Bengaluru: The state plunged into gloom on TuesÂday when the revered scion of the Mysore royal family, SrikÂaÂnÂtadatta NarsimhÂaraja WadÂiyar, and the last member of the Mysore Yadu vamsha that traces its lineage back to 1399, passed away at a city hospital Tuesday afternoon, after he suffered a major cardiac arrest.
The government announced a holiday on WednÂesday for all schools, colleges, and government offices across the state to mourn the death of the much loved 60 year old. The state will also observe a two-day mourning period.
The mortal remains of Wadiyar were taken to Mysore on Tuesday night and will be kept at the Kalyan Mantap of Amba Vilas Palace. The body leaves the palace at 10 am on Wednesday to be cremated at Manuvana, the Mysore royal family graveyard.
THE DEATH OF A KING
Stunned by the sudden demise of the scion of the Mysore royal family, Srikantadatta Narasimharaja Wadiyar, the city decided to voluntarily shut down on Wednesday to mourn the last of its kings, who had ruled between 1399 and 1950. A man of many interests the 60 -year- old Wadiyar was not only a four term Member of Parliament, but also a known philanthropist, fashion designer, animal lover, a great patron of the arts and a promoter of Mysore silks.
The only son of JayachamaÂrajendra Wadiyar, the last ruling Maharaja of Mysore and his second wife, Tripura Sundari Ammani Avaru, he succeeded his father as head of the royal family in 1974 when only 21.
Survived by his wife, Maharani Pramoda Devi Avaru, he leaves behind no heirs as the couple had no children, something which old-timers often blamed on the 400 -year-old “Talakad curse.”
Speculation is therefore rife on who will inherit the vast property he leaves behind. In the 2004 Lok Sabha election, Wadiyar had declared assets worth Rs 1522.33 crore making him the wealthiest candidate in the fray.
Mysore Dasara loses its sheen
No one could have guessed that the just passed Mysore Dasara would be his last. The spectacle of the scion of the Mysore royal family attired in royal robes ascending the golden throne of the Diwas-E-Khas at the Mysore Palace bringing to life the royal durbar of old drew hordes of tourists, who could not hope to see anything like this elsewhere. A question mark now hangs over whether the royal family will carry on with this age old tradition now that he is no more.
Observers recall that Mr. Wadiyar had looked fragile and exhausted during the recent Mysore Dasara festivities. Speculation about his health grew when he opted to travel in his BMW, instead of the traditional silver palanquin, from the palace to the Bhuvaneshwari temple.
Those who knew him remember his simplicity despite his royal lineage. “I still remember him sipping tea along with his friends at a roadside tea stall after playing cricket at the Maharaja College grounds.
He was captain of the Mysore University cricket team and was loved by all his professors and fellow students not because he was a member of the royal family, but because of his good heart and humility,” said Dr. P.V. Nanjaraj Urs, former Mysore University professor and historian.
Mr. Bhagwan, who attended to Mr. Wadiyar during the Navaratri festivities, describes him as a ‘True King’ who always used to generously help the needy.
Mysore royal dies after cardiac arrest at the age of 60
Bengaluru, Dec. 10: Shocking the state and plunging the city of Mysore into gloom, scion of the Mysore royal family, Srikanta Datta Narsimharaja Wadiyar, passed away at a city hospital Tuesday afternoon aged 60 after suffering a major cardiac arrest.
Efforts to revive him for about an hour and a half after he was rushed to the hospital at around 1.45 pm failed and he was pronounced dead at 3.30pm, according to Dr Madan Kumar, assistant administrator, Vikram Hospital.
A patient of Vikram Hospital for the last 3 years, Mr Wadiyar was admitted on November 19, with serious fluid accumulation in the lungs and infection, but was discharged on NovÂember 28 after his condition stabilised. During his 10 days of hospitalisation he also underwent dialysis thrice.
Dr Ramana Rao, a Padmashree awardee who has been the royal family’s consultant physician for the past 35 years, said he got a call from Mr Wadiyar’s personal secretary, Pandyan, at around 1.30 pm on Tuesday saying he had not risen from resting after his hour long prayer. “When I checked his pulse it was very low and there was no response.
