By R.G. Singh, Secretary, Ramsons Kala Pratishtana

An undated group photograph shot at an unidentified location. Seated on the left is Col. Maharaja Sir Jagatjit Singh Sahib Bahadur (1872-1949) of Kapurthala who was the last ruling Maharaja (r. 1877 to 1949) of the princely State. He was an elegant globe-trotting aesthete and an ardent Francophile.

Seated on his left is Rani Prem Kaur Sahiba (nee Anita Delgado 1890-1962) who was his fifth wife whom he married at Paris in 1908. She was a Spanish flamenco dancer and singer.

On to her left is H.H. Krishnaraja Wadiyar IV. Both Maharajas have chains dangling out of their coat pocket which might have had a pocket watch at the other end. Standing in the centre is H.H. Yuvaraja Kanteerava Narasimharaja Wadiyar flanked by two unidentified gentlemen. In the 1920s and 1930s, young men of aristocratic background clutched aesthetically created walking sticks, as a fashion statement, with carved handles made from ivory, rhino horn, silver, etc. In this picture, four out of the five gentlemen flaunt walking sticks.

Many moons after this photograph was taken, Rani Prem Kaur Sahiba was divorced from the Maharaja and her personal effects including precious jewels being transported from India on board the ship SS Persia sank en route to France.

[Size: 27.5×23 cms; Collection: Ramsons Kala Pratishtana]