The Regal Patriot: Maharaja Ganga Singh Of Bikaner

by Prof L.S. Rathore

The princely states of pre-independent India threw up many charismatic leaders, political stalwarts and influential princes. Among the more dynamic was Maharaja Ganga Singh of Bikaner (1880-1943).

Inheriting a strife-ridden kingdom as a mere adolescent of eighteen, Ganga Singh showed a leadership and wisdom well beyond his years, successfully reigning in warring factions and carving out a meticulous, and far sighted plan of progress for Bikaner, which he executed with remarkable success.

Widely acknowledged for his prowess as a warrior, he was soon regarded as an able statesman and visionary, both nationally and at international forums, many of which he attended as India’s representative. 

As a ruler, he changed the fortunes of his state by turning a desert kingdom into a fertile prosperous land by constructing the Gang Canal. Spokesperson for the Indian Princes and their representative to the British, he first proposed the India of a federal state.

Architect-builder, able diplomat, eloquent orator, warrior, trusted and benevolent ruler, Ganga Singh’s muti-hued personality and rich legacy make him one of the most resplendent figures in the vibrant history of Rajasthan.