BIKANER
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The Rathore Dynasty
GENEALOGY
1887 - 1943 General
H.H. Sri Raj Rajeshwar Maharajadhiraj Narendra Maharaja
Shiromani Sir Ganga Singh Bahadur, Maharaja of Bikaner,
GCSI (12.12.1911, KCSI 24.6.1904), GCIE (1.1.1907, KCIE
24.7.1901), GCVO (1.1.1919), GBE (m 1.1.1921), KCB (m
1.1.1918), KIH 1st Class (23.5.1900). b. at
Bikaner, 13th October 1880, third son of
Maharaj Sri Lall Singh Sahib Bahadur, by his second wife
H.H. Maji Sri Chandrawatiji Sahib, educ. Mayo
Coll, Ajmer. Succeeded on the death of his brother and
adopted father, 19th August 1887. Ascended the
gadi at the Karan Mahal, Junagarh, Bikaner, 31st
August 1887. Received administrative training 1896-1898.
Reigned under a Council of Regency until he came of age
and was invested with full ruling powers, 16th
December 1898. Attached as acting 2nd-Lieut
the Deoli Regt, IA 1898, cmsnd as Hon Maj 13/6/1900,
served in the China expedition in cmnd Ganga Risala 1901
(rcvd: MID, KCIE, China medal), prom Hon
Lieut-Col 1/1/1909, and Hon Col 3/6/1910, served in
Great War in France and Flanders 1914-1915 (rcvd:
MID twice, KCB), prom Hon Maj-Gen 1/8/1917, Hon
Lieut-Gen 1/8/1930, and Hon Gen 5/11/1937. Hon Col 2nd
Royal Lancers (Gardner's Horse), IA 30/12/1919 and Hon
Col 1st/141st (Bikaner) Infantry
IA 10/1/1919. Colonel-in-Chief Ganga Risala (Bikaner
Camel Corps), and the Sadul Light Infantry. Hon Extra
ADC to the King-Emperors George V 3/6/1910-1936 (and as
Prince of Wales 2/8/1902-1910), Edward VIII 1936, and
George VI, 23/9/1936-1943. Attended the Coronations of
the King-Emperors Edward VII 1902, George V 1911 and
George VI 1937, and the Silver Jubilee Celebrations of
George V in 1935. Visited the War front in WW2. Hon
Sec-Gen Princes' Conference 1916-1921, Mbr Imperial War
Cabinet 1917-1919 (signed the Treaty of Versailles on
behalf of India 28th June 1919), Chancellor of the
Chamber of Princes 1921-1926, Indian representative at
the Imperial Conferences in London 1917, 1919, 1922 &
1930, and at the League of Nations in Geneva 1924, Leader
of Indian delegation to the League of Nations 1930, and
Indian States representative at Round Table Conferences
of 1930 & 1931. Founded the Badge of Honour (later
the Order of the Star of Honour) on 30th
October 1937. Pro-Chancellor Benares Hindu Univ.
1922-1929, and Chancellor 1929-1943. Hon LL.D. (Cantab
1911, Edinburgh 1917, Benares Hindu Univ 1927, and
Osmania Univ., Hyderabad), Hon DCL (Oxon 1919), Freeman
of the Cities of London, Edinburgh, Manchester and
Bristol (all 1917). Patron Sri Bharat Dharam Mahamandal.
Vice-Presdt East India Assoc, and the Royal Colonial
Institute. Hon Life Mbr American Museum of Natural
History (New York). Mbr Indian Red Cross Soc, Indian
Army Temperance Assoc, General Council of Mayo and Daly
Colls, Indian Soc of Oriental Art, Bombay Natural
History Soc, Indian Soc (London), Marlborough, Western
India Turf, Willingdon Sports (Bombay), Rajputana (Mount
Abu), and Indian Gymkhana Clubs, etc. Rcvd: DGBStJ
(25.11.1914), China (1901), Coron. (1902), Delhi Durbar
gold (1903), Coron. (1911 with Durbar bar), 1914 Star,
British War and Allied Victory medals (1918), Silver
Jubilee (1935) and Coron (1937) medals, 39/45 and Africa
stars, British War and IGS medals (posthumously 1945), GC
of the Orders of Philip the Magnanimous of Hesse
(3.2.1903), and the Nile of Egypt (1918). m.
(first) at Partabgarh, 7th July 1897, H.H.
Maharani Ranawatiji Sri Vallabh Kunwarji Sahib (d.
at Lakshmi Niwas, Lallgarh Palace, Bikaner, 19th
August 1906), eldest daughter of H.H. Maharawat Sri Sir
Raghunath Singh Bahadur, Maharawat of Partabgarh, KCIE,
by his first wife, H.H. Pisangan Maharani Bapu Sahiba Sri
Ugam Kunwarji Sahib, elder daughter of Raja Sri Pratap
Singh, Thakur of Pisangan, in Ajmer. m. (second)
at Keri, 26th May 1899, H.H. Tanwarji Maharani
Sahib (d.s.p. at Lakshmi Niwas,
Lallgarh Palace, Bikaner, 21st June 1922),
daughter of Thakur Sri Sultan Singh, of Sanwatsar, in
Bikaner state. m. (third) 3rd May 1908,
H.H. Bhatianji Maharani Sri Ajab Kanwarji Sahib, CI
(1.1.1935) (d. at the Lallgarh Palace, Bikaner, 21st
November 1945), rcvd: GC of the Order of the Star
of Honour (30.10.1937), Delhi Durbar (1911), Silver
Jubilee (1935), Coron (1937), Sadul Singh Golden Jubilee
(1937), and Accession (1943) medals, daughter of Thakur
Sri Bahadur Singh, of Bikamkore, in Marwar. He d.
at Bikaner House (Devi Bhavan), Bombay, 2nd
February 1943 (cremated at Devi-Kund-Sagar,
Bikaner), having had issue, four sons and two daughters:
Copyright©Christopher Buyers, February 2001 - August 2018