Shiv Kumari of Kotah

Her Highness, Rajmata Shiv Kumari of Kotah, is the daughter of the illustrious Maharaja Ganga Singh of Bikaner.

Early life

Born in 1913 she was married to Maharao Bhim Singh of Kotah in 1930 at the age of 17——however she was not bound by the traditional restrictions of the Purdah. Shiv Kumari’s father ensured that she received modern education along with her male siblings at home. The Rathor Rajput princesses was skilled in shooting and bagged more than forty tigers both before and after her marriage.

As the Maharani of Kotah she became committed to the cause of education along with her contemporary and friend, Maharani Gayatri Devi of Jaipur. Shiv Kumari is vice-president of the latter’s Maharani Gayatri Devi Girls’ Public School in Jaipur.

Politics

While her husband was the ceremonial governor of Rajasthan, Her Highness was also active in politics and was elected to the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly as an independent member from Khanpur (Jhalawar District) from 1966-71. Along with her husband and family she traveled all around the world in the early decades of India’s independence.

Maharani Shiv Kumari has been active in the socio-economic uplift of the Rajput community and is the vice-president of the Rajput Sabha. Like her contemporaries in Indian royalty, Her Highness remained interested in the preservation of wildlife and jungle habitat. She manages a small estate near Kota called "Nawal Bagh", which was bequeathed to her by Maharao Bhim Singh.

Rajmata

Following the death of Maharao Bhim Singh in 1991, Shiv Kumari became the Rajmata (Queen Mother) while her son Brijraj Singh became the next Maharao. Lately the royal residence of Umaid Bhawan has been converted into a hotel but the Rajmata continues to reside in the upper portions of the palace.

References

* http://www.uq.net.au/~zzhsoszy/ips/b/bikaner.html