Bikaner State

Last updated

State of Bikaner
बीकानेर रियासत
1465–1947
Flag of Bikaner.svg
Flag
Bikaner State Coat of Arms.svg
Coat of arms
Motto: "Jai Jungaldhar Badshah"
Victory to the king of deserts
Map of Bikaner.jpg
Bikaner State with Rajputana, in the Imperial Gazetteer of India (1909).
Official languages1 Rajasthani dialects -
  • Bagri in the North, North-west, Centre and East,
  • Marwari in the south ,
2 Hindi
Religion
Hinduism (state religion) [1]
Demonym(s) Bikaner
History 
 Established
1465
1947
Area
 Total
61,355 km2 (23,689 sq mi)
Population
 1931 estimate
936,218
Succeeded by
India Flag of India.svg
Today part of Rajasthan, India
Bikaner Laxmi Niwas Palace Laxmi Niwas Palace Bikaner.JPG
Bikaner Laxmi Niwas Palace
Maharaja Anup Singh of Bikaner hunting elephants Elephant Hunt of Maharaja Anup Singh of Bikaner - Google Art Project.jpg
Maharaja Anup Singh of Bikaner hunting elephants
Honorific insignia in gold offered to the Maharaja of Bikaner by the Mughal Emperor. Le fort Junagarh (Bikaner) (8441306001).jpg
Honorific insignia in gold offered to the Maharaja of Bikaner by the Mughal Emperor.
Raja Karan Singh of Bikaner, Aurangzeb's ally and enemy. Raja Karan Singh of Bikaner, Auranzeb's ally and enemy.jpg
Raja Karan Singh of Bikaner, Aurangzeb's ally and enemy.
Maharaja Ganga Singh of Bikaner with his son Sadul Singh in 1914. Ganga Singh of Bikaner 1914.jpg
Maharaja Ganga Singh of Bikaner with his son Sadul Singh in 1914.
Bikaner Camel Corps Bikaner Camel Corps.jpg
Bikaner Camel Corps
Board of combat daggers at the Darbar Hall Bikaner-Junagarh Fort-41-Darbar Hall-20131008.jpg
Board of combat daggers at the Darbar Hall

Bikaner State was the Princely State in the north-western most part of the Rajputana province of imperial British India from 1818 to 1947. The founder of the state Rao Bika was a younger son of Rao Jodha ruler of and founder of the city of Jodhpur in Marwar. Rao Bika chose to establish his own kingdom instead of inheriting his father's. Bika defeated the Jat clans of Jangladesh which today refers to the north and north-western Rajasthan along with his uncle Rao Kandhal and his adviser Vikramji Rajpurohit and founded his own kingdom. Its capital was the city of Bikaner.

Contents

The state was noted for the Bikaner style of Miniature Painting. [2]

Covering a vast area of 60,391 km2 (23,317 sq mi) Bikaner State was the second largest state under the Rajputana Agency after Jodhpur State with a revenue of Rs.26,00,000 in the year 1901. [3] Heeding the 1947 call of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel to integrate the princely states into the new independent India, Bikaner's last ruler, Maharaja Sadul Singh, advised by his dewan K. M. Panikkar a respected historian was one of the first rulers of a princely state to display willingness to join the Indian Union. By issuing a public appeal in April 1947 to his fellow princes to join the Constituent Assembly of India the Maharaja of Bikaner set an example for other heads of the native states to follow. [4]

History

The state of Bikaner was founded in 1465. It became a British protectorate on 9 March 1818. They were accorded a 17 gun salute by the British authorities. Around the time of Indian Independence and the partition of India, the territory of the state of Bikaner came to share a border with Pakistan. The accession to the Indian Union was signed by the Maharaja on 7 August 1947. [5]

Rulers

The rulers belong to the Rathore Rajputs of the Suryavanshi lineage or of Solar descent representing a third junior branch of the parent ruling family of Jodhpur, [6] the second being Idar yet Bikaner was placed second on the basis of area, wealth and power by the colonial British India.

