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The Royalty of Mysore

by Vimala Ramu
(Bangalore, Karnataka, India)

With massive changes sweeping over the country in the 20th and 21st century, our Kannada nadu, the golden state of Mysore also underwent many inevitable changes. With the handing over of the power to the Central government, the concept o f royalty also underwent sea change with successive generations.

Just as the national and international politics are meaningful to the residents of Delhi, royalty had a special connotation for the citizens of Mysore city.

My father had been posted in Mysore during late1930’s.Like all the Mysoreans he also used to sport a jari (gold thread) bordered Mysore Peta (pagdi) incongruously with the Western suit. He used to be a regular visitor to the Mysore palace. For me, royalty in those days meant the gold embroidered dark green woolen shawl with thick gold and red border and the gold thread garland strung with big artificial pearls and the pendant embroidered with Ganda bherunda, the mythical two headed bird, the royal logo gifted to my father. In school, we use to sing the Mysore state anthem ‘Kayou Shri Gauri…’ everyday at the assembly praying for the welfare of our royal family and our state. We used to be treated to Laddus on the occasion of Maharajah’s birthday.

As I grew up, I came to know about the erudition of our Maharajah, Jayachamarajendra wodeyar and his patronage to singers, dancers and other artists, besides himself being a good composer of Kirtanas in Sanskrit.

A visit to the palace was always looked up to. The Dasara celebration and the wonderful illumination of Mysore palace were famous all over the world. Who could forget the famous Dasara exhibition, the only one of its kind till Congress exhibitions and Industrial exhibitions came into being!

It speaks greatly of the royal family that even after the ‘self government’ took over, the people of Mysore had immense love and respect for the royal family.

With the passing of the generations it was indeed great to see the (last) scion of the family SriKanthadutta wodeyar humbly mixing with the aam-janata like a true citizen of democratic India. His interest in cricket, in the fashions (revival of old Mysore palace sarees) and in other fields endeared him to all.
May his soul rest in peace.

With his passing, the old Mysore really misses its royalty.

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Jan 10, 2014
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royalty
by: vimala ramu

Yes, royalty was one of the sweet parts of our life which we could not hold on to.Thank you Isabel for visiting.

Jan 09, 2014
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days of...
by: Isabel

Sometimes it is hard to understand why most of the people, places or things we loved most just ceases to exist. Instinctively you wanted to hold on to it forever if possible, but since we do live in a fast evolving world then we are subjected to many unwanted changes. The only thing we humans were gifted is our capacity to remember and so we shall always treasure those memories of days gone by in our hearts.

Isabel

Jan 08, 2014
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Thanks
by: vimala ramu

Thank you Pankaja for your fellow mysorean feelings.

Jan 08, 2014
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cATCHING!
by: NUGGEHALLIPANKAJA

vIMALA,YOUR ARTICLE BROUGHT BACK SO MANY WONDERFUL MEMORIES,FOR LIKE YOUR FATHER, MY TATHA AND APPA-BEING gOVT EMPLOYEES,USED TO ATTEND THE DURBAR AND OTHER FUNCTIONS;i DO REMEMBER THE GORGEOUS PEARl-STUDDED SHAWLS,WHICH WERE DISTRIBUTED among the sons.
And so many other memories,maybe I share them with the younger generation for whom it will sound like a fairy tale!

Jan 05, 2014
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Thanks
by: vimala ramu

Thank you, Komal. Yes, Maharajah himself might have composed it in praise of goddess Chamundeswari.

Jan 05, 2014
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Tribute
by: Komala

Read your article.It is not only a tribute to Mysore Rajas but also remembrance of our dear father. Hence I liked it doubly.Kayai srigauri brought nostalgic memories of our young days.If I am correct it was composed by Sri. Jayachamarajendra Wodier

Jan 05, 2014
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Thanks
by: vimala ramu

Thank you Sri for your kind words.

Jan 05, 2014
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Tribute
by: TS

Nice reading aunty. You really write well. Wish I had the gift like you. I would have written novels.

Bye Sri

Jan 05, 2014
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Mysore royalty
by: vimala ramu

Yes Sneha however much feudalism is condemned, royalty alwags has a romantic touch.

Jan 05, 2014
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Mysore
by: vimala ramu

Yes, Seeta, only a fellow mysorean can understand our loss.

Jan 05, 2014
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Srikantadatta Wadayar
by: Seetaram

The last of the Royal family has gone. And so will the splendour of the Royalty of Mysore.Now it will be in the hands of unscrupulous persons. A tragedy really.

Jan 05, 2014
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..
by: Sneha

Your heart shines out in this write, Vimala. May his soul rest in peace, indeed.

Jan 02, 2014
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article
by: vimala ramu

This article was written on the sad sudden demise of Srikanthadatta wodeyar, the last scion of Mysore royal family.

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