Cold war keeps the throne away
Clashing Mysuru Royal family, state govt deprive visitors of the sight
By : shilpa p.
Update: 2015-11-03 07:14 GMT
Mysuru: The cold war between the government and the royal family of Mysuru seems to have deprived Mysuru Palace visitors from seeing and enjoying the over 800 year old historical majestic gem studded golden throne weighing 280 kgs which is kept outside for a little over a month during Dasara. The golden throne placed in Ambavilas Darbar hall has been covered with a cloth preventing the public from having a glimpse.
The golden throne was removed from the Palace board treasury and assembled on October 7, 2015 for Dasara festivities of royal family of Mysuru and will be kept outside till November 6. The golden throne used to be kept for public view until it was dismantled and kept inside the Palace treasury. It was also displayed for public viewing as long as late scion Srikantadatta Wadiyar was alive. The golden throne was not allowed for public view previous year also, highly placed sources told Deccan Chronicle.
The new scion of the royal family of Mysuru, Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar held private darbars at Ambavilas ascending the golden throne during Dasara. When contacted, Palace Board Director, Ms Indramma said, “It is upto the discretion of Royal family to keep it open for public or otherwise. We do not have any say”, she said.
According to highly placed sources, while the issue of custody of the golden throne is in the Court, the keys of the treasury where golden throne and golden howdah are placed are with the royal family. They were reportedly handed over to the royal family by one of the past deputy directors of the Mysuru Palace Board some time ago, sources said.
It has also come to light that the royal family had delayed the handing over of golden howdah to state government for Jumbo Savari procession on October 23 this year. Sources said Mysuru DC C Shikha had got the howdah insured for Rs 15 crore for a period of four days from October 21 to October 24. While previous year the insurance was in Ms Pramoda Devi’s name, this year it was reportedly done in the name of Ms Shikha. Upset over the issue, it was only after Ms Shikha reportedly gave in writing to the royal family that the name will be changed and it will be done in the name of Ms Pramoda Devi that she handed over the golden throne to hold Dasara on 23 October, sources said.