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{{Short description|Maharaja of Bikaner (1880–1943)}}
{{Use Indian English|date=October 2020}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2018}}
{{Infobox royalty
| name = [[Maharaja]] Ganga Singh '''GBE'''
| image = Ganga Singh c1930.jpg
| image_size = 200px
| title = [[Bikaner State#Rulers|Maharaja Sahib of Bikaner]]
| succession = 21st [[Bikaner State#Rulers|Maharaja of Bikaner]]
| birth_date = 13 October 1880
| birth_place = [[Bikaner]], [[Bikaner State]], [[British India]]
| death_date = {{death date and age|df=yes|1943|2|2|1880|10|3}}
| death_place = [[Bombay]], [[Bombay Presidency]], [[British India]]
| reign = 1888–1943
| predecessor = [[Dungar Singh]]
| successor = [[Sadul Singh]]
| spouse-type = Consort(s)
| spouse = Maharani Shri Vallabh Kanwarji Sahiba<br>Tanwarji Maharani Sahiba<br>Bhatiyanji Maharani Shri Ajab Kanwarji Sahiba
| issue = Ram Singh<br>Chand Kanwarji<br>[[Sadul Singh]]<br>Bijey Singh<br>Vir Singh<br>Shiv Kanwarji
| father = Maharaj Shri Lal Singh Sahib
| mother = Maji Shri Chandravati ji Sahiba
}}

[[General (United Kingdom)|General]] [[Maharaja]] '''Sir Ganga Singh''', {{postnominals|country=GBR|sep=,|GCSI|GCIE|GCVO|GBE|KCB|GCStJ}} (13 October 1880 – 2 February 1943), was the ruling [[Maharaja]] of the [[princely state]] of [[Bikaner (princely state)|Bikaner]] (in present-day [[Rajasthan]], [[India]]) from 1888 to 1943. As a member of the [[Imperial War Cabinet]], he was present in the [[Palace of Versailles]] during [[The Signing of Peace in the Hall of Mirrors]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Imperial War Museum |title=The Signing of Peace in the Hall of Mirrors, Versailles, 28th June 1919 |url=https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/20780 |website=[[Imperial War Museum]]}}</ref>

== Biography ==
Ganga Singh was born on the auspicious day of [[Vijay Dashmi]] on 13 October 1880 to Maharaj Shri Lal Singh Sahib and his wife Maji Shri Chandravatiji Sahiba. He hailed from Royal [[Rajput]] family of [[Bikaner State]].<ref>{{Cite book|last=Hughes|first=Julie E.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RL8qWNmpkc0C&q=Ganga+Singh+rajput&pg=PT112|title=Animal Kingdoms|date=2013-03-01|publisher=Harvard University Press|isbn=978-0-674-07480-4|language=en}}</ref> He was brother to [[Dungar Singh]], whom he succeeded on 16 December 1888.{{citation needed|date=December 2020}}

He received his early education from Pandit Ram Chandra Dube. He was educated privately at [[Mayo College|Mayo College, Ajmer]], where he studied for 5 years. Later on, he was tutored by Sir Brian Egerton, who also provided him administrative training.
[[File:Ganga Singh of Bikaner 1914.jpg|thumb|left|upright|Sir Ganga Singh with his son Sadul Singh in 1914]]
For military training, he was sent to [[Deoli, Rajasthan|Deoli]] in 1898 and attached to the [[42nd Deoli Regiment]], which had the reputation of being one of the finest regiments in India under the command of Lt. Col. Bell. He served in China during the [[Boxer Rebellion]] (1900). During the [[First World War]], he commanded the [[Bikaner Camel Corps]] which served in France, Egypt and Palestine.

As a ruler, he established a Chief Court in [[Bikaner]], presided over by a Chief Judge who was assisted by two judges. Bikaner was the first State in [[Rajasthan]] to take such a step. He announced the establishment of a Representative Assembly in 1913. He later established a High Court with a Chief Justice and two sub-judges by an edict in 1922. Maharaja Ganga Singhji was the first prince in [[Rajputana]] to grant full charter of powers to a high court.

