The Great Maratha Royalty- Jai Vilas Palace

JAI VILAS PALACE 

House of  Scindias of Maratha Empire

My only reference of this building was the slide show my dear friend Rohan ( @RohanRajiva ) had show to me. One room called Darbar Hall which I can only compare to its namesake in the Rashtrapti Bhawan, New Delhi.

Jai Vilas Palace , Main Entrance

Jai Vilas Mahal is the resident Palace and the seat of Scindia Dynasty. It was built by  H. H. Maharaja Jayaji Rao Scindia,the Maratha Maharaja of Gwalior, Although the age of royalty has come down, the Scindia are still respected in Gwalior. They are often referred to Raje Sahaab or Maharani saab. The current Raje saab is Jyotiraditya Madhavrao Scindia, who is also an MP 

To be very honest , I was not much anxious when the Jai Vilas Palace was on the itinerary. But I was in for a surprise. I had earlier visited Rashtrapati Bhawan which is the Presidential Palace. A section of this grand palace is opened to Public, where I had seen what splendour a palace is, but this was different. The Difference in 2 visits - was the whole experience. While in New Delhi, the capital city, everyone is respectful of the ruler,for obvious reasons. But here - ordinary people on the street affectionately referred to stories of how Rajesaab would visit schools, stadiums and interact personally with their subjects.   

It was the work of fate that the side road to Palace was closed so our driver chose a different route. This is a section of road that royalty uses to travel between 2 palaces. The road leads to a Majestic Door from which the Palace is visible. However this gate is closed for public access. It is used only by the scindia family. 

Forecourt, Jai Vilas Palace

I am no fan or follower of architecture styles, but I guessed that the palace is designed on the french style of architecture. It was a resemblance to a photo of Versailles Palace. This is a private palace maintained by the Scindia family. After the privy purses were abolished in 1971, many royal family opened up the family collectibles for public viewing as a source of income. A sister palace - Called Usha kiran Palace is now converted into a luxury hotel. Jai Vilas Mahal has a lot of exquisite artifacts and displays that keep the visitor engaged for long, 

One wing of the 3 wings of the palace is converted into museum.where these artifacts and collections are kept. At the start, you are introduced to the Scindia family and the extended family tree. After acquiting ourself with the descendents of the great Maratha dynasty we moved into the new room. 

The Coronation Room

This is the coronation room- the props and dresses used by the royals are kept here. Even at display is the royal Seat - Singhasan of Scindia.  On one ends the TV displays the art of making the royal Pagdi (Crown / headgear) by the courtesan. Unlike European Crown, the Indian Pagdhi is made from Long drape of textile and woven around the head of the king everyday by the courtesan.

Then there was the baghi and doli used by king and queens when the royal procession was to be made. You are guided to the room which is dedicated to Late H. H. Madhavrao Scindia. This room has almost all the article used by His Highness and has been curated carefully into a museum by his wife- Madhavi Raje Sahib Scindia. 

The Royal Procession Motifs, Jai Vilas Palace

It was here, I was able to witness the attachment gwaliorkars have to their Rajesaab. One women visitor who was ahead of us. She was visiting this palace for the first time with her family. In this room she was pointing at one of the photos of Madhavrao Scindia  and reminding here little one - Rajesaab would visit our school very often and I have received many medal from him. He would personally ask us about our dreams and encourage us to think about our future and place for gwalior in it."   Many visitors, who were locals were also telling stories about the royalty to the person accompanying them, Madhavrao Scindia was an MP and hence his people interaction was immense. He was following the rich tradition of the Scindias by developing the city infrastructure and rail network, 

Hand woven carpet having famous personalities

In all the subsequent rooms there are collectors items personally purchased by the royals. These mainly include the works of European artists. These speak of rich taste of the royals as patron of arts. one room is dedicated to  HH Rani Chinku Bai, one of the royals who was less than 5" hence all furniture was custom made for her. One of the artifact at display is a woven carpet having the photos of many great personalities from the past. It is a must see on your visit.

Like in dinning, the best is saved for the last here too the best part came last- The Durbar hall. The Scindia were good host and as they were a royal family, many royal family members would often visit the then princely state of Gwalior. The king would keep a reception in the honour of the visiting dignitary. This would be held at Durbar Hall.

The Darbar hall with its 2 chandeliers 

The interior of the Durbar Hall is decorated with gilt and gold furnishings and adorned with a huge carpet and gigantic chandeliers. It is 100 feet long, 50 feet wide and 41 feet in height. there is  two 12.5m-high, 3.5-tonne chandeliers with 250 light bulbs, said to be the largest pair in the world. Sadly on date of our visit it was not lit up. so we could only imagine the aura created in the room.

