The Regal Patriot : Maharaja Ganga Singh of Bikaner

Contents: Acknowledgements. 1. Historical review. 2. The Maharaja\'s rule: early phase. 3. The silver jubilee. 4. On the battlefield. 5. The Imperial War Conference and Rome Note, 1917. 6. The Peace Conference, 1919. 7. The Chamber of Princes. 8. Palaces and public buildings. 9. Glory to Bikaner. 10. The Gang Canal. 11. The Round Table Conference. 12. Momentous occasions. 13. The Golden Jubilee. 14. The Maharaja as sportsman. 15. The man behind Bikaner. Glossary. Bibliography.

"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." (jacket)