Rajmata Mohinder Kaur of Patiala
| Rajmata Mohinder Kaur | |
|---|---|
| Member of Parliament | |
|
In office 1967–1971 |
|
| Preceded by | Sardar Hukam Singh |
| Succeeded by | Sat Pal Kapur |
| Constituency | Patiala |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
14 September 1922 Ludhiana, undivided Punjab |
| Died | 24 July 2017 (aged 94) Patiala, Punjab, India |
| Political party | Indian National Congress |
| Spouse(s) | Maharaja Yadavindra Singh |
| Children | Capt. Amarinder Singh |
| Residence | New Motibagh Palace, Patiala |
Her Highness Maharani Mehtab Kaur (14 September 1922 – 24 July 2017), née Mohinder Kaur, was the wife of the ninth Maharaja of Patiala, His Highness Maharajadhiraj Yadavindra Singh (1914–1974). She was the mother of Maharaja Amarinder Singh, incumbent Maharaja of Patiala, and thus the present Rajmata Sahiba (Queen Mother) of Patiala state in India.
Mehtab Kaur was born in Ludhiana, undivided Punjab, as Mohinder Kaur, the daughter of Sardar Harchand Singh Jaijee, a nobleman of Patiala State and a member of the Patiala Riyasat Prajya Mandal (Patiala State Peoples' Forum, an affiliate of the Indian National Congress party). In August 1938, aged 16, she was married to Maharaja Yadavindra Singh, the ruling Maharaja of Patiala. She was the Maharaja's second wife. As the senior Maharani was also named Mohinder Kaur, and was present in the palace to receive her co-wife, the younger Mohinder Kaur received the new name Mehtab Kaur.
Yadvinder Singh had succeeded his father as Maharaja of Patiala only a few months previous to this wedding. His first marriage had been (and remained) childless. However, barely 10 months after her wedding, Mehtab Kaur became a mother with the birth of a daughter, Heminder Kaur, future wife of the diplomat and politician Natwar Singh. The following year saw the birth of another daughter, Rupinder Kaur, followed in March 1942 by the birth of the much awaited heir, the future Maharaja Amarinder Singh. He was followed in 1944 by a second son, Malvinder Singh.
India gained its independence in 1947. On 15 July 1948, the princely state of Patiala was merged with the Indian union and the ruling power of the Maharaja was ended. Patiala was merged with certain other princely states to form PEPSU (Patiala and East Punjab States' Union), a state within the union of India. Yadvinder Singh was named Rajpramukh or ceremonial Governor of this new state. The royal family of Patiala worked diligently to adjust to the new realities of their situation, and Maharani Mehtab Kaur (the name by which she was now known) made important contributions in the transition.
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