Breakfast at Maharana Palace Udaipur

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 chair kept  close to him .Formalities  over,he offered  me sweets and fruits  which I slowly munched and chewed .
Soon he came to his point  of meeting  me.He pointed out that ocher colored Kapad dwar ,cloth  storage Kotharis located right below on the second floor  belonged to him as personal  property according  to terms of Covenant ( Agreement signed with Government of India at the time of merger with the United  States of Rajasthan. )According  to him, Revenue Settlement Department  continuesd to occupy part of Kapadwar unauthorizedly.He also asked me to look below and see the location of Kapaddwar. In line with administrative system working  I assured him to look into the matter and resolve it as soon as possible. 
   Though I recall  having taken steps  to enquire I think  Settlement Department did not vacate the said small accommodation until I left GAD on transfer  to Sriganganagar as Collector and  DM.
Bhagwat Singh ji was not  known  for magnanimity and considered it proper to raise the small  accommodation issue and Government as usual  had  it taken it in stride and due course  proceedings would  take their own time.

Let an esteemed  reader  find out if Kapad dwar is still in the possession of Government of Rajasthan 


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

GAD & Cabinet Department Posting: Experience in Emergency Administration

After Kadana Mahi Project Agreement was signed between Rajasthan HD Joshi and Gujarat Governor 's Adviser Sareen in the Chamber and presence of Jagjivan R am,then Irrigation Minister GOI I had called  on then Secretary DOP TVRamnan en route to Banswara.He asked me if services of an IAS Officer were  still required to work as Director, Kadana Resettlement, I said boldly and frankly 'No' because executing rehabilitation  work could be completed by Engineers and Revenue officers  posted there. On arrival  at Banswara I received   posting orders for Deputy Secretary GAD and Cabinet  by wireless  enjoining me to take charge immediately. I rushed to Jaipur  next day leaving family behind   After signing charge report on 30th July 1975, I was escortsed sraight to Cabiet Room I found Hon. Shri PR Maderna Revenue Minister who had been a great  support at Barmer during Indo-Pak War 1971.He looked at my nervous looking face and ...
Read more

1971 Indo-Pak War Diary- 2 :--Mig 21 AF Plane Saved Barmer Town

In the wake of crash  of Mig 29  on 2nd September 2024  I am reminded of the first   Mig 21  which landed at Uttarlai on 9th.  December 1971.. As Collector and DM Barmer during Indo- Pak War 1971 and  ex officio  Civil Defence Controller I could address citizens of Barmer town on Simultaneous Broadcasting System (SBS? which proved a boon for the district administration. On the night of 8th- 9th December  night Pakistan  fighter planes had  bombed Railway Station Barmer  to cut off incoming army   supplies.loaded in goods train  Out of the entire  goods train 4 --5  wagons were totally  destroyed and a few  others kept burning at night in the flames generated by napalm bombs Then .District SP Shri Shantanu Kumar and I iviewed the  burning wagons from the front  of the Railway Station also  lying down for a few minutes as alarm siannounced likely sortie of Pak fighters F 104...
Read more

Surat Sojourn and Rafi Night

Way back in January 1967 , after we had completed  as IAS Trainee  officers, our Bharat Darshan Yatra of a few states including a most famous  Vrindaban Gardens near Mysore four of us namely  CM Vasudev ,Inderjit  Khanna, OP Behari ( now in heavenly abode) and myself were attached  to District  Administration at Surat for nearly  two weeks.  The legendary strict NAAcademy Mussoorie  Director Shri MG Pimputkar our trainer in Chief had mandated Canadian Airforce PT which we continued at Surat Circuit House at 6.30 AM everyday  Surat Sojourn-as I  prefer this  term was made memorable  by two events- a West Zone Ranji trophy  cricket match and a live concert by star singer Mohammed  Rafi. As guest trainee Magistrates we had the privilege  of VIP  tickets for watching  live- in- action famous batsmen Jaisimha and Umrimgar among  others.Needless to add, the match was a great treat to us foursom...
Read more