Tikka Shatrujit Singh, the royal scion of Kapurthala’s Ahluwalia dynasty, has been conferred with the prestigious Knight of the Legion of Honour for his “extraordinary work in the exchanging the French lifestyle and Indian culture with each other.”
- French ambassador to India Francois Richier bestowed the honour on the 54-year-old Singh in
a ceremony here late Thursday evening. - Singh, known as the “guru of luxury,” is the Advisor to the Chairman of multinational group Moët Hennessy-Louis Vuitton (LVMH).
- The great-grandson and heir of Maharaja Jagatjit Singh of Kapurthala who was a celebrated Francophile, Singh got his understanding of French culture in legacy.
- A banker for almost 10 years after completing his education from Doon School and Delhi University, Singh joined LVMH as the Chief Representative in Asia in 1995.
- Pioneering the entry of LVMH perfumes and cosmetics and the LVMH fashion group into India, Singh has also organised many events including “Paris – Delhi – Bombay” in 2011 where he hosted fifty famous Indian and French artists at the Centre Pompidou in Paris.
- Singh is also known for his endeavours to preserve the tangible and intangible heritage of Kapurthala, which is a blend of Indo-French architectural styles.
The Legion d’Honneur, created in 1802 by Napoleon Bonaparte, is the highest civilian award given by the French Republic for outstanding service to France, regardless of the nationality of the recipients.