Although it is best to read but photos don't do justice to the experience of being in such place personally. I recommend it highly when You visit Gwalior or MP next.

For It was fun to see truly Indian- European kind of Royalty and that too from the great Maratha lineage.  I had till now only heard it in stories....


All Photos are copyrighted -  Rohan Sharma - @RohanRajiva /twitter

Trekking after a long time

Trekking reminds me of the infinite times my friend Parin has asked me to come along. Some routine or not so routine work kept coming in the way.

That day when Parin messaged me that he has arranged a trek near Panvel. I was sure i dint want to miss this, I had started preparing for the trek almost 1 week ago. I was sure that undertaking such arduous journey without warm up is going to be tough. After all I was trekking after almost 3 years.

As told my him, I met Parin near Panvel station by around 0630 AM.  We were a group of 30 people. Parin, through a group of trekkers has become a pro in organizing such trek. I met my old friend Miket, Rahul from podar college. Miket has now engaged and he had got his fiance Prati in the trek too. After Meeting we took a tum-tum from Panvel station to base village Baelwali. Its a 1/2 hour ride. Upon reaching there, Parin surprized us with a pack of idlis for everyone and a cake. A sumptuous meal and few introductions bygone, we progressed with the peak in mind.

Panvel Taluk, Raigad District

Kalavintini Peak (Left)

The reclusive peak called Kalavintinicha Durg or Kalavintinicha Sulka (कलाविंतीनीचा सुळका ) is a offshoot on the mane of  Prabalgad Fort. It overlooks the Panvel taluka of Raigad District. There is a base area at the mid of the trekking route called kalavintini maachi. Maachi in marathi means a small plateau like structure near a Mountain. I remember this from garud maachi during the Godrej days :-)

Anyways we progressed as a odd motley of 30 something people, some of us were well past college life, some were entrepreneurs, Startup magicians, Athletes, Boxers, Trekkers, College-goers, office-goers There were Podarites too who made me remember my old days. Initial euphoria gave way to some earnest walk. the road was not difficult per se, but the route was uneven. Parin told us that after some height we could see salman khan private cricket ground too. In the age of selfies and instant photography. The pace was slowed by entourage wanting to click the next FB pic. To be honest, even I, would be charged as guilty here.

There were 2 shortcut via the crevice in the mountain. I decided to save my energy for the pinnacle instead. The teenagers of the group and the daily trekkers were glad they climbed the "shortcut". Looking down on my gone years and looking up on the people who reached before me via shortcut, I was overjoyed by the view kalavintini-maachi offered.

Friends .... on the way

Here I made good friends with Alston, Chinmay Swaansh & Geo. All 4 photo-happy 16 years olds, and best of friends from Vasai. It is the insatiable hunger for Photos, Photobombs and Poses that made me gel well with them very soon, I was too like this few years ago. The 5th or so reminders from Parin was all that made us realize that it was well past 1 hour that we are only on maachi. Having some tea and getting some energy, we decided to bare it all and walk to the peak. This part of the trek is a little difficult. the road consist of huge boulders and continuous big rocks. Helping each other, we swiveled through the rocky terrain. Gust of wind grew strong and there was a light drizzle, that I remember- THE ONE AND ONLY RAIN that day.


There is a place on the incline where the road become solitary. narrow cracks in rock make an impression of a one way road up. This is where Kalavintini Peak starts. The way breaks in the middle to give way to natural steps created by chiseling on the the durg's body. I remember reading before, that, on a cloudy day, this part is called like "A stairway to heaven." but the clouds did not put up such a show for us. All the time we were trekking, the thought of how simple the trek upward is and how almost impossible, downwards it would be, was raging in our mind. Parin, at his motivational best reaffirmed that descent was as easy as ascent to the peak

Yuhoo !! I made it

Looking at the ever closing gap between the peak and me, I kept moving on. finally after 1 hour more, I reached the peak.... Yuhoo!! I made it.... The view from top was amazing. As i was standing there watching the landmass below my feet, One of the thought grazed through my mind -

"Reach the mountain top, not for the world to see you.....But for you to see the world"


We had shared lunch, as each one of us had brought something from home. There was a little further peak which was now occupied by a marauding army of more trekkers. So I decided to call the day and wait there. we shed our tired looks by catching some 40 winks till some of our group went on the final pinnacle. Then we clicked some more photos. (not the last in the journey)

