Maharaja Surajmal was born on 13th February 1707 (Magh Mahina, Shukla Paksha Dashmi, Samvat 1763). He was the son of Maharaja Badan Singh and his wife Rani Devaki. He was influenced by the sacrifice of Jat revolutionaries like Veer Nandram Jat, Veer Gokul Singh, Veerdheer Rajaram, Thakur Churaman of Agra-Bharatpur Mandai, who had revolted against forceful collection of tax by Mughal rulers.

He established an independent Bharatpur state and built historical temples and buildings in Bharatpur, Deeg, Kumher, Vair and near Delhi. Maharaja Surajmal earned a name for bravery in his youth by winning the Chandros (Aiigarh) "Kaul" battle killing Asad Khan in 1747. He helped lshwari Singh in the historical battle of Bagru (Jaipur) on 20th August 1748 where, by defeating the joint army of seven Rajas, he put lshwari Singh on the throne of Jaipur. On 1st January 1750, he defeated Mir Bakshi and his army forcing to flee from Faridabad and Ballabhgarh.

He won "Ghasera" battle in 1753, defeated Nawab Gajrauddin on 10th May 1753. On 18th May 1754 in Jat-Maratha battle, the Maratha siege of 'Kumher' lasted for four months and Maharaja Surajmal got victory by killing Khanderao, the son of Indore's Holker.

On 12th June 1761, he won Agra and Farruk Nagar in 1763 by defeating Baluchs.

After a lifetime spent in several battlefields where his valour became legendary, Maharaja Surajmal sacrificed his life on 25th December 1763 in Shahadra (Delhi). He respected all sects of religion. He loved art and traditions. He was a great builder- Deeg fort, Nawal Singh's Haveli & Jawahar Singh's Chhatri in Agra Fort are examples. Maharaja Surajmal ruled over Bharatpur, the state of which then included Dholpur, Agra, Etah, Etawah, Farruk Nagar, Mainpuri, Aligarh, Bulandshahar, Khurja, Meerut, Kanpur, Gurgawa, Rohtak, Jhajjar, Bahadurgarh, Rewari, Neemrana, Mewat, Alwar, Faridabad, Ballabhagarh and Mathura. It was one of the biggest state of the time.

The Department of Posts is happy to issue a commemorative postage stamp on Maharaja Surajmal.

Source : Information Folder issued by Indian Posts & Telegraph Department, Government of India