He was then rushed to Vikram where he was declared dead after a few hours,” the doctor said, explaining that 11 years ago Mr Wadiyar had a heart blockage which was corrected. “Subsequently he had no complaints. He was a diabetic, suffering from hypertension and overweiÂght.
About 7 years ago he underwent lipos uction to reduce weight, but this apart he was perfectly fine, very active and was very careful with his diet.”
The ‘king’ who loved perfection
Bengaluru, Dec 10: He never ruled nor was he ever a king but he was perhaps the only scion of the Indian royalty, who was allowed to recreate the resplendence of bygone era of monarchy with equal measures of aplomb and finery every year during Dasara at the Mysore Palace.
For those 10 days the late Srikantadatta NarasimhÂaÂraja Wadiyar donned the role of the king and sought the blessings of Goddess Chamundeshwari for the well being of his people. “The magic of Mysore Dasara has seized the imagination of tourists from across the world and on it rests the success of Karnataka tourism. "He was a maharajah, who was legitimized by the popular Constitution,” said sociologist G.K. Karanth.
Late Mr. Wadiyar perfected the royal mannerisms and even rehearsed climbing the howdah on the elephant days before Dussehra, to ensure that his step didn’t falter because a faltering step of the ‘king’ while climbing the howdah did not augur well for his people. “This was the practice and belief and I ensure that I climb the howdah in one firm step,” he had said once during an interaction with the correspondent.
He wore various hats; he was a politician, sports administrator, businessman and fashion designer but led an almost reclusive life in the sprawling Bangalore Palace - a 45,000 sq feet Tudor style mansion. He was often found dressed in white dhoti and kurta and preferred sitting on the floor in his palace.
A life spent in litigations, he hoped to settle the Palace grounds issue with the State government in his life time. “A British horticulture specialist, Krumbiegel took special care of the gardens. The palace had 35 rooms. Though we lived in Mysore, we used to spend some time in Bengaluru during vacations and I used to look forward to coming here because this palace, compared to the Mysore palace is far more small and compact.
We used to attend the garden parties that my father threw now and then for the top government and military officers with the band playing the old Mysore State anthem in the backdrop. A posse of Maharajah’s guards would present the guard of honour, even as late as 1963, I want to restore the glory of the palace,” he said.
Next: Royal battle brews over legacy
Royal battle brews over legacy
Amit S. Upadhye | DC
Bengaluru: Within minutes of the death of the last scion of the Mysore royal family, Srikantadatta NarasimÂharaja Wadiyar, a battle is believed to have broken out between his widow, Pramoda Devi and his sisters, as he left behind no offspring to succeed him.
While Srikantadatta’s elder sister, Gayatri Devi’s son, Kantaraj is said to have been picked by the family to carry forward the royal lineage, close aides of the royal couple claim they had selected a relative of Pramoda Devi to succeed him.
Despite pressure on the royal couple to choose his heir over the last few months, there was no announcement from the palace and it is unclear whether Wadiyar has left behind a will.
Rumours that the royal couple had decided to adopt a boy last year died down as there was no confirmation.
The battle for succession is considered inevitable as relations between Pramoda Devi and the other royal family members have been worsening over property matters over the last few years.
In fact, Srikantadatta’s marriage to Pramoda Devi, who is not from a royal family, but from the lineage of the Killedars of Bengaluru, had displeased many in the Wadiyar clan .
“The final decision will be taken by the Rajguru of the Wadiyar dynasty. The head pontiff of the Parakala Math in Mysore will anoint the next prince after the family finalises the name of the successor. We are waiting for word from Pramoda Devi, who could make the announcement after the final rites are completed,” said a close aide of the royal family.
Meanwhile, historians in Mysore are debating whether the successor should be allowed to conduct the private durbar during the Navaratri festivities in Mysore. “The successor will be a family member but not the direct descendant of the scion of the Mysore royal family,” they point out.
