Pratap Singh of Nabha
Encyclopedia
Maharaja Pratap Singh of Nabha (21 September 1919-22 July 1995) was the last ruling Maharaja
of Nabha
.
. At the age of eight, his father was deposed and Pratap Singh became the Maharaja. He was educated at the Royal Military Academy
, Sandhurst and at Badingham College in Surrey
.
, as well as the head of the Sikh Regiment.
government in 1971.
Pratap Singh died in New Delhi on 22 July 1995 after a 67 year reign in 1995, aged 76. He was succeeded by his eldest son, Hanuwant Singh, as titulary Maharaja of Nabha.
of Dholpur
. He had three sons and one daughter:
Maharaja
Mahārāja is a Sanskrit title for a "great king" or "high king". The female equivalent title Maharani denotes either the wife of a Maharaja or, in states where that was customary, a woman ruling in her own right. The widow of a Maharaja is known as a Rajamata...
of Nabha
Nabha
Nabha is a city and municipal council in the Patiala district to the south-west of the Indian state of Punjab. In 1998, the annual income of Nabha state was Rs 1,50,000/-.- Princely State of Nabha :...
.
Early life
Pratap Singh was born at Nabha, the eldest son and heir of Ripudaman Singh of NabhaRipudaman Singh of Nabha
Maharaja Ripudaman Singh , later known as Maharaja Gurcharan Singh and as Sardar Gurcharan Singh, was the Maharaja of Nabha from 1911 to 1928, when he was deposed by the British. He later became a Sikh revolutionary....
. At the age of eight, his father was deposed and Pratap Singh became the Maharaja. He was educated at the Royal Military Academy
Royal Military Academy Sandhurst
The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst , commonly known simply as Sandhurst, is a British Army officer initial training centre located in Sandhurst, Berkshire, England...
, Sandhurst and at Badingham College in Surrey
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
.
Military Maharaja
After formally succeeding to the gadi in 1941, Pratap Singh was commissioned a Lieutenant in the British Indian Army and served in the Second World War. He was promoted to Captain in 1944, Lieutenant-Colonel in 1945 and Colonel in 1946. In 1946, he was knighted with the KCSI. Following Independence, he served as aide-de-camp to the President of IndiaPresident of India
The President of India is the head of state and first citizen of India, as well as the Supreme Commander of the Indian Armed Forces. President of India is also the formal head of all the three branches of Indian Democracy - Legislature, Executive and Judiciary...
, as well as the head of the Sikh Regiment.
Later life
On 15 August 1947, Sir Pratap Singh signed the Instrument of Accession to India and merged Nabha into PEPSU in 1948, from which point on he ceased to rule. In his later years, Pratap Singh served as President of the Wildlife Society of India as well as of the Vintage Car Association of India. He was stripped of his rank and titles by the Indira GandhiIndira Gandhi
Indira Priyadarshini Gandhara was an Indian politician who served as the third Prime Minister of India for three consecutive terms and a fourth term . She was assassinated by Sikh extremists...
government in 1971.
Pratap Singh died in New Delhi on 22 July 1995 after a 67 year reign in 1995, aged 76. He was succeeded by his eldest son, Hanuwant Singh, as titulary Maharaja of Nabha.
Family
On 25 April 1944, Pratap Singh married Her Highness Dholpurwala Maharani Shri Urmila Devi Sahiba (1924-1997), the only daughter of Rana Udaybhanu SinghRana Udaybhanu Singh
Udaibhanu Singh, Lokendra Bahadur, Diler Jang Jai Deo was the Jat ruler of Dholpur state in Rajasthan, India. He was from the Bamraulia gotra of Jats...
of Dholpur
Dholpur
Dholpur is a city in eastern-most parts of the Rajasthan state of India. It is the administrative headquarters of Dholpur District and was formerly seat of the Dholpur princely state, before Independence....
. He had three sons and one daughter:
- 1. Maharajkumari Bibiji Sneh Lata Kaur Sahiba [Her Highness Maharani Sneh Lata Kaur Sahiba] (1947-). Married the Maharaja of Orchha in 1971 and has one son and three daughters.
- 2. Shri Tikka Sahib Hanuwant Singh (5 December 1948-), who succeeded to the throne as Maharaja of Nabha
- 3. Maharajkumar Shri Himmat Singh (1952-). Married a Nepali princess in 1976 and has a son and a daughter.
