Dasara nears, Wadiyar’s widow hits out over Mysore palace dispute

Mysore: Having fought the government for years in the courts to retain the Mysore palace, Maharani Pramoda Devi made an emotional appeal to it  on Saturday, seven months after her husband and the last scion of the Mysore royal family, Srikantadatta Narasimharaja Wadiyar passed away,  to resolve the matter keeping in mind the sentiments of the people and the cultural legacy of the city.

In her first press meet since Mr Wadiyar's passing away in December, she also addressed the much talked about succession issue, contending in a choked voice that it could not be resolved until the legal dispute over the royal family’s properties was settled.   

“I wouldn’t want the designate (successor) to go through the harassment and suffering my husband and I have been through. As things stand at this point in time, everything depends on the outcome of the case on the Mysore Palace Acquisition Act, 1998 pending in the high court of Karnataka which may take many years. I realise the urgency involved in naming of the successor more than anyone else. I would do it today, if I could. However, there are certain constraints and uncertainties over the ownership of the Mysore palace. Nothing can describe the torment I have been through in the last eight months. In the circumstances, it is in hands of the state government to resolve this matter keeping in mind the importance of the cultural legacy of Mysore and the public sentiments attached to it,” she added emotionally.

Far from settling the confusion over the holding of the Mysore Dasara in the absence of the scion of the Mysore royal family, Srikantadatta Narasimharaja Wadiyar this year, his widow, Maharani  Pramoda Devi asserted on Saturday that unless the dispute over the Mysore Palace was sorted out, “the continuance of the customs and traditions related with all religious festivities unique to the royal family hangs in balance.”

Revealing that the government hadn’t contacted her yet on the Mysore Dasara or asked for the golden howdah, she added, “I will not resort to blackmail tactics and put it in a spot because people’s emotions are attached to the festival and the Mysore Palace. I will cooperate, but the government has to understand that for the royal family to continue the 400-year-old traditions it is pivotal to resolve the palace property dispute.”

Addressing her first press conference after the passing away of Mr Wadiyar in December last year, an emotional Pramoda Devi said she could not appoint his successor until the dispute over the ownership of the Mysore Palace was resolved. “All governments have caused us equal pain and agony. This has taken a heavy toll on our health and well being. My husband was hopeful till his demise that something positive would take place. He wanted to appoint his successor after winning possession of the Mysore Palace,” she said, her eyes filling with tears.

Asked if she had made up her mind about his successor, she replied: “I may have chosen the successor or 10 names may be under consideration. It’s a private matter and can’t be discussed in public.”. Regretting that the royal family was subjected to advice from self-proclaimed politically connected advisors, who caused more harm than good, she recalled that two years ago a few political leaders of the current ruling party had promised her husband that the Mysore palace dispute would be resolved, but nothing had come of it.

Saying she was open for a dialogue with the state government and ready to take the initiative towards this if it was interested, she, however noted that it was even causing trouble with matters related to the Bengaluru palace. Rubbishing rumours of infighting in the royal family, she claimed it was united in its battle to retain its properties. The Mysore Palace Acquisition Act, 1998 was passed when current Chief Minister Siddaramaiah was deputy Chief Minister in the Janata Dal government.