# Who's Who in India Supplement 1 (1912)/PATIALA — His Highness Farzand-iKhas-i-Daulat-i-Inglishia Mansur-i-Zaman Amir-ul.Umara Maharajadhiraja Rajeshwar Sri Maharaja-i-Rajagan Sir Bhupinder Singh Mahinder Bahadur, G.C.I.E.

​PATIALA — His Highness Farzand-iKhas-i-Daulat-i-Inglishia Mansur-i-Zaman Amir-ul.Umara Maharajadhiraja Rajeshwar Sri Maharaja-i-Rajagan Sir Bhupinder Singh Mahinder Bahadur, G.C. I.E., Maharaja of— a Ruling Chief was invested by His Majesty with the insignia of Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire on the occasion of the Imperial Durbar at Delhi on 12th December, 191 1. A biography of His Highness will be found in Part III, page 4; further particulars of the ancestors of His Highness are as follows. The friendly political relations of Patiala State with the British Government began in 1804 during, the rule of Maharaja Saheb Singh, when General Lord Lake passed ​through the State in pursuit of Jaswant Rao Holkar. and on being assured by the Maharaja of his friendship, Lord Lake wrote to him under his own signature and seal in the following terms :
"Whereas you have declared to be a staunch friend of "the Kingdom, therefore the country at present in your "possession shall continue to remain as it is, and no tribute "shall ever be demanded."
These relations were subsequently cemented by Lord Minto's Proclamation of 1809. Maharaja Saheb Singh was succeeded at his death in 18 13 by Maharaja Karam Singh, who rendered aid to the Government with his troops during the Gurkha War of 1814. In the second battle of Bharatpur in 1827 the Maharaja helped the Government substantially, and gave a loan of twenty lakhs; again during the Afghan War in 1839 he lent Government twenty-five lakhs and made extensive arrangements for supplies. In the second Afghan War in 1842 another loan of five lakhs was granted by the Maharaja. In 1843 His Highness sent two guns and a thousand cavalry to co-operate with the British troops in quelling the disturbances in Kaithal State. On the outbreak of the first Sikh War in 1845 Maharaja Karam Singh sent a contingent of two thousand cavalry, two thousand infantry and two hundred zamboorchis for active service with the British Army, and undertook to furnish supplies, thus giving proof of his loyalty and devotion to Government.
Maharaja Karam Singh died in 1845, being succeeded by his son. Maharaja Narindar Singh. The Government, in recognition of the services rendered by the State in the first Sikh War, gave a portion of the territory confiscated from Nabha. yielding a revenue of Rs. 35,000, and a house at Hardwar belonging to the rebel Raja of Ladwa, to the State. In 1847 an additional grant of territory yielding a revenue of Rs. 10,000 annually, and a khilat, were granted to the Maharaja, at the same time his salute was raised to fifteen guns. Maharaja Narindar Singh rendered conspicuous services to the ​Government during the second Sikh War of 1849, also during the Mutiny. Mis practical aid during that time of trial may thus be summarised.
On the reception of the news of the Mutiny at Meerut and Delhi, and of the very doubtful attitude of the Native troops at Umballa, which reached Patiala about 10 o'clock on the night of 17th May 1857, His Highness made immediate preparations for a move, and despatched his elephants, camels and other transport to Kalka for the use of the European troops who were proceeding from Kasauli, Dagshai and Sabathu. Next morning, at the head of all his available troops, he marched to Loh-Seemli, a village close to Umballa, and after a consultation with Mr. (afterwards Sir Douglas) Forsyth, moved to Thanesar, having left detachments of cavalry and infantry for the protection of Umballa City and Cantonments. Kuar Dip Singh, brother of the Maharaja, held Thanesar with 1,300 men and 4 guns, whilst Karnal and the station of Umballa were held by troops, who also guarded the Grand Trunk Road from Karnal to Phillour. The King of Delhi sent a message to the Maharaja urging him to come over to his side, and promising rewards for so doing; this letter was handed to the Commissioner by His Highness. The Maharaja subsequently expressed a wish to lead a contingent personally to Delhi; but both the Commissioner and the Commander-in-Chief dissuaded him from this, urging that his presence in the Punjab was of the highest importance. Besides sending troops to Delhi, Karnal, Thanesar and Umballa, the Maharaja sent detachments to restore order in Sirsa, Rohtak, Hissar, Saharanpur and Jagadhri, at the request of the British authorities. On the revolt of the 10th Regiment of Cavalry at Ferozepur the Maharaja's troops followed them up, and in a skirmish which took place some of his men were killed and wounded. In his own territorrv the Maharaja furnished supplies and transport, and kept the road clear for all troops passing through from the Punjab to Delhi. All refugees. European ladies and gentlemen, from Sirsa, Rohtak and Hissar ​who came through Patiala were received with the greatest kindness and hospitality and were supplied with everything they required. The Maharaja gave a loan of eight lakhs to Government, and expressed his willingness to double this amount.