Rao/Raja's

Maharajas

Titular Rulers

Dewans

The Dewans and Chief Ministers of the state were:

  • 1460–1465: Bothra Bachhraj (Mantri-Dewan / Jodhpur) / Rao Jodha
  • 1465–1505: Bothra Bachhraj (Founding Dewan / Bikaner) / Rao Bika
  • 1504–1526: Karam Singh Bothra Bachhawat (Descendants of Bachhraj were known as Bachhawats) / Rao Nar Singh and Rao Lunkaran
  • 1526–1535: Var Singh Bothra Bachhawat / Rao Jait Singh
  • 1535–1542: Nagraj Bothra Bachhawat / Rao Jait Singh and Rao Kalyan Mal
  • 1542–1571: Sangram Singh Bothra Bachhawat / Rao Kalyan Mal
  • 1571–1591: Mehta Karam Chand bothra Bachhawat (Title of Mehta granted by Emperor Akbar) / Rao Kalyan Mal and Raja Rai Singh
  • 1619–1620: Mehta Bhag Chand Bothra Bachhawat / Raja Sur Singh
  • 1619–1620: Mehta Lakshmi Chand Bothra Bachhawat / Raja Sur Singh
  • 17.. – 26 February 1733: Anand Ram Khawas (d. 1733)
  • 1735 – Feb 1751: Mohata Bakhtawar Singh (1st time) (b. 1707 – d. 1779)
  • Feb 1751 – 1752: Amar Singh Chaturbhujani
  • 1752 – 1756: Mohata Bakhtawar Singh (2nd time) (s.a.)
  • 1756 – Dec 1757: Mohata Prithvi Singh
  • 1757 – 1762: Mohata Bakhtawar Singh (3rd time) (s.a.)
  • 1762 – Sep 1765: Shah Mool Chand Bardiya
  • Sep 1765 – 1779: Mohata Bakhtawar Singh (4th time) (s.a.)
  • 1779 – 178.: Mohata Swaroop Singh
  • 178. – 1787: Mohata Thakursi
  • 1787 – 1791: Mohata Madho Rai
  • 1791 – 1794: Pratap Mal Baid
  • 1794 – 1805: Mohata Rao Sahib Singh Gun Roop
  • Apr 1805 – Apr 1815: Amar Chand Surana
  • Apr 1815 – Feb 1816: Mohata Bhom ji
  • Feb 1816 – 1828: Abhai Singh Mohta
  • 1828 – 184.: Hindu Mal Baid
  • c. 1841: Sri Narayan Singh Bhati
  • 1844 – 1852?: Sarana Shri Lakshmichand
  • 1852 – 1853: Guman Singh Baid (1st time)
  • 1853 – 1853: Leeladhar Mohata + Jalam Chand Kochar
  • 1853 – 1854: Lachhi Ram Rakhecha
  • 1854 – 1856: Guman Singh Baid (2nd time)
  • 1856: Pandit Dojainant
  • 1856 – 1863: Ram Lal Dwarkani (1st time)
  • 1864 – 1865: Guman Singh Baid (3rd time)
  • 1865 – 1866: Ram Lal Dwarkani (2nd time)
  • 1866: Man Mal Rakhecha
  • 1866 (3 months): Sheo Lal Nahata
  • 1867 (15 days): Fateh Chand Surana
  • 1867: Ganga Ram Purohit
  • 1867: Shah Mal Kochar
  • 1868: Man Mal Rakhecha
  • 1868: Sheo Lal Mohata
  • 1868: Lakshmi Chand Nahata
  • Jun 1868 – Aug 1869: Visayat Hussain
  • Aug 1869 – 13 December 1873: Pandit Manphool
  • Dec 1873 – 188.: Maharaj Lal Singh
  • 188. – 1884?: Maharao Hari Singh Baid
  • 1884 – 11 October 1888: Amin Muhammad
  • 12 Dec 1888 – 1896: Sodhi Hukam Singh
  • 1896 – 1898: Raghubar Singh Chauhan
  • 1898 – 1903: Hamidu Zafar Khan
  • 1903 – 1916: Post abolished

Chief ministers

  • 1916 – 19..: Colonel Maharaj Sir Shri Bhairon Singh, K.C.I.E. (cousin of Maharaja Ganga Singh)
  • 7 September 1920 – Jan 1925: Maharajkumar (later Maharaja) Sardul Singh (s.a.)

