Maharaja Dr. Karni Singh was born on 21st April, 1924 eldest son of Late Sri Sadul Singhji Bahadur and grandson of Late Sri Ganga Singhji Bahadur. His preliminary schooling was completed in Bikaner. He did his B.A (Hons.) in history from St. Stephens College, Delhi. For his thesis 'Relationship of Bikaner Royal Family with Central Authority (1465-1949)' Bombay University honored him with Ph.d. He was elected Member of Parliament from 1952 to 1977 Lok Sabha (Indian Parliament). He married in 1944 to Princess Sushila Kumari, daughter of the Maharawal Laxman Singhji of Dungarpur. He succeeded his father in 1950. He was blessed with one son Maharaj Kumar Narendra Singhji, and two daughters, Princess Rajyashree Kumari and Princess Madhulika Kumari.
His father Shri Sadul Singhji of Bikaner, was the first prince to accede his state into the India Union at the time of Independence and thereby provided the important historic lead to all others to follow suit and which led to the creation of an United India. He was well known for his statesmanship, knowledge and services to the people.
He was a world known shooter. As an outstanding player, he participated in many Olympic and Asian Games in clay pigeon shooting and brought name and fame to India by winning gold and silver medals. At the IX Asiad in New Delhi in 1982, Dr. Karni Singh was the proud flag bearer of the Indian contingent at the open and the closing ceremony. He has been the unbeaten NATIONAL CHAMPION in Clay Pigeon Trap for 17 years, i.e. from 1960 to 1977. He competed in five Olympic namely- Rome, Tokyo, Mexico, Munich and Moscow.
He was acclaimed with the Prestigious Award 'ARJUNA AWARD' for shooting sports in 1962.
He was an ardent supporter of Rajathani Language and pleaded for its inclusion in the 14th schedule of Indian Constitution.
The sudden demise of Maharaja Dr. Karni Singh on 6th September 1988 was a blow to India in general and Bikaner in particular.
International Medals won by Dr. Karni Singh
* Silver Medal ,38th World Shooting Championships at Cairo(1962)
* Second Asian Shooting Championships, Seoul (Korea), (1971)
He won Gold Medal for India in Clay Pigeon Trap individual event.
* Second Asian Shooting Championships, Seoul (Korea): 1971
Dr. Karni Singh with Princess Rajyashree Kumari, Princess Bhuvaneswari Kumari and
Maan Singh won the Clay Pigeon Bronze Medal.
* Seventh Asian Games, Teheran (1974)
Won a Silver Medal in Clay Pigeon and also won Bronze Medal in Skeet Shooting.
* Third Asian Shooting Championship Kuala Lampur, (1975)
Won the Silver Medal in Clay Pigeon Trap
* British Clay Pigeon Championships in North Wales (1981)
Won three Championships together, viz, North Wales Cup, North Western Cup and Welsh Grand Prix.
* Ninth Asian Games, Delhi (1982)
Won Silver Team Medal for India.
* Won the North western cup and the Welsh Grand Prix, England (1984)
* The British grand prix in England (1985)
Won the Veterans' Gold Medal.
Rajyashree Kumari of Bikaner: Born on 4th June 1953 in Bombay, daughter of His Highness Dr. Karni Singh, Maharaja of Bikaner and Maharani Sushila Kumari. She stands unrivalled in target shooting. She was declared "Sportsperson of the year" and was awarded the much-covered trophy "ARJUNA AWARD" in 1969 when she was only 16 year old. This award is the highest acclaim that India can give to its sportsmen and sportswomen for outstanding achievement. She comes from a very log line of great shooters.
Here great grandfather His Highness Maharaja Ganga Singhji of Bikaner was a great reformer, builder and an International figure of his time. Here grandfather, His highness Maharaja Sadul Singhji of Bikaner, was the first prince to accede his State into the India Union at the time of Independence and thereby provided the important historic lead to all others to follow suit and which lead to the creation of an United India.
Her father His highness Dr. Karni Singh, Maharaja of Bikaner, served as an independent Member of Parliament from 1952-1977 for an uninterrupted period of 25 years in the Lok Sabha- the elected house of people. He represented India in four Olympics, Five world shooting championship, and numerous other international clay Pigeon Shooting Championship. In the Cairo World Shooting Championship in 1962 he tied for the Gold Medial in the Clay Pigeon Traps event.
Her father had also won the "ARJUNA AWARD" in 1961 like herself and both father and daughter winning this award is an unique achievement and record of which the people of Bikaner are very proud. This father and daughter team has been responsible for many medals and for the Indian Flag being raised, at shooting competitions all over the world.
At the age of seven she had the unique distinction of winning the National Air Rifle Championship in the below twelve years of age junior section. Furthermore, and significantly, the Princess beat all competitors in all age group in air rifle shooting and won the open championship trophy first at the age of ten and then a gain at the age of twelve.
At the age of 14at the All India Selection Trails held at Ahmedabad during the year 1967 she set a new All India record of 358/400 in Air Rifle Shooting by beating here nearest rival, an army man, by a big margin of 33 points. In Japan in 1967 still at the age of 14 she own the 21st place. In this competition she was the only woman competitor and a junior. The score of winner of the Gold Medal at this competition was 367/400. Her score 358/400 set at Ahmedabad is the highest score shot in the standing position set by any Indian.