Most of the services of the Maharaja were rendered in Dholpur and Gwalior. Early in September, 1857, the combined insurgent forces of Indore and Gwalior entered the Dholpur State. Most of the Rana's troops and officials joined the rebels, who ravaged the district, defied the Chief's authority, and even threatened his life until he consented to their demands. At length they left Dholpur, taking with them the Rana's guns, and set out for Agra; but Dholpur remained in a state of anarchv, and the Chief was unable to restore order till, with the consent of the North-West and Punjab authorities, the Maharaja of Patiala sent there a force of two thousand men and two guns. Although Dholpur was tranquillized, the neighbouring States, particularly Gwalior, were in so disturbed a condition that the Patiala troops were directed to remain at Dholpur. Maharaja Jiaji Rao Sindhia, attended by his Minister, Sir Dinkar Rao, and three or four Sardars, fled to Dholpur on 2nd June, and were supplied with an escort of Patiala troops till they reached Agra. A British force then marched against the rebel army at Gwalior, and the Patiala forces were increased by every available man. All the ferries on the Chambal river were guarded by Patiala troops, and supplies were procured for the British army. A detachment of Patiala troops served under General Napier in the action at Alipur on 19th June, and attacked and routed the rebels who had already been defeated before Gwalior. A month later, at the request of Sir R. Hamilton, a Patiala detachment of six hundred infantry and three hundred horse was moved from Dholpur to Gwalior, and it remained doing excellent service at Isagarh, near Ujjain, and other places, reducing rebellious village and acting as guards and escorts. ​ At the request of the Chief Commissioner the Maharaja sent a force of six hundred foot and two hundred horse, which was afterwards doubled in strength, to Jhajjar, to maintain order there; and at the request of the Oudh authorities eight hundred infantry and two hundred sowars were sent to that province. The entire Patiala troops employed in the British cause during 1857 comprised eight guns. 2,156 cavalry, 2,856 infantry, with 156 officers: that employed in the following year was 2 guns, 2,930 infantry, and 907 sowars, making a total force of 3,063 cavalry, 5.720 infantry, 156 officers and 10 guns.
Maharaja Narindar Singh's splendid services in connection with the Mutiny were duly acknowledged and rewarded by the Government with the gift of the Sovereign lights in the Narnaul division of the forfeited State of the Jhajjar Nawab. The sovereignty of pargana Kanaud of Jhajjar and the taluka of Khamanu were transferred to Patiala State in liquidation of the loans advanced to the British Government by the Maharaja during the Mutiny. The Bahadur Sardars were placed under the jurisdiction of the State. The number of trays of khilat was increased and the titles of Farzand-i-Khas, Daulat-i-Inglishia, Mansur-i-Zaman, Amir-ul-Umara Sri were conferred on His Highness in perpetuity. He was the first Indian Chief nominated on the Council of the Viceroy and Governor-General, and one of the first recipients of a Knighthood of the Star of India. His rule is memorable for the many works of public utility, reform and charity which he inaugurated. During the famine of 1861 the Maharaja distributed grain worth fifteen lakhs amongst his subjects, and granted large remissions of revenue. On the death of Maharaja Narindar Singh in 1862 the Lieutenant-Governor of the Punjab made the following remarks, expressed in a Gazette Extraordnary :
"His Honour laments the removal in the prime of life and usefulness of a Feudatory Prince, who, at the time of the Mutiny of the Native Army in 1857, performed the most eminent services to the Crown, and who administered the ​Government of his territories with exemplary wisdom, firmness and benevolence."
Maharaja Mahinder Singh succeeded to the gaddi; the chief incidents of his rule will be found recorded in Part III, page 5. of this work, as also the biography of his successor, Maharaja Rajinder Singh.
