Maharaja Ganga Singhji was born on the auspicious day of Vijay Dashmi (Aswani Sudi 10) Samvat 1937 (Corresponding to 13th October, 1880). He succeeded to the throne of the erst-while Bikaner Staff on the 31st, August 1887 on the demise of his brother, Maharaja Dungar Singhji.
He received his early education at home under the able guidance of Pt. Ram Chandra Dubey. In 1889, the Maharaja was sent to Mayo College, Ajmer, where also Pt. Ram Chandra Dubey continued to be his tutor and guide. He was a brilliant student and gained the First Prize in English in all classes.
The Maharaja left Mayo College in 1894 when he was fourteen and from 1895 to 1898, he was put under the able guidance of Sir Brian Edgerton for administrative training. He learnt the entire administrative work from that of Patwari to that of Prime Minister.
For Military training, he was sent to Deoli in 1898 and attached to the Deoli Regiment, which had the reputation of being one of the smartest regiment in India under the command of Lt. Col. Bell. The Maharaja was vested with full ruling powers on the 16th December 1898 on his attaining the age of eighteen.
Soon after assumption of powers in 1898, the Maharaja had n 1899 to combat with one of the worst famines, which had ever ravaged the entire region including Bikaner. The Monsoon of 1899 failed miserably. There were no crops and the grain stores had already been depleted as a result of six previous successive famines. The men, cattle and other livestock began migrating for lack of food, fodder and drinking water.
The famine took lives also on account of the spread of fierce epidemic diseases. Though still in his teens, the Maharaja in his eagerness and enthusiasm took all possible steps to provide relief to famine stricken people. He, therefore, decided to take Famine Department in his personal charge and made tour of the famine affected areas on camel and horse-back in order to acquaint himself with the needs of the people and the size and intensity of their suffering which enabled him to take affective measures to combat the same. His signal services to his people were greatly appreciated and praised not only by the people of Bikaner but by the then Commissioner for Rajasthan, Agent to the Governor General, and even the then Viceroy, Extracts from whose remarks are reproduced below: - “The famine campaign would never have turned into the complete success it did, had it not been for the personal efforts/interest taken in its prosecution by the Maharaja.
He took the initiative at the beginning and was the guiding spirit of the relief operations…………………..The energy, and shrewd capacity be brought to bear on the conduct of affairs made his famine administration in some respects of pattern, not only to other states but to British districts.
Col. Dunlop Smith, Famine Commissioner observed “The main part of the credit for these satisfactory results in undoubtedly due ………….to your ruler-The Maharaja whose personal interest in the famine organisation and energy as evidenced by his recent prolonged tour on horse and camel back practically unattended and with only two or three small tents through the desert have never flagged from the onset since six months ago. …………………………”
According to Sir Arthur Martindale, A.G.G. Rajputana “…………………..His Highness was his own famine officer through out the fearful time and he conducted his campaign with indefatigable energy and skill.”
On behalf of the Queen of England, Lord Curzon the then viceroy of India in recognisation of meritorious and humanitarian services relating to famine operations awarded 1st Class Keshrehind Gold Medal in 1900, which was very rare honour.
The harrowing experiences gained from the calamity of unparalleled magnitude left an unforgettable impression on the mind of the young Maharaja who resolved in his mind.” That never again, if human enterprise and skill can prevent it.” Shall Bikaner face such a situation again? He realized that the solution lay in a twofold development viz. firstly the Railway which would provided quicker and easier means of communication both for men and cattle as well as for transport of food supplies and fodder and secondly irrigation which would bring under cultivation the vast parched sandy tracts of land and will thus prove a veritable boon of supply of grain and fodder not only to the area under irrigation but also to vast surrounding sandy tracts. To this end, he set himself with full determination and zeal, which resulted in his bringing water from Sutlej now known as Gang Canal to convert this desert into greenery of Rajasthan.
The young Maharaja immediately got in touch with the best experts in development of Railway which was so great that by the end of 1935, A network of Railway over 1000 miles long was spread through out the desert state of Bikaner. It would be relevant to mention that the Bikaner State Railway had the pride of being the biggest Railway in Rajasthan.
As stated before, the Maharaja realized that if any thing could eradicate the poverty and famine from this vast tract of sandy land, it would be only by bringing the irrigation system from adjoining Punjab Rivers. Having been convinced of this fact, he set, with unflinching zeal and resolute determination, for brining canal in 1903.
