India's Maharajas, Beyond Dancing Girls & Elephants by Manu S Pillai
Historian and author Manu S Pillai draws an intriguing portrait of the rulers of India's princely states as we have rarely seen them before. He talks about how they contributed to the anti-British nationalist movement of the 19th and early 20th centuries, modernised their states and fought imperialism through good governance. Accompanying Manu’s talk was a pop-up exhibition at the Sarmaya Talks venue in Pundole's. It featured royal portraits from the Sarmaya collection featuring characters from ‘False Allies’ , including Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III of Baroda, Nizam Mahboob Ali Khan of Hyderabad and Maharaja Krishnaraja Wadiyar IV of Mysore.
Manu S Pillai is the author of the award-winning 'The Ivory Throne' (2015), 'Rebel Sultans' (2018) and 'The Courtesan, the Mahatma & the Italian Brahmin' (2019). In his most recent book, 'False Allies: India’s Maharajahs in the Age of Ravi Varma' (2021), he tracks the travels of iconic painter Ravi Varma through five princely states to present an intriguing profile of India’s maharajahs.
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Wonderful listening to Manu Pillai weaving together so many factual details into his speech, exposing India's royalty, their excesses and their exceptional talent to play one off against the other, and who still to this day, continue to perpetutae the mystique that surrounds them. The speech was presented in one easy flow. However , most of the audience had a pained expression on their faces ....wonder why they were there at all!!! How much of the information that Manu had shared with this disinterested crowd, had percolated into their collective consciousness?
Its always a pleasure listening to Manu..thank you
Manu S Pillai 🙏🏻
@sudsudsudsud9248
2 жыл бұрын
Ddorium reserves nod dde poind
@sudsudsudsud9248
2 жыл бұрын
@53:2 remnsnd nh66
This guy is Indian Yuval Noah Harari. Great lecture. Glad to know you Manu.
Interesting, informative. These untold stories have been buried for so many years. Eternally thankful to Manu for remarkably presenting it.
Such a lot of information, and what a flow... 😊
always a delight to listen to
What an amazing and insightful talk! Totally loved it!
Wonderful discussion as always ❤
Spontaneous overflow of information
Excellent information
Fascinating !!
Kudos for writing about this very complex topic. Failed to mention that some Princley states had leadership with amazing talent. E.g. Swathi Thirunal of Travancore, potentially the most brilliant and talented Indian who ever lived. They singlehandedly kept India up with what was going on in Europe in terms of Math, Astronomy, Medicine etc… One more important thing to mention is how the Maharajahs instituted clever methods to collect fines and taxes which ultimately ensured the money and gold stayed within the princely states and not stolen by the British. Example how the Travancore Royal Family created and protected the Sri Padmanabhaswamy Temple Treasures.
superb
Really informative. Manu is indeed very articulate n it's a pleasure listening to him. There is no I - know - it - all air about him. Really enjoyed the session.
Nice to listen to his stories
Flow of information 🔥🔥
Superb manu👍
Good
Absorbing content ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
@sudsudsudsud9248
2 жыл бұрын
Funding deir annual exersises
History repeats all time
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Poona is a very interesting historical location. It was the original Jagir that Chhatrapathi Shivaji inherited. Where he began his rule. The foundation of Maratha power. This was also why the Peshwas could hold power. Apparently, it's importance didn't diminish even during the reign of the Maharajas.
@kgbsaoc8030
Жыл бұрын
😹😹0
@kgbsaoc8030
Жыл бұрын
😘
Indian rulers have been traditionally demonized as debauched and self-centred lackeys of the colonial rulers. Books like the one by Diwan Jarmani Das 'Maharajas' reinforced this image. Like any of today's ' 'maharajas' aka CM's of states, some were great administrators and concerned with public welfare, others were interested in just self-enrichment. Maintaining a balance between keeping the British at bay without provoking them required a high degree of political skills. Hopefully more research will bring about a more balanced picture.
@sudsudsudsud9248
2 жыл бұрын
Mg ranade
@yj9032
Жыл бұрын
They were puppets of the British. They deserve all the hate.
@rajkamald684
11 ай бұрын
😂😂😂😂😂
@user-oh1bt3lx7y
7 ай бұрын
Yes we should go back to being 'subjects' rather than stakeholders of the state. /S
ഹായ് മനു..😍😍
Maharajas,British,east India company,mla,mp,minister,cm,pm,political parties,business,religious leaders are all looking out for self interests. Same as each one of us should look out for own interests.
Whatttt aaaaaaaa presentation
Excellent presentation! Looking forward to reading this book. In response to one of the questioners - the British took control of larger parts of India from Marathas not the Mughals. Almost since the time of Peshwa Bajirav(I) establishing Maratha dominance, the Mughal 'king' was just a puppet of Maratha Empire. Holkars, Gaikwads, Peshwas, Scindias etc were part of that Martha dominion, which later became their own princely states.
@rocketshoot3027
Жыл бұрын
Marath😂a Empire? When was that? 😂
@atuld
Жыл бұрын
@@rocketshoot3027 you clearly are unaware of realities. Please read some real history outside of the Marxist milieu.
@armSCB42may
11 ай бұрын
@@rocketshoot3027 go for a research my friend
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Is he related with ettuveetil pillai's?
@sheejaunnikrishnan1298
Жыл бұрын
Super
Rassia come drouw afkan and invad kindia wjat an idea sirji
What is the difference between Trivandrum- Cochin & Travancore
@yoyohonewysingaa
8 ай бұрын
Cochin is modern day Kochi, Trivandrum is modern day Thiruvananthapuram and Travancore was the name of a kingdom situated in Kerala (Travancore is a modification of the malayalam name Thiruvitamkoor)
@nandhudevanandan1689
26 күн бұрын
Thiru-Cochin was founded in 1949 in post independent India for administration by joining both Travancore & Kochi princely states
Kovalam koddaram akuired by rpillai deir is misceef in dis majaraja
you have done good work , still I feel you need to do more hame work .
@AbhinavDhar93
2 жыл бұрын
please tell what else he must do
@sreedap4508
2 жыл бұрын
You need to do your homework too maybe?
@pleindevie7901
2 жыл бұрын
Ha ha. He is among the few guys who completed the home work in the whole country 🤣
@sudsudsudsud9248
2 жыл бұрын
Kodden hyll name sounds fami liar
@sudsudsudsud9248
2 жыл бұрын
@@pleindevie7901 seems like odder 60percend consdidude dde audeynce
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