MAHARAJAH OF BURDWAN.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19947, 15 November 1926, Page 16

MAHARAJAH OF BURDWAN.

ARRIVAL IN LONDON. AH IMPOSING FIGURE. INCOME OF £SC<),OOO A TEAR. (From Otjb Own Coebespondentj LONDON, October 8. The Maharajah of Burdwan, first of the Indian delegates to the forthcoming Imperial Conference, arrived in London from Brussels, accompanied by a suite, including two sons, two daughters, a baby granddaughter, secretaries, officers, and servants. His Highness will be one of India’s three representatives at the Conference, for which work 40 years as a ruling prince and a largo share of public work In Ind.a have made him eminently suitable. When he and his suite arrived at Victoria Station the Indian princesses wer„ wearing beautiful white and brown dresses, and their score of retainers were in picturesque native costume. SECOND VISIT TO ENGLAND. If the Maharajah had not been destined to be a ruling prince he would have made a wonderful athlete for ho stands more than six feet high, and has a chest a champion wrestler would envy. In his native dress —silken flowing trousers, long grey tight fitting coat and black headdress —he preented a picturesque figure. “This is first visit to London for ai years, and naturally I am glad to bo back, he said in an interview. “Last time I came on a pleasure trip. This time I am combining pleasure with duty, and also taking the oppo r tunity of showing my sons and daughters the sights of London, and something of the life of England. I have brought the whole _ family, excepting the Maharanee who, being an orthodox Hindu, could not come. My eldest son will act as my official secretary at the Conference. I am loking forward to some very interest ing work at the Conference, but as I have not seeit. the agenda yet. I cannot say much about it. So far as my own country is concerned, there is no outstanding question to be raised. »“It will be interesting to see London again after such a long absence, for I know from th» paners there are great changes, both in the life and buildings of this great city.” POET AND ATHLETE Although only 45. the Maharajah has been a ruling prince for 39 years, for he was but a lad of six when he succeeded his predecessor, who adopted him. He belongs to the senior Jindu house of Bengal, and is the 16th descendant of his dynasty, which held a very high position in India at the time of the Mogul emperors 300 voars ago. He belongs to the Kshattnya, or ruling A man of manv interests he has published volumes of poems and dramas, while his recreations include coif, tennis, and rowing bor his conspicuous courage durm" trouble in Calcutta in 1908 he eajrned the Indian Order of Merit. . ' , . Special cooks have been engaged to ensure that the Maharaiah and his staff will have the kind of food they are accustomed to in India, where questions of caste enter largely into culinary matters, j His High ness has no liking for red meat or fish. Curries, game, and highly-spiced dishes will bo Included in his menus. The young princes are overjoyed at cotm ing to this country, and when they reached Victoria Station elder eMlamod. At last wo are in London. How wonderful. The Maharajah has an income of 000, and among other beneficent supports a college in the town of Burdwan.