>Citation bot at 00:35, 11 September 2021

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{{About|the princely state during the British Raj |the natural and historical region|History of Bikaner}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2020}}
{{Use Indian English|date=May 2015}}
{{Infobox former country|today=[[Rajasthan]], [[India]]|religion=[[Hinduism]] {{small|([[state religion]])}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://lsi.gov.in:8081/jspui/bitstream/123456789/2171/1/20346_1931_BIK.pdf|title=Bikaner State, Part I, Vol-I, Rajasthan - Linguistic Survey Of India|website=LSOI|access-date=23 April 2021}}</ref><br/>
|event_end=[[Independence of India]]|population_estimate_year=1931|population_estimate=936,218|year_end=1947|year_start=1465|s1=India|official_languages=[[Rajasthani language|Rajasthani]] and [[Hindi]]|image_coat=Bikaner coat of arms.jpg|national_motto=''"Jai Jungaldhar Badshah"''<br/>{{small|Victory to the king of deserts}}|demonym=Bikaner|native_name=बीकानेर रियासत|conventional_long_name=State of Bikaner|area_km2=60391|image_map=Bikaner-Jaisalmer map.jpg|image_flag=Flag of Bikaner.svg|map_caption=Bikaner State in the [[Imperial Gazetteer of India]].}}[[File:Laxmi Niwas Palace Bikaner.JPG|thumb|275px|Bikaner Laxmi Niwas Palace]]
[[File:Elephant Hunt of Maharaja Anup Singh of Bikaner - Google Art Project.jpg|thumb|275px|Maharaja Anup Singh of Bikaner hunting elephants]]
[[File:Le fort Junagarh (Bikaner) (8441306001).jpg|thumb|Honorific insignia in gold offered to the Maharaja of Bikaner by the [[Mughal Emperor]].]]
[[File:Raja Karan Singh of Bikaner, Auranzeb's ally and enemy.jpg|thumb|Raja Karan Singh of Bikaner, [[Aurangzeb]]'s ally and enemy.]]
[[File:Ganga Singh of Bikaner 1914.jpg|thumb|Maharaja Ganga Singh of Bikaner with his son in 1914]]
[[File:Bikaner Camel Corps.jpg|thumb|Bikaner Camel Corps]]
[[File:Bîkâner-Junagarh Fort-41-Darbar Hall-20131008.jpg|thumb|Board of combat daggers at the Darbar Hall]]
'''Bikaner State''' was a [[princely state]] in the [[History of Bikaner|Rajputana]] from 1465 to 1947. The founder of the state, [[Rao Bika]], was the eldest son of [[Rao Jodha]], ruler of [[Jodhpur State|Jodhpur]]. [[Rao Bika]] chose to build his own kingdom instead of inheriting his father's. Bika defeated the Jat clans of Jangladesh along with his uncle Rao Kandhal and his adviser Bikoji Rajpurohit and founded his own kingdom. Its capital was the city of [[Bikaner]] in the northern area of present-day [[Rajasthan State]] in [[India]]. [[Karni Mata]] has been designated as the kuldevi of the Royal family of Bikaner.

The state was noted for the [[Bikaner style of painting]].

Covering an area of {{convert|60391|km2|sqmi|abbr= on}}, Bikaner State was the second largest state under the [[Rajputana Agency]] after [[Jodhpur State]] with a revenue of Rs.26,00,000 in 1901.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://dsal.uchicago.edu/reference/gazetteer/pager.html?objectid=DS405.1.I34_V08_220.gif|title = Imperial Gazetteer2 of India, Volume 8, page 214 -- Imperial Gazetteer of India -- Digital South Asia Library}}</ref> Heeding the 1947 call of [[Vallabhbhai Patel]] to integrate the princely states into the new independent India, Bikaner's last king, [[Sadul Singh of Bikaner|Maharaja Sadul Singh]], advised by his ''[[dewan]]'' [[K. M. Panikkar]], a respected historian, was one of the first rulers of a princely state to display willingness to join the [[Dominion of India|Indian Union]]. By issuing a public appeal in April 1947 to his fellow princes to join the [[Constituent Assembly of India]], the Maharaja of Bikaner set an example for other heads of the native states to follow.<ref>
[[Ramachandra Guha]], ''[[India after Gandhi]]: The History of the World's Largest Democracy.'' HarperCollins, 2007.
</ref>

