The stories of Maharaja Bhupinder Singh of Patiala’s drinking habits and his avid mood are quite famous. He actually used to drink Scotch whiskey mixed with milk. It is surprising that someone would drink Scotch by mixing milk in it. Tell me who in the world would do this? But Maharaja Bhupinder, fond of luxury and alcohol, used to do this work a lot. When he would get drunk, he would do such things that they would become news.
Various news reports and historical articles from the archives of Panjab University, Patiala state that Maharaja Bhupinder Singh liked to drink Scotch whiskey mixed with milk. This was a special hobby of his.
British magazine ‘The London Mirror’ In an article published after the death of the Maharaja on March 12, 1938, while referring to his life style, he said this clearly. The article said that the Maharaja used to start his morning with “a pint of Scotch whiskey and milk”. ‘The Times’ The newspaper had also published such details during that time.
Book “The Maharaja Sheller – Diaries of India’s Princely Tables” There is also mention of the strange ways of eating and drinking of the kings, in which the name of Maharaja Bhupinder Singh is included. The name of the Maharaja of Patiala was synonymous with luxury. He made Patiala Peg famous. In this he used to serve liquor in a special large vessel. Used to drink and give drink.
Why did you drink Scotch mixed with milk?
Now you must be wondering why the Maharaja used to drink Scotch whiskey mixed with milk. The answer is that the Maharaja felt that this “will not have any adverse effect on the liver.”
By the way, it is also said that his royal physician and the British doctors of Europe advised him to take something heavy and protective with him to reduce the effect of alcohol. So the Maharaja started using milk with whiskey to reduce the burning sensation and intensity of the liquor. The effect on the liver should be slow. The effect should not be dangerous on an empty stomach. Diwan Jarmani Das writes that it was like “royal country treatment”.
Patiala peg was considered to be almost double the size of ordinary peg. It was difficult to drink such a huge quantity of liquor directly, so it was softened by adding milk. Strength was given. The body was made capable of withstanding the next phase. During the British era, there was an old drink popular in Europe, it was called Milk Punch, it was made by adding rum, brandy, milk and spices.
Used to drive Rolls Royal like a horse while drunk
Many stories are famous after the Maharaja got drunk. It is said that once, while drunk, he started driving his Rolls-Royal car like a horse in the palace grounds. When drunk, he had the habit of listening to music and dancing with foreign women. There was drinking and dancing every night in his court.
London hotel vandalized
This story is from the year 1911. When Bhupinder Singh went to London with his father Maharaja Bhupinder Singh, they stayed at The Savoy Hotel. It is said that one night, under the influence of alcohol, he turned on the hydrant hose to extinguish a fire in the hotel corridor. Due to this the entire floor became wet. Precious carpets and decorations were heavily damaged.
The hotel management became angry and complained to the Maharaja’s delegation. In response, Maharaja Bhupendra Singh not only compensated the entire loss but also proposed to buy the entire hotel. Ultimately the matter was settled but this story became very famous.
train full of alcohol
The Maharaja had to import his favorite liquor from Europe. It is said that he once chartered a special train for himself, whose compartments were filled with Scotch whiskey and champagne. This train brought liquor straight to Patiala for him. It became a symbol of his heavy consumption of liquor and the expenditure on it.
dancing in a parisian nightclub
When the Maharaja used to travel abroad, he used to enjoy the nightlife there a lot. A famous story is that in a nightclub in Paris, under the influence of alcohol, he started performing Bhangra in front of the people there. At that time, an Indian Maharaja performing a traditional dance in a European nightclub was a strange and uproarious sight.
Strange conditions in Patiala Darbar
His drunken activities continued even in his court. He often used to impose strange conditions while under the influence of alcohol. It is said that he once made a bet with one of his guests whether he could pass between the front legs of an elephant and reach the back. Such terms often reflect their fun-loving and unpredictable behavior.
Drinking competition in front of foreign guests
The Maharaja was very proud of his ability to drink alcohol. Whenever a foreign guest or a British official came to Patiala, he would often have a drinking competition with them. Legend has it that many times his guests would fall down drunk, but the Maharaja would still keep drinking.
source
Diwan Jarmani Dass – “Maharaja” (1961)
Amarinder Singh – “Patiala: The Maharajas and Their Magnificent Legacy”
Philip Mason – “The Men Who Ruled India”
The Illustrated Weekly of India, 1960s features on Patiala Peg
