Patiala - Education Center, Culture and traditions

Former princely state in present-day Punjab, NW India; an important region, the city of Patiala was founded as the capital in 1763; the state merged with independent India in 1948 and became part of the reorganized Punjab state in 1966.

Patiala ਪਟਿਆਲਾ pronunciation (help·info) is a city in the Punjab state of India. Patiala district is one of the famous princely cities of erstwhile Punjab.

It is the administrative headquarters of Patiala District, and was the capital of the premier princely state in the former Punjab Province of British India. Patiala is famous for its peg (a reference to Patiala Peg), pagri (traditional headgear), paranda (tasselled tag for braiding hair and Jutti (traditional Punjabi footwear).

In 1763 Baba Ala Singh laid the foundation of the Patiala fort known as Qila Mubarak, around which the present city of Patiala developed. Ahmad Shah Abdali bestowed upon Ala Singh furm and banner, and the title of Maharaja of Patiala.

After forty years of ceaseless struggle with the Mughals, Afghans and Marathas the borders of the Patiala state witnessed the blazing trails of Ranjit Singh in the north and of the British in the east. Bestowed with the grit and instinct of survival, making the right choice at the right time the Raja of Patiala entered into a treaty with the British against Ranjit Singh in 1808, thus becoming collaborators in the empire building process of the British in the sub-continent of India. The British treated the rulers of Patiala, such as Karam Singh, Narinder Singh, Mahendra Singh, Rajinder Singh, Bhupinder Singh and Yadvindra Singh with respect and dignity.

Maharaja Bhupinder Singh (Reign - 1900 to 1938) gave Patiala a prominent place on the political map of India and in the field of international sports. In recognition of his services, he was appointed the Rajpramukh of the newly established state of Patiala and East Punjab States Union (PEPSU), from its founding in 1948 until its merger with Punjab in 1956.

Gates of Patiala Walled City

Darshani gate - Main entrance of Qila Mubarak Lahouri gate Nabha gate Samana gate Sirhindi gate Sheranwala gate Safabadi gate Sunami gate Top Khana Gate

Education Center

The first printing press of Patiala called "Munshi Nawal Kishore Printing Press" was established in 1870s. Since then Patiala has emerged as a center for Punjabi language. Punjab State Government 'languages department' is headquartered in Patiala city near 'Sheranwala Gate'.

Since Indian independence in 1947, Patiala has emerged as a major educational center in state of Punjab. Netaji Subhash National Institute of Sports, Patiala is a sports hub of Punjab.

Patiala city has a number of playgrounds the biggest of whom is Polo Ground on Lower Mall Road. Yadavindra Stadium for athletics, Rink Hall for roller skating, Olympic size swimming pools at the National Institute of Sports, Patiala and Defence Club.

Patiala is seat of many important administartive offices of Punjab state, including Punjab State Electricity Board, Punjab Pollution Control Board, Tax Commissioner Office, Punjab Languages Department and State Bank of Patiala head-office. Bikram College of Commerce, Patiala. Government Medical College, Patiala. College of Sports Education, Patiala.

Schools

Yadavindra Public School Patiala Est. Senior Model School, Civil Lines Patiala Est. 1956 Budha Dal Public School St. Peter's Acadmy

Other

National Institute of Sports, Patiala Punjab State Archives North Zone Cultural Centre, Patiala

Culture and traditions

Patiala's sway over the Malwa area extended beyond merely political influence. Patiala was the first town in this part of the country to have Degree Collage - the Mohindra College - in 1870. Patiala has had a culture of its own, evolving into a distinct "patialavi" culture.

With the active patronage of the erstwhile rules of Patiala, a well established style of Hindustani music called the "Patiala Gharana" came into existence and has held its own up to the present times. This school of music has had a number of famous musicians, many of whom came to Patiala after the disintegration of the Mughal Court at Delhi in the 18th century. Later his sons, Ustad Akhtar Hussain Khan and Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan achieved world wide fame and brought glory to the Patiala Gharana. This school of music continues to get the patronage of the State though the North Zone Culture Centre - NZCC - established at Patiala. He is assisted by a number of officers belonging to Punjab Civil Service and other Punjab state services. He is assisted by the officers of the Punjab Forest Service and other Punjab Forest officials and Punjab Wild-Life officials.