==History==
{{Main|History of Bikaner}}
The state of Bikaner was founded in 1465. It became a [[British protectorate]] on 9 March 1818. They were accorded a 17 [[gun salute]] by the British authorities. By the time of Indian Independence, the territory of the state of Bikaner shared a border with [[Pakistan]]. The [[Instrument of Accession|accession]] to the Indian Union was signed by the Maharaja on 7 August 1947.<ref>William Barton, ''The princes of India''. Delhi 1983</ref>

==Rulers==
The rulers were Rathor Rajputs. Related to the ruling family of Jodhpur.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://dsal.uchicago.edu/reference/gazetteer/pager.html?objectid=DS405.1.I34_V08_210.gif|title = Imperial Gazetteer2 of India, Volume 8, page 204 -- Imperial Gazetteer of India -- Digital South Asia Library}}</ref>

===Rao/Raja's===

*1465 – 1504 Rao [[Rao Bika|Bika]]
*1504 – 1505 Rao Nar Singh (Naro)
*1505 – 1526 Rao [[Lunkaran]]
*1526 – 1542 Rao Jait Singh
*1542 – 1571 Rao Kalyan Mal (acknowledged the suzerainty of Emperor Akbar)
*1571 – 1612 Rao / Raja Rai Singh I (Important General in the Mughal army. Given title of Raja. From 1585 to 1594 he was employed in the Deccan by Emperor Akbar, where he was Subedar of Burhanpur)
*1612 – 1613 Raja Dalpat (Sur Singh revolted against his elder brother Dalpat and killed him along with his guards with the consent of Emperor Jahangir)
*1613 – 1631 Raja Sur Singh
*1631 – 1667 Raja Karan Singh (deposed by [[Aurangzeb]] and exiled to Karanapura in the Deccan)
*1667 – 1669 Interregnum

===Maharaja's===
*1669 – 1698 Maharaja Anup Singh (First to be granted title of Maharaja by Emperor Aurangzeb)
*19 Jun 1698 – 15 December 1700: Maharaja Sarup Singh (b. 1689 – d. 1700)
*15 Dec 1700 – 16 December 1735: Maharaja Sujan Singh (b. 1690 – d. 1735)
*16 Dec 1735 – 15 May 1746: Maharaja Zorawar Singh (b. 1713 – d. 1746)
*15 May 1746 – 25 March 1787: Maharaja Gaj Singh (b. 1723 – d. 1787)
*25 Mar 1787 – 25 April 1787: Maharaja Raj Singh II (b. 1744 – d. 1787)
*25 Apr 1787 – 9 October 1787: Maharaja Pratap Singh (b. 1781 – d. 1787)
*25 Apr 1787 – 25 March 1828: Maharaja Surat Singh (Regent to 9 October 1787) (b. 1766 – d. 1828)
*25 Mar 1828 – 7 August 1851: Maharaja Ratan Singh (b. 1790 – d. 1851)
* 7 August 1851 – 16 May 1872: Maharaja Sardar Singh (b. 1818 – d. 1872)
*16 May 1872 – 19 August 1887: Maharaja Dungar Singh (b. 1854 – d. 1887)
*19 Aug 1887 – 2 February 1943: Maharaja [[Ganga Singh]] (b. 1880 – d. 1943) (from 24 July 1901, Sir Ganga Singh)
*19 Aug 1887 – 16 December 1898: the British [[Political officer (British Empire)|Political Agent]]s-[[Regent]]
* 2 February 1943 – 15 August 1950: Maharaja [[Sadul Singh of Bikaner|Sadul Singh]] (b. 1902 – d. 1950) (from 1 January 1946, Sir Sadul Singh)

===Titular Rulers===
*1950 – 1971 Maharaja [[Karni Singh]] ([[Privy Purse in India|Privy purses]] were withdrawn in 1971 and post & titles were also withdrawn)

