Maharaja Ganga Singh Of Bikaner

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 leadership and wisdom well beyond his years, effectively reining the warring factions and carving out a meticulous and farsighted 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 and prosperous land by constructing the Ganga 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.