Some royal reminiscence

How many who saw the pageantry in the Republic Day parade of 2004 gave a thought to the Muria Durbar Tableaux...

How many who saw the pageantry in the Republic Day parade of 2004 gave a thought to the Muria Durbar Tableaux on display on Rajpath? On parade that morning, the newly formed state of Chhattisgarh depicted the traditional Bastar Dussehra originating from the ancient kingdoms of Chakrakot and Kakatiya.

There are tales aplenty of maharajas but here is something from Bastar, recalled by my father, who spent his early years there when our grandfather in 1910 was advisor at the Surguja palace. Royal subjects, while passing the palace gates, were required to uncover their heads or fold their umbrellas in reverence to the ruler even if he was not in view. Punishment for lapses was swift.

When my grandfather asked for leave to go to Nagpur and the ruler was told the reason, which was the thread ceremony of my father, orders were immediately given for a gift to Kuntesahib. Much to his protestations, it came from the royal stable 8212; an elephant!

Another relates to the raja of Khairagarh who was a minister in the early 1950s in the Ravi Shanker Shukla cabinet. Those were post-Independence days of strict prohibition and the raja, known for his tippling habits, was having difficulties. He therefore requested the CM for a liquor permit. Shuklaji, a tall figure in every sense, had this to say, 8220;How I can I do that when you are my minister?8221; Not, however, wanting to be unkind to a colleague habituated to a drink, he added, 8220;Aisa hai, aap jo karte hai usay chalne dijiye, permit mat mangiye.8221;

Finally, another 8216;princely8217; matter relating to the ruler of the state after whom Daspalla Hills in the Waltair Uplands have been named and where he resided. I bought a red MG from him, a 1947 two-seater sports car that was immaculately serviced before being handed over. The engraving on the red key ring read 8216;Yuvraj of Daspalla8217;. Of course, no one riding with me was fooled by that royal marking but eyebrows were certainly raised. And when time came to dispose of that beauty, my ad for the newspaper, 8216;Owner of an MG after many years of delightful driving reluctantly offers it for sale because of a nagging wife8217; was politely returned by the Editor for deletion of the last two offending words!