A life insurance and Endowment Assurance Scheme was introduced for the benefit of the employees. Also, facilities of a saving bank were made available to the people. He was one of the first rulers to introduce through legislation a Sharda Act by which child marriages were stopped.

[[File:Imperial war cabinet 1917.jpg|thumb|Maharaja Sir Ganga Singh (middle row, second from the left) in the [[Imperial War Cabinet]], [[No. 10 Downing Street]], 1917.]]
[[File:William Orpen – The Signing of Peace in the Hall of Mirrors, Versailles 1919, Ausschnitt.jpg|thumb|Singh (standing, 6th right) in the Hall of Mirrors during the signing of the [[Treaty of Versailles]], 1919]]

He had a personal gun salute of 17-guns granted in 1918 and a permanent local gun salute of 19-guns granted in 1921. He was an Honorary [[Aide-de-camp|ADC]] to [[George V of Great Britain and Ireland|the Prince of Wales]] when he visited the United Kingdom for the Coronation in 1902,<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=27460|page=4970|date=1 August 1902}}</ref> later serving him when he became [[Majesty|His Majesty]] [[George V of Great Britain and Ireland|King George V]], the [[King-Emperor]], in 1910. A Member of the Central Recruiting Board-India 1917, he represented India at the Imperial War Conference 1917, the [[Imperial War Cabinet]] and the [[Paris Peace Conference, 1919|Paris Peace Conference]] 1919 and was Chancellor of the Indian [[Chamber of Princes]] from 1920–26. He also represented India as a delegate at the fifth session of the [[League of Nations]] in 1924.
As well, the Maharaja served as Patron of [[Benares Hindu University]] and Sri Bharat Dharam Mahamandal, as Vice-President of East India Association and the [[Royal Colonial Institute]], a Member of the Indian Gymkhana Club and of the Indian Army Temperance Association, the General Council of Mayo and Daly Colleges, the Indian Society of Oriental Art, the Indian Society-London, the Bombay Natural History Society, and was the first Member of the Indian Red Cross Society. Singh was a famous Indian [[freemason]] in his time.

He was also the third Chairman of the Indian Public Schools Society ([[The Doon School]]) from 1929 to 1930.

== Family ==

=== Marriages ===
Maharaja Ganga Singh married three times. In July 1897, he married Maharani Vallabh Kanwar (known in Bikaner as "Maharani Ranawatiji" in honour of her native clan), daughter of Maharawat Raghunath Singh Bahadur, ruler of [[Pratapgarh State]]; she bore three children and died in August 1906. In May 1899, Ganga Singh married the daughter of Thakur Sultan Singh of Sanwatsar (a feudal chief under [[Bikaner state]] itself). The lady, known in court as "Maharani Tanwarji" in honour of her native clan, died without progeny in 1922. In May 1908, Ganga Singh married Maharani Ajab Kanwar, daughter of Thakur Bahadur Singh of Bhikamkore under [[Jodhpur state]]. Known as "Maharani Sri Bhatianiji" in honour of her native clan, she bore three children and died in November 1945, surviving Ganga Singh by more than two years.

