The Story of Bikaner Camel Corps

The Ganga Risala / Bikaner Camel Corps of Maharaja Ganga Singh of Bikaner

The Bikaner Camel Corps was a former army regiment that operated under the Imperial Service Troops of India and took part in the First World War and the Second World War. The Imperial Service Troops of India were the official armed forces of the princely states of India under the British Empire. The unit served along with the British Indian Army, when their service was demanded by the British administration. The British Indian regiment was also a part of the Presidency Armies in British India.

The Bikaner Camel Corps was formed in the year 1889 by Maharaja Ganga Singh of Bikaner state. The unit was initially raised as the Ganga Risala unit after the British authorities in India accepted the offer of the ruler to create an army of around 500 soldiers. The Princely State of Bikaner followed the tradition of utilising armed forces mounted on camels. Later in 1900, Maharaja Ganga Singh led the regiment of Ganga Risala during its participation in the Boxer Rebellion in China. The troops of the armed force later took part in the Somali Uprising in Somaliland from 1902 to 1904; and also fought in Egypt during the First World War. In the year 1915, the unit fought against Turkish forces at the Suez Canal.

In one engagement the Maharaja himself fired many rounds at the enemy, and after their defeat led the Ganga Risala in pursuit. Ganga Singh also fought on the French front and represented India at the Paris Peace Conference after the war. When India's membership in the proposed League of Nations was being denied, on the grounds that it was not a self-governing state, the Bikaner Maharaja successfully stated India's case: "Where it is a question of securing the peace of the world, the important fact must be borne in mind that India represents one fifth of the entire human race." The Bikaner Camel Corps also provided valuable military services during the Second World War in the Middle East. The unit was aided by the Bijay Battery, which was also a camel-mounted unit.

After the country acquired independence from the supremacy of the British Empire in India on 15th August 1947, the nation was segregated into 2 geographical parts by the Partition of India. Thus, the Union of India and the Dominion of Pakistan were formed. Accordingly the British Indian Army was also divided amongst the 2 newly formed nations. The Bikaner Camel Corps unit was assigned to the modern Army of independent India.

Later in the year 1951, the regiment was amalgamated with the Jaisalmer camel troops in order to raise the Ganga Jaisalmer Risala. Later it was unit with the Grenadiers and was designated as the 13th battalion. 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. The Ganga Risala still survives though as a part of the Border Security Force, retaining the name Bikaner Camel Corps. It has to its credit one Kirti Chakra and one Shaurya Chakra among numerous other awards. It is the only camel cavalry operated by present day armed forces.