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Sardar Mohan Singh (born 8 January 1903) was a distinguished Indian banker, educationist and philanthropist. [1] He was Managing Director of Bank of Patiala (later State Bank of Patiala), Economic Advisor to H.H. Maharaja of Patiala, Founder and Managing Director of Patiala Insurance Corporation, Founder and Managing Director of Patiala Construction Company Ltd., Convenor of the Sikh Research Academy, Patiala, Founder of Modern Senior Secondary School, Patiala (Patiala's first private school), Co-founder of Guru Harkrishan Public Schools, New Delhi, and several other educational and cultural institutions across Punjab and New Delhi. [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] 


(For references, scroll to the bottom.)
Sardar Mohan Singh

Honouring the legacy of
SARDAR MOHAN SINGH

Sardar Mohan Singh

Business Week noted that the career of Sardar Mohan Singh “shows the Sikh genius for organization, team work and enterprise” finding “fruitful expression in industry, banking and commerce”. [4]

Early life, education and family

Singh was the son of Sardar Ram Singh. [9] He obtained a B.Sc (Hons.) from Khalsa College, Amritsar, in 1924, standing first in Punjab University to which the college was then affiliated. He was also President of the Student Organization of the University. [4] [10] He also obtained an F.I.B. (London). [11] [7] Singh was married to Raj, the eldest daughter of the Rais of Fatehabad and decorated Inspector-General of Police, Sardar Bahadur Sardar Kishan Singh. Raj’s sister, Padma, was married to Raja Padamjit Singh of Kapurthala. [12] [7][13] Singh and Raj had four children – Madhuri Singh, Ravi Inder Singh, Kamaljit Singh and Vippanjit Singh. [1]

 

Singh’s eldest son, Ravi Inder Singh, was married to spiritual writer & photographer, Anjali Singh, daughter of Rai Bahadur Sohan Lal and Indira Sohan Lal. [14] [15] [7] Singh’s grandchildren (from the marriage of Ravi and Anjali Singh) are award-winning television anchor & journalist, Jujhar Singh [2] [16] [17] [18] and organic foods entrepreneur, Nanki Singh. [19] [20] [7] Singh's grandson, Jujhar Singh, is married to photographer turned clothes designer, Ramona Singh, and they have two children, Angad Singh and Gobind Singh.

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Sardar Mohan Singh's daughter-in-law, Mrs. Anjali Singh, gives a glimpse of her father-in-law, in a short video created for Modern Senior Secondary School, Patiala in 2023. (Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=slBBLqHM6ew)

Sardar Mohan Singh

Sardar Mohan Singh

Sardarni Raj Mohan Singh
Sardarni Raj Mohan Singh
Nanki Singh, Jujhar Singh, Ravi Singh, Anjali Singh
Nanki Singh, Jujhar Singh, Ravi Singh, Anjali Singh

Banking and business career

Singh started his career in 1926 by joining the Imperial Bank of India (which became State Bank of India), one of the first Indians to do so. [1] [21] [10] He rose to the position of General Manager [22] and held charge of some of the most important branches of the bank [10]. However, in early 1944, he resigned from the bank on both principle and policy over the discrimination of Indians in the bank’s senior appointments. [1] [7]
 
From 1944 to 1953, Singh was Managing Director of Patiala State Bank (which during his tenure in 1948, was renamed as Bank of Patiala, and which later was rechristened as State Bank of Patiala, and then merged with State Bank of India in 2017). [1] [2] [23] During his nine years at the helm of the bank, he led it to a blazing period of growth. From 30 September 1944 to 31 March 1952, the bank’s deposits rose from Rs. 2,21,00,000 to Rs. 6,40,86,000, the bank’s reserves from Rs. 19,70,000 to Rs. 66,35,000 and the bank’s offices nearly doubled from 24 to 47. [24] [25]
 
Under Singh’s leadership, the bank become the first in India to introduce a mobile banking service, ‘The Bank on Wheels’, carrying banking facilities to the very door of the villager. The Bank on Wheels became very popular in the rural areas of the then PEPSU state. The first Governor of the Reserve Bank of India, Sir. C.D. Deshmukh, described the initiative of Sardar Mohan Singh as a “unique and epoch-making experiment in the history of banking”. [1] [26] Singh was also responsible for the bank becoming the first bank in the country to introduce a compulsory insurance policy scheme for its employees. [1]
 
