As a true royal, Maharaja Gaj Singh of Jodhpur has a regal aura about him. He may not be holding an official post or heading an international corporation, but his business acumen is flawless. In Dubai recently for talks to bring the emirate's expertise to his home state and initiate some development plans with partners, he has extended his support to Lifestyle City, one of the high-profile projects of developer ETA. The Maharaja joins an elite group of select few that include international tennis star Maria Sharapova and Bollywood screen idol Shah Rukh Khan among others. In a candid interview, he lets Emirates Business take a peep into his life full of majestic moments and regal rendezvous.
What is your impression of Dubai?
I have been to Dubai before and every time I arrive here, I see the economy booming. The real estate boom is sending positive vibes to the entire region. For many Indians, it's a home away from home with a lot of the country's flavours here. Also the massive work force from our country that contributes to the development is a matter of pride.
Is your visit social, commercial or ambassadorial?
It is a little bit of everything. Dubai is always refreshing and I wanted to check the business opportunities. Arif [ Arif Rahman, Managing Director of Dubai Lifestyle City ] is a personal friend of mine and our intention is to look into the possibility of getting into real estate projects with ETA back home.
This was recommended by some of our business partners in India. I am particularly impressed by the quality of work executed here and with the amalgamation of the best of minds and best of agencies, Dubai is witnessing the best of success.
Do you think your role and social status contribute to the commercial success of the ventures that you have been involved with?
Legally speaking, we are not royalty anymore and don't even use the title in a official capacity. But the love, affection and respect of the people does help in reinstating their confidence and faith in our projects and winning their confidence is always an asset when you are providing a service and the investment is in millions of dollars.
How did it effect you and your family to be once rulers of a state, to becoming just symbolic heads and eventually losing that also?
Born soon after the Indian independence and having spent most of my growing period abroad studying, I have seen and experienced very little of the royalty as far as ruling the state is concerned. But, of course, it was not that easy for my father who felt betrayed by the bureaucracy and the politicians.
Do you have any bitterness about that?
Yes, in a way. It was a constitutional change and we embraced the changes without any resistance. However, what followed after that was not good for the people, the country and the heritage of the country. Heavy taxation made it very difficult for royal families to maintain heritage sites once their source of incomes was taken away. As a result, many historical and heritage sites suffered and faced systematic extinction.
What is the objective of forming the Indian Heritage Hotels Association?
The association is a group of property owners, who have acquired old houses that are heritage-protected sites and need to be maintained to survive the test of the time.
Is this a commercial association?
It's not a commercial association but a lobby to fight for the cause of heritage and our valuable piece of history. And these are not necessarily defunct royal families but anyone who has acquired old buildings and they include individuals and some ex-royal families.
Dubai is planning to develop the entire creek area as one large open-air museum. Do you think you and your family can contribute with your royal background?
Indeed, we do look forward to being a part of their activities that can educate and inform people about Indian history and her historical links with Arabia. Royalty has always been for the betterment of people, place and society and we will continue to contribute to that in future.
Maharaja Gaj Singh II , Maharaja of Jodhpur
He may not be royalty in the constitutional sense, but the regality and sophistication that surrounds him leaves no doubts in the mind of anyone who has interacted with Maharaja Gaj Singh.
Born soon after the independence of India in January, 1948, he is the direct descendant of the ruling family of Jodhpur, the largest kingdom in the state of Rajasthan. In that capacity, Maharaja Gaj Singh has many roles and leads from the front in whatever projects he may be associated with.
As head of the family, his commitment extends beyond his immediate kin and accepts the people of Jodhpur as one big family. His role as caretaker was reinstated when he was elected to the Indian parliament unopposed from his constituency.
By Vigyan Arya
Emirates Business 24/7 2008