Dewans

The post of Dewan was reinstated in 1927.

  • 1927 – 1934: Manubhai Nandshankar Mehta (b. 1868 – d. 1946)
  • 3 October 1932 – 31 October 1934: Ram Prasad Dube (acting)
  • 1 November 1934 – Jan 1936: Maharaj Shri Bhairun Singh
  • Jan 1936 – Dec 1936: Thakur Sadul Singh
  • Dec 1936 – 1938?: V.N. Mehta
  • Dec 1938 – Jul 1939: Kailash Narain Haksar (b. 1878 – d. 1954)
  • Jul 1939 – 1944?: Sire Mal Bapna (b. 1882 – d. 1964)
  • 1944 – 13 March 1948: Kavalam Madhava Panikkar (b. 1895 – d. 1963)
  • 14 March 1948 – Oct 1948: Kanwar Jaswant Singh
  • Oct 1948 – 30 March 1949: C. S. Venkatachar (b. 1899 – d. 1999)

Family tree of the rulers of Bikaner

  • Simple gold crown.svg I. Rao Bikaji, of Bikaner (1438–1504; Rai: 1488; r. 1465–1504)
    • Simple gold crown.svg II.Rao Naroji, of Bikaner (1468–1505; r. 1504–1505)
    • Simple gold crown.svg III.Rao Lunkaraji, of Bikaner (1470–1526; r. 1505–1526)
      • Simple gold crown.svg IV. Rao Jetaji, of Bikaner (1489–1542; r. 1526–1542)
        • Simple silver crown.svg V.Rao Kalyan Mal, of Bikaner (1519–1574; r. 1542–1574)
          • Simple silver crown.svg VI. Rai Singh I, Raja of Bikaner (1541–1612; r. 1574–1612)
            • Simple silver crown.svg VII. Dalpat Singh, Rai of Bikaner (1565–1613; r. 1612–1613)
            • Simple silver crown.svg VIII. Sur Singh, Raja of Bikaner (1594–1631; r. 1613–1631)
              • Simple silver crown.svg IX. Karan Singh, Raja of Bikaner (1616–1669; r. 1631–1667)
                • Simple silver crown.svg X. Anup Singh, Maharaja of Bikaner (1638–1698; r. 1667–1698; Rao: 1667; Maharaja: 1675)
                  • Simple silver crown.svg XI. Sarup Singh, Maharaja of Bikaner (1689–1700; r. 1698–1700)
                  • Simple silver crown.svg XII. Sujjan Singh, Maharaja of Bikaner (1690–1735; r. 1700–1735)
                    • Simple silver crown.svg XIII. Zorawar Singh, Maharaja of Bikaner (1713–1746; r. 1735–1746)
                  • Maharaj Anand Singh of Bikaner
                    • Simple silver crown.svg XIV. Gaj Singh, Maharaja of Bikaner (1723–1787; r. 1746–1787)
                      • Simple silver crown.svg XV. Raj Singh II, Maharaja of Bikaner (1744–1787; r. 1787)
                        • Simple silver crown.svg XVI. Pratap Singh, Maharaja of Bikaner (1781–1787; r. 1787)
                      • Simple silver crown.svg XVII. Surat Singh, Maharaja of Bikaner (1765–1828; r. 1787–1828)
                        • Simple silver crown.svg XVIII. Ratan Singh, Maharaja of Bikaner (1790–1851; r. 1828–1851)
                          • Simple silver crown.svg XIX. Sardar Singh, Maharaja of Bikaner (1818–1872; r. 1851–1872)
                      • Maharajkumar Chhatar Singh of Chattargarh(1762–1779)
                        • Maharaj Dalel Singh of Chattargarh
                          • Maharaj Sakat Singh of Chattargarh