====Dewans====
The Dewans and Chief Ministers of the state were:
* 1460–1465 Bothra Bachhraj (Mantri-Dewan / Jodhpur) / Rao Jodha
* 1465–1505 Bothra Bachhraj (Founding Dewan / Bikaner) / Rao Bika
* 1504–1526 Karam Singh Bothra Bachhawat (Descendants of Bachhraj were known as Bachhawats) / Rao Nar Singh and Rao Lunkaran
* 1526–1535 Var Singh Bothra Bachhawat / Rao Jait Singh
* 1535–1542 Nagraj Bothra Bachhawat / Rao Jait Singh and Rao Kalyan Mal
* 1542–1571 Sangram Singh Bothra Bachhawat / Rao Kalyan Mal
* 1571–1591 Mehta [[Karam Chand bothra Bachhawat]] (Title of Mehta granted by Emperor [[Akbar]]) / Rao Kalyan Mal and Raja Rai Singh
* 1619–1620 Mehta Bhag Chand Bothra Bachhawat / Raja Sur Singh
* 1619–1620 Mehta Lakshmi Chand Bothra Bachhawat / Raja Sur Singh
*17.. – 26 February 1733: Anand Ram Khawas (d. 1733)
*1735 – Feb 1751: Mohta Bakhtawar Singh (1st time) (b. 1707 – d. 1779)
*Feb 1751 – 1752: Amar Singh Chaturbhujani
*1752 – 1756: Mohta Bakhtawar Singh (2nd time) (s.a.)
*1756 – Dec 1757: Mohta Prithvi Singh
*1757 – 1762: Mohta Bakhtawar Singh (3rd time) (s.a.)
*1762 – Sep 1765: Shah Mool Chand Bardiya
*Sep 1765 – 1779: Mohta Bakhtawar Singh (4th time) (s.a.)
*1779 – 178.: Mohta Swaroop Singh
*178. – 1787: Mohta Thakursi
*1787 – 1791: Mohta Madho Rai
*1791 – 1794: Pratap Mal Baid
*1794 – 1805: Mohta Rao Sahib Singh Gun Roop
*Apr 1805 – Apr 1815: Amar Chand Surana
*Apr 1815 – Feb 1816: Mohta Bhomji
*Feb 1816 – 1828: Abhai Singh Mohta
*1828 – 184.: Hindu Mal Baid
*c. 1841: Sri Narayan Singh Bhati
*1844 – 1852?: Sarana Shri Lakshmichand
*1852 – 1853: Guman Singh Baid (1st time)
*1853 – 1853: Leeladhar Mohta + Jalam Chand Kochar
*1853 – 1854: Lachhi Ram Rakhecha
*1854 – 1856: Guman Singh Baid (2nd time)
*1856: Pandit Dojainant
*1856 – 1863: Ram Lal Dwarkani (1st time)
*1864 – 1865: Guman Singh Baid (3rd time)
*1865 – 1866: Ram Lal Dwarkani (2nd time)
*1866: Man Mal Rakhecha
*1866 (3 months): Sheo Lal Nahata
*1867 (15 days): Fateh Chand Surana
*1867: Ganga Ram Purohit
*1867: Shah Mal Kochar
*1868: Man Mal Rakhecha
*1868: Sheo Lal Mohta
*1868: Lakshmi Chand Nahata
*Jun 1868 – Aug 1869: Visayat Hussain
*Aug 1869 – 13 December 1873: Pandit Manphool
*Dec 1873 – 188.: Maharaj Lal Singh
*188. – 1884?: Maharao Hari Singh Baid
*1884 – 11 October 1888: Amin Muhammad
*12 Dec 1888 – 1896: Sodhi Hukam Singh
*1896 – 1898: Raghubar Singh Chauhan
*1898 – 1903: Hamidu Zafar Khan
*1903 – 1916: Post abolished

====Chief ministers====
* 1916 – 19..: Shri Bhairon Singh
* 7 September 1920 – Jan 1925: Prince Kunwar Sardul Singh (s.a.)

