Ajit Singh of Marwar vs Karni Singh of Bikaner

After Aurangzeb's death, Ajit Singh was restored to the throne of Jodhpur by the Rathore nobles. He had been exiled as a child after his father Jaswant Singh's death and the Mughal annexation of Marwar.

Ajit Singh led a rebellion against the Mughals under Bahadur Shah I. He recaptured Jodhpur and other territories, asserting Marwar's independence after decades of Mughal control.

Ajit Singh joined a confederation of Rajput states, including Mewar and Amber, to resist Mughal expansion. This alliance temporarily weakened Mughal authority in Rajasthan.

Ajit Singh was assassinated by his own son, Bakht Singh, in a power struggle. This event plunged Marwar into a succession war and weakened the Rathore dynasty.

Karni Singh became the Maharaja of Bikaner at age 19, succeeding his father. His reign covered the final years of British rule and the integration of princely states into independent India, requiring him to manage political transition.

Karni Singh served as an officer in the Indian Army, seeing action in World War II and later in the 1947 Indo-Pakistani War. He was awarded the Military Cross for his service, demonstrating his commitment to military duty.

Karni Singh signed the Instrument of Accession, merging Bikaner into the Dominion of India. He later served as a member of the Lok Sabha (1952-1977) and Rajya Sabha (1977-1982), representing the Bikaner constituency in the Indian Parliament.

Karni Singh advocated in Parliament for the rights and privileges of former princely rulers, including the preservation of their titles and privy purses. His efforts reflected the ongoing debate about the integration of princely states into the Indian republic.