Rajinder Singh

Military service

Noted for his military service, Singh participated in the Mohmand campaign of 1897 – 1898 and in 1898, he was awarded the Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Star of India (GCSI) by the British Raj for his service during the campaign. He also offered support for the British Empire's administration in the Transvaal Colony. In Chail, now in Himachal Pradesh, which was Singh's summer residence, he constructed the Chail Cricket Ground. The Chail Cricket Ground is the highest cricket ground in the world and the construction required leveling a mountaintop that is 8,000 feet high. While playing for his own polo team, Singh won the Indian Open Championship in 1899. Singh played field hockey and English billiards as well. Singh's younger son was Birendra Singh. Singh's younger brother, Ranbir Singh, was awarded the Knight Commander of the Order of the Star of India (KCSI) and he served on the Imperial Legislative Council. In 1903, Ranbir Singh donated his estates in Kasauli, now in Himachal Pradesh, for the Indian Pasteur Institute, which later became the Central Research Institute, Kasauli. The son of Naresh Inder Kumari and Hardev Singh Chhina, Paramdev Singh Chhina, served as the Additional Advocate General of Punjab.