Book released on Maharaja of Kapurthala

New Delhi, January 30

The life of Maharaja of Kapurthala, who modelled his palace based on French architecture, has been showcased by his kin in a book titled “Prince, Patron and Patriarch: Maharaja Jagatjit Singh of Kapurthala”.

The book, which carries several unpublished images from family albums and has been authored by Brig (retd) Sukhjit Singh, was released in New Delhi on Wednesday evening.

Singh, a grandson of Maharaja Jagatjit Singh, is the ninth “Maharaja” of Kapurthala. He is himself a gallantry awardee of the 1971 India-Pakistan war. The chief adviser to Maharaja of Kapurthala, Cynthia Meera Frederick, is the co-author of the book. The book draws from components of a family album, historic journal, along with a design diary, besides many unpublished images, the authors said.

The Ambassador of France to India, Alexandre Ziegler, said, “The book talks about the love of Brigadier HH Sukhjit Singh’s grandfather Maharaja Jagatjit Singh for French heritage and culture in the 20th century. The Maharaja’s affinity with France was such that he was known as ‘Le Roi de la Francophonie’ among his peers.” Maharaja Jagatjit Singh was also witness to some of the most epochal events, both within India and across the globe during his reign, which spanned almost 60 years. — TNS