Maharaja Karni Singh
Encyclopedia
Maharaja
Karni Singh (21 April 1924 – 4 September 1988), in full HH Maharajadhiraj Raj Rajeshwar Narendra Shiromani Maharajah Sri Dr Karni Singh Bahadur, also known as Dr Karni Singh, was from 1950 the last ruler of the princely state
of Bikaner, as part of India
. He was also a politician, serving as a member of the Lok Sabha
for twenty-five years, from 1952 to 1977, and an international clay pigeon
and skeet
champion.
, Delhi
, and St Xavier's College
, Bombay
, where he graduated BA
with Honours in History and Politics. He saw active service in the Second World War
, serving in the Middle East
with his grandfather the 23rd Maharaja of Bikaner.
In 1952 Singh was elected Member of Parliament
in the Lok Sabha
of India, serving on several consultative committees of different ministries and holding his seat until 1977.
In 1964 he received the degree of Doctor of Philosophy
from Bombay University, for his thesis The relationship of the Bikaner royal family with central authority (1465-1949).
He was an ardent supporter of the Rajasthani language
and argued for its inclusion in the 14th schedule of the Indian Constitution.
As well as many sports, his interests included photography
and painting
.
Maharaja Karni Singh attended his last Olympic Games in 1980 and died on 4 September 1988.
, and they had one son and two daughters. Their daughter Rajyashree Kumari
was also a first class shooting sportswoman who received the Arjuna award in 1968.
seventeen times and represented India at all levels of international competition. He was the first Indian to compete at five Olympic Games, which he did from 1960 to 1980, missing the Games of 1976, representing India at clay pigeon shooting at the Summer Olympics in Rome
, 1960, Tokyo
, 1964 (Captain), Mexico
, 1968, Munich
, 1972, and Moscow
, 1980. His best positions in competition were eighth in 1960 and tenth in 1968.
He represented his country in the World Shooting Championships at Oslo
in 1961, and the next year won a silver medal at the 38th World Shooting Championships
in Cairo, after tie for 1st place, captaining the Indian team. He also competed in the World Shooting Championships at Wiesbaden
in 1966, again captaining the team, and at Bologna
in 1967 and San Sebastian
in 1969. He competed in the Asian Shooting Championships at Tokyo
in 1967 and at Seoul
in 1971, where he won a Gold Medal. He won a Silver Medal at the Asian Games
in Tehran
, 1974, and another in the Asian Games at Kuala Lumpur
in 1975.
In 1981 he won the Welsh Grand Prix for clay pigeon shooting, the North Wales Cup and the North West of England Cup.
In 1961 he was given the Arjuna award
, becoming the first person from the world of shooting to be rewarded with that national honour. He documented his shooting experiences in a book of memoirs called From Rome to Moscow.
Singh was also a keen player of tennis
, golf
, and cricket
, and held a private pilot's licence.
, the Cricket Club of India
, the Western India Automobile Association, the Bombay Natural History Society
, the Bombay Flying Club
, the Bombay Presidency Golf Club, the Delhi Golf Club
, the Clay Pigeon Shooting Association
(of which he was an Honorary Life Vice-President), the Willingdon Sports Club
, and the Royal Wimbledon Golf Club.
Maharaja
Mahārāja is a Sanskrit title for a "great king" or "high king". The female equivalent title Maharani denotes either the wife of a Maharaja or, in states where that was customary, a woman ruling in her own right. The widow of a Maharaja is known as a Rajamata...
Karni Singh (21 April 1924 – 4 September 1988), in full HH Maharajadhiraj Raj Rajeshwar Narendra Shiromani Maharajah Sri Dr Karni Singh Bahadur, also known as Dr Karni Singh, was from 1950 the last ruler of the princely state
Princely state
A Princely State was a nominally sovereign entitity of British rule in India that was not directly governed by the British, but rather by an Indian ruler under a form of indirect rule such as suzerainty or paramountcy.-British relationship with the Princely States:India under the British Raj ...
of Bikaner, as part of India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. He was also a politician, serving as a member of the Lok Sabha
Lok Sabha
The Lok Sabha or House of the People is the lower house of the Parliament of India. Members of the Lok Sabha are elected by direct election under universal adult suffrage. As of 2009, there have been fifteen Lok Sabhas elected by the people of India...
for twenty-five years, from 1952 to 1977, and an international clay pigeon
Clay pigeon shooting
Clay pigeon shooting, also known as clay target shooting, and formally known as Inanimate Bird Shooting, is the art of shooting at special flying targets, known as clay pigeons or clay targets, with a shotgun or any type of firearm....
and skeet
Skeet shooting
Skeet shooting is one of the three major types of competitive shotgun target shooting sports . There are several types of skeet, including one with Olympic status , and many with only national recognition.- General principles :Skeet is a recreational and competitive activity where...
champion.
Life
Born on 21 April 1924 in the princely state of Bikaner, Singh's first schooling was there, after which he attended St Stephen's CollegeSt. Stephen's College, Delhi
St. Stephen's College is a constituent college of the University of Delhi located in Delhi, India. The college admits both undergraduates and post-graduates, and awards degrees under the purview of the University. Famous for its rich history and many traditions, St...
