In 1942, Govind Singh was commissioned as an officer into the Rajendra Hazari Guards of the Jaipur State Forces[1]. This regiment was the Maharaja of Jaipur’s mounted bodyguard unit, raised in 1940 for ceremonial and security duties[3]. Two years later, in 1944, he was transferred to the Jaipur Sawai Man Guards, often simply called the Jaipur Guards[1]. With this regiment, Capt. Govind Singh saw active service overseas during World War II. The Jaipur Guards were deployed in the Middle East and Europe as part of the Allied war effort – they served in Egypt and later in Italy, where they helped guard U.S. Army Air Forces bomber bases around Taranto and Brindisi[1]. After the end of the war in Europe (May 1945), the Jaipur Guards were sent to the Far East; they formed part of the British-led occupation forces in Hong Kong following the Japanese surrender[4].
Aide-de-Camp to Field Marshal Auchinleck
Upon returning to India after WWII, Govind Singh’s career took a prestigious turn. He was appointed as an Aide-de-Camp (ADC) to Field Marshal Sir Claude Auchinleck, who was then the Commander-in-Chief of the British Indian Army[1]. Serving as ADC to such a high-ranking officer was both an honor and a valuable experience. In this role, Capt. Govind Singh accompanied Field Marshal Auchinleck and gained insight into higher military command. In June 1946, he was selected to be part of the Indian contingent to the Victory Parade in London, celebrating the Allied victory in World War II[1]. Marching in London on 8 June 1946 alongside other Indian officers and troops, he proudly represented the Indian forces that had contributed to the war[1].
First Indian Commandant of the President’s Bodyguard
Mountbatten’s choice of Govind Singh for this role was quite dramatic. Initially, Govind Singh was under the impression that he was being interviewed for the junior post of Adjutant of the Bodyguard - to replace the departing Adjutant – but during the interview at the Viceroy’s House, Mountbatten surprised him by announcing that he would be Commandant[1]. Govind Singh accepted on the condition that his Maharaja (the ruler of Jaipur) release him for central service, which was swiftly arranged via a personal phone call from Mountbatten to Jaipur[1]. Govind Singh was then promoted on the spot from Captain to Major by Mountbatten in a special “pipping” ceremony in the Viceroy’s study – a rare honor, as Mountbatten himself affixed the new badges of rank to his shoulders[1].
Maj. Govind Singh assumed command of the Governor-General’s Bodyguard on 15 August 1947, succeeding the last British commandant, Lt. Col. Jack Massey[1]. His Pakistani counterpart was Major Sahibzada Yaqub Khan, who took charge of the newly formed Governor-General’s Bodyguard of Pakistan, the two had served together in the pre-independence unit[1]. The division of the elite Bodyguard’s assets between India and Pakistan was conducted cooperatively by Govind Singh and Yaqub Khan in the months after Partition[1]. One famous anecdote from this period is about the Governor-General’s gold-plated ceremonial buggy. Both India and Pakistan wanted to keep this splendid horse-drawn carriage. To settle the matter, Maj. Govind Singh and Maj. Yaqub Khan agreed to flip a coin – which resulted in India winning the toss and the Viceroy’s buggy being retained in New Delhi[6]. That historic carriage remained in use by the President of India on ceremonial occasions for decades thereafter[7].
Under Govind Singh’s command, the Bodyguard transitioned into its new identity as the President’s Bodyguard in 1950. He is credited with inducting a Rajput troop into the unit, drawing from his own former Jaipur State Forces regiment to complement the Jat troop raised earlier[1]. Govind Singh earned a reputation as a dashing cavalry officer – contemporary accounts noted “this dashing soldier with Ronald Colman looks” when describing him as the Bodyguard’s command[1].