Now the moment everyone was thinking about. "ऊपर तोह आगये आब वापस कैसे जायएंगे ". On hindsight, the descent was not difficult, but the road as narrow and it was was also steep. Add to that the sinking feeling of looking down the deep george below while climbing down. Also as there were lot of people (more trekkers) who were climbing up. So it was difficult to give them way in the limited place. However talking with friends on the way down did help relax the tense nerves a bit. On difficult jumps we used "controlled slip". Controlled Slip is a way by which you let body slip under gravity over the rocks so that it does not trip over.. soiling our clothes and helping each other, we made it safely below the peak. the way from kalavinti maachi to baelwadi was a cakewalk. It was almost 6 PM when we reached the base village

Our legs had now given up. The Vasai people had one direct train from Panvel. So it was intended that we reached Panvel station by 6.30 PM.Our ride back to Panvel was still elusive. so we gorged on some more eating material brought to us by the group members. Finally the rickshaws arrived. Making our way through the small uneven roads,we were horribly delayed. but managed to reach till 6.45PM at Panvel station.

View from "Maachi"

at the close of a great Sunday, As I and others waited for the train to leave the Panvel Station, my heart was filled with fondness and pride.....

Fondness for the friends that i will miss and Pride for the peak I conquered today...

All Thanks to Parin and Our Next Trek Group...
If you want to have such a great experience visit- Our Next Trek 

A calm evening

It was is of those days when you arrive early from office and see that your watch can allow you some time off. You just hope that your phone will not seize the moment away from you, hence you put it away.

A luke warm shower to relive you off your daily problems and there you are still with more time. A view out from the balcony reveals the sun yet to go down and the faint tint of night still lingering deep over the horizon. the moon has reported early today and you realize that your science teacher had told you that in winters the days are shorter and  nights longer, from there starts the magical journey of thoughts each linked to other in some peculiar way.

I always remember how i used to loose the sight of time while playing, it would get dark and I would curse this shorter winter days. The days in summer was longer but even tiresome. the shining sun exhausts you. as these thoughts are running in your mind, you hear a loud enough cry " Howwwzzzzattt".. Some one has bowled a batsmen out and his little congregation cheers. I used to love the time when the there were only 2 teams, the Batsmen and others.  I cant think but be amazed by how with same shot he tries to bowl the other batsmen out but fails,

All those momentary journey is suddenly broken by call of the doorbell and there it is, your time with your self has just ended.
 

The value called Intergrity

At the foremost let me say that this article is inspired from events that unfold in the news with so regularity. to start with intergrity is as a value very loosely described and hence so warmly applied. So to say, There are individual explanantion of intergrity.

borrowing from the great Ramayana, a story is when Ratnarkar (Valmiki) was robbing people he thought he was doing it with integrity to protect his family from destitution. In some reason it was his karma as the lead of the family. when he later realised that his integrity had a moral angle he fell at Narad muni's feet to ask for forbearance for his sins.

A lot is similar in today world. A bank doing business for its client under solicited confidentiality is infact a valued service. but would be this high intergral position be in the nations good interest?. Should an  Administrator who has discretionary powers to award a contract, has any fiduciary interest in Company bidding for contract. Can an Appeal Judge preside over a case where the junior judge(s) are related to him. Can a Officer or executive be romantically be involved in a junior whom he is suppose to supervise. Above all Can an Federal body every investigate cases of misfeasance against same authority, whom it reports to.  All these situation bring to fore the condition where integrity is tested.

There is but a different side angle to this argument, As Integrity becomes more important in public offices. Newly anointed  CIA Director David Petraeus had to resign over an alleged  extra marital Affair with a junior. Though part of this could be blamed on media, the question remains as to why is a person so decorated (Gen. David Petraeus was Incharge of US Army Operations in Afghanistan  for near a decade). had to resign over something that is more a personal misjudgement rather than operational misconduct. Here the different between individual interpretation of integrity. This though is a high moral ground that Gen. Petraeus has taken, many officer have been suprised that such proffessional person can be undone by some personal decision to go outside the line.

This though may be an isolated example, but it is significant as we have many examples where there is wanton disregard for integrity, what is very evidently collusion between 2 individuals to influence decision. It is what is called in corporate culture as  "I scratch your back, You scratch mine".

Today one has to be very careful about the decision which will be tested on this ground. Loss of Intergrity is the most easiest charge to level and the hardest to repudiate. It would be improper not to mention about office of Profit, which is linked to almost all decision. It somehow amuses me the Indian parliament reaction to office of profit controversy. The Government has prepared a list of all position it can award under its discretion to people of its choosing. Major post of these are marked in the list as "not for Profit" under truly unimaginative reasoning. hence enabling ministers /Officials/ Parliamentarians to hold on to these position and still remain above law. Napolean once said, "If you like me, raise your hand or raise you standards." This activity is same just standards are revised on the south side.

