Scindia Rajgharana (Hindi)

A treasure trove of stories... that is both interesting and accessible Priya Sehgal Weeks before the announcement of a complete lockdown in India in March 2020 to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, the political arena in Madhya Pradesh was already abuzz with events and coups. Jyotiraditya Scindia abruptly left the Congress party and joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), thus ousting the Congress from power in the state. Many saw Jyotiradityas decision as a reunion of the Scindia political dynasty under the BJPs umbrella. The treasure trove of the Scindias royal residence, Jai Vilas Palace in Gwalior, holds precious gems and many secrets carefully buried within. Some of these are cleverly concealed, such as the controversial role of Gwaliors rulers during the 1857 rebellion. Some were kept hidden under the guise of diplomatic reasons, such as the Rajmatas excessive reliance on her Rasputin and the resulting distrust of her only son, Madhavrao. Then, the most pressing question remains the palaces alleged role in Mahatma Gandhis assassination and the half-hearted investigation into that role. Perhaps these unsolved mysteries are the reason Indians are naturally curious about the Scindia dynasty (a family that has produced numerous politicians for various political parties in India). Political maneuvering, palace intrigue, cutthroat rivalries, ugly public feuds, betrayals, court battles over property, and siblings who couldnt stand each other have always kept the Scindia dynasty in the limelight. This book provides a comprehensive account of the rulers of Gwalior, as well as a comprehensive and revealing biography of them.