====Dewans====
The post of Dewan was reinstated in 1927.
* 1927 – 1934: Manubhai Nandshankar Mehta (b. 1868 – d. 1946)
* 3 October 1932 – 31 October 1934: Ram Prasad Dube (acting)
* 1 November 1934 – Jan 1936: Maharaj Shri Bhairun Singh
* Jan 1936 – Dec 1936: Thakur Sadul Singh
* Dec 1936 – 1938?: V.N. Mehta
* Dec 1938 – Jul 1939: Kailash Narain Haksar (b. 1878 – d. 1954)
* Jul 1939 – 1944?: Sire Mal Bapna (b. 1882 – d. 1964)
* 1944 – 13 March 1948: Kavalam Madhava Panikkar (b. 1895 – d. 1963)
* 14 March 1948 – Oct 1948: Kanwar Jaswant Singh
* Oct 1948 – 30 March 1949: Cadambi Sheshachar Venkatachar (b. 1899 – d. 1999)

===Family tree of the rulers of Bikaner===
{{Tree list}}
*[[File:Simple gold crown.svg|15px]] '''I. Rao Bikaji, of Bikaner''' (1438–1504; Rai: 1488; r. 1465–1504)
**[[File:Simple gold crown.svg|15px]] '''II.Rao Naroji, of Bikaner''' (1468–1505; r. 1504–1505)
**{{Tree list/final branch}} [[File:Simple gold crown.svg|15px]] '''III.Rao Lunkaraji, of Bikaner''' (1470–1526; r. 1505–1526)
***{{Tree list/final branch}} [[File:Simple gold crown.svg|15px]] '''IV. Rao Jetaji, of Bikaner''' (1489–1542; r. 1526–1542)
****{{Tree list/final branch}} [[File:Simple silver crown.svg|15px]] '''V.Rao Kalyan Mal, of Bikaner''' (1519–1574; r. 1542–1574)
*****{{Tree list/final branch}} [[File:Simple silver crown.svg|15px]] '''VI. Rai Singh I, Raja of Bikaner''' (1541–1612; r. 1574–1612)
******[[File:Simple silver crown.svg|15px]] '''VII. Dalpat Singh, Rai of Bikaner''' (1565–1613; r. 1612–1613)
******{{Tree list/final branch}} [[File:Simple silver crown.svg|15px]] '''VIII. Sur Singh, Raja of Bikaner''' (1594–1631; r. 1613–1631)
*******{{Tree list/final branch}} [[File:Simple silver crown.svg|15px]] '''IX. Karan Singh, Raja of Bikaner''' (1616–1669; r. 1631–1667)
********{{Tree list/final branch}} [[File:Simple silver crown.svg|15px]] '''X. Anup Singh, Maharaja of Bikaner''' (1638–1698; r. 1667–1698; Rao: 1667; Maharaja: 1675)
*********[[File:Simple silver crown.svg|15px]] '''XI. Sarup Singh, Maharaja of Bikaner''' (1689–1700; r. 1698–1700)
*********[[File:Simple silver crown.svg|15px]] '''XII. Sujjan Singh, Maharaja of Bikaner''' (1690–1735; r. 1700–1735)
**********{{Tree list/final branch}} [[File:Simple silver crown.svg|15px]] '''XIII. Zorawar Singh, Maharaja of Bikaner''' (1713–1746; r. 1735–1746)
*********{{Tree list/final branch}} Anand Singh
**********{{Tree list/final branch}} [[File:Simple silver crown.svg|15px]] '''XIV. Gaj Singh, Maharaja of Bikaner''' (1723–1787; r. 1746–1787)
***********[[File:Simple silver crown.svg|15px]] '''XV. Raj Singh II, Maharaja of Bikaner''' (1744–1787; r. 1787)
************{{Tree list/final branch}} [[File:Simple silver crown.svg|15px]] '''XVI. Pratap Singh, Maharaja of Bikaner''' (1781–1787; r. 1787)
***********{{Tree list/final branch}} [[File:Simple silver crown.svg|15px]] '''XVII. Surat Singh, Maharaja of Bikaner''' (1765–1828; r. 1787–1828)
************{{Tree list/final branch}} [[File:Simple silver crown.svg|15px]] '''XVIII. Ratan Singh, Maharaja of Bikaner''' (1790–1851; r. 1828–1851)
*************{{Tree list/final branch}} [[File:Simple silver crown.svg|15px]] '''XIX. Sardar Singh, Maharaja of Bikaner''' (1818–1872; r. 1851–1872)
***********Chhatar Singh (1762–1779)
************{{Tree list/final branch}} Dalel Singh
*************{{Tree list/final branch}} Sagat Singh
**************{{Tree list/final branch}} Lall Singh (1831–1887)
***************[[File:Simple silver crown.svg|15px]] '''XX. Dungar Singh, Maharaja of Bikaner''' (1854–1887; r. 1872–1887)
***************{{Tree list/final branch}} [[File:Simple silver crown.svg|15px]] '''XXI. Ganga Singh, Maharaja of Bikaner''' [[Order of the Star of India|GCSI]], [[Order of the Indian Empire|GCIE]], [[Royal Victorian Order|GCVO]], [[Order of the British Empire|GBE]], [[Order of the Bath|KCB]] (1880–1943; r. 1887–1943)
****************{{Tree list/final branch}} [[File:Simple silver crown.svg|15px]] '''XXII. Sadul Singh, Maharaja of Bikaner''' [[Order of the Star of India|GCSI]], [[Order of the Indian Empire|GCIE]], [[Royal Victorian Order|CVO]] (1902–1950; r. 1943–1949; titular ruler: 1949–1950)
*****************'''XXIII. Karni Singh, Maharaja of Bikaner''' (1924–1988; titular Maharaja: 1950–1971; family head: 1971–1988)
******************{{Tree list/final branch}} '''XXIV. Narendra Singh, Maharaja of Bikaner''' (1946–2003; family head: 1988–2003)
*****************{{Tree list/final branch}} Amar Singh (1925-2007)
******************{{Tree list/final branch}} Chandra Shekhar Singh (b. 1948)
*******************{{Tree list/final branch}} '''XXV. Ravi Raj Singh, Maharaja of Bikaner''' (b. 1977; family head: 2003– )
{{Tree list/end}}

