The last Maharaja of the Mysore state from 1940 to 1950, His Highness Sri Jayachamarajendra Wadiyar was a man who wore many hats. A truly multifaceted personality, he was a musical genius, political visionary, deep thinker, philosopher and philanthropist. Born on 18-Jul-1919, Prince Jayachamarajendra Wadiyar ascended the throne on September 8, 1940 and made significant contributions to Mysore and the entire state of Karnataka during his reign.
On the occasion of his 105th birth anniversary, documentary film maker Maya Chandra (of Maya films) along with her close friend Radha Rao have curated yet another special photo exhibition aptly titled HH Jaya Chamaraja Wadiyar: A Life of Passion and Purpose. The exhibition which is an ode to his achievements, features rare family photographs and portraits of the Maharaja.
Early Life and Times
The exhibition is comprehensive in that it covers all aspects of his life starting from the Maharaja’s early life, schooling and college education. The pictures of him as a school boy and scout is quite interesting as it is key to note that the Boys Scout of Mysore was officially started under the patronage of Nalwadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar in 1917. The pictures relating to his thread ceremony and marriage are a revelation with the photos bearing the original / official invitation cards prepared during that time.
He was the first member of the Mysore royal family to study in the city’s Maharaja’s college and the pictures of his graduation and one with his professors are other rare pictures on display. Other photos include that of his sojourns abroad, trips with his wife as well as his children and their weddings can be viewed in the exhibition.
Life as a King
The exhibition features several insightful photos of his coronation including one where he is seated on the Bhadrasana during the Pattabhishekha. Photos of him conducting the ceremonies during the famous royal Dasara festival including the European Durbar are quite engaging.
His meetings with several heads of state and the changes in the monarchy after Indian independence and the adoption of the Constitution is well documented.
His contributions when he later served as the governor of Mysore until 1964 and as governor of Madras from 1964 to 1966 have also been highlighted.
Contributions to Mysore and Bangalore
From setting up Gayatri Talkies given that he was a huge fan of English movies to establishing the All India Institute of Speech & Hearing in 1966, the first of its kind in India, his contribution to the city of Mysore remains unparalleled. The latter was built after he visited the Institute of Logopedics in Wichita, Kansas and was inspired by their facilities and research work.
In addition, he gifted the magnificent Cheluvamba Mansion in Mysore with its vast surrounding to the Indian Government to start the Central Food Technological Research Institute CFTRI) – the premier food research institute of the country which was inaugurated on October 21, 1950.
In Bangalore, he set up institutions like HAL, Sri Jayachamarajendra Occupational Institute, Bangalore (now SJP) and the National Tuberculosis Institute amongst others apart from laying the foundation of the Jayanagar and Rajajinagar localities.
Patron of Music, Sports and Fine Arts
A musical genius, HH Jaya Chamaraja Wadiyar was a connoisseur of both Western and Carnatic music and an acknowledged authority of Indian Philosophy. He was an honorary Fellow of Trinity College of Music, London and also helped the Western world discover the music of a lesser known Russian composer Nikolai Medtner (1880–1951). In fact, Medtner’s Third Piano Concerto is dedicated to the Maharaja of Mysore. Further, he learnt to play veena under Vid. Venkatagiriappa and mastered the nuances of carnatic music under the tutelage of veteran composer and Asthan Vidwan Sri. Vasudevacharya.
Maharaja was a good horseman, a tennis and golf player. He organised the XII Indian Olympic Games at Bangalore in 1946 and helped India’s greatest tennis player Ramanathan Krishnan to participate at Wimbledon. He was also responsible for the India’s greatest off-spin bowler, Sri. E. A. S. Prasanna’s visiting West Indies in his maiden test series as his father was
otherwise reluctant to send him.
The exhibition is on till 29-Jul at the Indian Institute of World Culture 6, BP Wadia Rd, Basavanagudi, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560004
