Manvendra Singh Shekhawat insists that he has no immediate royal connection even though he was referred to as a 'royal' on a TV reality show
In the "MasterChef India Season 2", episode aired last night the contestants go for their first outdoor task. While the venue happens to be Suryagarh Palace in Jaisalmer, the occasion is, as the channel's press release suggests, "the royal engagement of Prince Manvendra".
Not only does the official press release say so, the information uploaded on the channel's official website reads: "Contestants head to Jaisalmer - The contestants visit Jaisalmer for a royal engagement". Interestingly, we found out that Manvendra is not a prince, at all. And he himself vouched for the fact, or the lack of it, thereof. We also spoke to a cross-section of people who would be in on the royal lineages of Rajasthan, and asked them what they think of this twist in the reality tale...
I had asked them not to call me a prince "If they have called it a royal engagement, I cannot say anything (about that). But as far as my title is concerned, I am not a prince. Why would I introduce myself as a prince when I don't have an immediate royal connection? Our forefathers were from the state of Khandela, but we don't belong to any royal family. The channel approached me for one of their episodes. They covered my engagement ceremony for their episode shot at our heritage property, Suryagarh Palace in Jaisalmer. If they are addressing me as prince and the engagement as 'royal engagement', it's up to them. I had very specifically told the channel that they should not refer to me as a prince." Manvendra Singh Shekhawat, on being called a prince
Channel is selling the dream "The official correspondence of the system can't use the titles of Maharaja or Maharani or Prince. But they may end up using 'former' or 'erstwhile' with the title. These are century-old titles, which have been used by the members of royal families. It's a dream of a commoner to connect with a royal phenomenon and to be referred to as Rajkumar or Rajkumari. And the channels like to sell the dream. Even the former Thakurs or riyasatdaars are referred to as Maharajas, even though the constitution abolished these titles ages ago." Tripty Pandey, travel writer
It's for TRPs "Ages ago all royal privileges were done away with and so were the titles. It's completely unconstitutional to use titles such as Maharaja or Prince. But there is no regulation related to the illegal usage of such titles. Late brigadier Bhawani Singh was the last Maharaja. He was given the title by the President of the country in 1970. Still, the title is being used by other royalties. Now if TV channels are trying to raise their TRPs using such titles, what can be done? There is no regulatory act to deal with it." Anand Sharma, historian
I don't have details "I don't know about Kunwar Manvendra's family in great detail, but yes, I'm sure of the fact that he is a Rajput. From what I got to know, he has been referred to as a Kunwar in the show. Since we shot the show on the day of his tikka ceremony, we had Kunwar Manvendra and Kumari Jatan as guests on the show. The shoot happened at Hotel Suryagarh which is also owned by Kunwar Manvendra's family." Ajay Chopra, "MasterChef India" judge
Title's for respect "Even though the titles were abolished, habits did not die out. And there is no harm if it's done out of public sympathy. If somebody comes and call someone a beauty queen, everybody would like to listen to that. Though officially, royal members are not supposed to use such titles, one can't deny public respect." Kunwar Kuldip Singh Chandela
People love to be called royal "Our culture is vast and rich, we respect the earlier generations and it is a custom to refer to the royal members with the title given by the public. But nobody can claim to be a Prince until he has a history or lineage to the royal blood line. As people want to retain the titles, they love to be addressed as Prince or Maharaja." Kunwar Trivikram Singh Naila
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