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BIKANER
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The Rathore Dynasty
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BRIEF HISTORY
- RaoBhikaji
Rathore, son of Rao Jodhaji of Marwar (Jodhpur), founded
the state of Bikaner, in Northern Rajasthan, in 1465. His
great grandson, Rai Singhji assumed the titles of
Maharajadhiraja and Maharaja, but these were not
officially recognised by the Mughal emperors. A marriage
alliance between Rai Singhji's daughter and the Emperor
Jahangir, enhanced the power and prestige of the house.
More importantly, it safeguarded the family domains from
Mughal incursions. Anup Singhji received confirmation of
the hereditary title of Maharaja from Aurangzeb in 1687,
in recognition of his part in the capture of Golconda and
Bijapur. His grandson, Gaj Singhji I, received
confirmation of the title of Maharajadhiraja in 1752,
from Ahmad Shah Durrani, the Afghan conqueror. The
princes of the ruling family served the Mughals with
considerable distinction for several generations, as
soldiers, Imperial governors and statesmen. Nevertheless,
when the Mughal power began to wane, and the Marathas
began to threat, they entered into a treaty of Friendship
and Alliance with the British. This new alliance,
concluded in 1818, ensured that the age-old martial
tradition of the Rathores continued stronger than ever.
From the Third Mahratta War to the conclusion of British
rule, troops from Bikaner fought alongside British troops
in every campaign. Maharaja Ganga Singhji ensured that
his famous regiments, such as the Bikaner Camel Corps,
were amongst the first Indian states' troops to go into
battle. He often served in person, eventually rising to
the rank of a full General, one of only four Indians to
do so during British rule. He represented Imperial India
on the world stage, at Imperial conferences, the League
of Nations, and most importantly, at the Peace
Conference. He had served as the Indian member of the
Imperial War Cabinet during the Great War, and signed the
Versailles Treaty on India's behalf in 1919. His death in
1943, concluded a record reign of fifty-six years.
Maharaja Sadul Singhji, Ganga Singhji's son and
successor, had spent a lifetime serving his august father
in a number of important posts. He was one of the first
princes to sign the instrument of accession to the
Dominion of India in 1947. Two years later, he was one of
those instrumental in forming the Rajasthan Union. His
early death deprived the new India of one of its keenest
servants. His young son, better known as Dr. Karni Singh,
succeeded in 1950. Historian, scholar, parliamentarian,
his pursuits, though more scholarly than those of his
predecessors, did not prevent him from becoming his
country's foremost marksmen. Maharaja Sri Narendra
Singhji, elder son of Maharaja Karni Singhji, succeeded
in 1988, upholding the traditions and history of his
house with as much vigour as any of his illustrious
ancestors. His death without male heirs in 2003 had been
expected to leave something of a vacuum, until his
closest lineal male relative assended the gadi with the
blessing of clan and religious leaders in April 2004.
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- SALUTE:
17-Guns.
ARMS:
Barry of six gules and or
three falcons close argent each charged
with a trident of the field. Crest: A green tree. Supporters:
Leopards sable. Motto: "Jai
Jangal Dar Badshah" (Hail to the jungle King). Lambrequins:gules and or.
STYLES & TITLES:
The ruling prince: Sri Raj Rajeshwar Maharajadhiraj
Narendra Maharaja Shiromani (personal name)
Bahadur, Maharaja of Bikaner, with the style of His
Highness.
The consort of the ruling prince: Maharani Baiji Sri (personal
name) Sahib, Maharani of Bikaner, with the style of Her
Highness.
The widow of a Maharaja who was also the mother of a
Maharaja: Raj Mata Sahib, with the style of Her
Highness.
The paternal grandmother of a Maharaja: Raj Dadi Sahib,
with the style of Her Highness.
The Heir Apparent: Yuvraja Sri (personal name)
Singhji Bahadur.
The wife of the Heir Apparent: Yuvrani Sri (personal
name) Sahiba.
The younger sons of the ruling prince, during his
father's lifetime: Maharajkumar Sri (personal name)
Singhji Bahadur.
The younger sons of a ruling prince, after his father's
death: Maharaj Sri (personal name) Singhji
Bahadur.
The daughters of a ruling prince: Maharajkumari Sri (personal
name) Baiji Lall Sahib.
The wife of a younger son of a ruling prince: Rani Sri (personal
name) Sahiba.
The grandsons of a ruling prince in the male line and
sons of a Maharaj, during his father's lifetime: Rajkumar
Sri (personal name) Singh.
The granddaughters of a ruling prince, in the male line:
Rajkumari Sri (personal name) Baisa Sahib.
The daughters of a Maharaj: Baiji Sri (personal name)
Sahib.
The sons of a secondary wife or concubine of a ruling
prince (not in the line of succession): Rao Raja Sri (personal
name) Singhji.
ORDERS & DECORATIONS:
See separate page - link below.
SOURCES:
A
descriptive list of Farmans, Manshurs and Nishans
addressed by the Imperial Mughals to the Princes of
Rajasthan. Directorate of Archives, Govt. of Rajasthan,
Bikaner, 1962.
Burke's Genealogical and Heraldic History of the Peerage,
Baronetage and Knightage. Burke's Peerage Limited,
London, 1900-1959.
Chiefs and Leading Families in Rajputana, Office of the
Superintendent of Government Printing, Calcutta, 1894,
1903, 1916 and 1935.
Debrett's Peerage, Baronetage, Knightage and
Companionage. Debrett's Peerage, London, 1900-1959.
Rima Hooja. Prince, Patriot, Parliamentarian: Biography
of Dr Karni Singh, Maharaja of Bikaner. Harper Collins
Publishers India, New Delhi, 1997.
Rai Bahadur Sodhi Hukum Singh. Physical and Political
Geography of Bikaner with historical notes.
India Army Lists 1895-1947.
Indian States Forces Lists 1930-1946.
Karni Singh. The Relations of the House of Bikaner with
the Central Powers 1465-1949. Munshiram Manoharlal
Publishers Pvt. Ltd. 1974.
The Rajputana Gazetteer. Volumes I, II & III. Office
of the Superintendent of Government Printing, Calcutta,
1879.
L.S. Rathore. Maharaja Sadul Singhji of Bikaner: A
biography of the co-architect of India's unity. Maharaja
Ganga Singhji Trust/Books Treasure, Jodhpur, 2005.
Y.P. Singh (ed.). Son of the Soil, Maharaja Ganga Singh
(birth centenary). Maharaja Ganga Singh Centenary
Celebration Committee, Junagadh, Bikaner, 1981.
Thacker's Indian Directory, Thacker's Press &
Directories, Ltd., Calcutta, 1863-1956.
Who Was Who, Volumes I to VIII 1915-1990. A&C Black,
London.
SPECIAL ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:
Father
Lawrence Ober, SJ.
Thakur Hanuwant Singhji, Secretary, Maharaja Ganga
Singhji Trust.
Ravi Raj Singh.
- Copyright©Christopher
Buyers
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- Copyright©Christopher Buyers
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would be grateful to hear from anyone who may have
changes, corrections or additions to contribute. If you
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Copyright©Christopher Buyers, February 2001 - March 2023