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History of Bikaner
KA” (1465-1504 AD) by the blessing of Goddess “ Karni Mata”
in the year 1488 AD. In those days, this vast tract of desert country was
called ‘JANGALDESH’. Prince Bika of the Rathore clan of
Rajputs was the valiant son of Rao Jodha-the founder of Jodhpur. Encouraged
and provoked by his father, Prince Bika moved out of Marwar (Jodhpur). On
as ambitious military adventure, with a small contingent of Rathore warriors
(500 soldier and 100 cavalrymen). His brave uncle, Rawat Kandhal, who always
stood by him as his guardian and politico-strategic adviser, supported him.
Those were the days when different clans of Jats & Rajputs inhabited
this land and their chiefs enjoyed fairly good amount of autonomy, of course
owing their allegiance to the sultanate of Delhi. Bika subdued all the contemporary
chiefs and the Indian union after the British left this country in 1947
AD.
In the beginning the neighboring Bhati chiefs were suspicious of the
new growing power in their vicinity. Karni Mata brought the rivalry between
the Rathore & Bhatis to an end by inspiring Rao Shekha- the powerful
Bhati chief of Pugal, to give the hand of his daughter in marriage to
Rao Bika. This consolidated the power of Rathore in this region and proved
to be a mile stone in the history of the state.
Rao Bika laid foundation of the city of Bikaner in 1488 AD and
first constructed a small fortress in RATI GHATI area. Today this site
is situated at the southwest end of the old walled city near Laxminath
Ji temple. The royal family of Bikaner lived there, till Raja Rai Singh
Ji built a new fort called “CHINTAMANI” (now Junagarh)
between 1589 to 1593 AD. The rule of Bikaner had a prominent and glorious
role in history of India. They held high ranks as Mansabdars of special
order in the court of the imperial Mughals. As imperial military commander
of various campaigns of the Mughals, they were posted all over the Indian
sub-continent. Raja Rai Singhji is the sixth ruler of Bikaner was among
the first Rajput Chiefs to join the Mughal alliance. The Mughal power
in India declined with the death of Emperor Aurangzeb in 1707 AD, the
bonds of Mughals-Rajput relationship slowly dissolved. The new era of
Rajput-British relationship with the advent of “British East India Company”
ushered in. this European contact later played a vital role in the history
of Bikaner as the ideas of industrial west started floating in. the reign
of Maharaja Sri Ganga Singhji is marked for great Socio-Political and
economic development in every sphere of life viz. – Education, Health,
Sanitation, Water Supply, Power Generation & Electricity, Irrigation,
Post & Telegraph. Roads & Railways, Trade & Commerce and so
on- there is no subject untouched by this foresighted Maharaja. When the
British left this country, this state was ruled by Maharaja Sadul Singhji.
Among the heads of princely state of India, he was the first to sign the
instrument of Accession by which this state merged into Indian union and
become an example for other princes. In the independent India, Maharaja
Dr. Karni Singhji enjoyed a prestigious position for his skill as a sportsman
of Olympian order and also had an important for representing the constituency
of Bikaner in the parliament (Lok Shabha) continuously for five terms
(25 Years).
Apart from the royal family this beautiful city has its own glory that
makes it only of its type. This gorgeous city known not only for its fairs
and festivals, picnics and outings, temples and havelies, kite flying
and its proud and fearless people but also for their ornaments, colorful
costumes quaint customs, sheep’s wool, camel races, awesome sunset and
SAWAN – BIKANERI - that glorious time of year when the desert city
blooms in beauty.
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