Pratap Sinha Rajebhosle, sixth descendant of Maharaja Serfoji II and the son of Serfoji Rajah Bhosle (the elder son of Tulajhendra Rajah Bhosle) has written a book on the Thanjavur-Maratha royal family that has some rare archival material in the form of photographs, illustrations and historical notes.
Titled “Contributions of Thanjavur Maratha Kings with a Brief History of Cholas and Nayakas,” the slim volume highlights the spirit of innovation that guided the monarchs in the fields of education, literature, and performing arts, among others, for more than 170 years.
The book starts with a brief biography of the warrior king Chathrapathi Shivaji, and goes on to list the achievements of the Thanjavur royal family, from their golden period, to post-Independence India.
The role played by Cholas and Nayaka kings in the history of Thanjavur and the Cauvery delta is also detailed in a separate chapter.
The book has photographs and paintings from the author’s family collection and the acclaimed Saraswati Mahal Library.
In the preface, Pratap Sinha Rajebhosle, who is based in Chennai, says he was inspired to write the book after seeing the response to his Facebook page and blog on the history of Thanjavur and his own family’s role in its growth as a cradle of culture in Tamil Nadu.
The author may be contacted on tanjorerajahserfoji2museum @gmail.com