Maharaj Kharak Singh Maharaj Madan Singh Maharaj Khuman Singh Maharaj Lall Singh of Chattargarh (1831–1887)

                              • Simple silver crown.svg XX. Dungar Singh, Maharaja of Bikaner (1854–1887; r. 1872–1887)
                              • Simple silver crown.svg XXI. Ganga Singh, Maharaja of Bikaner GCSI, GCIE, GCVO, GBE, KCB (1880–1943; r. 1887–1943)
                                • Simple silver crown.svg XXII. Sadul Singh, Maharaja of Bikaner GCSI, GCIE, CVO (1902–1950; r. 1943–1949; titular ruler: 1949–1950)

      Maharaj Bijay Singh Ji, younger son of Maharaja Ganga Singh Ji.

                                      • XXIII. Karni Singh, Maharaja of Bikaner (1924–1988; titular Maharaja: 1950–1971; family head: 1971–1988)
                                        • XXIV. Narendra Singh, Maharaja of Bikaner (1946–2003; family head: 1988–2003)
                                      • Maharaj Amar Singh Ji Bahadur (1925–2007)
                                        • Maharaj Chandra Shekhar Singh Ji (b. 1948)
                                          • XXV. Ravi Raj Singh, Maharaja of Bikaner (1977–2022; family head: 2003–2022)

    [ citation needed ]

    [7]

    Orders of chivalry

    The Royal House of Bikaner awards two dynastic orders, the Order of the Star of Honour and the Order of Vikram Star. Maharaja Ganga Singh established the Order of the Star of Honour in six grades in order to "mark his golden jubilee on the throne". [8] The Order of the Vikram Star was established in 1944 by Maharaja Sadul Singh of Bikaner in five grades "to recognize services to the state." The first grade (Grand Commander) includes a cordon with jewel, along with a breast star. [8] The breast star features "Twelve alternate petals of gold and silver overlapping and radiating from a central motif showing the Goddess Karni blessing Rao Bikaji who is standing with lance in hand next to his horse." [9] A red enamelled diamond in the center of the breast star, which is surrounded by a wreath, contains the inscription in the Devanagari script Shri Karni Aasisadi Bikatothirraj (Blessing by Karni Mati for his Perpetual Rule). [9]

    Demographics

    Religious groups in Bikaner State (1901–1941)
    Religious
    group
    1901 [10] 1911 [10] 1921 [11] 1931 [12] 1941 [13]
    Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%
    Hinduism Om.svg 493,53484.42%575,69982.13%552,16883.70%725,08477.45%992,60176.77%
    Islam Star and Crescent.svg 66,05011.30%91,92913.11%74,74811.33%141,57815.12%185,32314.33%
    Jainism Jain Prateek Chihna.svg 23,4034.00%24,8583.55%23,5553.57%28,7733.07%34,4252.66%
    Sikhism Khanda.svg 1,4810.25%8,2141.17%8,2181.25%40,4694.32%78,8156.10%
    Christianity Christian cross.svg 950.02%1510.02%1910.03%2980.03%4200.03%
    Zoroastrianism Faravahar.svg 210.00%40.00%110.12%160.00%130.00%
    Aarya410.01%1280.02%7840.12%-  0.00%-  0.00%
    Others00.00%00.00%100.00%-  0.00%1,341 [a] 0.10%
    Total population584,627100%700,983100%659,685100.00%936,218100.00%1,292,938100.00%

