Question =
Who was the only "non-White" member of the British Imperial War Cabinet during World War I and also happen to be the founder of the ‘Bikaner Camel Corps’ and the first chancellor of Chamber of Princes (Narender Mandal or Narendra Mandal) ?
Answer =
General Maharaja Sir Ganga Singh, GCSI,GCIE, GCVA, GBE, KCB, GCStJ was the only "non- White " member of the British Imperial War Cabinet during World War I. He represented India at the Imperial War Conference 1917, the Imeprial War Cabinet and the Paris Peace Conference 1919 and was the first Chancellor of the Indian Chamber of Princess (Also called Narendra Mandal) from 1920–26.
The Bikaner Camel Corps was a unit of Imperial Service Troops from India that fought for the Allies in World War I and World War II. The Corps was founded by Maharaja Ganga Singh of the Indian state of Bikaner , as the Ganga Risala.
The Ganga Jaisalmer Risala was dismounted in 1974 and underwent conversion into standard infantry. It continues to serve as a regular infantry battalion under the name 13 Grenadiers (Ganga Jaisalmer). Post 1971 the unit has seen action in counter insurgency operations in the states of Punjab and Assam. It is the only camel cavalry operated by present-day armed forces.
The Chamber of Princes (Narender Mandal or Narendra Mandal) was an institution established in 1920 by a royal proclamation of King Emperor George V to provide a forum in which the rulers of the princely states of India could voice their needs and aspirations to the colonial government of British India . It survived until the end of the British Raj in 1947.
We are all aware of the two houses, Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha, of the Indian Parliament. However, if you look at the design of Parliament, it has Four halls instead of two. Three halls on sides for the houses of Parliament and the fourth one in centre, for the joint session. Originally, Indian Parliament, or the Council House as it was termed then, was comprising of 3 houses. The State Council, Central Legislative Assembly and the Chamber of Princes.
Council of State originally had 60 members when it started in 1919. The Viceroy or the Governor General of India was its ex officio president. In 1937, its size was increased to 260 members and in 1947, it was dissolved, to be later taken over by Constituent Assemblies of India and Pakistan respectively. Today, this upper house in India is known as the Rajya Sabha.
The Central Legislative Assembly, or the lower house, originally had 145 members representing different provinces of India. Out of these, 103 were elected, and rest nominated by upper house. Of these 103, 51 came from general constituencies (30 by Muslims, 2 by Sikhs, 9 by Europeans, 7 by Landlords and rest by businessmen). It was abolished on 15th August 1947 until in 1952, as India became republic, the Legislative Assembly was renamed as Lok Sabha and became functional under the new Constitution of India. Though its members are still known as MLA (Member of Legislative Assembly).
Then comes the third house, which was also abolished in 1947. While Council of State and the Legislative Assembly merged into the Constituent Assembly and later remerged as Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha respectively, this one house had no representation left in the new independent system of Republic of India. Hence, on 15thAugust, 1947, as India was divided into Dominion of India and Dominion of Pakistan, this one powerful house was abolished and forgotten for ever. This house was the Chamber of Princes, or the ‘Narendra Mandal’. It was established in 1920 by a royal proclamation of King Emperor George V, so that the princely states can have their say in the administration of India and voice their needs to the British crown. This decision was one of the most important decisions as it abolished the British policy of isolating Indian princely states from each other.
House first met on 8th February 1921. Initially, it had 120 members. Of those, 108 were representing major states, hence were members in their own right. While remaining 12 were elected to represent 127 smaller states. This left 327 minor states with no representation. Also, major states like Baroda, Gwalior and Holkar refused to join it. They met only once a year, with an appointed standing committee meeting more often. The house appointed a Chancellor as head of the house. The first chancellor was Major General His Highness Sir Ganga Singh, Maharaja of Bikaner, who presided over the house from 1921-1926.
(नरेंद्र मंडल को अंग्रेज़ी में "चेम्बर आॅफ़ प्रिन्सेज़"(अंग्रेज़ी: Chamber of Princes) कहा जाता था जिसे हिंदी में"नरेंद्रमण्डल/नरेशमण्डल" कहा जाता था। हिंदी में इसे "राजकुमारों का कक्ष" आथवा "शाही/राजकीय कक्ष"या "शाही सदन" के रूप में अनुवादित किया जा सकता है। अंग्रेज़ी में "चेम्बर" का अर्थ "कक्ष", "प्रकोष्ठ" अथवा"कमरा" होता है और "प्रिन्स्" का अर्थ होता है "राजकुमार" जिस्से किसी वस्तू के राजकीय होने का बोध होता है।"नरेंद्रमण्डल/नरेशमण्डल" शब्द दो संस्कृत शब्दों से बना है, "नरेंद्र/नरेश" अर्थात 'राशक' और "मण्डल" अर्थात'समूह' या 'सभा'। आतः "नरेंद्रमण्डल" शब्द का आर्थ है "साशकों की सभा" या "राजाओं की सभा"।
(Source :
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