By N.K.A. Ballal, Retd. Sr. Vice-President, ITDC
I had resigned myself to witness the repetition of the same old Dasara procession this year too as the State Government had appointed the same old Committees and the same themes were being discussed with some cosmetic changes. But surprise, surprise, our Tourism Minister S.R. Mahesh has sprung a pleasant surprise by inviting the Prince of Mysore Royal Family to be the “Brand Ambassador” of Mysuru!
Through my articles I have been giving many suggestions for improvement of Dasara procession and Mysuru city, which were royally ignored by the powers that be. But I am glad that at least the Minister, who has a deep interest of Mysuru’s heritage in his heart, has done the needful by inviting the Prince to be a part of the heritage and work as the Brand Ambassador for this heritage city.
I do really hope that the Prince accepts this offer. In case he does accept I have the following suggestion which will enhance the value of the procession multifold. As a Brand Ambassador he should also be a part of Dasara procession. He should sit in his full royal regalia in a silver chariot, after the elephant carrying the Golden Howdah.
I do not recall any procession in the world where a real royalty participates. This unique procession should be marketed in such a way that next year hundreds of high paying guests will throng this city. This year it is too late but for the next year, two hundred Policemen [reserve] should accompany the Jumboo Savari in a traditional Palace uniform as depicted in the paintings in the Palace with spears and swords. Imagine the impact !
The Prince also has a Private Durbar during Dasara, which can be actively marketed by the Department of Tourism. The tickets’ collection can be distributed with the royalty and the Department as per mutual agreement. I have been crying hoarse for several months that it is time we get high paying individuals back to this heritage city and this is the only way.
Ministers, most of the times, get brickbats but if someone does something really worthwhile like what Mahesh has done, we should be prompt to give him appreciation too. If Mysuru tourism has to revive, royalty has to be roped in and Sir, you have taken the first step.
This tie-up will benefit the royalty too in the long run, in case the Prince decides to jump into political bandwagon sometime in near future! The relationship between the royalty and the State is improving and the first signs are the revival of the Jagan Mohan Palace Art Gallery and the Gun House Restaurant.
Let us hope the Rajendra Vilas Palace Hotel atop Chamundi Hill too gets restored and opens for the public. Royalty sells.
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Are we going back in ages? Agree that we should respect Royal Family but its insane to think him carrying on in procession in this 21st century.
Lets get this clear and out, At the end whatever ‘Royals of Mysore’ did to Mysore was purely like what we do it for our homes; there is no charity with it.
Is 21St century different for Mysore and say UK ?
For the record in Thiruvananthapuram, traditional Navaratri celebration and other religious events like Vishu etc have never been stopped by the successors of Maharaja of the Travancore including public processions.
Nothing can be more uncharitable than to say that whatever ‘Royals of Mysore’ did to Mysore was purely like what we do it for our homes; there is no charity with it ! I pity his understanding of History !
@ The relationship between the royalty and the State is improving and the first signs are the revival of the Jagan Mohan Palace Art Gallery and the Gun House Restaurant……
Absurd to say the least ! Jagan Mohan Palace Art Gallery and the Gun House Restaurant, Lokaranjan Mahal Palace etc is a private initiative of the owners . To say there is a perceived improvement of relationship between the Royal Family and the State Government is farfetched.
“As a Brand Ambassador he should also be a part of Dasara procession. He should sit in his full royal regalia in a silver chariot, after the elephant carrying the Golden Howdah…”
This author, a perennial proponent of his delusions in regards to tourism, and in this case, his delirious view of the event in Dasara, forgets that this so called Prince was ” enthroned” to satisfy the anachronistic hangover of those who live in that mansion called Palace, and for those Mysoreans who have had the nostalgic memories of Mysore Royalty during those bygone years.
As one poster above poster has put it, it is sheer insanity to suggest that this ” Prince” ( we should hasten to add this title is for decorative purpose only, representing the vanity of the holder and around him, and has no constitutional recognition or significance now, after Royalty was abolished 7 decades ago, when India became independent) should ride in a silver chariot in a procession which in this part of the 21st Century, where all citizens are equal in an independent nation, and that the only exclusive aspect in this event is the the image of the Goddess of this City. carried on the elephant. There is no case for a so called Prince in a chariot!
@RAJA UK has a constitutional monarch, who is the Head of State unlike India, where there is an elected head of state-the president. Belgium, Netherlands, Sweden and Spain too have similar constitutional monarchs. Royalty in independent India , hence, has no constitutional recognition. The title ” Prince” is at best a decorative title.
This author who has some wild imagination, uses the term ” heritage” several times to put across his idea of a Prince, the descendant of the Wodeyars, taking active part in promoting tourism in this City, and even suggesting that he sit in a silver chariot in a procession which heralds Mysore of today! There is another article, where Mysore is being promoted for tourism purposes in an event in Paris. Interesting that Paris has a rich royal heritage, albeit the Napolionic era, and despite the number of republic transformations it has gone through; there are places here to show case the rich heritage of this City including the royal heritage; yet, there is no current royal descendant!! Paris is arguably the most visited tourist city in the world, which explains that heritage which includes royalty, does not need a prince and that what matters are the facilities like efficient public transport, good hotels which do not fleece people and above all a hygienic environment. Mysore has none of these.