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Raising of the Ganga Risala(1889)

The Ganga Risala, Bikaner's camel corps, was raised in 1889 and served in China, Somaliland, Egypt and Palestine — giving a desert state a military profile far beyond its size.

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What you need to know

  • Raised in 1889 in the name of Maharaja Ganga Singh, then a boy under regency
  • A camel corps suited to a state where the camel was the only practical desert transport
  • Served in China during the Boxer Rebellion in 1900
  • Served in Somaliland in the early 1900s
  • Fought in Egypt Palestine and Mesopotamia during the First World War
  • Served again in the Middle East during the Second World War
  • Gave Bikaner a military profile out of all proportion to its size

    • Participants

    • Maharaja Ganga Singh of Bikaner

      Founder and commander

      Maharaja Ganga Singh of Bikaner

      8 yrs at this event

      Founder and commander

      8 yrs at event

      Maharaja Ganga Singh of Bikaner

      Maharaja of Bikaner (1887–1943). Only non-white member of Lloyd George’s Imperial War Cabinet (1917); signed the Treaty of Versailles for India; delegate to the League of Nations. First Chancellor of the Chamber of Princes (1921–1926). Bikaner’s hereditary gun salute was elevated from 17 to 19 in 1921 for his WWI service.

    Theatres

    • B

      Bikaner

      Bikaner

      Walled desert city founded in 1488 by Rao Bika; capital of Bikaner State until 1947.

    Powers

    • B(

      Bikaner (Rathor Kingdom)

      Bikaner (Rathor Kingdom)

      Rathor Rajput kingdom of the Thar desert. Watan-jagir vassal of the Mughals from 1570 under Rai Singh.

    • British Raj

      British Raj

      British Raj

      Direct British Crown rule over the Indian subcontinent.

    • Key Points
    • Participants
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    • Powers
    Facts at a glance
    Start
    1889
    End
    1889
    Tags
    Ganga Risala, Bikaner Camel Corps, Ganga Singh, Boxer Rebellion, First World War, 1889

    Significance · NATIONAL

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    Start
    1889
    End
    1889
    Tags
    Ganga Risala, Bikaner Camel Corps, Ganga Singh, Boxer Rebellion, First World War, 1889

    Significance · NATIONAL

    Report an error