Grandeur, pride, superiority and sometimes snobbery are the terms one usually tends to associate with royalty. Self-effacement, humility, unfussiness and warmth are the words rarely used. But then these are the exact qualities that set the Senior Prince of Thanjavur apart.
When I request for an appointment, he suggests I write about the temple or the palace instead .After some coaxing, , he ungrudgingly sets aside ample time for our rendezvous, despite being busy with the ongoing preparations for the millennium celebrations of the Big Temple.
With an imposing name like Babaji Rajah Bhonsle Chattrapathi, the man in flesh dispels the regal, forbidding image of royalty. . Absolutely down- to-earth, unpretentious and with a welcoming smile, folded hands and mellow tones, he recalls to mind Kipling's verse : “ If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,'Or walk with Kings - nor lose the common touch…”
He is the 13th descendant of the lineage of Maratha kings of Thanjavur and the hereditary trustee of the Palace devasthanam with 88 temples under his fold.
Extremely camera shy, he loathes the limelight. “My position and my personality are a complete mismatch,” he confesses. “You want me to do a hundred things silently, I can do it. But put me on a stage and I feel like a fish out of water.”
A man completely devoid of airs, he floors you with his casual charm and simplicity. Perhaps no one can put princely responsibilities so succinctly. “It is like running in a rally. For now, the baton has now come to me. It will be carried by someone later. I just have to pass it on to the next generation safely. ”
The schoolboy prince
The legacy of centuries sits on his shoulders lightly and but not the princely responsibilities that the title brings. Forced to inherit at the age of 16, due to the untimely death of his father, the schoolboy prince found on his hands, what he describes as a ‘sinking ship'. “The situation was pretty grim. It was like an after storm scenario. The temples' administration was in bad state. There were so many unpaid bills and pending salaries.”
At an age stuck between adolescence and adulthood, where boys of his age had lesser things to worry about, the Prince found on his hands matters of grave importance. He went on to qualify himself with a degree in civil engineering at SASTRA College, Thanjavur, after which he took up the reins. His only regret is that he missed out on higher education.
“When there were people going without salaries, I couldn't think of myself. Fortunately resurgence of the Bhakti movement helped”
Nearly 73 temples have been consecrated (kumabiksham) after he assumed responsibility. Yet, he gives himself very little credit but attributes it to Divine Providence and people's support. “Public support has been monumental. We are just stepping stones. I have decentralized much of my work. I am more of a facilitator between the government and people, encouraging philanthropic activities and government help to serve the society.
Not many, even royalty can lay claim to a 1000 year-old marvel like the Brahadeeshwarar, which is one among the 88 temples. His role, as he puts it, is a bridge between the ASI and HR and CE, mediating the spiritual and preservation activities of the temple.
“My responsibility is merely by virtue of succession. People connect with us easily rather than officers who are changed periodically.” As all his time is consumed by the temples, he is dressed in pristine, spotless white shirt and dhoti. Though he may generally project a conservative and traditional image, his vision is essentially progressive and creative.
He strongly vouches for promoting the welfare of tenants who occupy temple lands. Desilting the lands is a good way to start with, he suggests. He believes that the Chatrams created by the Marathas could be put to better use if they are converted to cultural centres generating employment for towns in the vicinity of Thanjavur.
As the Convenor of INTACH, Thanjavur Chapter, Babaji has donned the mantle of custodian of art and culture, just like his forefathers.
Conservation is both a passion and priority with him. “There is a welcoming change in the mindset of youngsters towards heritage conservation. But more youth need to be involved and that can be done only by educating them.”
Deeply in love with the past, he believes monuments are living inspirations. Hampi holds the greatest fascination to him. His ardour to promote tourism in the town stems from this inspiration.
“Around 3,000- 5,000 tourists visit the Big Temple alone. But such a number is not translated into economic figures. We have not tapped the tourism potential completely. If tourists are urged to spend a night instead of briefly halting here, the economy is bound to soar.”
He gushes about the rare treasures that the Saraswati Mahal library and the Palace hold. The Palace is under the government control, but its potential as a tourist interest is yet to be realized, he adds wistfully, stressing on the need for a permanent maintenance fund and an integrated administration committee.
“We need to blow off the dust and uncover the gold mines. I will do whatever I can to contribute,” he asserts.
People person
Babaji is techno-savvy and is the promoter of an e-publishing unit town he set up with friends. Despite initial teething problems and uncertainties over venturing into such an industry in a small town, the prospect was only a challenge to the man who excels in weathering storms. His firm has opened up new avenues for employment to the many engineering graduates from Thanjavur.
His love for networking with people, has landed him with yet another passion- guiding researchers. “There are plenty of scholars here and we have many researchers from across the country and abroad visiting the town. I make their job easier by merely putting them across to the right people. In the process, I end up learning something.”
The Prince resides with his mother, wife Gayathiri Raje and three young children in a portion of the palace, that speaks of simplicity and elegance, marked by antique furniture and old portraits. The family has assimilated the best of Tamil and Marathi cultures. He confesses he cannot converse fluently in Marathi though the royal family still celebrates Gudi Pav and Nag Panchami .
He is the picture of a man, resigned to his lot, though if he could wish for something, it would be more time.
“My time is not with me. I have to meet people and attend events all day. I could refuse, but I don't because it ultimately benefits the people in some way.”
“It is true I get very little time with my family. My children miss me as they are too young to understand my responsibilities,” he says pensively but is quick to add, “I have no regrets though. Society demands something from us. There has always been a need to meet expectations. I have accepted this is what life holds for me.”
He comes all the way to the courtyard to see us off, “I am not regal. People assume if you are a Prince you must be. Well, we have always lived a simple life. It is merely an inheritance,” he brushes off his royal birth as he waves us goodbye.