=== Children ===
[[File:Bikaner His Highness.png|thumb|Maharaja of Bikaner with his daughter ]]
{| class="wikitable"
!Name
!Titles
!Birth
!Death
!Notes
|-
|Ram Singh
|Maharajkumar of Bikaner
|30 June 1898
|30 June 1898
|Born to Maharani Ranawatiji; died within hours of birth
|-
|Chand Kanwar
|Maharajkumari of Bikaner
|1 July 1899
|31 July 1915
|Born to Maharani Ranawatiji; died of tuberculosis at the [[Bhowali]] sanatorium aged 16
|-
|[[Sadul Singh of Bikaner|Sadul Singh]]
|Yuvaraj of Bikaner, later [[Bikaner State#Rulers|His Highness the Maharaja Sahib of Bikaner]].
|7 September 1902
|25 September 1950
|Born to Maharani Ranawatiji. Succeeded his father as [[Bikaner State|Maharaja of Bikaner]]. Reigned from 02 February 1943 until his death in 1950.<ref>{{Cite book|last=McClenaghan, Tony|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/36051619|title=Indian princely medals : a record of the orders, decorations, and medals of the Indian princely states|date=1996|publisher=Lancer Publishers|isbn=1-897829-19-1|location=New Delhi|oclc=36051619}}</ref>
|-
|Bijey Singh
|Maharajkumar of Bikaner, later Maharaj of Chhatargarh
|28 March 1909
|11 February 1932
|Born to Maharani Bhatianiji. Selected to succeed to the estates of his natural grandfather (Ganga Singh's biological father), Maharaj Shri Lal Singh.
|-
|Veer Singh
|Maharajkumar of Bikaner
|7 October 1910
|27 March 1911
|Born to Maharani Bhatianiji. Died in infancy.
|-
|Shiv Kanwarji
|
* '''1916 – 1930:''' Maharajkumari of Bikaner
* '''1930 – 1940:''' Yuvarani of Kotah
* '''1940 – 1991:''' Maharani of Kotah
* '''1991 – :''' Rajmata of Kotah
|1 March 1916
|12 January 2012
|Born to Maharani Bhatianiji. Given in marriage to [[Bhim Singh II|the future Maharaja Bhim Singh II]] of [[Kotah State|Kotah]] in April 1930, aged 14.
|}

== Death ==
He died on 2 February 1943 in Bombay after a reign of 56 years, aged 62, and was succeeded by his son [[Sadul Singh]] as [[Bikaner State#Rulers|His Highness the Maharaja Sahib of Bikaner]].

== Achievements ==
[[File:Ganga Singh 1919.jpg|thumb|upright|Ganga Singh in 1919]]

* Singh constructed the [[Ganga Canal (Rajasthan)|Ganga Canal]]. He inspired people to come and settle in this new Command area. A large population settled there from the surrounding areas of Punjab. Among them the Sikh families mostly land owners, migrated to this region in the 1920s, when the canal was built by Maharaja Ganga Singh of the former Bikaner state bringing waters of the [[Satluj]] river from the adjoining [[Ferozepur District]] in Punjab. There were no permanent settlements in this area (except for a few towns under the old Bikaner state
* He successfully dealt with the worst famine of the year 1899–1900 AD in the region. This famine inspired the young Maharaja to establish an irrigation system to get rid of the problem permanently.
* He developed the city of [[Sri Ganganagar]] and its surrounding area as the most fertile grain bowl of [[Rajasthan]]
* He also constructed the [[Lalgarh Palace]] at Bikaner (named in memory of his father Lall Singh) between 1902 and 1926.
* He brought railways and an electricity network to the state.
* He introduced prison reforms. Bikaner prisoners wove and crafted carpets of India that were sold in the international markets.
* He established partial internal democracy such as election to the municipalities and appointed a council of ministers to aid and advice.
* Some land reforms were also introduced.
* He induced enterprising Industrialist and agriculturists from neighbouring state for starting new ventures in his state.
* He built the existing temple above the [[Samadhi]] of [[Ramdev Pir]] at [[Ramdevra]] in year 1931.
*Founder several schools and colleges, especially of women
*He donated two ornately designed silver gates to be used as main doors of [[Karni Mata]] temple at Deshnok.

