Introduction:

While successive dynasties of kings and kingdoms came and went the institution of Hindu kingship itself remained constant, providing an autocratic, paternalistic but essentially benevolent authority under which many varieties of Indian culture flourished throughout the subcontinent.

The India Princes were the diamonds, emeralds, rubies and pearls that invested the imperial crowns of both the Mughals and the British with glitter and sparkle. Proud guardians of an ancient inheritance steeped in history, they gave India splendour and romance on a scale that was unrivalled in the twentieth century and which will never reoccur.

The word Raja, with its original Sanskrit meaning of both 'one who rules' and 'one whose duty is to please', was taken very seriously by the rulers.

Many of Kings represented the finest qualities of rulership and manhood-their impartiality, sense of fair play, even-handed justice, truthfulness and high morals were exemplary. They were great patrons of arts, music and learning. Many were fine horsemen, sportsmen and lovers of forests. Some were deeply religious and god-fearing and the people adored and worshiped them.

In the years following the abolition of princely rule, several members of the order have continued to play a prominent role in various fields of enterprise. A few, like Rajmata Vijayaraje Scindia of Gwalior and her son, Madhavrao, are still actively involved in politics. Some, like the late Maharaja of Baroda set up and ran successful industries, while others like Divyabhanusinh of Mansa and Pushpendra Sinh of Lunawada, distinguished themselves as managers in the corporate world.

Many former Princes felt committed to reviving the arts and crafts formerly patronised in their states. The Rajmata of Jaipur revitalised the renowned blue pottery of Jaipur whilst the late Raja of Sawantwadi converted the Durbar Hall of his palace into a workshop to revive the dying art of lacquerware furniture and traditional ganjifa playing cards for which his state was famous. Richard and Sally Holkar set up a weavers' co-operative in the palace in Maheshwar to breathe new life into the town's dormant textile industry, whereas the Nawabzada of Palanpur has run a successful arts and crafts boutique in Bombay for several years. The Maharawal of Pratapgarh motivates members of the one family that has had the monopoly in crafting exquisite theva jewelry, which employs the technique of intricately patterned gold filigree on coloured glass. Bapa Dhrangadhara is occupied in restoring rate, antique shawls while his brother. Sidhharaj Sinhji, has established a crafts center in the palace at Dhrangadhara to revive the art of silver and stone furniture. Schools of classical music known as gharanas, such as those established by the royal courts of Jaipur, Gwalior, Patiala, Baroda, Kapurthala, Rampur, Maihar and Indore, still flourish.

Other achievements include distinguished careers in the Civil and Foreign Services and in the field of sports-particularly cricket, riding, polo and trap-shooting. Former royal hunting grounds have become national sanctuaries and parks; these include Bharatpur, Siriska, Ranthambore, Shivpuri, Gir, Periyar, Rangathittoo, Bandipur, Dachigam and Jaldapara. Royal menageries and aviaries were set up as zoological parks as in Hyderabad, Baroda, Junagadh, Gwalior, Mysore, Jaipur, Kotah, Jodhpur, Bikaner and Uadipur.

Many palaces are crumbling today but others like those in Suket, Bikaner, Rampur, Indore, Jodhpur, Jaipur, Udaipur and Patiala have become repositories of culture in the form of museums and libraries. Some palaces now function as Government offices, including those at Indore, Patiala, Palanpur of Pratapgarh. A large number, like those in Udaipur, Jaipur, Jodhpur, Mysore, Bikaner, Gwalior, Benares, Kotah, Bhavnagar, Wankaner and Jaisalmer, have been converted into popular palaces hotels and guest houses.