In May 1945, Singh was honoured with Fellowship of the Institute of Bankers, London. [27]
 
Simultaneously, from 1944 to 1948, Singh was also (till the post was abolished following amalgamation of Princely States into the Union of India), Economic Advisor to the Maharaja of Patiala. [2] [3] [28] In this role, he successfully organised co-operative associations in all market towns of Patiala State, and federalized them at the top into a syndicate, for handling the export and import of grains, cloth, sugar and other controlled commodities. He also introduced a system of permits to these co-operative bodies, which resulted in the elimination of corruption in the department which had otherwise been notorious for corrupt practices. Singh also introduced several radical agrarian reforms, which were widely appreciated by the peasantry. [7]
 
Singh was also Secretary, Relief & Rehabilitation Committee, set up in Patiala during the Partition of India in 1947. During this difficult time in the Punjab, he organized all the refugee camps and was responsible for settling thousands of refugees from Pakistan into useful vocations. [1] [28] [10]
 
In 1948, Singh founded and also served as Managing Director of Patiala Insurance Corporation as a state-owned enterprise. Thereafter, he also founded and was Managing Director of Patiala Construction Company Ltd. [1] [4] [10] [25] [29]
 
By the end of 1953, Singh handed over his multiple roles in Patiala. From 1954 to 1955, he became Special Advisor to New India Insurance Company in Bombay. [10] [7]
 
Thereafter, in 1956, he became Deputy General Manager of Punjab National Bank Ltd. which, at that time, was the no. 2 position in the bank. From the headquarters of the bank in Parliament Street, New Delhi, he played a major role in the financing and growth of several of India’s largest companies. [1] [21] [30] [31]
 
In his later years, Singh started and was President of the firm of Industrial and Financial Consultants Pvt. Ltd., New Delhi, to advise and assist business enterprises in the country. [32] [33]
 
Singh was also Chairman of the Panipat Woollen and General Mills Co. Ltd. and was on the Board of Directors of several other large companies including Mohan Meakin Breweries Ltd., National Buildings Construction Corporation Ltd., Bharat Steel Tubes Ltd. and Prestolite of India Ltd. He was also on the Board of Directors of the Institute of Home Economics, New Delhi. [7] [33] [34]
Sardar Mohan Singh with Maharaja Yadavindra Singh of Patiala

Sardar Mohan Singh with Maharaja Yadavindra Singh and Maharani Mehtab Kaur of Patiala

Sardar Mohan Singh outside Bank of Patiala

Sardar Mohan Singh (right)

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Bank of Patiala Mobile Banking

One of the Bank of Patiala's mobile banking units, a pioneering initiative of Sardar Mohan Singh which took banking to rural areas

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Sardarni Raj Mohan Singh

Sardarni Raj Mohan Singh

Patron of education

Singh founded the co-educational Modern High School (later renamed as Modern Senior Secondary School), Patiala, on 8 January 1948 as the first private school of Patiala. [2] [3] [7] [16] [20] [35] [36] [37] The school is counted as one of Patiala’s top educational institutions, which has produced several highly successful and well-known alumni. [3] Singh also established Saraswati Vidyak Trust, New Delhi, to control the institution. [38] [12] [10] Singh’s grandson, Jujhar Singh, is the current President of Modern Senior Secondary School, along with its sister school, Modern Nursery School, Patiala, and is also Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Saraswati Vidyak Trust. [2] [39] His sister, and Singh’s granddaughter, Nanki Singh, is the Vice President of the schools and a Trustee of the trust. [19] [20] [40]
 
Notably, Singh also co-founded the well-known Guru Harkrishan Public Schools, New Delhi, in 1965, and was a founding member of the Guru Harkrishan Public Schools Society. [1] [2] [41]
 
Earlier, Singh also founded Khalsa Girls Middle School, Jalandhar, in 1938; New High School, Ludhiana, in 1940; Khalsa Girls High School, Ludhiana, in 1941; and Mohindra Kanya Maha Vidyalaya, Patiala, in 1949. He was also one of the two Founder Trustees of Patiala Education Trust, and Founder of Guru Nanak Vidyak Society, Patiala. [2] [42] [43]
 
