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Born on 19 December 1843, the son of Sukkha Singh of Badrukkhan,
ascended the throne of Nabha state on 10 August 1877 after Raja
Bhagvan Singh who had died issueless and without adopting an heir.
Hira Singh ruled for forty years and did much for the welfare of
the people of the state and of the Sikhs in general. He despatched
contingents of troops to fight in most of the major frontier campaigns
and was duly rewarded by the British with many honours, including
the titles of Raja-i-Rajgan and Maharaja. Maharaja Hira Singh provided
funds for the establishment of the Khalsa Printing Press at Lahore,
supported the Khalsa College at Amritsar and promoted the reformist
(Anand) form of Sikh marriage.
He also patronized Max Arthur Macauliffe who
was then engaged in his monumental work, The Sikh Religion.
Maharaja Hira Singh was one of the ablest of Nabha rulers - wise,
liberal and pious. Legends about his justice and munificence are
still current in the countryside. He died at Nabha on 25 December
1911 and was succeeded by his son, Ripudaman Singh.
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