    Demographic Trends (1891–1931): During the decade ending in 1901, the population of the state saw a significant decline due to a series of famines in 1891–92, 1896–97, and 1899–1900. These famines not only led to high mortality—primarily from cholera and malaria—but also prompted substantial emigration to neighbouring districts in the Punjab and Sindh. However, the following decade (1901–1911) marked a reversal of this trend. Improved rainfall and good harvests, along with generous state concessions such as land revenue remissions and taccavi loans for seeds and cattle, encouraged many former residents to return. Additionally, as the adjacent districts in Punjab had little remaining fallow land for grazing or cultivation, news of the Sutlej Canal's extension (Gang Canal) into the Hanumangarh and Mirzawala Tehsils drew new settlers—especially Sikh peasants—who were granted extensive tracts of Banjar (wasteland) at favourable rates for agricultural use. [14] The 1921 Census of Bikaner State recorded a population decline of 41,298 people (–5.9%) over the decade. This was primarily due to the failure of the 1920 monsoon, along with severe outbreaks of plague (1917) and influenza (1918), the latter causing an estimated 61,000 deaths—nearly 10% of the total population at the time. Migration also played a major role, with 126,615 people emigrating, compared to 53,273 immigrants, resulting in a net loss of 73,342. The largest number of emigrants—79,161—moved to Punjab, followed by 20,105 to Bengal. mostly for agriculture and trade. [15] Between 1921 and 1931, Bikaner's total population rose dramatically by 41.9%, with the Gang Canal area alone experiencing a 401.6% increase in population. A good number of Punjabi Sikhs & Muslims also came into the state, and the total number of immigrants reached 161,303 in 1931, more than a threefold rise, largely attributed to canal irrigation. [16]

    See also

    References

    1. "Kingdom of Bikaner, Part I, Vol-I, Rajasthan – Linguistic Survey Of India" (PDF). LSOI. Retrieved 23 April 2021.
    2. Harle, J. C., The Art and Architecture of the Indian Subcontinent, 2nd edn. 1994, Yale University Press. (Pelican History of Art). ISBN   0300062176.
    3. "Imperial Gazetteer2 of India, Volume 8, page 214 – Imperial Gazetteer of India – Digital South Asia Library".
    4. Ramachandra Guha, India after Gandhi: The History of the World's Largest Democracy. HarperCollins, 2007.
    5. William Barton, The princes of India. Delhi 1983
    6. "Imperial Gazetteer2 of India, Volume 8, page 204 – Imperial Gazetteer of India – Digital South Asia Library".
    7. "Raviraj Singh Bhati's Health Deteriorated In Jaipur In The Morning, Breathed His Last In SMS Hospital, Last Rites In Bikaner Tomorrow". Dainik Bhaskar. 12 April 2022. Retrieved 13 May 2022.
    8. 1 2 Haynes, Ed (2014). "The Awards of the Indian Pincely States: A Survey in a Broad Historical Context". Journal of Management Sciences and Applications. 65 (5): 29–30.
    9. 1 2 McClenaghan, Tony (1996). Indian Princely Medals: A Record of the Orders, Decorations, and Medals of the Indian Princely States. Lancer Publishers. p. 81. ISBN   978-1-897829-19-6.
    10. 1 2 CENSUS REPORT, 1911 BIKANER STATE Check Page No. 12 - https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/28201
    11. Census of Bikaner State 1921 Page no. 13 - https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/28202
    12. Bikaner State Census Book 1931 Part - II Tables, Page no. 61 - https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/28203
    13. Census Book 1941 of Rajputana & Ajmer Marwara, Page no. 155, 156 - https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/31660
    14. 1911 Bikaner State Census - https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/28201
    15. 1921 Bikaner State Census -https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/28202
    16. 1931 Bikaner State Census - https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/28204
    17. Schwartzberg, Joseph E. (1978). A Historical atlas of South Asia. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. pp. 39, 147. ISBN   0226742210.
    18. "Historical Atlas of India" by Charles Joppen (London: Longmans, Green & Co., 1907)

    Wikisource-logo.svg This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain :  Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Bikanir". Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press.

    Notes

    1. It's the entire population of the tribe of Rajputana.

    28°01′N73°18′E / 28.01°N 73.3°E / 28.01; 73.3