Singh helped start other educational institutions as well, including Gurmat College, Patiala. He was also Vice President of Guru Nanak Engineering College, Ludhiana, Vice President for Life of Malwa Educational Society, Ludhiana, Member of the Managing Committee of Khalsa College, Amritsar, and Member of the Executive Committee of S.S. Khalsa Senior Secondary School, New Delhi. [10] [7]


Link to website of Modern Senior Secondary School & Modern Nursery School, Patiala: https://modernschoolpatiala.org/
 
Modern School Patiala

Sardar Mohan Singh founded Patiala's first private school, Modern Senior Secondary School, in 1948

Mrs. Jai Chopra,  first Principal of Modern Senior Secondary School, Patiala (sitting extreme left), Sardar Mohan Singh (sitting extreme right)

Guru Harkrishan Public Schools were co-founded by Sardar Mohan Singh in 1965

Sardar Mohan Singh at Modern School Patiala
Guru Harkrishan Public School.jpeg

Patron of religion and culture

Singh was Convenor of the Sikh Research Academy, Patiala. [5] He served as Governor of Rotary International (District 52) in 1952-53. [44] [45] [46] [47]
 
He was also Treasurer of the Guru Nanak Foundation, New Delhi, of which the Maharaja of Patiala was the Chairman. [48] [21] [49] [50] [51] [1] Singh was also Treasurer of the Guru Gobind Singh Foundation, New Delhi, of which the President of India, Dr. Sarvapalli Radhakrishnan, was the Chief Patron. [52] [53] There are several old records and communications which show his very active role in the advancement of Sikh religion and culture. The Governor of Rajasthan, Sardar Hukum Singh, described him as “a valuable asset to the (Sikh) community in the country”. [54]
Sardar Mohan Singh with Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri
Sardar Mohan Singh being received at Railway Station

Sardar Mohan Singh with Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri (extreme right) and others

Sardar Mohan Singh being received at a train station

Demise

Singh passed away on 8 November 1968 at the age of 64 in New Delhi. [9]

References

  1. ​“Kirya of eminent banker”, The Indian Express, 19 November 1968. (Click here.)

  2. “Modern Senior Secondary School celebrates vision, values and achievement over 78 years”, Punjab Kesari, 7 December 2025. (Click here.)

  3. “Modern School, Patiala, organizes Sardar Mohan Singh Inter-School Debate”, Royal Patiala, 7 October 2023. (Click here.)

  4. Business Week, 1949. (Click here.)

  5. The Sikh Research Academy Patiala. (Click here.)

  6. “Old will always be gold for them”, The Tribune, 26 March 2017. (Click here.)

  7. Modern Senior Secondary School website. (Link: https://modernschoolpatiala.org/home/founder)

  8. High Court of Punjab and Haryana at Chandigarh, Judgement in S. Mohan Singh Vs Patiala and East Punjab States Union, 22 February 1954. (Link:https://www.courtkutchehry.com/judgements/135031/s-mohan-singh-vs-patiala-and-east-punjab-states-union/)

  9. Death Certificate of Sardar Mohan Singh. (Click here.)

  10. ‘The Times of India Directory & Year Book, 1956-57’. (Click here.)

  11. The Bank of Patiala, Balance Sheet, 30 September 1951. (Click here.)

  12. “Modern School Patiala celebrating 70 glorious years”, Royal Patiala, 2017. (Click here.)

  13. ‘Kapurthala Genealogy’. (Link: https://www.royalark.net/India/kapurth2.htm)

  14. 'Miss Sohan Lal and Rai Bahadur Sohan Lal', Illustrated Weekly of Pakistan, 1 April 1962. (Click here.)

  15. Wedding invitation of Anjali and Ravi Singh, 15 January 1966. (Click here.)

  16. “Founder’s Day celebrated”, 16 December 2025, The Tribune. (Click here.)

  17. “Jujhar Singh of NewsX wins prestigious Red Ink Award for Journalism”, Daily Motion, 28 February 2019. (Link: https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x737jqy)

  18. “NewsX’s Jujhar Singh likely to join India Ahead”, Adgully, 30 August 2018. (Click here.)

  19. “Annual Sports Meet”, The Tribune, 29 October 2017. (Click here.)

  20. “Modern School Hoists National Flag on Campus”, Royal Patiala, 28 February 2018. (Click here.)

  21. “Sardar Mohan Singh Passes Away”, The Spokesman Weekly, 2 November 1968. (Click here.)

