpal (c. 1954). Life of Maharaja Ala Singh of Patiala and His Times. Archived from the original on 7 March 2023. Retrieved 28 December 2021.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Singh, Bhagat (1993). "Chapter 14 - The Phulkian Misl". A History of the Sikh Misals. Publication Bureau, Punjabi University. pp. 188–215.
  3. ^ a b c d e f ANNE-COLOMBE “SAT KAUR” LAUNOIS. “Essence Du Pouvoir de Pattâlâ: Les Estrades Royales Du Qila Mubârak.” Arts Asiatiques, vol. 62, 2007, pp. 46–62. JSTOR, JSTOR 43486550. Accessed 15 Feb. 2023.
  4. ^ Kidambi, Prashant (2019). Cricket Country: An Indian Odyssey in the Age of Empire. Oxford: Oxford University Press. pp. 170–172. ISBN 978-0-19-884313-9. Archived from the original on 7 June 2024. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
  5. ^ Journal of Regional History. Vol. 2. Amritsar: Guru Nanak Dev University, Department of History. 1994. p. 95. Archived from the original on 20 June 2024. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
  6. ^ Punjab District and State Gazetteers: Part A]. Punjab Government Press: Punjab Government Press. 1900. p. 51. Archived from the original on 20 June 2024. Retrieved 14 June 2024.
  7. ^ Panjab Past and Present. Patiala: Department of Punjab Historical Studies, Punjabi University. 2000. pp. 94–97. Archived from the original on 20 June 2024. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
  8. ^ Singh, Raj Pal (2003). The Sikhs: Their Journey of Five Hundred Years. New Delhi: Bhavana Books & Prints. p. 222. ISBN 978-81-86505-46-5. Archived from the original on 20 June 2024. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
  9. ^ "Kings of Patiala, Chronolgy of Patiala, Kings Rule in Patiala". www.patialaonline.in. Archived from the original on 5 December 2023. Retrieved 5 December 2023.
  10. ^ Shani, Giorgio (2007). Sikh Nationalism and Identity in a Global Age. doi:10.4324/9780203937211. ISBN 9781134101894. Archived from the original on 14 October 2022. Retrieved 15 October 2022.
  11. ^ Shani, Giorgio (6 December 2007). Sikh Nationalism and Identity in a Global Age. Routledge. ISBN 978-1-134-10188-7. Archived from the original on 18 November 2022. Retrieved 21 October 2022.
  12. ^ Archives, The National. "The National Archives - Homepage". The National Archives. Archived from the original on 14 October 2022. Retrieved 14 October 2022.
  13. ^ Pathak, Ritika (12 December 2020). "Khalistan movement: Origin and the two different narratives". Newshour Press. Archived from the original on 14 October 2022. Retrieved 14 October 2022.
  14. ^ Singh, Amar. "LET PATIALA LEAD THE PANTH TO GLORY". National Achieves UK. Archived from the original on 14 October 2022. Retrieved 15 October 2022.
  15. ^ The Leisure Hour. W. Stevens, printer. 1876. Archived from the original on 17 May 2023. Retrieved 26 February 2023.
  16. ^ Philaurī, Sharadhā Rāma (1888). History of the Sikhs: Or, Translation of the Sikkhan de Raj Di Vikhia, as Laid Down for the Examination in Panjabi. Together with a Short Gurmukhi Grammar, and an Appendix Containing Some Useful Technical Words, in Roman Character. Translated and Edited by Henry Court. Printed at the "Civil and Military Gazette" Press. Archived from the original on 17 May 2023. Retrieved 26 February 2023.
  17. ^ a b c Bond, J. W.; Wright, Arnold (2006). Indian States: A Biographical, Historical, and Administrative Survey. New Delhi: Asian Educational Services. pp. 232–242. ISBN 978-81-206-1965-4. Archived from the original on 20 June 2024. Retrieved 14 June 2024.
  18. ^ a b c Singh, Kirpal (2005). Baba Ala Singh: Founder of Patiala Kingdom (2nd ed.). Amritsar: Guru Nanak Dev University. pp. 113–120.
  19. ^ Punjab District Gazetteers: Bathinda. Chandigarh: Revenue Department, Punjab. 1992. p. 37.
  20. ^ a b Bond, J. W.; Wright, Arnold (2006). Indian States: A Biographical, Historical, and Administrative Survey. New Delhi: Asian Educational Services. p. 325. ISBN 978-81-206-1965-4. Archived from the original on 20 June 2024. Retrieved 16 July 2024.
  21. ^ Singha, H. S. (2000). The Encyclopedia of Sikhism (over 1000 Entries). New Delhi: Hemkunt Press. p. 165. ISBN 978-81-7010-301-1. Archived from the original on 20 June 2024. Retrieved 19 June 2024.
  22. ^ Delhi School (c. 1817). "Nine courtiers and servants of the Raja Patiala". Archived from the original on 30 December 2018. Retrieved 27 June 2013.
  23. ^ The New India. Times Publishing Company. 1937.
  24. ^ a b Srivastava, Sanjeev Prasad (1991). Art and Cultural Heritage of Patiala. New Delhi: Sundeep Prakashan. p. 4. ISBN 978-81-85067-66-7.
  25. ^ Quint, The (10 March 2017). "Punjab Live: Modi Congratulates Amarinder, Wishes Him Happy B'Day". The Quint. Archived from the original on 24 December 2018. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
  26. ^ "Who is Capt Amarinder Singh? Everything you need to know". The Indian Express. Express Web Desk. 16 March 2017. Archived from the original on 24 December 2018. Retrieved 16 March 2017.
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