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

This painting (water colour on paper) of the 1905 Dasara Durbar of H.H. Krishnaraja Wadiyar Bahadur IV (KRW) has been brilliantly captured by the celebrated artist Raja Ravi Varma depicting the grandeur of the Mysore court during such ceremonial celebrations. As the main Palace was still under construction, all the official activities of the State were conducted at Jaganmohan Palace (JMP) as a stopgap arrangement from 1897 to about 1912.

Acclaimed art historian Rupika Chawla, in her best-seller publication ‘Raja Ravi Varma: Painter of Colonial India’ writes, “A path-breaking invention, superior to that of the kerosene lamp and which transformed late nineteenth century life, was the advent of electricity. The generation of electricity had already made headway in Bombay by 1894 (permitting the brothers — Ravi Varma and Raja Varma — to attend evening parties lit by electric lights) and reached Calcutta by 1899.

“Inspired by the brilliance and beauty of such illumination, Ravi Varma painted a water colour, Dasara Durbar, of the Dasara celebrations at the brightly lit JMP in Mysore in September 1905 that he witnessed. The existence of electricity in Mysore was the result of one of the earliest hydroelectric projects in India by the enterprising KRW. Ravi Varma returned to Kilimanur with his water colour some months before his death. We will never know if his intentions were to convert it into an oil painting or not, but the subject is definitely one that he might have explored further.”

Here in this painting, the commander of the Mysore Lancers gives a smart salute to KRW seated on the golden throne while four other officers are in the line to salute KRW.

Seated cross-legged on the platform to the right of the Maharaja is HH Yuvaraja Kanteerava Narasimharaja Wadiyar (KNRW). Right behind the throne in ceremonial regalia are other important officers of the Palace  and Ursu noblemen.

Title : Dasara Durbar at Jaganmohan Palace, Mysore

Artist : Raja Ravi Varma

Medium : Water colour on paper

Size : 46 x 30 cms

Collection : Private