  22. Letter from Prime Minister of Patiala State to Sardar Mohan Singh, General Manager, Imperial Bank of India Ltd., 28 October 1944. (Click here.)

  23. Wikipedia page of State Bank of India. (Link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/State_Bank_of_Patiala)

  24. Bank of Patiala, Annual Report for year ended 31 March 1952. (Click here.)

  25. Bank of Patiala, Speech delivered by Sardar Mohan Singh, Managing Director on the occasion of the visit of His Highness The Rajpramukh of Patiala, 23 January 1950. (Click here.)

  26. ‘Around Connaught Circus’, The Indian Spectator, 15 December 1952. (Click here.)

  27. Certificate of The Institute of Bankers, 16 May 1945. (Click here.)

  28. Report on the working of the Relief and Rehabilitation Committee, Patiala, from 8 April 1947 to 25 February 1948. (Click here.)

  29. Patiala Insurance Corporation, Report and Accounts, for year ending 31 December 1951. (Click here.)

  30. Letter from Ram Kishan, Chief Minister, Punjab, to Sardar Mohan Singh, Deputy General Manager, Punjab National Bank. (Click here.)

  31. Letter from Jawaharlal Nehru, Prime Minister of India, to Sardar Mohan Singh, Deputy General Manager, Punjab National Bank Ltd., 15 July 1962. (Click here.)

  32. Letter by Sardar Mohan Singh, on letterhead of Industrial & Financial Consultants Pvt. Ltd., 11 May 1967. (Click here.)

  33. Mohan Meakin Monthly Newsletter, December 1968. (Click here.)

  34. High Court of Punjab and Haryana at Chandigarh, Judgement in The Panipat Woollen And General Mills Company Ltd. and Another vs R.L. Kaushik and Others. (Link: https://highcourtchd.gov.in/landmark_judgments/HC/English/CR_545_1968.pdf, Page 611)

  35. “Kamana and Vanshika conferred with Vijay Rattan”, Dainik Jagran, 8 December 2025. (Click here.)

  36. “Patiala’s first private school alumni joined as PPSC member”, 6 May 2021. (Click here.)

  37. “75th Founder’s Day of Patiala’s first private co-ed school celebrated with enthusiasm”, 21 January 2023. (Click here.)

  38. "Modern Senior Secondary School announced student leadership 2019-20, 30 April 2019. (Click here.)

  39. “78 years of vision, values and achievement celebrated”, Dainik Bhaskar, 8 December 2025. (Click here.)

  40. Management page of Modern Senior Secondary School and Modern Nursery School, Patiala. (Link: https://modernschoolpatiala.org/home/management)

  41. “Modern Senior Secondary School Patiala celebrates 78th year of founding”, Ajit Newspaper, 8 December 2025. (Click here.)

  42. “Modern School Patiala’s 78 years”, Jagbani, 7 December 2025. (Click here.) 

  43. “Modern School celebrates 78th year of foundation”, Charhdikala, 7 December 2025. (Click here.)

  44. “What Rotary Stands For”, The Tribune, 26 January 1953. (Click here.)

  45. "Goodwill Mission Back in Patiala", The Spokesman Weekly, 30 April 1952. (Click here.)

  46. “Rotary chief in Delhi”, The Statesman, 14 December 1952. (Click here.)

  47. Rotary District 3011, Roll of Honour. (Click here.)

  48. Letter from Sardar Mohan Singh to Chief Minister of Punjab, Sardar Lachhman Singh Gill, 19 December 1967. (Click here.)

  49. Letter from Governor of Madras, Sardar Bahadur Sardar Ujjal Singh, to Sardar Mohan Singh, 17 July 1968. (Click here.)

  50. “Plan for 500th Nanak birthday”, The Sunday Standard, 14 July 1968. (Click here.)

  51. Minutes of Meeting of Guru Nanak Foundation, 8 May 1968. (Click here.)

  52. Letter from Vice Chancellor, Punjab University, Suraj Bhan, to Sardar Mohan Singh, 16 October 1967. (Click here.)

  53. Letter from Sardar Mohan Singh to Governor of Madras, Sardar Bahadur Sardar Ujjal Singh, 12 July 1967. (Click here.)

  54. Letter from Governor of Rajasthan, Sardar Hukum Singh, to Sardar Mohan Singh, 10 July 1967. (Click here.)

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