- 4. Maharajkumar Shri Hemant Singh (1954-), who succeeded his maternal grandfather as Maharaj Rana of Dholpur.
Titles
- 1919-1928: Shri TikkaTikkaTikka may refer to:* Tikka , a type of Indian food * Tikka , a mark made on the forehead by Hindu Indians...
SahibSahibSahib is an Urdu term which literally translates to "Owner" or "Proprietor". The primary Arabic meaning of Sahib is "associate, companion, comrade, friend" though it also includes "Sahib is an Urdu term which literally translates to "Owner" or "Proprietor". The primary Arabic meaning of Sahib...
Pratap Singh - 1928-1941: His Highness Farzand-i-Arjumand, Aqidat-Paiwand-i-Daulat-i-Inglishia, Barar Bans Sarmur, Raja-i-Rajagan, MaharajaMaharajaMahārāja is a Sanskrit title for a "great king" or "high king". The female equivalent title Maharani denotes either the wife of a Maharaja or, in states where that was customary, a woman ruling in her own right. The widow of a Maharaja is known as a Rajamata...
Shri Pratap Singh Malvendra Bahadur, MaharajaMaharajaMahārāja is a Sanskrit title for a "great king" or "high king". The female equivalent title Maharani denotes either the wife of a Maharaja or, in states where that was customary, a woman ruling in her own right. The widow of a Maharaja is known as a Rajamata...
of NabhaNabhaNabha is a city and municipal council in the Patiala district to the south-west of the Indian state of Punjab. In 1998, the annual income of Nabha state was Rs 1,50,000/-.- Princely State of Nabha :... - 1941-1944: LieutenantLieutenantA lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
His Highness Farzand-i-Arjumand, Aqidat-Paiwand-i-Daulat-i-Inglishia, Barar Bans Sarmur, Raja-i-Rajagan, Maharaja Shri Pratap Singh Malvendra Bahadur, Maharaja of Nabha - 1944-1945: Captain His Highness Farzand-i-Arjumand, Aqidat-Paiwand-i-Daulat-i-Inglishia, Barar Bans Sarmur, Raja-i-Rajagan, Maharaja Shri Pratap Singh Malvendra Bahadur, Maharaja of Nabha
- 1945-1 January 1946: Lieutenant-Colonel His Highness Farzand-i-Arjumand, Aqidat-Paiwand-i-Daulat-i-Inglishia, Barar Bans Sarmur, Raja-i-Rajagan, Maharaja Shri Pratap Singh Malvendra Bahadur, Maharaja of Nabha
- 1 January-15 October 1946: Lieutenant-Colonel His Highness Farzand-i-Arjumand, Aqidat-Paiwand-i-Daulat-i-Inglishia, Barar Bans Sarmur, Raja-i-Rajagan, Maharaja Shri Sir Pratap Singh Malvendra Bahadur, Maharaja of Nabha, KCSIOrder of the Star of IndiaThe Most Exalted Order of the Star of India is an order of chivalry founded by Queen Victoria in 1861. The Order includes members of three classes:# Knight Grand Commander # Knight Commander # Companion...
- 15 October 1946-1995: ColonelColonelColonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
His Highness Farzand-i-Arjumand, Aqidat-Paiwand-i-Daulat-i-Inglishia, Barar Bans Sarmur, Raja-i-Rajagan, Maharaja Shri Sir Pratap Singh Malvendra Bahadur, Maharaja of Nabha, KCSI
Honours
- King George V Silver Jubilee MedalKing George V Silver Jubilee MedalThe King George V Silver Jubilee Medal was a commemorative medal made to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the coronation of King George V.-Issue:...
-1935 - King George VI Coronation MedalKing George VI Coronation MedalThe King George VI Coronation Medal was a commemorative medal made to celebrate the coronation of King George VI.-Issue:For Coronation and Jubilee medals, the practice up until 1977 was that United Kingdom authorities decided on a total number to be produced, then allocated a proportion to each of...
-1937 - 1939-1945 Star-1945
- War Medal 1939-1945-1945
- India Service Medal-1945
- Knight Commander of the Order of the Star of India (KCSI)-1946
- Indian Independence Medal-1947