At the 13th National Shooting Championship held in Madras in 1968, Princess Rajyashree Kumari at the age of 15 won all the items in which she entered and won the largest number of gold medals in shooting.
At the 14th National Shooting Championships held at Bhopal in February 1969 Princess Rajyashree Kumari competed for Ladies Olympic Clay Pigeon Trap event and secured 77/100 which score is equal to the score of thired position holder in the World Shooting Championship held at Bologna in 1967. She captained the Bikaner Thunderbolts Rifle Club at Bhopal National at won the team Olympic trap championships at finished second in the Ladies Clay Pigeon trap shooting championship. At the selection trials help at Delhi for the San Sebastian (Spain) World Shooting Championship Princess Rajyashree secured 82/100 in Clay Pigeon Traps which is equal to the second position score of the Bologna World Shooting Championships Ladies Trap 1967 score.
During the 16th National Shooting Championships Rajayashree stood first in the open Ladies Trap Shooting Championships and third in open Trap Shooting Championships.
At the II Asian Shooting Championships in the individual clay Pigeon trap shooting she was placed on the 14th position with a score of 152/200. India was the only country who entered Women Shooters in an otherwise all male Trap Contests. Also she was a Member of the Clay Pigeon Trap Shooting Team and helped Indian to win the Bronze Medal in the Clay Pigeon trapshooting event (team). Rajyashree Kumari's score was 118/150.
At the National Shooting Championship in 1970 the Princess scored 92 out of 100 in Trapshooting (I.R.) This national record established by here when she was only 17 years old is still unbeaten.
At the 1972, XVII: National Shooting Championship held at Delhi Princess Rajyashree was third in Clay Pigeon Trap National Championships (open to all) and she was National Champion in All India Ladies Clay Pigeon Trap Shooting Championships.
At the National Shooting Championship at Chandigarh in 1975 the Princess won Second place in Trap Shooting, beating all male competitors. Here father, His Highness Dr. Karni Singh, Maharaja of Bikaner, won first place.
Since 1969, for political reasons, India has stopped participation in the World Shooting Championship series. this championship series had seprate ladies competitions in Trap and Skeet shooting and as the Indian Government stopped participation the women shooters of India have lost the opportunity to compete in international events. The Olympic, Asian shooting competition, Asian Games, and Commonwealth Games have no separate item for women and this makes it impossible for them to compete.
Her other interests include the preservation of heritage properties and ancestral Forst and Palaces that belong to the Bikaner family. Member of the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH). Preservation of Wildlife. Helped the Maharaja in setting up the Sadual Museum in Lallgarh Palace, Bikaner. Working on many Projects concering Publishing of books related to the family history and properties, reprinting the old books and TV documentaries and films. Chairperson of Public Charitable Trusts set up by late Maharaja Karni Singhji that carry out numerous Charitable and other useful works for the people of Bikaner. She has recently launched a public charitable trust in the sacred memory of here father know as "Maharaja Dr. Karni Singhji Memorial Foundation" and proposes to bring large amount of funds from abroad in this trust, which will be utilized for the benefit of the people.
Rajyashree Kumari has one daughter, Anupama Kumari, and a son Sajjan Singh Gohel.
At Age -7
Won National Air Rifle Championships in below 12 Yrs. Age (Junior Section)
At Age -10
Won All India Air Rifle Open Championships
At Age - 12
Won All India Air Rifle Open Championships
At Age - 14
Set an All India Record of 358/400 in Air Rifle Shooting at All India Selection Trails held at Ahmedabad - 1967 beating her nearest rival, an army man, by a big margin of 33 points.
14th National Shooting Championships, Bhopal-1969
Silver Medal with a score of 77/100 in Ladies ISU Traps
16th National Shooting Championships, Ahmedabad -1971
Gold Medal in the Ladies Trap Shooting Championships
Bronze Medal in Clay Pigeon Trap Open Championships
17th National Shooting Championships, Delhi - 1972
Gold Medal in Ladies Trap Shooting Championships
Bronze Medal in Clay Pigeon Trap Open Championships
20th National Shooting Championships at Chandigarh - 1975
Sliver Medal in Open Clay Pigeon Trap Shooting
(1st Position was taken by her father, Maharaja Dr. Karni Singhji)
1st Asian Shooting Championships, Tokyo -1967
21st position in Air Rifle Shooting - score - 342/400
She was the only women competitor and a junior
World Shooting Championships, San Sebastian - 1969
8th position in Ladies Trap Shooting - score - 114/150
Sliver Master Shooters Badge in Clay Pigeon Trap
3rd Position in Castillo de Chichon Trophy in Ladies Clay Pigeon Score-38/50
2nd Asian Shooting Championships, Seoul - 1971
14th position with a score of 152/200 in Open Clay Pigeon Trap Shooting. She was the only women clay pigeon trap shooter in the whole team.
(Mr. Man Singh another Shooter from India stood 17th with a score of 149/200)
A member of Clay Pigeon Trap Shooting team which won a Bronze Medal in team event.