In 1903, Maharaja Ganga Singhji obtained the services of A.W.E. Standby who demonstrated the feasibility of the vast area of the Bikaner State being brought under irrigation from the Sutlej waters. Meanwhile, in 1905, at the instance of the Central Government, Mr. R.G. Kennedy draw up in first Sutlej Valley project, according to which vast tracts of land in the Bikaner State could be brought under irrigation. However, due to various objections being raised by the neighboring States of Bahawalpur, nothing could materialize till 1906, when a decision was taken and according to which a scheme was sanctioned in 1912. Yet, Bahawalpur was still persisting in that only riparian States could derive the benefits of river waters. Lord Curzon decided in 1906 that, “river water should be used to the best advantage of the people of India, without regard to the accident of their being subjects of an India Chief or in British territory.” The objection of the Bahawalpur State was accordingly refuted and after protracted correspondence, a tripartite conference was held and an agreement was reached and signed on the 4th. Sept 1920. However the area to be irrigated in the Bikaner territory under the 1905 proposals, viz. 18,00,000 acres, was limited to 1,000 Sq. miles under the final project. The foundation stone of the Canal Head Work at Ferozepur was laid on the 5th December 1925 and the work complete in 1927 by constructing 89 miles lined canal. Lord Irwin, the Viceroy of India performed the opening ceremony on The 26th October1927.
Maharaja Ganga Singhji said on the occasion of opening of Gang Canal in year 1927 – “People are rejoicing to south flow of canal water but he is only happy that his work has been started and he will be satisfied only when this vast barren country will be irrigated……….”
The original idea of the late Maharaja was to take water from Hari-Ke-Pattan, but for reasons only known to Punjab Government, the water supplied to Bikaner was not possible from Hari-Ke-Pattan. In spit of that the Gang Canal had the run of 89 miles, though was at that time the world’s longest concrete lined canal and the most astonishing thing is that the Maharaja accomplished this Herculean task within a short period of 7 years, without any central aid or from any other sources.
He was not satisfied with the coverage of Gang Canal irrigation because according to him it irrigated only a very little part of his kingdom, so he soon started Bhakra Nagal Project with a view to get greater area irrigated and thus the State of Bikaner became a partner in this project. According to hits, the Bikaner was to got Hydro Electricity from Bhakra and today the Rajasthan giving Bhakra Hydro Electricity because of foresight of Maharaja Ganga Singhji in 1937. Preliminary work of Bhakra was started but on the commencement of the 2nd World war it was given up an again after the war was over, the work was restarted. Today Bhakra Canal is irrigating greater area of Bikaner.
He was not satisfied with the coverage of Gang Canal irrigation because according to him it irrigated only a very little part of his kingdom, so he soon started Bhakra Nagal Project with a view to get greater area irrigated and thus the State of Bikaner became a partner in this project. According to hits, the Bikaner was to got Hydro Electricity from Bhakra and today the Rajasthan giving Bhakra Hydro Electricity because of foresight of Maharaja Ganga Singhji in 1937. Preliminary work of Bhakra was started but on the commencement of the 2nd World war it was given up an again after the war was over, the work was restarted. Today Bhakra Canal is irrigating greater area of Bikaner.
1902- Maharaja Ganga Singhji was a very enlightened Ruler and was ahead of his times. Though young in age but matured in Judgment and clear thinking yet in 1902 he separated his privy- purse and never took more than 10% of the state revenue as his privy- purse. When he come to throne the revenue of his state was raised the income of his State to 4 Crores of rupees.
His another great desire was that his people should get proper and spacey justice and in full filament of this object, a chief court was established in Bikaner in the year 1911 presided over by a Chief Judge who was assisted by two Judges. Bikaner was the First State in Rajasthan to take such a step, a progressive measure.
The Representative Assembly was given the names of Legislative Assembly with large powers and the number of its elected members was increased. The new Legislative Assembly building built in the year 1973 was modern Assembly Hall, of which people were proud.
CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETIES: An Act was passed and the first co-operative society was started. Thus it was an early as 1920 that the Maharaja had realized the importance of the co-operative societies in the rural economy.
A ZAMINDARI BOARD: Was constituted in order to bring closer the agriculturists and the Government to enable them to understand each other’s problem and try to meet them. With the creation of Ganganagar as a separate administrative unit, a Zamindari Board was also created for that area.
