The Second World War (1939–1945) transformed the political, military and economic landscape of the Indian subcontinent. Although British India provided the largest share of manpower for the Allied war effort, the contribution of the Indian princely states was also considerable. Among the princely states of the Punjab, Jind occupied an important position within the system of Indian States Forces. Ruled by Maharaja Sir Ranbir Singh, Jind had a long tradition of military cooperation with the British Empire, dating from the nineteenth century and extending through the First World War. During the Second World War this relationship acquired a new significance as the forces of the Indian princely states were incorporated into the wider Allied military effort.

This article examines the contribution of the Princely State of Jind during the Second World War, with particular attention to the Jind Infantry, its deployment in Malaya and Singapore, and the experiences of its soldiers during the Japanese invasion of 1941–42. The Jind Infantry formed part of the Indian States Forces and was employed in the defence of important airfields and positions in Singapore and Malaya. In February 1942, Jind troops participated in the desperate defence of Singapore against the Japanese advance. Following the fall of Singapore, many members of the unit became prisoners of war. Lieutenant-Colonel Gurbakhsh Singh, associated with the Jind Infantry, became particularly notable for maintaining the cohesion of his men and resisting Japanese efforts to persuade Indian prisoners to join the Indian National Army.

The article also places Jind's contribution within the wider institutional history of the Indian States Forces. It argues that Jind's contribution cannot be measured simply in terms of numbers of soldiers. Its significance lay in the deployment of a princely-state force overseas, the sacrifices of its soldiers in the Malayan campaign and captivity, and the political expression of loyalty by the Jind State to the British war effort. At the same time, the article considers the limitations of this loyalty, particularly in the context of the growing Indian nationalist movement and the changing relationship between the princely states, the British Crown and the Indian people. The study concludes that Jind's wartime experience demonstrates the complex position of the Punjab princely states during the final decade of British rule: they were simultaneously military partners of the British Empire, autonomous political entities, and institutions increasingly confronted by the forces of Indian nationalism and decolonisation.