Pratap Singh Nabha
Pratap Singh Nabha (21 September 1919 – 22 July 1995) was the last ruling Maharaja of Nabha. The state of Nabha was merged into India in 1948. It was annexed to Patiala and the East Punjab States Union, a new political administrative unit that comprised all the states of the Punjab.[1]
Early life
Singh was born at Nabha, the eldest son and heir of Ripudaman Singh. At the age of eight, his father was deposed and Pratap Singh became the Maharaja. Pratap Singh began his schooling in the Anglo Indian school, Woodstock, in Musoorie. He was educated at the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst and at Badingham College in Surrey.
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 India, as well as the head of the Sikh Regiment.
Later life
On 15 August 1947, 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, 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 Gandhi government in 1971. 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, Singh married Urmila Devi (1924-1997), the only daughter of Rana Udaybhanu Singh. He 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 (5 December 1948-), who succeeded to the throne as Maharaja of Nabha
- 3. Himmat Singh (1952-). Married a Nepali princess in 1976 and has a son and a daughter.
- 4. Hemant Singh (1954-), who succeeded his maternal grandfather as Maharaj Rana of Dholpur.
Titles
- 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
(ribbon bar, as it would look today)
References
- ↑ "Pratap Singh, Maharaja". The Sikh Encyclopaedia. Retrieved 31 January 2013.
- 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
- Detailed Biography