Consider the following HYPOTHETICAL Scenario:- 
A serving Minister of the Government is Chairman of Milk Producing & Marketing Co-operative, As a co-operative concern is not inclined to profit orientation, rather social dividends, this position is in "not for Profit" list. Now as Milk is a scheduled essential Commodity its prices are regulated by Government. i.e. to say only the cabinet can decide if people should pay more for milk.

Due to rising Input cost, The proposal to hike the milk rates substantially comes up for discussion in the cabinet. This Minister in question is now a member of this cabinet empowered committee. Its only a blinds man guess what the Minister should suggest?

Hence would it be fair that the minister excuse himself from such discussion. yes but there is a small thing what if everyone excused themselves, there would be no-one decide. ??
 

Memories Study Tour

It is exactly one year that the study tour started. all us 52 anxious souls trespassing through 4 states of south India to study and tour the varies thing this majestic land had to teach.

even the word study tour today, reminds us of all those bitter sweet moments. A kind advice given was to takes things at face values. what ever happened has to be accepted. some very wise friend said it was like the big boss of 20 days. And study tour did live upto this expectation. A lot was happening and a lot was observed.

Hyderabad, the first destination was gone in understanding what was going around. Ramoji film city, and a lot if institutions, satiated the brain while Hyderabadi Chicken Pulav satisfied the taste buds. Charminar filled the eyesight and bangles & pearls emptied the pockets. without much adieu we were in our train for Chennai.

Chennai was a eye opener, getting down at station not to find a bus to ferry us into hotel was a shock, but we had more in stock. Chennai stay was surely eventful for the fun we had in our groups. The late nite JCs of Chennai were the best & who could forget the difference between the Efficiency and effectiveness.

as if not troubling us was not enough, luck asked us to take a detour somewhere. we landed first in Ooty skipping mesmerizing Kodaikanal. Ooty with its 8 degrees whether made us crave for some hot things.. :-)

Mysore with its city and Bangalore with its scenic places were both great. returning to our own pune was like a home coming.

Study Tour is the sole best thing I will remember in my 2 years of masters

Change-ing BEST

Change can't be handed over to you, You must bring change,

These are not Mahatma's words, or any great visionary around the globe, but of a humble gentle man who with his rope commandeers the fate of Millions ferrying them to their workplaces on time,:- CONDUCTOR. I would not have dared write about this demi god, had the following incident not have happened.

It was a thursday morning and a lady asked for a 25 Rs ticket. She pulled out Rs.100 Note. the conductor curtly said, Sutte kaada (please tender change). In perhaps mocking his dismal fate he emptied his pocket inside out to prove his point The lady was too his match, she said rather strongly, I am giving you change since Monday, tere peeche mere ghar kay sare chutte khatam ho gaye". The whole bus started laughing. What happened after that is for the lady and the conductor would rather best describe.

Under this seemingly more jovial exchange of words, I think there is more to this change of BEST. In india you mostly find things in short supply. From petrol to veggies & homes to shoes, the same story continues. Even when you like a particular shirt all shirt except the one in your size are available. Only your shirt is in short supply.

But returning to topic, I cant seriously understand the fascination BEST has for change. Does it give incentive to conductors who bring in change, 25 ps for every 100 Rupees debited to their salary. I only feel pitty of the Petty cashier who has to do and stock all this change. I can understand that a middle journey change might be a problem, but a bus which just left the depot, should the conductor not have some petty cash. If its a exercise of BEST to remove mumbaikars affection to change, surely is it a long haul.

When the banks are pushing for plastic money, I think RBI mite have appointed BEST as a depository of all the petty-change in economy. Change, as i believe is now the scarcest in Indian economy. "Chutte" as referred to, commonly are staple currency. In this rate if the conductor keep asking for change without refunding them, the indian economy would become Penniless (Quite literally). Do some thing..

Caution:- I have exaggerated the blog to make it more attractive so that more people can read it and inturn, I can earn some change for tomorrow’s bus journey …J

Kv

The sound of silence

In the busy world, we all are running. Some, after the bus & some after their fate. In this mad rush we forget a lot of things unless some one drops them in front of us.

how many of us have ever heard silence??. Those who were regular at libraries, Hands Down . But seriously, being in this bustling city the chances of having a silent moment is wishful thinking, Its true then that is said that this city never sleeps. how can it with no silence around.

This is what I did, finding no one at my house I just closed my eyes and started to hear each every sound curiously. there is something that the mind does when your sight is cut off and you concentrate more energy to listening. The feeling is magical especially when many thoughts are running into your mind. this can offer a sound way out.

Silence here may not necessarily mean pin drop silence. Its just our ability to respond to phonetics (or sound waves). and the feeling i said about the mind makes you feel is simply magical..try it out....

-Kay-v