HIGH COURT: For better dispensation of Justice, the Maharaja established a High Court with a Chief Justice and two sub-judges by a Edict dated the 3rd May, 1922 Maharaja Ganga Singhji was again the first prince in Rajputana to have grated 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.
THE VILLAGE PANCHAYAT ACT NO. III of 1928 was passed under which the Panchayats were given definite Civil Criminal and Executive powers.
The State maintained a very good not-work of Postal by Camel Dak and camel corps too were used for this purpose except as some places where the services of mail running carts were utilized. With the linking of Bikaner with Jodhpur by the Rail in the Year 1891, runners were instructed to cover up chair route distance as far as possible by the train to avoid delay in transshipment. Articles of all description (mostly official) carried during 1883-84 was 163366 but with the opening of an Experimental Imperial Post Office on 1.7.1884 it showed gradual increase – The Maharaja provided more facilities to his subject and the public did not fail to take advantage resulting in the opening of many more post offices. According to the official research and the files available in Archives, Postage on all mails was realized in cash and the State Government issued no postage stamp. Later with the adoption of the Postal Unity Scheme between the British and the State governments, May more reforms were introduced. Lot of new post & Telegraph offices were opened and this experiment proved to be a great success. The 1st British Post Office was opened at Sujangarh. The new Imperial Post and Telegraph Office was opened at Bikaner on 31st October, 1973 duly equipped with the most modern Telegraph equipment of that time by Maharaja Ganga Singhji with a golden key. Sir C.V. Bewoor, the then Director General of Post & Telegraphs, was there at the opening ceremony. Sir Bewoor thanked the Maharaja for the construction of the magnificent building to meet the increasing demand of the public, Government offices and Commercial class. The Golden Key with which the New Post Office was opened will be on view in Exhibition.
Maharaja Ganga Singhji fully realized that in order to equip the people to play their role in the Government, as also for their advancement in general, their education and health had to be properly looked after and gave his very careful actuation to the propagation of education. Wide diffusion of education in the sandy tracts of Bikaner, where the villages are scattered and situated far apart as also sparsely populated, was no doubt, a difficult problem, but to the Maharaja, no difficulty was un-surmountable and with this motto that defeat should not be accepted at any cost, it is to his credit that he succeeded not only in establishing a note work of educational institutions throughout the State but was also generous to grant a number of scholarships to students intending to purse higher studies outside the State. As early as in 1928 an Act was passed for Compulsory Education in the State of Bikaner . He was a great pioneer in the field of education and genuinely believed in the spread of education and literacy. So, from 1893 onwards, he involved a system thereby each important town and prominent village had their school and during his stats tours, he made a point to visit these schools and colleges and to talk to the students to test their ability.
He was a good champion of female education and in Year 1894 in Bikaner city a girl’s school was established and as the time went by, there was also a college for women. He even opened school for girls observing puradah so that they may not lack in education.
When Maharaja came to the throne, he found that there was hardly any hospital and the people had no cravenly very long distances for their treatment. He decided that each town should have its own hospital and some of the big villages too have dispensaries where medicine could easily be made available and in case of epidemic, immediately aid could be rushed to the rural area. Because of this planning Bikaner State had very good number of small hospitals and dispensaries throughout the area of 23000 Sq. miles. Not satisfied with this, he made a group of hospitals in 1937which became an ideal for the whole of Northern India. He got best specialize in Surgery, Radiology, Pathology, Physician, who were second to none in their ability. All medicines were given free to the patients, even the X-ray and Radium treatment. The indoor patients were given free food, free medicine, and free clothing and the cottage wards, which could be hired by well-to-do persons on a nominal payment of Rs. 2 and 8 Annas per day. A cottage ward consisted of a bedroom for the patient, a kitchen, bath and W.C. a small room for his relatives and a little courtyard fitted with electric fan and flush bathroom was provided and no extra charges of this use of ammonites were made. This group of hospitals known as Prince Bijay Singh Memorial Hospital (PBM) contains fully equipped hospital for women for tuberculosis, for children and X-ray, Radium department etc. Radium therapy was available for cancer treatment in Bikaner as early as 1937. These hospitals today are equipped with advanced Cobalt therapy making Bikaner importance for Cancer treatment. The cancer patients from entire Rajasthan as well as other parts of India come here. It was the greatest boon to the people of Bikaner and his greatest services to the suffering humanity for all time to come.