, Delhi
Delhi
Delhi , officially National Capital Territory of Delhi , is the largest metropolis by area and the second-largest by population in India, next to Mumbai. It is the eighth largest metropolis in the world by population with 16,753,265 inhabitants in the Territory at the 2011 Census...
, and St Xavier's College
St. Xavier's College, Bombay
St. Xavier's College in Mumbai , India is a Roman Catholic college in the Jesuit tradition. The college is named after Francis Xavier, the 16th century Spanish Jesuit saint. It has been awarded the highest rating A+ in the re-accreditation by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council in...
, Bombay
Mumbai
Mumbai , formerly known as Bombay in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million...
, where he graduated BA
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
with Honours in History and Politics. He saw active service in the Second World War
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, serving in the Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
with his grandfather the 23rd Maharaja of Bikaner.
In 1952 Singh was elected Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
in the Lok Sabha
Lok Sabha
The Lok Sabha or House of the People is the lower house of the Parliament of India. Members of the Lok Sabha are elected by direct election under universal adult suffrage. As of 2009, there have been fifteen Lok Sabhas elected by the people of India...
of India, serving on several consultative committees of different ministries and holding his seat until 1977.
In 1964 he received the degree of Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
from Bombay University, for his thesis The relationship of the Bikaner royal family with central authority (1465-1949).
He was an ardent supporter of the Rajasthani language
Rajasthani language
Rajasthani Rajasthani Rajasthani (Devanagari: , Perso-Arabic: is a language of the Indo-Aryan languages family. It is spoken by 50 million people in Rajasthan and other states of India and in some areas of Pakistan. The number of speakers may be up to 80 million worldwide...
and argued for its inclusion in the 14th schedule of the Indian Constitution.
As well as many sports, his interests included photography
Photography
Photography is the art, science and practice of creating durable images by recording light or other electromagnetic radiation, either electronically by means of an image sensor or chemically by means of a light-sensitive material such as photographic film...
and painting
Painting
Painting is the practice of applying paint, pigment, color or other medium to a surface . The application of the medium is commonly applied to the base with a brush but other objects can be used. In art, the term painting describes both the act and the result of the action. However, painting is...
.
Maharaja Karni Singh attended his last Olympic Games in 1980 and died on 4 September 1988.
Family
On 25 February 1944 Singh married Sushila Kumari of DungarpurDungarpur
Dungarpur is a city in the southernmost part of Rajasthan state of India. It is the administrative headquarters of Dungarpur District. The rail line between Udaipur and Himatnagar in Gujarat runs through the town, shortest distance to the National Highway 8 from Dungapur town is...
, and they had one son and two daughters. Their daughter Rajyashree Kumari
Rajyashree Kumari
Maharajkumari Rajyashree Kumari is a former shooter from India. She was conferred the Arjuna Award in shooting in 1969 when she was only 16 years old, the youngest age ever....
was also a first class shooting sportswoman who received the Arjuna award in 1968.
Sporting career
Singh won the National Championship in Clay Pigeon Trap and SkeetTrap shooting
Trap shooting is one of the three major forms of competitive clay pigeon shooting . The others are skeet shooting and sporting clays. There are many versions including Olympic trap, Double trap , Down-The-Line, and Nordic trap. American trap is most popular in the United States and Canada...
seventeen times and represented India at all levels of international competition. He was the first Indian to compete at five Olympic Games, which he did from 1960 to 1980, missing the Games of 1976, representing India at clay pigeon shooting at the Summer Olympics in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
, 1960, Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
, 1964 (Captain), Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
, 1968, Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
, 1972, and Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
, 1980. His best positions in competition were eighth in 1960 and tenth in 1968.
He represented his country in the World Shooting Championships at Oslo
Oslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
in 1961, and the next year won a silver medal at the 38th World Shooting Championships
1962 ISSF World Shooting Championships
The 38th UIT World Shooting Championships was the contemporary name of the ISSF World Shooting Championships in all ISSF shooting events that were held in Cairo, Egypt in 1962.-Medal count:-Men:-Women:-Men:...
in Cairo, after tie for 1st place, captaining the Indian team. He also competed in the World Shooting Championships at Wiesbaden
Wiesbaden
Wiesbaden is a city in southwest Germany and the capital of the federal state of Hesse. It has about 275,400 inhabitants, plus approximately 10,000 United States citizens...
in 1966, again captaining the team, and at Bologna
Bologna
Bologna is the capital city of Emilia-Romagna, in the Po Valley of Northern Italy. The city lies between the Po River and the Apennine Mountains, more specifically, between the Reno River and the Savena River. Bologna is a lively and cosmopolitan Italian college city, with spectacular history,...
in 1967 and San Sebastian
San Sebastián
Donostia-San Sebastián is a city and municipality located in the north of Spain, in the coast of the Bay of Biscay and 20 km away from the French border. The city is the capital of Gipuzkoa, in the autonomous community of the Basque Country. The municipality’s population is 186,122 , and its...
