RAJA Sir Harinder Singh assumed full powers to rule the erstwhile Faridkot state on October 17, 1934. At that time, there was only one high school and one middle school at Faridkot and Kotkapura, respectively. During the next 12 years, Harinder Singh transformed the state into an oasis in the deserts of the Malwa region. A vast network of education was spread throughout the state by the personal efforts of the Raja. Faridkot, which became the main centre of education next to Lahore in the undivided Punjab, had a degree college, agriculture college and a commerce college. There were about eight high schools, many middle schools and there was at least one primary school in each village.

To ameliorate the sufferings of the common man, the Raja would deliver quick justice. Every morning he would listen to grievances of the public and provide justice.

During Harinder Singh’s rule there was a vast improvement in the road network too. From Golewala to Goniana, there was a 64 km-long metalled road of the finest quality lined by shady sheesham trees on both sides. Besides there were other small stretches of roads treated with lime kankar.

To encourage sports, efforts were made at school and college levels. A modern stadium was built, which came to be known as Victory Stadium. Later, its name was changed to Nehru Stadium.

The towns of Faridkot, Kotkapura and Goniana were pictures of cleanliness quite unlike the present situation when there are heaps of garbage everywhere and the drains overflow with stinking water. It was customary every year to de-silt the Ganda Nullah before the advent of the rainy season.

The erstwhile Faridkot state even during the rule of Council of Regency was very well administered. The cooperative movement was effectively introduced immediately after the passing of the Cooperative Societies Act, 1912. In order to protect villagers from the clutches of money-lenders who charged a whopping rate of interest, even up to 100 per cent, this movement was introduced and every village had a cooperative credit society which was popularly known as Anjmen-i-Imdad Bahmi. All the three towns of the erstwhile Faridkot state had mohalla-wise cooperative credit societies. These societies proved effective in improving the condition of the farmers. The dividend received by the agriculturists was sufficient to pay the yearly land revenue.

The Council of Regency was quite alert to people’s needs. The period from 1910 to 1913 was a period of revolution in the history of Faridkot. The construction of the granary for storage of foodgrain to meet the challenging situation of famine was started in 1910 and it completed in 1911. Rani Suraj Kaur Zenene Hospital was inaugurated in 1912. A model agriculture farm was also set up during this period to make modern technology available to farmers. For providing drinking water, a huge steel storage tank was erected and a power house for generating electricity was founded. A civil hospital was set up in 1930-31 and the construction of the secretariat building was completed by 1935. The Council of Regency headed by Sardar Dayal Singh Maan and subsequently by Sardar Bahador Inder Singh played a historic role in the development of the erstwhile Faridkot state.

Coming to the Praja Mandal Movement, its main thrust was to grant proprietary rights of the land to tenants. According to the British Settlement Rules, in 1889 Raja Bikram Singh retained the rights of ownership over 33 complete villages and over 175000 ghumaons of land in various other villages. To revert the long established order, a struggle was needed. The freedom struggle waged by the Indian National Congress had a mesmerising effect on people even in the princely states. But at certain points of time when political movements are at their peak, the masses become over-enthusiastic and even hysteric. Thus the element of inflated enthusiasm, at times distorts realities. The charges of brutalities against the administration or the Raja were by and large exaggerated by the media and the political adversaries. The stories of certain leaders being dragged on roads by tying them behind jeeps and making children lie on ice slabs are baseless.

Raja Sir Harinder Singh expired in 1989 and he bequeathed his entire property to the Maharawal Khewaji Trust. At present a 150-bedded hospital is under construction. Even at present, free medicines worth about a lakh of rupees are given to patients every month. When the project is completed, it will provide prompt medical aid at a nominal price. This project is estimated to touch about Rs 20 crore.