His Highness Maharajadhiraj

Yadavindra Singh

Mohindra Bahadur

Of Patiala

(7/1/1913 - 17/6/1974)

His Highness Maharaja Yadavindra Singh of Patiala, founder of the Yadavindra Public School, Patiala was born on 7th January, 1913.He received his schooling at the Aitchison College, Lahore, graduated from the Police Training School, Phillaur and received Hony LLD from the Banaras Hindu University. In 1938,he married Maharani MohinderKaur, daughter of a noble of Patiala State. H.H., as he was fondly called, took a keen interest and an active part in Mountaineering, Sports, Agriculture and Horticulture. He rose to the rank of Inspector General of Police, Secretary for Forest and Horticulture, Colonel of Sikh Regiment and 1st Horse (Skinners) . During the Second World War he served in Malaya, The Western Desert, Italy and Burma.

In 1938, he became a member of the Standing Committee of the Chamber of Princes and continued till he was elected Pro- Chancellor in 1944 and Chancellor in 1947. He was the first Chancellor of the Chamber of Princes till it was dissolved in 1948.

In the field of sports he was awarded the All India Cricket Colours in 1932 and later Captained the Indian Cricket Team. He became the President of the Indian Olympic Association in 1937 and continued till 1960. In 1951, he founded the Asian Games Federation and organized the 1st Asian Games in Delhi. He was also appointed the Chairman of All India Council of Sports from 1960-65.

Maharaja Yadavindra Singh was also the Rajpramukh of Patiala and East Punjab States Union from 1948-56, a delegate to the United Nations in 1956-57, a delegate to the UNESCO Conference in Paris in 1958, Leader of the Indian Delegation to the Food & Agriculture Organisation Conference in Rome in 1959, 1961-62, 1963, 1967 and 1969. He was appointed as the Indian Ambassador to Italy in 1965-66 and later Member of the Punjab Legislative Assembly in 1967-68.

Amongst the other important appointments he held were:

• Past Grand Warden of the United Grand Lodge of England in 1942
• President Guru Nanak Foundation from 1965-69
• President of the Royal Commonwealth Society, London
• Patron of the Historical Society of India
• Founder President and Patron of the Rose Society of India
• Patron of All India Ex-servicemen’s Federation
• Patron of India International Centre, New Delhi
• Vice Patron of the Bombay Natural History Society, Bombay
• Member of Central Advisory Board of Education
• Member of Central Advisory Committee for Territorial Army
• Member of the National Integration Council
• Member of the National Defence Council
• Patron of the Motor Yacht Club, France
• Chairman of Horticulture Development Council
• Founder Member of the Sikh Research Academy
• Member of the National Committee on the 500th Birth Anniversary of Guru Nanak Devji
• Indian Ambassador to Holland from November, 1971 till his death on 17th June,1974.