{{citation needed|date=June 2020}}

==See also==
* [[Mughal Empire]]
* [[Maratha Empire]]
* [[Rajputana]]
* [[History of Bikaner]]
* [[Political integration of India]]
* Rajputana Chronicles: Guns and Glories – The thousand-year story of the Bachhawat clan

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{EB1911|wstitle=Bikanir}}

==External links==
*{{Commons category-inline}}
*{{cite book|author1=Beny, Roland |author2=Matheson, Sylvia A. | title=Rajasthan – Land of Kings| year = 1984| publisher=Frederick Muller| location=London| isbn = 0-584-95061-6| page = 200 pages}}
*{{cite book|author1=Crump, Vivien |author2=Toh, Irene | title= Rajasthan| location=London| publisher=Everyman Guides|year=1996| type = hardback| isbn = 1-85715-887-3| page = 400 pages}}
*{{cite book|author1=Martinelli, Antonio |author2=Michell, George | title=The Palaces of Rajasthan| year = 2005| publisher=Frances Lincoln| location=London| isbn = 978-0-7112-2505-3| page = 271 pages}}
*{{cite book|author =Tod, James|title = Annals and Antiquities of Rajasthan, Volume II (With a Preface by Douglas Sladen)|publisher = Oriental Books Reprint Corporation. 54, Jhansi Road, New Delhi-1100055.}}

{{Princely states of India}}
{{Authority control}}
{{Coord|28.01|N|73.3|E|region:IN_type:landmark_source:kolossus-svwiki|display=title}}

[[Category:States and territories disestablished in 1947]]
[[Category:Princely states of India]]
[[Category:History of Bikaner]]
[[Category:History of Rajasthan]]
[[Category:Rajputs]]
[[Category:Rajputana Agency]]
[[Category:1465 establishments in Asia]]
[[Category:15th-century establishments in India]]
[[Category:1947 disestablishments in India]]
[[Category:Historical Hindu empires]]
[[Category: Rajput princely states]]

Bikaner State - Revision history

>Citation bot at 00:35, 11 September 2021