Maharaja of Patiala

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

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]

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]

  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 Cite error: The named reference :0 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference :1 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  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.