These hospitals in 1943 were considered as not only the best in Rajasthan but also perhaps one of the best in Northern India. Maharaja Ganga Singhji had sixth sense and he could always feel in his inner mind the coming of things which most of his contemporaries could not even remotely imagine of it. In the year 1937, the British power was at its climax, and the Princes were very secure and steady and even most of the India leaders who were sacrificing their lives for the attainment of freedom could hardly think that in near future the Mighty power of the British Raj and Princely ordered would disappear. But the Maharaja knows that the Princely order and the British Raj were approaching their end. This is evident from his letter of 21st February, 1937 to Sir Donald Fiald, Prime Minister of Jodhpur, in which he wrote “Let me tell you Sir Donald, that neither the glorified pillars of the princely order nor the loftiest among the regency bucks are going to survive these proletarian fire brands, yet the mantle of Centuries old sovereignty in India is going to fall open them for justice and fair play……………..…Since neither you nor your colligates think of throwing the State of Marwar to wolves, you will surely realise that person of Jai Narain Vyas’ dominance will be required too badly to look after the millions at large at a time when you will be no more at the helm of affairs.”
This observation in this historic letter is almost prophetic. Maharaja Ganga Singhji was a great Nationalist and always very proud of being an Indian. He respected the man’s courage that stood for the freedom of the country. He never shirked from giving protection even to revolutionaries, like Shri Kumaran and Swami, the famous Communist leader, Rao Gopal Singh Kharva, Barath Kashri Singh, Barath Zoraware Singh etc. The great prominent leaders of India like Shri Gokhle, Mahatma Gandhi, Pt. Madan Mohan Malviya, Chintamani, Sir Taj Bahadur Sapru, and M.R. Jaikar etc. were his friends and he always stood by them in their hour of need. The contribution of Maharaja Ganga Singhji to the cause of freedom was great and even whilst he was busy with the deliberations in the Treaty of Versailles; he found time to prepare a note for giving to Lord Chelmsford and Mr. Montague who were entrusted with the work of giving India Home Rule. This note be known as Rome Note and had formed the basic of Montague/Chelmsford Reforms. He never liked the interference of the Political Agents in the administration of the Rulers and had the courage to say that barring a few personal friends I wish the whole of the political department be blown to pieces. At one time Lord Jatland, the Under Secretary of State for India said that “The British had conquered India by the Sword and will retain it so” The Maharaja immediately refuted it in strong terms and made him withdraw the remarks. The British Government did not whole heatedly support the question of India’s representation in the League of Nation. He had the courage to write that when fight was going on in the trenches, no question white or black was ever raised then why now such feelings should be there. Lord Sinha had come to India earlier and it falls to the Maharaja to fight out the case. He took advantage of his friendship with the greatest French Prime Minister Clemeanceau and with his help; India took the place of honour in the League of Nations.
As early as 1912, Shri G.K. Gokhala, then renowned patriot bore testimony to Maharaja Ganga Singhji’s work for the country when he wrote to the Maharaja on the 25th February saying “Many thanks for the copies of the replies of the Princes and chiefs to your circular letter and telegrams and of the communications addressed by your Highness to the Viceroy, which you have kindly sent ms. I agree with you that the movement was unqualified success, and I think we have reason to feel satisfied that we did a good day’s work for our country in inaugurating it. May I kept these copies with me as a moment of our cooperation in the matter.”
As a Patriotic Indian, the Maharaja fully sympathized with the aspirations of the people of British India for emancipation. In 1917, when he was selected to participate in the deliberations of the Imperial Conference he gave expression of his views at a banquet held in his honour in Bombay on the 7th February, 1917. He realized that he was going to London not only as a Ruler of Bikaner, or even as a representative of the princes but as a spokesman for this mother country. He said that whether they come from the territories of the British India or those of the Indian States, they were all Indians, and were therefore united in their affection for the mother country and the well being of their brethren without regard to cast, creed or community. He said that he hoped that when the war was over the angle of vision regarding India will be greatly altered in her favour and that the just claims and aspirations of India will be met with this frank and open expression of his mind before an assemblage presided over by the Governor was indeed epoch-making and was duly appreciated by the press and leading political leaders of the country. On the 24th April, 1917 speaking at the lunch given by Empire Parliamentary Association to the Indian delegation, he said about India is aspirations” our aspiration is also to see our country under the guidance of British in material advance on constitutional lines in regards to masters political and economical.” Here he also dispelled fear that the Princes will be opposed to any such reform and asserted that on the contrary, it will be a matter of rejoicing for them. He retired his view in an interview given to the Times on 10 May 1917 and urged for an early action in the direction by repeating the old saying that who gives quickly. His work as the Imperial was Cabinet and War Council was greatly appreciated and Lord Grorg praised him as “the wise man that comes from the East.” The Maharaja did pioneering works at the conference by bringing nearer the English people and Indians and in creating and understanding and sympathy for the aspirations of India. This was duly appreciated by the Indian press (United India and Native States, Madras. 7.6.1917, India Princes 14.6.1917 the Indian review 17.8.1917).
