The Complex Legacy Behind Diljit Dosanjh's MET Gala Tribute to Maharaja Bhupinder Singh
- Editorial Team
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
At the 2025 MET Gala, Punjabi superstar Diljit Dosanjh made history with his debut appearance, capturing global attention in a regal ivory ensemble that paid homage to one of India's most controversial historical figures, Maharaja Bhupinder Singh of Patiala. While the fashion world celebrated Dosanjh's striking look, the choice to honor this particular Indian royal comes with significant historical baggage that many observers may be unaware of.
Diljit Dosanjh arrived at the Metropolitan Museum in a custom-made outfit designed by Nepalese-American designer Prabal Gurung. His ensemble featured an ivory sherwani-inspired suit with a dramatic cape adorned with golden embroidery depicting Punjab's map and Gurmukhi script. Completing the look was a traditional turban, a jewel-studded kirpan (ceremonial sword), and a layered diamond and emerald necklace inspired by the famous Patiala Necklace, the original being one of the most extravagant jewelry commissions in history.
The necklace worn by Dosanjh was crafted by Golecha Jewels and took nearly four months to create, featuring over 2,500 gems. It pays tribute to the original Patiala Necklace, commissioned by Maharaja Bhupinder Singh from Cartier in 1928, which contained nearly 3,000 diamonds including the 234-carat De Beers yellow diamond and was once valued at approximately $25 billion in today's currency.
Behind the glamorous tribute lies a complex historical figure whose legacy deserves deeper examination. Maharaja Bhupinder Singh ruled Patiala from 1900 to 1938, leading a life characterized by extravagance, military alliances with the British Empire, and controversial personal conduct. Bhupinder Singh's extravagance was legendary. He owned a fleet of 44 custom-built Rolls-Royces, became the first Indian to own a private airplane, and built an airstrip in Patiala. His personal habits were equally notorious, as he reportedly maintained a harem of 350 concubines and fathered 88 children from his multiple wives and companions. The "Patiala peg," a notoriously generous measure of whiskey, allegedly originated from Bhupinder Singh's tactic to intoxicate British competitors before sports matches.
What many fashion commentators failed to mention was Maharaja Bhupinder Singh's steadfast loyalty to British colonial rule. During World War I, he sent over 28,000 men from Patiala State to fight for the British and spearheaded recruitment campaigns that ultimately led to nearly 89,000 Sikhs joining British forces. He was richly rewarded with numerous honors from the Crown, including being appointed to the Imperial War Council in 1918.
Perhaps the most troubling aspect of Bhupinder Singh's legacy was his role in the dethroning of neighboring Maharaja Ripudaman Singh of Nabha. Unlike Bhupinder Singh, Ripudaman Singh was a staunch Indian nationalist who supported the Gurdwara Reform movement and opposed British colonial policies. Following the 1919 Jallianwala Bagh massacre, Ripudaman Singh publicly opposed the British while Bhupinder Singh remained a loyal supporter of colonial rule.
In 1923, Ripudaman Singh was forced to abdicate his throne, with Bhupinder Singh of Patiala playing a significant role in this political maneuver. Historical records indicate that Bhupinder Singh's "manoeuvres against Ripudaman Singh of Nabha went a long way to the latter's forced abdication," which resulted in bitter criticism from Sikh leadership. Ripudaman Singh was first exiled to Dehra Dun and later to Kodaikanal, where he died after 14 years in captivity without judicial appeal.
This incident at Nabha originated from a personal feud between the two maharajas but escalated when Bhupinder Singh leveraged his British connections against his nationalist neighbor. The deposition became a significant political event that influenced Sikh politics and British policies in Punjab. Under Bhupinder Singh, the state of Patiala served as a loyal ally to British rule in India. As noted by historians, the Patiala royal family "became collaborators in the grand empire building process by the British in the sub-continent of India." Many critics argue that the Khalsa tradition, representing Sikh sovereignty, was effectively compromised through such alliances.
Maharaja Bhupinder Singh received numerous British honors, including Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Star of India (GCSI), Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order (GCVO), and Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire (GBE). He also served as Chancellor of the Chamber of Princes, a royalist organization that sought to protect princely privileges during India's growing independence movement.
While Diljit Dosanjh's MET Gala appearance has been widely celebrated as a proud moment for Punjabi representation, the selective commemoration of Bhupinder Singh raises questions about how history is remembered and honored. The fashion world's focus on the maharaja's opulence and royal stature overlooks the political compromises and moral contradictions that defined his rule.
As we celebrate cultural representation on international platforms, perhaps a more nuanced engagement with historical figures would allow for both appreciation of artistic heritage and acknowledgment of historical truths. The story of Maharaja Bhupinder Singh, like many historical figures, contains both magnificence and moral compromise, aspects that deserve equal recognition when his legacy is invoked on global stages.