Finding Jobs For Pensioned Princes In India

Greymouth Evening Star, 3 June 1949, Page 8

Finding Jobs For Pensioned Princes In India

NEW DELHI.—The princely order in India is faced with a serious problem—unemployment. More than 500 of these one-time “absolute monarchs” under British rule in India will have to find new jobs for themselves. In less than two years, these Indian potentates have been reduced to titled gentry in the states they ruled. They haveggiven up their States, powers and prerogatives. All that they keep now is their own private property and a pension from the Government, besides the long string of titles, handed down from their ancestors and supplemented by the King of England. Princely unemployment is general, except for a few who have been named “Rajapramukhs” (constitutional heads) of states unions. Some of these “Rajapramukhs” may aspire to become constitutonial governors when the state unions become provinces of the Indian Republic.

The Government of India has to provide “suitable” employment for the hundreds of princes whose, states have been integrated with states unions or provinces and the States Ministry is tackling this task with tact and seriousness. The Ministry is alive to the possibility that the princes, who once had unrestricted access to their states’ revenue might some day become a headache to the Government. The Indian Government is compiling a list of unemployed princes—with details of educational qualifications, administrative experience and aptitude 1 for army or busi-

ness career. Efforts are made to fit in as many of the princes as possible into the framework of Republican India A few of the higher order m the princely chain may ascend the Gubernatorial Gadi or don the braids of an ambassador. The Maharaja of Bhavanagar is the first Indian Prince to become the constitutional Governor of a province. The Maharaja is now the popular Governor of Madras. The first diplomatic assignment for an Indian Prince in Free India went to the Jamsaheb of Nawanagar, “Rajapramukh” of the Saurashtra Union. The Jamsaheb was a member of the Indian delegation to the United Nations General Assembly in Pans last year. Several ex-rulers of small states have been recruited for training in the Indian Administrative, Police and Foreign Services. The armed forces may open careers for many young princes. The Indian Army already has two princely officers of General’s rank—Lieut-Gen-eral Maharaj Sri Rajendrasinghji, G.0.C.-in-C., Southern Command, and Major-General Maharaj Sri Himmatsinghji, Military Adviser to the States Ministry.

Indian princes may also take up politics and some day emerge as “national leaders” voicing the democratic rights of the people in Republican India. They may join political parties and contest elections to. the provincial and central legislatures. Few among the princes can afford to stay content'With' their privy "purse and private property. As .pensioners, with no work to do,-it -will be difficult for them to maintain their luxurious .palaces, racing establishments and other expensive hobbies. Under the guidance of Sardar Vallabhai Patel, India’s Deputy Prime Minister, the princely class is going through a process of adjustment, to fit in with the new social and political order of Free India.r-fßeuter correspondent).