RAJINDAR KAUR, BIBI

RAJINDAR KAUR, BIBI (1739-1791) or Rajindari, Patiala princess known for her valorous qualities, was the granddaughter of Baba Ala Singh. The only child of her father, Bhumla Singh, who had died when she was barely four, she was brought up by her grandfather, and, in 1751, married to Chaudhari Tilok Chand, of Phagwara. Har husband died at a young age and the charge of the family estate, consistsing of over two hundred villages, fell to her. When Bab? Ala Singh was arrested in 1765 by Ahmad Shah Durrani for having fallen into arrears with the tribute and was being taken to Lahore, Rajindar Kaur went to her grandfather and offered to pay the money to secure his release.

But the latter declined the offer saying that it was not proper to accept money from a daughter of the family. In 1778, Raja Amar Singh of Patiala, who was Rajindar Kaur`s first cousin, was defeated by Hari Singh of Sialba. Rajindar Kaur came to his rescue with three thousand soldiers marching through the territories of the chiefs who had fought on the side of Hari Singh. During the reign of the minor Raja Sahib Singh, Rajindar Kaur was again in Patiala to defend the town against Maratha onslaughts.

At the head of a strong force, she marched as far as Mathura where peace parleys were opened with the Marathas. Bibi Rajindar Kaur died in 1791 at Patiala after a short illness. She was cremated in the royal cemetery known as Shahi Samadhari.

References :

1. Griffin, Lepel, The Rajas of the Punjab [Reprint]. Delhi, 1977
2. Kirpal Singh, Life of Maharaja Ala Singh and His Times. Amritsar, 1954
3. Atma Singh, Giani, Patiald Shahi Ghardne didn Surlnr Devidn. Patiala, n.d.