Pratap Singh Nabha
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| Sir Pratap Singh Nabha, KCSI | |
|---|---|
| Maharaja of Nabha | |
 Photograph of Pratap Singh of Nabha seated on a chair | |
| Maharaja of Nabha | |
| Reign | 1928–1995 |
| Predecessor | Ripudaman Singh |
| Successor | Position and titles abolished |
| Born | 21 September 1919 Nabha State, Punjab Province, British India |
| Died | 22 July 1995 (aged 75) New Delhi, Delhi, India |
| Spouse | Urmila Devi |
| Issue | Hanuwant Singh Hemant Singh Himmat Singh Sneh Lata Kaur |
| Dynasty | Phulkian |
| Father | Ripudaman Singh |
| Mother | Sarojini Devi |
Sir Pratap Singh Nabha, KCSI (21 September 1919 – 22 July 1995) was the last ruling Maharaja of Nabha and a member of the Phulkian dynasty.[1] After India's independence in 1947, Singh acceded to India and the state of Nabha was merged into the Patiala and East Punjab States Union, a then newly formed state, in 1948.[2][3]
Early life and education
[edit]Pratap Singh was born in Nabha State on 21 September 1919 and he was the eldest son and heir of Maharaja Ripudaman Singh.[3] He was also a member of the Phulkian dynasty.[1] His father, Ripudaman, was deposed by the British Raj in 1928 for sedition.[4] Singh became the Maharaja and Nabha State was placed under minority administration.[3][4] Singh began his schooling at the Anglo-Indian school, Woodstock, in Mussoorie.[3] He was educated at the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst and at Badingham College in Surrey.[citation needed]
Reign
[edit]Singh assumed ruling powers in 1938.[3] He was appointed a Knight Commander of the Order of the Star of India (KSCI).[5]
Later life
[edit]Singh acceded to India after India's independence in 1947, and in 1948, Nabha was merged into the then newly formed state of Patiala and East Punjab States Union (PEPSU).[3] Singh had a career in the military and eventually reached the rank of Colonel.[5] After India's independence, he served as aide-de-camp to the President of India, as well as the Colonel of the Sikh Regiment.[5]
Singh was the President of the Wildlife Preservation Society of India and also assisted in the growth of the Vintage Automobile Association of India.[6][7] He and the other princely families were stripped of their ranks and titles by Indira Gandhi's government in 1971 through the 26th Amendment to the Constitution of India.[8] Singh died in New Delhi on 22 July 1995.[1]
Family
[edit]On 25 April 1944, Singh married Urmila Devi (1924–1997), the daughter of Maharaj-Rana Udai Bhan Singh of Dholpur.[9] The couple had one daughter and three sons:
- 1. Sneh Lata Kaur (1947-). Married the Maharaja of Orchha in 1971 and has one son and three daughters.
- 2. Hanuwant Singh[10] (5 December 1948-).
- 3. Hemant Singh (1951-). He was as adopted his maternal grandfather, Udai Bhan Singh, and succeeded him as Maharaj-Rana of Dholpur.[11]
- 4. Himmat Singh (1952-). Married a Nepalese princess in 1976 and has a son and daughter. The son was named Kunwar Bhanu Pratap Singh, who married Rani Preeti Singh (daughter of Chandroday Singh Parihar) and has son named Kunwar Abhiudaypratap Singh.[citation needed]
Titles
[edit]- 1919-1928: Shri Tikka Sahib Pratap Singh
- 1928-1941: 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
- 1941-1944: Lieutenant 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, KCSI
- 15 October 1946 – 1995: 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, KCSI
Honours
[edit](ribbon bar, as it would look today)
- King George V Silver Jubilee Medal-1935
- King George VI Coronation Medal-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
References
[edit]- ^ a b c "Nabha royal family scion Hanuwant Singh dies at 65". Hindustan Times. 2 July 2017. Retrieved 14 April 2025.
- ^ "Pratap Singh, Maharaja". The Sikh Encyclopaedia. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 31 January 2013.
- ^ a b c d e f Singh, Ranjit (2008). Sikh Achievers. New Delhi: Hemkunt Press. pp. 108–109. ISBN 978-81-7010-365-3.
- ^ a b Singh, Surjit (11 January 2022). "Century on, SGPC republishes book on maharaja of Nabha". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 14 April 2025.
- ^ a b c Debrett's Peerage, Baronetage, Knightage, and Companionage. Surrey: Kelly's Directories. 1973. p. 2309.
- ^ "Tenth General Assembly: Volume II - Proceedings and Summary of Business" (PDF). IUCN. International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural. 1970. p. 199.
- ^ Singh, Kuldip (3 August 1995). "Obituary: The Maharaja of Nabha". The Independent. Archived from the original on 29 August 2023. Retrieved 14 April 2025.
- ^ Moraesnew, Dom (14 February 1971). "The Indian Prime Minister prepares for an election". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 14 April 2025.
- ^ Saili, Ganesh (4 March 2023). "The namesakes of history". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 14 April 2025.
- ^ Sharma, Amaninder Pal (31 October 2013). "Accused manipulated facts to grab Hira Mahal by showing 'mud house' in sale deed". The Times of India. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 14 April 2025.
- ^ "Dholpur Palace row: Government continues to back Vasundhara Raje". India Today. 1 July 2015. Retrieved 14 April 2025.