Shiv Rattan Dev Singh

Shiv Rattan Dev Singh was the Raja of Poonch from 1940 until his death in 1967.

Birth He was born in April 1925 to Jagatdev Singh, the Raja of Poonch, and his wife, Padmavati.

Education He was educated at Aitchison College, Lahore, under the supervision of a European tutor. He completed his LL.B. at University of Lucknow.

Succession Upon the death of his father in 1940, he succeeded him as the Raja of Poonch. The latter remained in this role until October 1941. During his minority, Hari Singh continued appointing civilian and military officers to oversee the administration of Poonch. However, this was not well received by Shiv’s family and the people of Poonch.

Personal life

He married Princess Nalini Rajya Lakshmi Devi, the daughter of Tribhuvan and his wife, Ishwari. He and his wife had issue: three daughters—Hemlata Rajye, Rajni Kumari, and Urmila Kumari—and two sons, Raman Dev Singh and Ratish Dev Singh. Following the partition of India, he, along with his family, moved from Lahore to Delhi, losing his property in Lahore and Rawalpindi in the process. They then relocated to a haveli in Haridwar, built by his ancestor Dhian Singh, before finally settling in Dehradun, where he had purchased a house.

Death He died in Dehradun in 1967.