Ratan Singh of Bikaner

Maharaja Ratan Singh (30 December 1790 – 7 August 1851) was the Rathore Rajput ruler of Bikaner from 1828 until his death in 1851.

Birth and early life He was born on 30 December 1790 to Surat Singh and his wife Sardar Kanwar. They also gifted five elephants, five horses, five large shawls, and ten gold bracelets to those who performed the yajna and provided the architect. Ratan Singh's early reign was marked by frequent uprisings by his barons, including the Raja of Mahajan, and by military campaigns to bring them to obedience. In 1829, he violated his treaty engagements with the British government and invaded Jaisalmer to avenge some depredations committed by its people. He advanced up to Bansanpur. Both parties were ready to fight and asked neighboring states for assistance. Like his father, he put forward a claim over the villages adjoining Bhadra. Captain Thoresby was appointed in 1837 to settle the border dispute between Bikaner and the British government, and the disputed territory was adjudged to the latter. Instead, he informed them that if they were not prepared to spare Jawahar, he was willing to surrender his son, Sardar Singh, in his place. He put a stop to the practice of lavish dowries in Bikaner. He went on a pilgrimage to Gaya, where he made his officials and nobles take a solemn vow never to kill their infant daughters. He passed a law stating that any noble found guilty of female infanticide would have his estate confiscated. He banned practices such as sati and supported widow remarriage.

Arts and architecture He added the Daftar-ki-Kotri, the Ganpat Niwas, and the water pavilion in the Karan Mahal Chowk to Junagarh Fort, as well as the Vikram Niwas, Surat Vilas, and Kothi Lakshmi Vilas to its zenana. Bithu Bhauma authored the book Ratan Vilas, and Sagardan composed Ratanrupak in his honor.

Death He died in 1851 and was succeeded by his son, Sardar Singh, who assumed his title, rank, and dignity.