Comments on: The Insider’s Maharaja

By: The Great Ganesha

The Great Ganesha — Sat, 17 Jun 2006 04:53:00 +0000

having roughed it through 15 of india's states before I turned 20 (and met a couple of maharajas myself), i can completely understand your frustration. however, you forget that it brings in a lot of dollar$ for the locals and, of course, the maharaja himself who is probably close to broke having lived his eccentric, royal lifestyle unchanged. despite the fact that they might be interesting characters, even a maharaja's got to eat.

on an unrelated note (for #15): here's an article from the hindu on carterpuri...

By: Yajiv

Yajiv — Fri, 16 Jun 2006 17:42:20 +0000

"It would be a lot more fun to have drinks with a Bollywood star"

Not Really...even if they throw in a 'dishum' dance number.

By: RP

RP — Fri, 16 Jun 2006 17:36:35 +0000

"drive an auto rickshaw around Queen?s Necklace during rush hour" Sorry to be bitchy about this but auto rickshaws are not allowed this part of Mumbai.

drive an auto rickshaw around Queen?s Necklace during rush hour You cant drive auto rickshaws in Downtown Bombay. They are not allowed beyond the suburb of Bandra

Haha, I came in to check comments to see if anyone had made that correction yet. =p

By: Mumbaikar

Mumbaikar — Fri, 16 Jun 2006 17:11:55 +0000

drive an auto rickshaw around Queen?s Necklace during rush hour

You cant drive auto rickshaws in Downtown Bombay. They are not allowed beyond the suburb of Bandra

By: Janeofalltrades

Janeofalltrades — Fri, 16 Jun 2006 15:25:51 +0000

I can’t imagine paying to have drinks and get a tour with the maharaja — he’s probably 130 years old and boring — what could you possibly talk about?

John the Raja of Bhuj who is my stepmom’s uncle is one of the most interesting people I have ever encountered. They all still live there in those massive mansions with pagentry. There is something very enticing about watching the whole affair. When you enter the palaces it’s as if nothing has ever changed, like traveling back in time. Of course half the houses are shut down so as not needing to maintain them. My step greatgrandfather for example had a bed made of solid gold and that kind of oppulance is something I haven’t even seen on Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous so for the curious there is a lot of fodder in India. The Raja of Bhuj is around 80 I think but a tall man who speaks in very fluent English and has some incredible stories to tell about the British raj. For me that was the fascination factor.

By: John Rambow

John Rambow — Fri, 16 Jun 2006 13:33:14 +0000

Mitch, I think you’re right that a lot of Americans are excited by the idea of royalty — I don’t know if it falls into the category of a perversion though! I suppose that if we did have them, they’d be like the Kennedys and the Bushes, and that sounds more perverted to me.

I can’t imagine paying to have drinks and get a tour with the maharaja — he’s probably 130 years old and boring — what could you possibly talk about? It would be a lot more fun to have drinks with a Bollywood star or something. Now there’s a business opportunity . . .

By: echs_one

echs_one — Fri, 16 Jun 2006 10:56:58 +0000

IsnÂ’t there some adventure to drinking contraband coconut water from the side of the road, even if you have to face the certain indignity of being cross-examined every time you leave the bathroom in your grandparentsÂ’ house as to whether or not you have loose motion?

Only a Desi whould think of this example.

In my experience, it's difficult for some "Westerners" to navigate between, enjoying what a visit to India would offer and being exposed to the more hard reality side of Indian society... Honestly, it's not for everybody.

I donÂ’t see whatÂ’s wrong with letting people go on these trips. In the end it still brings in tourist dollars...

By: Raja

Raja — Fri, 16 Jun 2006 07:06:30 +0000

"drive an auto rickshaw around Queen’s Necklace during rush hour"

Sorry to be bitchy about this but auto rickshaws are not allowed this part of Mumbai.

By: Mitch

Mitch — Fri, 16 Jun 2006 05:08:28 +0000

I can’t help but think that some Americans, living in a 200+ year old republic, have an interest in monarchy and empire that is almost prurient. Let them have their little perversions, as long as both parties consent and no one is harmed.

By: Divya.

Divya. — Fri, 16 Jun 2006 04:25:51 +0000

JoaT Â– This is something I remember being told at the time. I used to live in Delhi and was rather young and very literal-minded. When I heard that Carter was a peanut farmer for example, I had the mental image of a poor, illiterate Indian farmer in my head and could not for the life of me imagine how such a person could become President. So your version is probably the right one, although I remember being told that they concocted this entire village.

But this oneÂ’s accurate Â– When Clinton visited India, they kept the tigers on 24 hour surveillance for an entire month before his visit so they knew all their moves and knew exactly where to take him.