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 multi-hued personality and rich legacy make him on of the most resplendent figures in the vibrant history of Rajasthan.
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