Maharaja Mahinder Singh's salute was increased from 15 to 17 guns in 1864 and the honour of G. C. S. I. was conferred upon him in 1870. At the request of Sir Henry Durand, Lieutenant-Governor of the Punjab, he performed the opening ceremony of the Sutlej Bridge in 1870. He rendered valuable aid in suppressing the Kuka rising in 1871, which was publicly acknowledged by the Government. His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales paid a visit to the Maharaja at Rajpura in 1875, and to commemorate the event the Albert Edward Mahinder Ganj was established at Rajpura.
Maharaja Rajinder Singh served with distinction on the staff of General Sir Edmund Elles, when he proceeded with his contingent to the frontier during the Momand and Tirah campaigns. During the Boxer rising in China. Maharaja Rajinder Singh offered the services of his troops to Government, but, much to his regret, there was no necessity for sending these troops.
For the war in South Africa the Maharaja sent a large number of trained remounts for the British cavalry; in fact, for over a century, whenever occasion has arisen, the Patiala State has always been ready to place all its troops and resources at the disposal of the British Government, and has thus earned a well merited name for conspicuous loyalty. Maharaja Rajinder Singh was invested with the insignia of a Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Star of India by Lord Elgin in 1898. Since the time of Lord Mayo, every Viceroy has honoured the State with a visit.
Maharaja Rajinder Singh, like his predecessors, was generous and liberal minded and gave handsome donations, among which the following figures stand out prominently: ​Rs. 55,000 to the Punjab University in honour of H. R. H. Prince Albert Victor's visit to Patiala in 1890, besides the sum of Rs. 25,000 which was contributed previously ; Rs. 1,62,000 to Khalsa College, Amritsar; Rs. 20,000 to the Punjab Association, Lahore; Rs. 30.000 to the Imperial Institute, London.
The present Maharaja succeeded in 1900. at his father's death. His Highness takes a keen interest in the administration of his State, and during his rule many reforms have been introduced. The first regular settlement of the State has been completed, and the Public Works. Accounts and Education Departments have been reorganized. Public buildings costing fifty-seven lakhs have been erected: water-works have been established in Patiala City, and an electric installation set up. Primary education has been made free throughout the State: the staff at the Mahinder College, where also education is free, has been strengthened ; and a fine Sanitarium tor consumptives was opened at Dharampur by His Excellency Lord Hardinge in 1911.
Handsome donations have been given by the present Maharaja, of which the following are prominent : Minto Memorial, Rs. 5,000; Dunlop Smith Memorial, Rs. 2,000; Victoria Memorial Hall, Calcutta. 1,00,000; Kangra Relief Fund, Rs. 10,000; Pasteur Institute, Kasauli, Rs. 5,000; King Edward Memorial. Punjab, Rs. 2,00,000. The Maharaja was present at the Coronation Durbar held in Delhi in 1903 and at the review he himself led his troops. His Highness was honoured with a visit from H. E. Lord Curzon in 1903; and on this occasion His Excellency unveiled the statue of Her Majesty, the late Queen-Empress Victoria. In November 1905 when His Highness was invited to meet His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales at Lahore, the visit was commemorated by the grant of one lakh of rupees to the Khalsa College, Amritsar, for founding a foreign scholarship. Their Royal Highness' safe return to England was commemorated by a donation of Rs. 50,000, half of which went to the Victoria Mayo High School for girls, Lahore, and the other half to Lady Minto's Fund for Nurses. ​He contributed six lakhs of rupees towards the Endowment Funds of the Khalsa College, and the interest on that sum, Rs. 21,000, is annually paid to the said institution. Other annual grants to different institutions are: Rs. 1,800 per annum to the M.A.O. College, Aligarh; Rs. 100 per annum to the Lawrence Military Asylum, Sanawar; Rs. 100 per annum to the Leper Asylum, Sabathu. His Highness takes great interest and displays remarkable skill in shooting and manly sports. Cricket is his favourite game, and when the Indian cricket team went to England in May, 1911, he was Captain of the team. At the invitation of the Imperial Government he attended the Coronation Ceremony of Their Imperial Majesties the King-Emperor and the Queen-Empress in England, and was present at all the important functions connected with that august ceremony. He gave a donation of £8,000 for founding a Sikh Dharamsala in London, the opening ceremony of which was performed by him while in England.
His Highness was present at the Coronation Durbar of 1911, where he received many marks of the Royal favour, as well as his well-merited title.