Nihal Singh

Rana Nihal Singh, CB (4 May 1863 – 20 July 1901) was the Jat ruler of Dholpur state (1873–1901) in Rajasthan, India. He was from Bamraulia gotra of Jats. He was born on 4 May 1863 as son of Kulender Singh and succeeded Rana Bhagwant Singh on 9 February 1873 after his death. He was of 11 years of age when ascended to the throne in 1873.

He married on 30 April 1879 with the second daughter of Shah Dev Singh of Pandriganeshpur in Lahore and had issue.

He was popular as ‘Pyare Raja Saheb’. He got his education under the guidance of his mother who was daughter of Maharaja Narender Singh of Patiala. He got educated in English language in 1873-74 and also learnt Hindi, Sanskrit and Persian languages. He attended the Prince of Wales (VII Edward) darbar at Delhi in 1876. He got done the settlement of land, first time, in the state in 1875. He got full rights in 1884.

He was a good horse rider. There is a story that he did relay horse riding with the train and he won the train under terms of agreement with British. This train was in his ownership till his reign. He got constructed hospitals, ponds, repaired buildings, spread a network of roads and rail during his reign. He was a popular ruler.

He received honorary Major in the Central India Horse, and received the C.B. and Frontier Medal for services in the Tirah campaign.

He died on 28 July 1901. His successor was Rana Ram Singh.

References

• Dr. Ajay Kumar Agnihotri (1985) : "Gohad ke jaton ka Itihas" (Hindi)
• Dr. Natthan Singh (2004) : "Jat Itihas"
• Jat Samaj, Agra: June 2004
• Jat Samaj, Agra: October–November 2004
• Dr. Natthan Singh (2005): Sujas Prabandh (Gohad ke Shasakon ki Veer gatha – by Poet Nathan), Jat Veer Prakashan Gwalior