== Titles ==
*1880–1887: [[Maharaj]] Ganga Singh of [[Bikaner]] .
*1887–1898: [[His Highness]] [[Maharajadhiraj]] Raj-Rajeshwar Narendra Shiromani Maharaja Shri Ganga Singh Bahadur, [[Maharaja]] of Bikaner
*1898–1900: [[2nd Lieutenant]] His Highness Maharajadhiraj Raj-Rajeshwar Narendra Shiromani Maharaja Shri Ganga Singh Bahadur, Maharaja of Bikaner
*1900–1901: Major His Highness Maharajadhiraj Raj-Rajeshwar Narendra Shiromani Maharaja Shri Ganga Singh Bahadur, Maharaja of Bikaner
*1901–1904: Major His Highness Maharajadhiraj Raj-Rajeshwar Narendra Shiromani Maharaja Sir Ganga Singh Bahadur, Maharaja of Bikaner, [[Order of the Indian Empire|KCIE]]
*1904–1907: Major His Highness Maharajadhiraj Raj-Rajeshwar Narendra Shiromani Maharaja Sir Ganga Singh Bahadur, Maharaja of Bikaner, [[Order of the Star of India|KCSI]], KCIE
*1907–1909: Major His Highness Maharajadhiraj Raj-Rajeshwar Narendra Shiromani Maharaja Sir Ganga Singh Bahadur, Maharaja of Bikaner, [[GCIE]], KCSI
*1909–1910: [[Lieutenant-Colonel]] His Highness Maharajadhiraj Raj-Rajeshwar Narendra Shiromani Maharaja Sir Ganga Singh Bahadur, Maharaja of Bikaner, GCIE, KCSI
*1910–1911: [[Colonel]] His Highness Maharajadhiraj Raj-Rajeshwar Narendra Shiromani Maharaja Sir Ganga Singh Bahadur, Maharaja of Bikaner, GCIE, KCSI
*1911–1917: Colonel His Highness Maharajadhiraj Raj-Rajeshwar Narendra Shiromani Maharaja Sir Ganga Singh Bahadur, Maharaja of Bikaner, [[GCSI]], GCIE
*1917–1919: [[Major-General]] His Highness Maharajadhiraj Raj-Rajeshwar Narendra Shiromani Maharaja Sir Ganga Singh Bahadur, Maharaja of Bikaner, GCSI, GCIE, [[Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath|KCB]]
*1919–1921: Major-General His Highness Maharajadhiraj Raj-Rajeshwar Narendra Shiromani Maharaja Sir Ganga Singh Bahadur, Maharaja of Bikaner, GCSI, GCIE, [[GCVO]], KCB
*1921–1930: Major-General His Highness Maharajadhiraj Raj-Rajeshwar Narendra Shiromani Maharaja Sir Ganga Singh Bahadur, Maharaja of Bikaner, GCSI, GCIE, GCVO, [[Knight Grand Cross of the British Empire|GBE]], KCB
* 1930–1937: [[Lieutenant-General]] His Highness Maharajadhiraj Raj-Rajeshwar Narendra Shiromani Maharaja Sir Ganga Singh Bahadur, Maharaja of Bikaner, GCSI, GCIE, GCVO, GBE, KCB
* 1937–1943: General His Highness Maharajadhiraj Raj-Rajeshwar Narendra Shiromani Maharaja Sir Ganga Singh Bahadur, Maharaja of Bikaner, GCSI, GCIE, GCVO, GBE, KCB

== Honours ==
<div class="center">
(Ribbon bar, as it would look today; UK decorations only){{citation needed|date=June 2020}}

[[File:1000px ribbon bar of the Order of Maria Anna.svg|100px]]
[[File:Order of the Indian Empire Ribbon.svg|100px]]
[[File:Royal Victorian Order ribbon sm.jpg|100px]]
[[File:Order of the British Empire (Military) Ribbon.png|100px]]

[[File:Order of the Bath UK ribbon.svg|100px]]
[[File:Kaisar-i-Hind Medal.gif|100px]]
[[File:Order of St John (UK) ribbon -vector.svg|100px]]
[[File:Third China War Medal BAR.svg|100px]]

[[File:1914 Star BAR.svg|100px]]
[[File:British War Medal BAR.svg|100px]]
[[File:Victory Medal MID ribbon bar.svg|100px]]
[[File:India Service Medal BAR.svg|100px]]

[[File:39-45 Star BAR.svg|100px]]
[[File:Africa Star BAR.svg|100px]]
[[File:War Medal 39-45 BAR.svg|100px]]
[[File:King Edward VII Coronation Medal (Military) ribbon.png|100px]]

[[File:Med.DelhiDurbar1903.png|100px]]
[[File:King George V Coronation Medal ribbon.svg|100px]]
[[File:King George V Silver Jubilee Medal ribbon.svg|100px]]
[[File:GeorgeVICoronationRibbon.png|100px]]

