ICSrivastava

Memory recalls that  some day in February 1976 I had  received a surprise invitation for breakfast at 8AM with ( Maharana) Bhagwat  Singh at his  Palace residence at Udaipur.  I was posted  thn as Deputy Secretary GAD and  Cabinet in Government of Rajasthan  ASsI was being escorted  through  zig zag staircase and passageways I mulled over the possible  reason for such an invitation .When  I reached the landing  nearly on top of the  magnificent Palace overlooking Lake Pichhola and famous  Lake Palace Hotel I could absorb  the beauty embodied  Lake and the Hotel  shining like  a jewel with  Jag Mandir Palace like a little island besides newly  sprung  modern hotels sunrays drenched and shining in the morning sun. As I turned back I saw Bhagwat Singh ji  (until then  known and  addressed as Maharana )seated on a chair near stone bench .He asked me to sit  on a ...

It was last week of October 1968 and I had just assumed the charge of  SDM, Hqs. Bharatpur .Then DM Late Shri  Vinay Vyas asked me to call on Dist.Judge ,District SP and the then Maharaja Bharatpur ,Shri Brijendra Singh as required by Protocol.Privy Purse of Princely States had not, by then elapsed and Maharaja enjoyed some privileges still. Upon appointment fixed  at 5.30PM, I arrived at the Gol Bag Palace dot on time and was ushered in  Durbar Hall  by ADC cum PS .At one end large sofa I was requested  to sit. With  folded hands and  a little bow I sat .At the central  sofa Maharaja was sitting looking  a little lost while nodding  to acknowledge  my greetings.  As he knew in advance who I was, I probably uttered just my name and kept  quiet .Erstwhile  Maharaja, Shri Brijendra Singh was known for his short temper.I came to know a few stories relating the same later on. Discretion is better than valour proverb ...