Page 80 - Demo

Then in his late 20s, Bismillah Khan, who was already a star, gave a shehnai performance to commemorate the coronation event. Even 20 years later, he would praise the Vizianagaram hospitality and respect he was accorded. In the 70s, when he performed in Japan, he was approached by a man from Vizianagaram who mentioned seeing him play at his Maharaja's coronation. %u201cYes, I played at his coronation%u2026I remember he gave me that necklace he was wearing immediately. That was how it was done, right?%u201d the Maestro was said to have recalled. Life resumed its even course. The Raja Saheb as he was now to be called, however, didn't care much for the trappings of his kingly position. He never again wore the rich zari suits or turbans that was the norm, and in general preferred modest clothing in good taste. He did not sport any jewellery and it was put away in the toshakhana.PVG Raju began the ceremonial duties of attending functions. We have a notice in the Indian Express, from January 1946, in what could be one of the first ever official events, where he inaugurates a branch of Andhra Bank in Chicacole, (Srikakulam). We see the full panoply of titles, Raj Bahadur, Manne Sultan, Maharaja. But the clock was ticking, and the hour was going to strike republican.By now, PVG Raju was in his mid-20s. The new national government had so far held to its promise of privy purses to the hundreds of princely states that had signed up to be part of the Union of India. Zamindaris were to be abolished by the state governments. In the case of Vizianagaram, this would be through the 'Abolition of Zamindari and Conversion to Ryotwari Act' of the Madras Presidency 1948.70