Kapurthala, originally a 13-gun salute princely kingdom, is one of Punjab’s smallest districts. Built by Nawab Kapoor Singh, it became the capital of a new state formed by Sardar Fateh Singh Ahluwalia in 1772.
Located less than 20 kilometres southwest of Jalandhar, Kapurthala was known as the Paris of Punjab for its architectural marvels and lovely gardens. It was not unconventional for the rightful heir of Kapurthala, the Tika Raja (Prince), as he was dubbed, to be in Paris, the city that was a favourite of the clan.
Tika Raja Paramjit Singh was married to Brinda Devi, a princess from the Jubbal royal dynasty. Brinda Devi was a breathtaking beauty. However, Tika Raja couldn’t resist the allure of Stella Mudge, a gorgeous English lady.
Astella Alice Mudge, also known as Stella Mudge, was born on 13 October 1904 in Beckenham, Kent, England. Her father, Edward Joseph Mudge, maintained an East London tavern, and her grandparents were farmers from Ilkley in Northern England.
Stella, the oldest of six siblings, was always destined to be a performer. She was a skilled pianist, cellist, and dancer who spoke French proficiently. Ballet and ballroom dancing were her absolute favourite forms. She studied piano and cello at the Guildhall School of Music in London and dancing at Miss Maclaren’s School of Dancing, and landed a spot in the chorus at London’s Little Theatre.
When the troupe travelled to Paris, the organisers of ‘Folies Bergère,’ captivated by her beauty and gregariousness, believed she would be more suited to a cabaret nightclub. They promptly invited her to perform at the Folies Bergère, a Cabaret music hall, where the world’s rich and famous spent their evenings.
One evening, Prince Paramjit Singh noticed the petite and beautiful Stella Mudge. At the time, he was accompanied by his wife, Brinda. However, when he saw the eighteen-year-old dancer’s performance, he instantly fell in love with her. After the performance, he went backstage and handed Stella a beautiful flower bouquet. It was quite a ‘forward’ move for a Prince. He travelled all over the continent to attend her performances. Stella had also taken to Paramjit’s charms, and the two had a whirlwind romance. Soon, Paramjit convinced Stella to move to India, where their relationship continued.
However, given Paramjit’s marital status and considering the political implications of their relationship, they decided it was best to keep their relationship a secret. However, as is usually the case, secrets never remain secrets. The genie got out of the bottle, and their secret became public news, partly because Stella—brash, loud and irreverent—publicly claimed she was in a relationship with Paramjit. Their relationship became the talk of the town, and it started doing the rumour mill.
Paramjit was convinced that his father, Maharaja Jagatjit Singh of Kapurthala, one of the world’s wealthiest men then, would approve of their relationship. Besides, the Maharaja had a Spanish wife who was also a dancer. But he was mistaken. Maharaja Jagruti Singh refused to grant permission for his son to marry Stella. Worse, she was not even allowed to enter the royal palace in Kapurthala. As a result, Stella despised spending time in Kapurthala.
To please her, Paramjit constructed a cottage—named Stella Cottage’—which she could use whenever she visited Kapurthala. But Stella, bitter about being rejected by Paramjit’s family, complained that ‘every servant there was a spy and every maid an enemy.’
When Brinda could not beget a son, the Maharaja considered the prospect of getting Paramjit married again. His eyes, once more, fell on the hills. He found a suitable Rajput girl from Kangra named Lilawati. In 1932, Paramjit unwillingly married Lilawati Devi. However, he refused to consummate the marriage and called Lilavati her ‘junglee.’
Paramjit’s father, the Maharaja, who was in a moral quandary, reached out to Stella and asked her to convince Paramjit to consummate the marriage. In exchange, he offered Stella a million rupees, a big sum in those days. Stella took the money and tried to convince Paramjit. But it did not have the desired outcome. The marriage was not consummated.
Later, Stella and Paramjit married at a gurdwara in England. Stella changed her name to Narinder Kaur and became the Princess of Kapurthala in July 1937, a decade and a half after they first met.
Following the marriage, Paramjit Singh defied his father’s decision, abandoned his wife and daughters, and moved in with Stella at Stella’s Cottage. He bestowed Stella with affection and luxury, perhaps to compensate for the royal family’s rejection. The duo spent their time between India, America, and Europe, living and spending lavishly in each destination. The luxury vehicle Talbot-Lago T150 SS teardrop coupe was one of Paramjit Singh’s most renowned expressions of love for Stella. He had it custom-made for Stella, who regularly had it repainted and upholstered to match her outfits.
In 1948, Prince Paramjit Singh was crowned King of Kapurthala. However, it was too late. India had become independent from British governance in 1947, and princely kingdoms like Kapurthala began to fade into obscurity.
On the other hand, Stella insisted on her husband being coronated in a grand public ceremony. The throne of Kapurthala was held by the King and Queen of Kapurthala, Paramjit Singh and Narinder Kaur alias Stella Mudge, who donned a Cartier tiara during the crowning ceremony. Even though the Maharaja and Maharani are no longer alive, their jewels remain immortal, symbolising that their love lasted through the years.
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