India, one of the oldest civilizations has a vast history and has been witness to thousands of dynasties, Kings, Emperors who contributed and shaped it before the European powers came to conquer it. Before India became a Republic, it was a fragment of many British ruled provinces and numerous monarchies- small & large which were fragmented and scattered.
Coming to Royalty, it is said that a Monarch does what he/she deems correct. Their crazy ideas, Bizzare moves have been both amusing and intersting, sometimes even foolish.
Lets have a view about some Bizzare facts about Indian kings.
1. Maharaja Jai Singh of Alwar
The world’s most famous car brand Rolls-Royce is also associated with Rajasthan. A famous buyer of this car was the Maharaja of Alwar, Jai Singh. He always bought three automobiles at a time.One day during his visit to London, King Jai Singh was walking in casual dress in Bond Street. He saw a Rolls Royce showroom and went inside to inquire about the Price and Features etc of their cars.
Considering him a just another Poor Indian citizen, showroom salesmen insulted him and almost showed him the way out of the showroom. After this insult, King Jai Singh came back to his Hotel room and asked his servants to call the showroom that King of Alwar city is interested in purchasing their few Cars.After few hours King reached the Rolls Royce showroom again but with his full astonishing royal manner and in his royal costume. Until he reached the showroom there was already red carpet on the floor and all the salesmen were bent with respect. The King purchased all the six cars that they had at showroom at that time and paid full amount with delivery costs.
After reaching India, King ordered municipal department to use all those six Rolls Royce cars for cleaning and transporting city’s waste. World’s number one Rolls Royce cars were being used for transportation of City’s waste, the news spread all over the world rapidly and the reputation of Rolls Royce Company was in drains.
Whenever someone used to boast in Europe or America that he owned a Rolls Royce, people used to laugh saying, “which one? The same that is used in India for carrying the waste of the City?”Due to such reputation damages, sales of Rolls Royce dropped rapidly and revenue of company owners started falling down. Then they sent a Telegram to the king in India for apologies and requested to stop transportation of waste in Rolls Royce cars. Not only this but they also offered Six new cars to king free of cost.When King Jai Singh observed that Rolls Royce has learnt a lesson and they are sorry for their mistakes, king stopped using those cars for carrying wastes.*Everyone must share this Post to show the power of an Indian King.*
When India gained freedom from British rule in 1947, Maharaja of Alwar was one of the first monarchs to give away their kingdom to create the Republic of India.
2. Shahu Maharaj of Kolhapur
So, lets know how Kolhapur turned to be a hub of leather chappal manufacturing.
Credit goes to Shahu Maharaj of Bhonsale dynasty.
As we know, the region is rocky, and people during his rule used to walk barefoot because they could not afford footwear. Shahu Maharaj provided financial aid to cobblers to make footwear.
He also sponsored factories that used minimum amount of leather to make chappals.
Although the Kolhapuri Chappals were into existence since 13th century, the same was launched on greater commercial scale only during the rule of Shahu Maharaj.
3. Aurangzeb, the great Mughal Emperor
Aurangzeb who ruled the longest, also fought the longest in Deccan died in Auragabad.
He was buried at Khuldabad- loosely translating into Abode of Eternity. Although Aurangzeb was the holder of throne at Delhi, the richest empire capital, Aurangzeb lived a simple life. His tomb in Khuldabad was constructed out of money he earned from stitching caps.
The structure also is symbolic of Aurangzeb's simplicity where his ancestors were lavish in creating their mausolems and palaces. The only lavish structure funded by Aurangzeb is the Moti Masjid in Delhi.
4. Maharaja Bhupinder Singhji of Patiala
Maharaja Bhupinder Singhji was a larger than life personality and vibrant outlook. He has many firsts associated with him. Read the below:
- First person in India to own an aircraft.
- Built the highest cricket ground at Chail.
- First monorail in India at Patiala.
- Donated the Ranji Trophy, named after Maharaja Ranjitsinhji of Nawanagar.
- Founded the State Bank of Patiala in 1917.
- The first automobile in India, a French made De Dion Bouton was, in fact, imported by the state of Patiala in 1892. for Maharaja Bhupinder Singh.
5. Maharani Indira Devi, mother of Gayatri Devi, was a fashion connoisseur. The Queen of Cooch Behar ordered 100 pairs of shoes from Salvatore Ferrogamo (one of the most famous designers of 20th century). Some of those shoes were studded with diamonds.
6. Mir Osman Ali Khan Siddiqi
THE MOST EXPENSIVE PAPERWEIGHT: THE JACOB DIAMOND
Mir Osman Ali Khan Siddiqi was the last Nizam of the Princely State of Hyderabad who was declared as the world’s richest Indian ever in 1940s. During that time he was a billionaire owning 2 billion dollars (almost 2% of the US economy in those times). He used this money to buy the largest diamond in the world, the Jacob Diamond, which is worth $200 million and used it as a paperweight.
7. Krishna Raja Wodeyar IV, the Maharaja of Mysore,
Wodeyar IV had ordered a customized Rolls Royce to shield his servants from the sun.
Crafted in 1911, the car recently went under the hammer in August 2011 and fetched over₤400,000. At the time of his death in 1940, the maharaja was one of the world's wealthiest men and was valued at nearly ₤35billion.
8. Maharaja Sawai Madho Singh II
Maharaja had ordered the craftsman of Jaipur to create two huge sterling silver vessels so that he could carry Ganga Jal along with him on his trip to England.
The vessels were made from 14,000 melted silver coins without soldering and are officially recorded by the Guinness Book of World Records as the world's largest sterling silver vessels.
9. Mohammad Bin Tughluk
The Delhi to Daulatabad (Devagiri) and shunting back is famous. What remains unknown is that the fort that was at Devagiri (fortified by Tughluk) has never lost a battle.
10. Tipu Sultan of Mysore
Credited with usage of missiles in warfare. They were present during his fathers time, but Tipu refined it for use in battle. The rockets were inefficient by modern terms, but they were meant for chaos and commotion to disperse the enemy. Tipu had a good laugh after unleashing his rocket infantry:
11. Manavendra Singh Gohel of Rajkot
He was the only Royal to have accepted in public that he was gay. Unfortunately, he was later disowned by his family, accusing him of bringing dishonor to the clan.
12. Nawab Mohabbatkhan of Junagadh
He was the only Royal to have accepted in public that he was gay. Unfortunately, he was later disowned by his family, accusing him of bringing dishonor to the clan.
12. Nawab Mohabbatkhan of Junagadh
