Editing Maharaja Suraj Mal

{{SHORTDESC:Ruler of Bharatpur}}
{{Infobox royalty
| name             = Maharaja Suraj Mal
| title            = [[Ruler of Bharatpur State|Maharaja of Bharatpur]]
| image            = Maharaja Suraj Mal.jpg
| caption          = Portrait of Maharaja Surajmal
| reign            = 1755–1763
| birth_date       = [[13 February]] [[1707]]
| birth_place      = [[Bharatpur]], Rajasthan, India
| death_date       = [[25 December]] [[1763]] (aged 56)
| death_place      = [[Hindon]], Uttar Pradesh, India
| predecessor      = Maharaja Badan Singh
| successor        = Maharaja Jawahar Singh
| issue            = Maharaja Jawahar Singh, Ratan Singh, Nahar Singh
| dynasty          = [[Jat people|Jat dynasty]]
| father           = [[Maharaja Badan Singh]]
| mother           = Rani Devkali
| issue       = Maharaja Jawahar Singh, Ratan Singh, Nahar Singh
| religion    = Hinduism
}}

'''Maharaja Suraj Mal''' ([[1707]]–[[1763]]) was a prominent ruler of the [[Jat people|Jat dynasty]] and the founder of modern [[Bharatpur State]] in [[Rajasthan]], India. He is widely regarded for his strategic acumen, progressive administration, and military prowess.{{sfn|Singh|1982|p=45}}

== Early Life ==
Maharaja Suraj Mal was born on [[13 February]] [[1707]] in Bharatpur to Maharaja [[Badan Singh]] and Rani Devkali. His early life was marked by exposure to political strategies, as his father was an astute ruler who laid the foundation of the Bharatpur kingdom. Suraj Mal inherited his father’s vision and skill, and he expanded the kingdom significantly during his reign.{{sfn|Chandra|1997|p=102}}

== Reign ==
Maharaja Suraj Mal ascended the throne in [[1755]] after the abdication of his father. Known as the ''Plato of the Jat tribe,'' he was a capable administrator and a visionary leader.{{sfn|Sharma|2001|p=86}}

=== Expansion of Territory ===
Under his leadership, the Bharatpur kingdom flourished and expanded. He captured important territories, including [[Agra]], [[Delhi]], and parts of [[Aligarh]]{{sfn|Roy|2014|p=215}}. His most notable achievement was the capture of the [[Red Fort]] in Agra in [[1761]], which established the Jats as a significant political force in northern India.{{sfn|Tripathi|2005|p=146}}

=== Governance ===
Maharaja Suraj Mal implemented progressive reforms, including irrigation projects that turned Bharatpur into a fertile region. His administration was known for its fairness, and he promoted trade and agriculture.{{sfn|Chandra|1997|p=105}}

== Death ==
Suraj Mal died on [[25 December]] [[1763]] in a skirmish with the [[Nawab of Awadh]] near Hindon. His death was a significant loss to the Bharatpur kingdom, but his legacy endured through his successors.{{sfn|Sharma|2001|p=87}}

== Legacy ==
Maharaja Suraj Mal is remembered as one of the greatest rulers in Indian history. The [[Suraj Mal Memorial Education Society]] was established in his honor, and several institutions and landmarks in India are named after him.{{sfn|Roy|2014|p=216}}

== See Also ==
* [[Jat people]]
* [[Bharatpur State]]
* [[Battle of Delhi (1757)]]

== References ==
{{reflist|refs=
<ref name="Singh1982">{{cite book |last=Singh |first=Rajendra |title=The Jat Rulers of Bharatpur |year=1982 |publisher=University of Delhi Press |page=45}}</ref>
<ref name="Chandra1997">{{cite book |last=Chandra |first=Satish |title=Medieval India: From Sultanate to the Mughals |year=1997 |publisher=Har-Anand Publications |page=102}}</ref>
<ref name="Sharma2001">{{cite book |last=Sharma |first=Ram |title=Rulers of Bharatpur: A Historical Overview |year=2001 |publisher=Asian Educational Services |page=86}}</ref>
<ref name="Roy2014">{{cite book |last=Roy |first=Kaushik |title=The Military System of the Jats |year=2014 |publisher=Oxford University Press |page=215}}</ref>
<ref name="Tripathi2005">{{cite book |last=Tripathi |first=Amar |title=The Glory of Bharatpur |year=2005 |publisher=Raj Publications |page=146}}</ref>
}}

== External Links ==
* [https://bharatpur.nic.in Bharatpur Official Website]
* [https://www.jatland.com/home/Suraj_Mal Jatland Wiki: Suraj Mal]

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