Maharaja Mahendra Singh of Patiala

Maharaja Mahendra Singh of Patiala, was born into Sidhu Jat family, he was the son of H.H Maharaja Sir Narender Singh of Patiala, was born in September 16, 1852, Succeeded , on January 29, 1863, at the age of only a little above ten and the affairs of state were entrusted to a Council of Regency.’” On February 26, 1870, the Council of Regency was dissolved and Maharaja Mahendra Singh, having completed his eighteenth year, was invested with full administrative powers.’ His education was conducted by Ram Chandra, the great mathematician of Delhi. In May 1870, he was created a Knight of “The Most Exalted Order of the Star of India’ by the British.” He introduced many reforms in his state. In May 1870, he made a donation of Rs. 56,600, to the Punjab University College, Lahore, besides the amount already given.’” He also subscribed liberally to many charitable institutions. On the 15 of October of the same yeat he formally opened the Satluj bridge at the request of Henry Durand, Lt. Governor of the Punjab. The foundation-stone of Mahendra College, Patiala, was laid during his time on March 30, 1875, by Lord Northbrook, the then Viceroy of India.’ And in 1875 he received the Prince of Wales’s gold medal, he was married three times first at Am-KhasBagh, Sirhind Fort, 5th March 1865, H.H. Chahalanwale Maharani Mai Sahib, daughter of Sardär Ram Narain Singh, of Banga, second unknown Kaur Sahiba. third in 1866 to H.H. Dinawale Maharani Mai Sahib, daughter of Mian Mahtab Singh Dhaliwal of Dina.He died in the night intervening April 13 and 14, 1876, in the twenty fourth year of his age, of disease contracted through excessive use of alcoholic liquors.