Later Military Service
After handing over command of the President’s Bodyguard, Govind Singh continued to serve in various important military and administrative assignments. For a time, he was appointed Military Aide to the Rajpramukh of Rajasthan, when Jaipur’s Maharaja Sawai Man Singh II served as the first Rajpramukh - governor of the Rajasthan union of states in the early 1950s. In 1953, seeking to broaden his professional experience in line with the modernizing Indian Army, he transferred from the ceremonial Bodyguard to an operational cavalry regiment. He joined the Central India Horse (CIH) – an illustrious mechanised cavalry regiment – in 1953, on the advice of his elder brother Maj. Gen. Zorawar Singh. In CIH, Col. Govind Singh served as a squadron commander for several years, gaining experience with tanks and armoured warfare as the Indian Army transitioned from horse cavalry to mechanised units.
Between 1958 and 1961, Lt. Col. Govind Singh held a training appointment at the National Defence Academy (NDA) in Khadakwasla. He commanded cadet squadrons (notably Foxtrot, King and Kilo Squadrons) at the NDA, helping to shape the next generation of Indian military leaders. In 1961, he returned to active unit command: Lt. Col. Govind Singh was appointed the Commanding Officer of the 61st Cavalry regiment[8]. The 61st Cavalry had been raised in 1953 by amalgamating several state forces’ mounted units and was and remains the only active horsed cavalry regiment in the world – primarily used for ceremonial roles and polo, but also tasked with internal security and reconnaissance in wartime[8]. Govind Singh became the 4th Commandant of 61st Cavalry in 1961 and led the regiment through the mid-1960s.[9]
During the Indo-Pakistan War of 1965, Col. Govind Singh commanded 61st Cavalry in operations in the Rajasthan sector. His regiment was deployed to cover the approaches to Ganganagar on the India–Pakistan border under his distinguished leadership[10]. The cavalry troopers conducted intensive night patrols on horseback across nearly 100 km of semi-desert frontier, preventing enemy infiltrations. This was a unique instance of traditional horse cavalry being used effectively in a modern war setting, and the unit’s performance under Col. Govind Singh was praised[10].
An avid polo player himself, he was the son of a famed 9-goal polo veteran, and he had the honour of playing with Maharaja Jaipur, Rao Raja Hanut Singh, Maharaj Prithi Singh, Rao Raja Abhay Singh, Maharaj Prem Singh and many other top players, polo patrons and cavalry officers[1], Col. Govind Singh unfortunately suffered a serious polo accident in early 1967. He lost one of his eyes due to a polo injury, an event that necessitated his downgrading in medical category and effectively ended his prospects for frontline field commands[1]. Nevertheless, he continued to serve in the Army in staff and training roles. From 1967 to 1969, he was posted as a Group Commander with the National Cadet Corps (NCC) in Uttar Pradesh (Meerut Group), where he supervised youth cadet training programs. His final posting was as Deputy Director of the NCC for the state of Rajasthan (based in Jaipur) in the early 1970s. Even in these roles, he left his mark; for instance, in 1972 he initiated the construction of a new Jaipur NCC cadet training facility and mess.
Col. Govind Singh retired from active military service in October 1972, after a three-decade-long illustrious career. Upon retirement, he settled in Jaipur.
Legacy and Personal Life
In his post-army life, Col. Thakur Govind Singh remained a respected figure in Jaipur’s ex-military and polo community. In 1972, he built a distinctive residence named “Shiv Saya,” a Spanish-style villa on Queen’s Road, in Jaipur[11]. The house was designed by Karl Malte von Heinz, an Austrian architect known for his work in India, and stands as a charming architectural landmark[11].
Govind Singh married Sneh Kumari of Garrauli, Madhya Pradesh[2].
Thakur Indra Vijay Singh (son) married Rajkumari Manjula Kumari of Shivgarh[2]
Kunwar Adhiraj Singh (grandson), married Radhika Rathore[2]
Baisa Mahisha Singh (granddaughter), married Kunwar Charit Singh Katoch[2]
Baisa Maya Singh (daughter) married Thakur Vikram Aditya Singh of Ajairajpura[2]
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