Maharaja Bhupinder Singh of Patiala, GCSI, GCIE, GCVO, GBE was the ruling Maharaja of the princely state of Patiala from the year 1900 to 1938. He was born on October 12, 1891 at the Motibagh Palace in Patiala. He later studied at the Aitchison College. After his father Maharaja Rajinder Singh died when he was merely 9 years of age on 9th November 1900, Bhupinder Singh succeeded as the next Maharaja. A Council of Regency ruled in his name until he received partial powers on 1st October 1909, before his 18th birthday. Later on 3rd November 1910 he was invested with full powers by the 4th Earl of Minto, the Viceroy of India.

Career of Bhupinder Singh
Maharaja Bhupinder Singh of Patiala also served on the General Staff in Belgium, France, Palestine and Italy in the World War I as an Honorary Lieutenant Colonel. In the year in 1918, he was promoted to Honorary Major General and in 1931 he became Honorary Lieutenant General. In 1925, he represented the country at the League of Nations. He was also Chancellor of the Indian Chamber of Princes for around ten years between the period 1926 and 1938. Bhupinder Singh was a representative at the Round Table Conference as well.

Rule of Bhupinder Singh
Maharaja Bhupinder Singh of Patiala was renowned for the construction of various reputed edifices and buildings that contain valiant architectural designs in Patiala. These include Kali Temple in Patiala, Chail View Palace in Kandaghatalong, Oak Over and Cedar Lodge in Shimla etc. He was also a well known sports person and a great patron of sports. Singh constructed the world`s highest cricket pitch at 2443 m at Chail in the year 1893. Bhupinder Singh established an exceptional monorail system called Patiala State Monorail Trainways. He also founded polo and cricket teams named Patiala Tigers and Patiala XI which were one of the best teams in the country. In the year 1917, Sir Bhupinder Singh established the State Bank of Patiala. From 1926 to 1931, he served as the Chancellor of Chamber of Princes. He diligently worked for the development and betterment of his kingdom and his subjects and implemented various social reforms in Patiala.

Maharaja Bhupinder Singh of Patiala was the first Indian the first in the first decade of the twentieth century. He also developed an airstrip at Patiala. He is possibly the most popular Maharaja of Patiala, recognized for being a cricketer and for his extravagance.

Cricket Career of Bhupinder Singh
Bhupinder Singh the captain of the Indian cricket team which visited England in the year 1911. He played 27 first class matches between 1915 and 1937. He also played as member of Marylebone Cricket Club. In honour of the Jam Sahib of Nawanagar, Kumar Shri Ranjitsinhji, Singh donated the Ranji Trophy. In 1932, he was chosen as the captain of India on its first Test tour of England.

Personal Life of Bhupinder Singh
Maharaja Bhupinder Singh of Patiala had more than ten wives and also had several consorts as well. It is estimated that he father almost 88 children through his various relationships. Singh was also the owner of the The Patiala Necklace, which is well known through out the entire world. Maharaja Yadavindra Singh, his elder son and Raja Bhalindra Singh, his younger son, served as President of Indian Olympic Association and played first class cricket. On 23rd March 1938, Yadavindra Singh was crowned as the Maharaja. He was the first ruler after the incorporation of Patiala into the newly independent India on 5th May 1948. Yadavindra became the Rajpramukh of the East Punjab States Unionand the new state of Patiala.

Captain Amarinder Singh, the grandson of Maharaja Bhupinder Singh is the former Chief Minister of Punjab (2002- 2007).

Titles of Bhupinder Singh
Maharaja Bhupinder Singh of Patiala held many titles, such as-
* Sri Yuvaraja Sahib Bhupinder Singhji (1891- 1900)
* His Highness Farzand-i-Khas-i-Daulat-i-Inglishia, Mansur-i-Zaman, Amir ul-Umara, Maharajadhiraja Raj Rajeshwar, 108 Sri Maharaja-i-Rajgan, Maharaja Bhupinder Singh, Mahendra Bahadur, Yadu Vansha Vatans Bhatti Kul Bushan, Maharaja of Patiala (1900- 1911)
* Lieutenant-Colonel His Highness Farzand-i-Khas-i-Daulat-i-Inglishia, Mansur-i-Zaman, Amir ul-Umara, Maharajadhiraja Raj Rajeshwar, 108 Sri Maharaja-i-Rajgan, Maharaja Sir Bhupinder Singh, Mahendra Bahadur, Yadu Vansha Vatans Bhatti Kul Bushan, Maharaja of Patiala, GCIE (1914- 1918)
* Major-General His Highness Farzand-i-Khas-i-Daulat-i-Inglishia, Mansur-i-Zaman, Amir ul-Umara, Maharajadhiraja Raj Rajeshwar, 108 Sri Maharaja-i-Rajgan, Maharaja Sir Bhupinder Singh, Mahendra Bahadur, Yadu Vansha Vatans Bhatti Kul Bushan, Maharaja of Patiala, GCIE, GBE (1918- 1921)
* Lieutenant-General His Highness Farzand-i-Khas-i-Daulat-i-Inglishia, Mansur-i-Zaman, Amir ul-Umara, Maharajadhiraja Raj Rajeshwar, 108 Sri Maharaja-i-Rajgan, Maharaja Sir Bhupinder Singh, Mahendra Bahadur, Yadu Vansha Vatans Bhatti Kul Bushan, Maharaja of Patiala, GCSI, GCIE, GCVO, GBE (1931- 1935)
* Lieutenant-General His Highness Farzand-i-Khas-i-Daulat-i-Inglishia, Mansur-i-Zaman, Amir ul-Umara, Maharajadhiraja Raj Rajeshwar, 108 Sri Maharaja-i-Rajgan, Maharaja Sir Bhupinder Singh, Mahendra Bahadur, Yadu Vansha Vatans Bhatti Kul Bushan, Maharaja of Patiala, GCSI, GCIE, GCVO, GBE, GCSG (1935- 1938)

Honours of Bhupinder Singh
Bhupinder Singh of Patiala was honoured several times, mostly by the British administration. These are mentioned below-
* Delhi Durbar Gold Medal (1903 and 1911)
* King George V Coronation Medal (1911)
* Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire- GCIE (1911) a
* 1914 Star
* British War Medal (1918)
* Victory Medal (1918)
* Mentioned in Despatches (1919)
* Grand Cross of the Order of the Crown of Italy (1918)
* Grand Cordon of the Order of the Nile of Egypt (1918)
* Grand Cordon of the Order of Leopold of Belgium (1918)
* Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire (1918)
* Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Star of India- New Year Honours (1921)
* Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order (1922)
* Grand Cross of the Order of the Crown of Romania (1922)
* Grand Cross of the Order of the Redeemer of Greece (1926)
* Grand Cross of the Order of Charles III of Spain (1928)
* Grand Cross of the Order of the White Lion of Czechoslovakia (1930)
* Grand Cross of the Legion d`Honneur of France (1930)
* King George V Silver Jubilee Medal (1935)
* King George VI Coronation Medal (1937)
* Grand Cross of the Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus of Italy (1935)
* Grand Cross of the Order of St Gregory the Great of the Vatican (1935)
* Grand Cross of the Order of Dannebrog of Denmark