On every other subsequent occasion that come his way, he never lose the opportunity of espousing to the cause of India’s just aspirations for the attainment of freedom and asserting that the Princes, rather then be a barrier in the way, would rejoice at British India’s getting its due, this is amply born out from his utterances at the various conferences and committees that he served upon in English and referred to briefly thereafter. On the 15th November 1918 the Viceroy Lord Ch.Imsofrd telegraphically asked the Maharaja to proceed to London accompanied by Lord Senha for deliberations of the Press Conference. He left Bikaner on the 20th November, and on reaching London he was appointed as one of His Majesty’s plenipotentiaries in regard to India for the peace Conference. During the course of preliminary discussions, it transpired that the inclusion of India as a member of League of Nations was being opposed even by the British Empire delegation mainly on grounds of internal autonomy. Lord Sinha prepared a note for forcefully refuting the arguments and Maharaja Ganga Singhji also appended a note thereto claming inclusion of India as an original member and it was this timely action that saved the day and in plenary session of the peace conference held on 25th April 1919 India’s name was expressly included as one of the original members. The Maharaja is one of the signatories of the peace treaty signed at Versailles on the 28th June 1919. Another important question that came up before the peace conference was a proposal from the Japanese speaking and coloration for racial quality. Though the Empire Delegation appeased this, both Maharaja Ganga Singhji and Lord Sinha supported it. The Maharaja attended the 1924 session of the League of Nations. As the Indian representative on the Health Organisation and succeeded in India’s gaining a voice on the working of that body by virtue of securing that the programmed and report of its activities will be forwarded to international health office at Pairs on which India was represented. On an announcement being made by the Viceroy on the 31st October, 1929 of the intentions of the British Government of convey a Round Table Conference in London, the Maharaja was the first to realized its significance and in an interview given on the 2nd November 1929 he said “The Princes realizing fully well that they are bound to their brethren in British India by ties of blood, race and religion have no desire to hamper the attainment of Dominion Status by British India or to be a drag on its constitutional advancement. Nothing is father from their desire than to break up the country into two discordant halves warring against each other in fratricidal funds and they look forward to the unity of India as earnestly as their friends, the political leaders of British India.” In 1930 it was decided in principle that an Indian head the Indian Delegation to the League of Nations and Maharaja Ganga Singhji was chosen to be the leader of the Indian delegation for the League of Nation session held in Sept. 1930. He was the first Indian to receive this signal honour. During this session, the Maharaja also served on two committees of the Assembly, Viz. that on Armament and Reorganization of the League Secretariat. In October 1930, the Maharaja again represented India at the Imperial Conference and served as a member of the Inter Imperial Relations Committee. On the conclusion of the visit and on the eve of his departure for India, the Prime Minister wrote to him saying "The Imperial Conference Indeed has owed much to you before, seeing that, as long as 13 years ago you took part in its deliberations, in fact, this year as one of India’s representative again you were the doyen amongst the representatives present from every quarter of the Empire.”
The Maharaja was a delegate to the 1st Round Table Conference, which opened in London on the 12th November 1930. The British India delegates were suspicious about his attitude that the Indian States representatives might adopt a stand that the Indian States representatives had to avoid being branded as traitors if they allowed themselves to be made a barrier in the grant of reforms towards the attainment of freedom by British India and at the same time safeguard their own special position. On the 17th 1913 Sir Tej Bahadur Saproo opened the case for India and carried conventions. He applied to the Princes of India to join hands with chair brethren in British India to establish an All India Federation, Responding; the Maharaja welcomed the idea of federation with legitimated safeguards. He said, "We of the Indian States are willing to take out part in and our contribution to the greater prosperity and contentment of India as a whole. I am convinced that we can best make the contribution through a federal system of Government composed of the States and British India. We the Princes are Indians, we have our roots deep down in her historical pasts, we are racy of the soil, every thing which tends to the Honour and prosperity of India has for us vital concern, and every thing which retards her prosperity and shakes the stability of her institution retards our own growth and lowers our stature."