in 1969. He competed in the Asian Shooting Championships at Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
in 1967 and at Seoul
Seoul
Seoul , officially the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea. A megacity with a population of over 10 million, it is the largest city proper in the OECD developed world...
in 1971, where he won a Gold Medal. He won a Silver Medal at the Asian Games
Asian Games
The Asian Games, officially known as Asiad, is a multi-sport event held every four years among athletes from all over Asia. The Games were regulated by the Asian Games Federation from the first Games in New Delhi, India, until the 1978 Games. Since the 1982 Games they have been organised by the...
in Tehran
Tehran
Tehran , sometimes spelled Teheran, is the capital of Iran and Tehran Province. With an estimated population of 8,429,807; it is also Iran's largest urban area and city, one of the largest cities in Western Asia, and is the world's 19th largest city.In the 20th century, Tehran was subject to...
, 1974, and another in the Asian Games at Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur is the capital and the second largest city in Malaysia by population. The city proper, making up an area of , has a population of 1.4 million as of 2010. Greater Kuala Lumpur, also known as the Klang Valley, is an urban agglomeration of 7.2 million...
in 1975.
In 1981 he won the Welsh Grand Prix for clay pigeon shooting, the North Wales Cup and the North West of England Cup.
In 1961 he was given the Arjuna award
Arjuna award
The Arjuna Awards were instituted in 1961 by the government of India to recognize outstanding achievement in National sports. The award carries a cash prize of 500,000, a bronze statuette of Arjuna and a scroll....
, becoming the first person from the world of shooting to be rewarded with that national honour. He documented his shooting experiences in a book of memoirs called From Rome to Moscow.
Singh was also a keen player of tennis
Tennis
Tennis is a sport usually played between two players or between two teams of two players each . Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all...
, golf
Golf
Golf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes....
, and cricket
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
, and held a private pilot's licence.
Honours
- Grand Commander of the Order of Vikram Star (Bikaner)
- Order of Sadul Star (Bikaner)
- Order of Star of Honour (Bikaner)
- Africa StarAfrica StarThe Africa Star was a campaign medal of the British Commonwealth, awarded for service in the Second World War.The Star was awarded for a minimum of one day service in an operational area of North Africa between 10 June 1940 and 12 May 1943...
(Second World WarWorld War IIWorld War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
campaign medal) - India Service MedalIndia Service MedalThe Indian Service Medal 1939-1945 was a campaign medal of the Commonwealth. It was awarded to the Indian Forces for three years of non-operational service in India, and replaces the Defence Medal...
- Arjuna AwardArjuna awardThe Arjuna Awards were instituted in 1961 by the government of India to recognize outstanding achievement in National sports. The award carries a cash prize of 500,000, a bronze statuette of Arjuna and a scroll....
, for shooting sports, 1962
Memberships
Singh was a member of the Asiatic Society of India, the National Sports Club of IndiaNational Sports Club of India
National Sports Club of India is a twin-city based sports club with branches in Mumbai and Delhi, India....
, the Cricket Club of India
Cricket Club of India
Cricket Club of India is located on Dinsha Wacha Road, near Churchgate in Mumbai, India. It is one of the oldest and most well known cricket clubs in India...
, the Western India Automobile Association, the Bombay Natural History Society
Bombay Natural History Society
The Bombay Natural History Society, founded on 15 September 1883, is one of the largest non-governmental organizations in India engaged in conservation and biodiversity research. It supports many research efforts through grants, and publishes the Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society. Many...
, the Bombay Flying Club
Bombay Flying Club
The Bombay Flying Club is the oldest flying club in India.It is located at the Juhu aerodrome, Bombay .-History:It was incorporated on 29 May 1928, and commenced instructions on 13 January 1929 when they received their first two De Havilland Moth aircraft, presented to them by the Government of ...
, the Bombay Presidency Golf Club, the Delhi Golf Club
Delhi Golf Club
The Delhi Golf Club is one of the oldest golf-courses in Asia and the oldest one in Delhi. It was founded in the 1920's as the Lodhi Club and is located at Dr. Zakir Hussain Road in Nizamuddin. It became a corporate entity in 24th February 1950.-History:...
, the Clay Pigeon Shooting Association
Clay Pigeon Shooting Association
The Clay Pigeon Shooting Association is the National Governing Body for Clay Target Shooting in England.Founded in 1928, it is recognised by Sports England, the Department of the Environment, the Home Office, the Police etc...
(of which he was an Honorary Life Vice-President), the Willingdon Sports Club
Willingdon Sports Club
Royal Willingdon Sports Club is a sports club situated in the heart of Mumbai. It was one of the first clubs to admit indigenous Indians prior to Partition.-History:It was founded in 1918 by Lord Willingdon, the then Governor of Bombay...
, and the Royal Wimbledon Golf Club.
External links
- Dr Karni Singh at Real Personalities of Bikaner
- Dr. Karni Singh's multi-faceted achievements - Quiz question
- Sports-Reference Profile