My mother's family is from Mysuru. I have heard my aunt, Shantha, tell us stories of how, as children, they would line the streets during the annual Dasara procession, to get a chance to wave at the Maharaja as he rode past on a majestic elephant.
In the modern day republic, we have no kings and queens, but for many Mysoreans, the head of the family remains 'Namma Maharajaru' - our Maharaja.
So I came to Mysuru to cover the 'coronation' of the young Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar with an almost borrowed nostalgia - collective family memories that always surface when we visit places where our parents were young.
We headed on Wednesday to the Amba Vilas Palace to do some live reporting - and also to collect our media passes. In my reports, I tried to convey the strangeness of the event. The dynasty that began ruling the kingdom of Mysore in 1399 is now handing over a 23-year-old Economics grad from the US who cannot officially be king. It is to use words like 'erstwhile' for the royal family - a word that seems to date from 1399 itself! 'Titular head' or 'man who would have been the 27th Maharaja' - these are phrases that can trip you up.
And the long name of the new 'king' (see, when you are writing the single quotes, are invaluable) took time to get used to.
The pass took a long time to get and we walked around the dark palace grounds late in the evening. Vast and deserted, the palace, a hugely popular tourist destination was closed to the public for the two days of the coronation ceremony.
I had expected the palace to be lit up - for there to be more pomp and show - some reflection in the city that a coronation was happening. But how things have changed. Surely the crowning of a king would have been a huge event in years past. With royal guests from other kingdoms, thousands of subjects peering for a glimpse. Elephants and horses, drums and music. The 'royal family' (those useful quotes again) had reportedly asked the government for the use of one of the senior Dasara elephants, Balarama, for the ceremony - a request that was turned down as it was a private event.
The day of the coronation, cool and grey, we headed to the palace. In between live reports we used our passes to head into the palace where the actual ceremony was taking place. We walked through hunting trophies - stuffed tigers, deer, gaur and even a giraffe trophy - balanced on a long, dead neck. Hunting, the display of trophies - some traditions deserve to die...
The young king was on a silver throne. The ceremony was fairly brief and we watched along with women in silk saris and men in traditional Mysore petas or turbans. And after the crowning, people lined up to bless and greet the young man. Visitors include the state's home minister, some cabinet colleagues and MLAs - princes of the new era?
Later there was a media stampede to get a sound bite from the young king. We spoke to him separately in the palace, in a room where family women in bright saris and rich jewels rustled about.
He was clear and articulate. I asked him about the challenges of balancing the ancient traditions with modern India - he spoke of the need for fusion. He said that while the whole system may be considered an anachronism, there was still a place for tradition and customs in India. And when I asked if he missed the pomp that must have surrounded earlier coronations, he said, "You don't miss what you have never known."
Later, I spoke to his adoptive mother, Pramoda Devi, wife of the late Srikantadatta Narasimharaja Wadiyar, the man whose death in 2013 led to a vacant throne - and the adoption of an heir. She believes that Yaduveer is a sensible young man who will be able to bridge the old and the new.
The Wadiyar family has been considered by many to have been benevolent rulers. Yaduveer says continuing that tradition will be a heavy responsibility.
In a world where there is still a fascination with royalty, where many still consider you a king - your politeness when ambushed by television reporters and cameras is a reminder of an earlier era.
Good luck, young Yaduveer, in your new role.
(
Maya Sharma is NDTV's Resident Editor in Bengaluru)
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