Background
Hira Singh was born at Badrukhan, Jind, on 18 December 1843, the second son of Sukha Singh (died 1852), from a distant branch of the royal Sikh Phulkian dynasty of Patiala, Jind and Nabha.
Hira Singh was born at Badrukhan, Jind, on 18 December 1843, the second son of Sukha Singh (died 1852), from a distant branch of the royal Sikh Phulkian dynasty of Patiala, Jind and Nabha.
Little is known about his early life. In 1871, the line of the Phulkian dynasty which had ruled Nabha, a small 11-gun state, since 1718 became extinct upon the death from tuberculosis of the young Raja, Bhagwan Singh (1842–1871). The remaining two lines of the dynasty-the rulers of Patiala and Jind-in conjunction with the British government fixed upon Hira Singh as the successor to the Nabha gadi (throne).
Hira Singh ascended the throne of Nabha on 9 June 1871 and began a long and successful reign that would usher Nabha into the modern era.
Great monuments and public buildings were erected, roads, railways, hospitals, schools and palaces were constructed and an efficient modern army was established that saw service during the Second Afghan War and the Tirah Expedition. As well, agriculture flourished with the construction of an irrigation canal at Sirhind, and Nabha soon produced bountiful harvests of wheat, sugar, pulses, millet and cotton, thus enabling the state to increase the value of its land revenue assessments.
As a result of Hira Singh"s improvements, in 1877 Nabha was raised to a salute of 13-guns and Hira Singh himself was decorated with the Empress of India Gold Medal and knighted two years later with the GCSI. In 1894, Hira Singh was granted the title of Raja-i-Rajagan and in 1898 was granted a 15-gun personal salute. Only a fortnight before his death, Hira Singh was raised to the rank of Maharaja of Nabha.
Hira Singh died at the Hira Mahal on Christmas Eve 1911, aged 68 after a four-decade reign.
1. Karangarhwalia; married in 1858 2. Aonanliwali Rani; 3.
Jasmir Kaur (d 1921).
Ripaduman Singh, who succeeded to the Nabha throne as Maharaja Ripudaman Singh (1883–1942). R. 1911-1928. Ripudaman Devi (1881–1911). Married Ram Singh 4. unknown wife.
Number issue 1843-1871: Sardar Sri Hira Singh.