CHENNAI: The royal families of colonial India, once ranging from rulers of entire states to small fiefdoms, were reduced to owners of mere titles, when India became independent. Though most rulers were Maharajahs, each had equally capable consorts who would become the face of the new woman in a changing era.
Coming from this legacy, Vidya Singh, Princess of Vijayanagaram, has a storied family history, which has been represented in the book through photographs of two of her family members. On the eve of the inauguration, City Express talked to Vidya about women in royalty and what it means to be a ‘royal’ today.
“I was extremely fascinated to know about the launch of this book because two of my father’s sisters are featured in it,” says Vidya, who is based in Chennai and runs her own wedding planning company, Sumyog. “The photographs in the book are from a period when our nation was in flux, and spans two eras in our recent history. I think it’s the very first book dedicated to the women of royal India, who were trailblazing in their time.”
Vidya, whose family were the rulers of Vijayanagaram in northern AP, says that during the change from colonial rule to an independent country, a lot was expected of the women at that time, when they started changing the norms. “A lot of royal women were rarely photographed because of the prevailing system of purdah. But the truth is that several of them were iconic, larger-than-life figures, who led the way in adapting from the old way of life to a new one. They straddled two worlds, one of magnificent opulence and wealth, and another eschewing it all in favour of respect and the well-being of their subjects.”
So what does it mean to be royal in India then and now? Quoting the Rani of Kapurthala as an instance she says, “Rani once commissioned 100 pairs of shoes, including one made from the feathers of the hummingbird,” she points out. “My own great-grandfather had built a fountain in Hyde Park in London; so imagine how friendly he might’ve been with the British. During those times, royalty was all about magnificence and opulence! But now, it’s more about our heritage, the way we carry ourselves, and how we behave around people.”
Stating that the royal families have contributed to most of India’s heritage, she says, “Forts, palaces and many such historical buildings have brought so much of interest to India but it’s sad that the modern India has not offered much in terms of heritage value.”
She also points out how the post-independence governments abruptly cut them off from their titles and lands, and later even their privy purses. How can erstwhile royalty contribute to society at large? “By joining politics!” exclaims Vidya. “Integrity and honour were always a part of a royal upbringing. It seems only natural that we continue to work for the betterment of people!” she adds, who is also the cousin of current Union Minister for Civil Aviation, Ashok Gajapathi Raju.
“If not politics, many have been respected and loved by their subjects because they were instrumental in businesses,” she explains. “In Udaipur, the Maharaja has brought tourism to the city by converting his palaces to luxury hotels. So there is much we can do for society still!”
A collection of photographs, part of a book titled Maharanis: Women of Royal India, by Tasveer Gallery, is being exhibited at the Amethyst on Whites Road until August 14. For details, call 45991631, 45991632