Maharaja Ganga Singh: Forgotten Hero of India

Indian history boasts heroes and larger-than-life figures, and one such individual is Maharaja Ganga Singh—a king, soldier, reformer, and visionary whose impact resonates through the annals of time.

Maharaja Ganga Singh | Source: Wikipedia

Merely 450 kilometres from New Delhi lies the legendary city of Bikaner, once among the 565 Princely States of British India. Steeped in history, heritage, and culture, Bikaner's tale is incomplete without the mention of one of its greatest luminaries, Maharaja Ganga Singh, who ruled from 1898 to 1936.

Ascending the throne at the tender age of eighteen on 16 December 1898, Maharaja Ganga Singh displayed single-mindedness and a larger-than-life personality from the outset. Within three years of his coronation, he volunteered for service during the Boxer Rebellion in China, showcasing his visionary spirit.

Renowned for transforming Bikaner, Maharaja Ganga Singh's most ambitious project aimed to combat famines and droughts by bringing water to his kingdom. In a pioneering move, he planned a canal to divert water from the Sutlej River in neighbouring Punjab to irrigate Bikaner. Despite initial rejection by British officials, the Ganga Canal was inaugurated by Viceroy Sir Irwin in 1927, irrigating over 300,000 hectares of land and making Bikaner one of the most fertile regions.

Maharaj Ganga Singh's influence extended beyond India. During World War I, he was the sole Indian representative in the Imperial War Cabinet and played a crucial role in the signing of the Treaty of Versailles in 1919. Captured in William Orpen’s painting, “The Signing of the Peace in the Hall of Mirrors,” displayed at the Imperial War Museum, Maharaja Ganga Singh stood prominently, a heavily moustached figure in a British General’s uniform.

The Signing of the Peace in the Hall of Mirrors, William Orpen | Source: Wikipedia

The British admired the Maharaja and gave value to his opinions on matters related to India. He served as a close aide to the Prince of Wales, who went on to become King George V.

“It is an open secret that between them there was established a bond of friendship.” – K.M. Panikkar, Biographer of Maharaja Ganga Singh

Despite criticism for being pro-British, Maharaja Ganga Singh's far-sightedness left an indelible mark on the future of India. He advocated for the creation of the Chamber of Princes, a forum that brought Indian rulers and British officials together. Though short-lived, this chamber paved the way for the unification of states after independence.

A reformer at heart, Maharaja Ganga Singh introduced life insurance policies, the Sharda Act prohibiting child marriages. Apart from the Gang Canal, he was instrumental in the construction of several infrastructure projects across Bikaner. He worked to develop the railways and education of the state and also developed the city of Ganganagar. He brought industrial and agricultural reforms, encouraging new enterprises that developed the state further. He was considered to be a man before his time and a modern--day Bhagirath, in reference to the legendary Ikshvaku king. es has a long list of admirers that include Mahatma Gandhi, Winston Churchill, King George V, Lloyd George, and several viceroys of India.

“We soon found out that he was one of ‘the wise men that come from the East.” Lloyd George, P.M. of the United Kingdom

Maharaja Ganga Singh passed away on 2nd February 1943, at 62 years of age. He left behind a legacy that was unmatched by any other royal family in Indian history.