</div>

=== British ===
* [[Kaisar-i-Hind Medal]], 1st Class-1900
* [[China War Medal (1900)]] – ''1901'' – which he received in person from the [[George V|Prince of Wales]] on 2 July 1902, during a parade of Indian troops in London for the [[Coronation of King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra|coronation]] festivities.<ref>{{Cite newspaper The Times |title=Court Circular |date=3 July 1902 |page=8 |issue=36810}}</ref>
* [[King Edward VII Coronation Medal]]-1902
* Delhi Durbar Medal (gold)-1903
* '''KCIE''':[[Order of the Indian Empire|Knight Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire]] – ''24 July 1901'' – in recognition of services during the recent operations in China ([[Boxer Rebellion]])<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=27337 |date=24 July 1901 |page=4917 |supp=y}}</ref>
* '''GCIE''': [[Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire]] – ''1907''
* [[King George V Coronation Medal]]-1911
* [[Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Star of India]] (GCSI)-1911 (KCSI-1904)
* [[1914 Star]]-1914
* Bailiff Grand Cross of the [[Venerable Order of Saint John|Order of St John]] (GCStJ)-1914
* [[Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath]] (KCB)-1918
* [[British War Medal]]-1918
* [[Victory Medal (United Kingdom)|Victory Medal]]-1918
* [[Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order]] (GCVO)-1919
* [[Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire]] (GBE) – New Year Honours 1921, for war service<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=32178 |date=1 January 1921 |page=7|supp=y }}</ref>
* [[King George V Silver Jubilee Medal]]-1935
* [[King George VI Coronation Medal]]-1937
* [[Africa Star]]-1942
* [[War Medal 1939–1945]]-1945 (posthumous)
* [[1939-1945 Star]]-1945 (posthumous)
* India Service Medal-1945 (posthumous)

=== Mentions in despatches ===
*1901, 1914, 1918

=== Foreign honours ===
* Grand Cross of the [[Order of Philip the Magnanimous]] of [[Hesse]]-1903
* Grand Cordon of the [[Order of the Nile]] of Egypt-1918

=== Academic honours ===
* Honorary [[LL.D]] ([[Cantab.]])-1911
* Honorary [[LL.D]] ([[Edinburgh]])-1917
* Honorary [[Doctor of Civil Law|DCL]] ([[Oxon.]])-1919
* Honorary [[LL.D]] ([[Benares Hindu University]])-1927
* Honorary [[LL.D]] ([[Osmania University]])-1927

== Memorials ==
The University of Bikaner was renamed after him as Maharaja Ganga Singh University, Bikaner by an act passed in 2003.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.mgsubikaner.ac.in/origin.php |title=Maharaja Ganga Singh University, Bikaner |access-date=4 April 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140407083443/http://www.mgsubikaner.ac.in/origin.php |archive-date=7 April 2014 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}</ref>

== See also ==
* [[List of Rajputs]]
* [[List of famous big game hunters]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{EB1922 Poster|Bikaner, Sir Ganga Singh, Maharaja of|Ganga Singh}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20020530083519/http://www.realbikaner.com/history/rulers/gangasingh.html Ganga Singh] at realbikaner.com
* [http://www.npg.org.uk/live/search/person.asp?LinkID=mp00420 Ganga Singh] at the British [[National Portrait Gallery (United Kingdom)|National Portrait Gallery]]
{{s-start}}
{{s-hou|[[Rathore]] Dynasty||3 October 1880||2 February 1943}}
{{s-reg|}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Dungar Singh]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Bikaner (princely state)|Maharaja of Bikaner]]|years=1887–1943}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Sadul Singh of Bikaner|Sadul Singh]]}}
{{s-end}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Singh, Ganga}}
[[Category:Rajput rulers]]
[[Category:1880 births]]
[[Category:1943 deaths]]
[[Category:Bailiffs Grand Cross of the Order of St John]]
[[Category:Founders of Indian schools and colleges]]
[[Category:Indian Army personnel]]
[[Category:Indian Army personnel of World War I]]
[[Category:Knights Commander of the Order of the Bath]]
[[Category:Knights Grand Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire]]
[[Category:Knights Grand Commander of the Order of the Star of India]]
[[Category:Indian Knights Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire]]
[[Category:Indian Knights Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order]]
[[Category:Maharajas of Bikaner]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Kaisar-i-Hind Medal]]

Ganga Singh - Revision history

Bot at 05:20, 19 December 2022