Personal Profile
Maharaja Karni Singh was the twenty third Maharajah of the princely state of Bikaner in India. He was born on 21st April 1924. His father’s name was Sri Sadul Singh Bahadur. He got preliminary education in Bikaner and completed his graduation with honours in History from St. Stephens College, New Delhi.
He was an academician of great merit and was honored with a Ph.D. by the University of Bombay for his research work, Relationship of Bikaner Royal Family with Central Authority (1465-1949.
Maharaja’s Contribution for the City as Member of Parliament
Mahararaja Karni Singh served as a member of parliament for a span of twenty five long years from 1952 to 1977. Maharajah Karni Singh contributed much towards the recognition of Rajasthani language by the 14th schedule of Indian Constitution and became one of the famous people of Rajasthan.
His Passion for the Sports
He was a world renowned shooter. As an outstanding player, he participated in many Olympic and Asian Games in clay. pigeon shooting and won many medals for India. At the IXth Asian Games in New Delhi in 1982, Dr. Karni Singh was the proud flag bearer of the Indian contingent during the opening and closing ceremonies.
Maharaja as an Unbeaten Champion for Seventeen years
For seventeen years, the Maharajah has remained the unbeaten National champion in Clay Pigeon Trap from 1960 to 1977. He competed in five Olympics at Rome, Tokyo, Mexico, Munich, and Moscow. The international awards for the Maharajah that brought honor to India in general and Bikaner in particular are the veterans’ Gold Medal, Silver Medal in the 38th World Shooting Championships at Cairo, Second Asian Shooting Championships, Seoul (Korea): 1971 and many more.
Awards and Honors
In 1961, the Arjun Award, India’s highest award in sports, was conferred upon him for his outstanding contribution to sports. The famous Bikaneri Maharaja Karni Singh left for the heavenly abode on 6th September 1988. His daughter Princess Rajyashree Kumari also became a shooting champion of fame.
