Hi,
I just mentioned in an earlier mail that "politics is the last refuge of the scoundrel" -- thus all kings and their men --were and are all scoundrels --with very very few just men.
Once long ago my father had mentioned about a book which was published near about 1975 - called "Maharajas" by Diwan Jermany Das.
At this time Indira Gandhi had reemoved the privileges of the erstwhile royals of India -- such as pension and special number plates for vehicles etc -which had created an uproar among the royals.
This book which contained all information about some select Kings -esp Maharaja of Kapoorthala, Punjab (I had the god fortune of getting hold of this book in the second hand book market opposite Red Fort, delhi - held every sunday -while at college -one of the good things about Delhi!)
Although no fact was substantiated by the author -whose parents had been ministers of the said King -- none of the rulers ever dared to counter it -and the opposition to Indira Gandhi's curtailed died a natural death -so my father said.
The book had nothing new -for us folks of rajasthan -the Land of Kings --who r used to the tales of sexual misconduct of the royals -how royals picked up any or every woman they liked -enjoyed and married her off to some servant -while continuing to enjoy her "Bandi or Goli" is the name of another book -on the life of such a woman . in Kamasutra the movie - the heroine had a similar life --till in filmy style the film had an unreal ending.
The book - maharaja - had many strange tales - a few I stiil remember.
One was about sex orgies being conducted in the court -where wives and daughters of the King and his ministers enjoyed new partners. The muslim minister -who enjoyed the King's women -himself never brought his own women. The king asked him -and lo! he came with a beautiful one next time --his wife --he said . She "engaged' everyone - later it was revealed that he had brought a courtesan.
Second - a village girl refused the King's offer -sent thru someone else. -then the romantic King arranged a filmy style heroic act --wher he "saved" her from 4 armed dacoits. The police came and put them in jail -same cell ofcourse! -- and ofcourse the girl melted .....
Next day onwards she too was dispatched to suffer in ignominy of the royal harem.
The above tales perhaps are not about the same King.
Third -- Emperor's No clothes -- King of Kapurthala --once a year used to walk naked throughout the city - in full display of his --u know what -- emphasising his manliness. Nowadays he has started wearing clothes - in following the "royal tradition" -so the book said --with recent photos --fully clothed -ofcourse.
What do u say? Does religion really matter -when it comes to ruling by autocrats? Are the Hindu poor village girls safe from the clutches of young land lords?
Umesh
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