As a consequence, federation and central responsibility was accepted by the conferences and the task of working out details was entrusted to a committee known as federal structural committee. The 1st Round Table Conference adjourned on January 1913. The patriotic Maharaja was, however, not happy at the congress the main political party in India, refusing to parties pate in the deliberations of the Round Table Conference. On his return to India he therefore, assiduously strived to ensure that the congress was represented at the 2nd Round Table Conference. His efforts bore fruits and the congress agreed to participate nominating Mahatma Gandhi as its sole representative. Mahatma Gandhi paid a visit to the Maharaja at his residence. Devi Bhawan, Bombay and the two had a hart to heart talk. During the course of this meeting the Maharaja offered to look after the passage arrangements for Mahatma Gandhi. Eventually, they both sailed for England by S.S. Mooltan to attend the Conference. He personally intervened four times to save the Banaras University first time in 1912, when the famous Lord Harding Bomb case and the last were in 1942. In 1942 the Banaras Hindu University was closed down as a result of acts of in disciplined and sabotage by the students, during the freedom movements. There was no hope of its booing reopened. The Maharaja, who was the pre chancellor of the University from 1922 to 1928 and Chancellor from 1929 till almost the time of his demise, moved in the matter and was successful in having the university reopened.
The sums up his services to the cause of India’s Nationalism are such as to entitle him to an honored place among the ranks of the great Indian patriots. He had missed no opportunity to press the claims of India for a. majors of self Government. It was his voice that assured Britain that the Princes work whole heatedly in favour of political advance in British India. But for the momentous declaration, which the Maharaja, with the courage and vision of a patriot, made in 1930 at the First Round Table Conference, the Courage of events would never have changed. In fact, the Maharaja has been one of the most consistent Nationalists, whose influences and prestige have always been on the side of progressive emancipation of his country. At a condolence meeting held at the Banaras Hindu University, the form President of India, Dr. Radha Krishan, then the Vice chancellor of the University, observed and said, “His interest in the University was un-bounded. So far as this University and the promotion of Hindu ideals were concerned, he was next to none in his enthusiasm. In him we have lost a great patron of the University, a great friend in whose mature judgment and mellowed experiences we could ways rely. It will not be easy to get a successor who could take such an abiding interest in the University."
Maharaja Ganga Singhji was one of the greatest builders of his times. The most of the buildings constructed by him are of red sand stone and in these buildings unique Bikaner Architecture has been developed were there is a most appealing resemblance of ancient Indian architecture and certain prominent pictures. Moghul Architecture as on finds in the majestic buildings in New Delhi namely Rashtrapati Bhawan, North and South Blocks etc. if one makes an over all assessment of the number of prominent and magnificent buildings constructed by Maharaja Ganga Singhji he can be easily compared with great builders of the Modern India. It is important to mention here that in all the buildings as far as possible local materiel has been used and the work of stone carving, wood carving, brass carving etc has almost entirely being done by local artiest and artisans. It would be proper to say that as the Maharaja advanced in his age he acquired an international stature. He was a first Indian to be a full General in any army. He represented India in the Imperial war cabinet and war council, signed the treaty of Versailles was given the freedom of the city of London. Edin Burgh and Dublin. He attended and took very actives part in both the Round Table Conference and represented India in the League of Nations. He was a profound scholar and a great extempore orator and was honored with Hon. Degree of D.C.L. at Oxford and LL.D. from Cambridge, Edinburgh and Banaras Hindu University. He was a great soldier, builder, statesman, and patriot about whom Lord Linlitoge said – “ The like of him we will never see again.”
The "Times of India" very appropriately described him as a fine record of heroic and paramount achievements which was for a major part of his 63 years devoted with single minded to the service of his people and his country. In so doing he placed Bikaner on the world map and he became figure of world distinction.
Maharaja Ganga Singhji was a very highly decorated eminent ruler of one of the premier States of India. He was decorated with the most coveted & exalter orders of G.C.S.I., G.C.I.E. G.C.V.O., G.B.S., and K.C.B. LLD. Very few people have achieved such eminence & rare distinction.