Yadavindra Singh - Biography

Biography

He served in the Patiala State Police and became its Inspector General and served in Malaya, Italy and Burma during the second World War

He succeeded his father, Maharaja Bhupinder Singh, as the Maharaja of Patiala on 23 March 1938, but agreed to the incorporation of the princely state into India on 5 May 1948. He was Rajpramukh of the new Indian state of Patiala and East Punjab States Union until it was merged with Punjab in 1956.

He married firstly Maharani Hem Prabha Devi of Saraikela and secondly Maharani Mohinder Kaur in 1938.

Sir Yadavindra also served as President of the British Indian Olympic Committee from 1938–1947 and as President of the Indian Olympic Committee from 1947-1960. He was also instrumental in organizing the Asian Games.He founded Yadavindra Public School, a premier public school.Lal Bagh Palace, the building in which Yadavindra Public School is housed was donated by Sir Yadavindra Singh. He was a noted horiculturist by passion and later served as Chairman of Indian Horticulture Development Council. He was also the president of BCCI.

Following his accession to the throne of Patiala, Sir Yadavindra pursued a political and diplomatic career, serving as Chancellor of the Chamber of Princes from 1943-1944.In 1947 when India gained independence He was the Pro- Chancellor of Chamber of Princes, at a special session he said " After centuries time has come when India has gained independence from foreign rule and its the time when we all (princely states) should unite for our motherland " and persuaded many other rulers to join the Indian Union.

He continued his career from 1956 onwards, serving as Indian delegate to the UN General Assembly from 1956–1957 and to UNESCO in 1958. He also headed the Indian delegation to the FAO on and off from 1959-1969. Sir Yadavindra served as Indian Ambassador to Italy from 1965–1966 and as Indian Ambassador to the Netherlands from 1971 until 17 June 1974, when he died suddenly in office at The Hague from heart failure, aged 61 after a reign of 36 years. On specific instructions of Indira Gandhi he was cremated with full state honours on the longest and hottest day of the year.

He was succeeded by his son Captain Amarinder Singh, who is a politician with the Congress Party and who served as Chief Minister of the Indian State of Punjab from 2002 to 2007.His daughter, Maharajkumari Heminder Kaur is married to K. Natwar Singh, Former External Affairs Minister of India.

In 1956 His Highness donated the Anand Bhawan,a 150 bigha palace to the Govt. of Punjab (prior to creation of Himachal) for creation of Holiday Home for the poor children, which was later leased out at throw away prices to Baba Ramdev for his Pitanjali Trust.