CHAPTER - II
7he Princes
22
THE. PRINCES
" The Princes', is both an epic and an autobiography, it is at once the
record of the end of an epoch in Indian History and the story of a man's search
for his roots in an age of upheaval and crisis."1 This novel is stated to be an epic
in the sense that it narrates the life-story of a Maharaja and a Prince of an Indian
State just at the verge of time of extinction; and it is an autobiography because
it is narrated by the heroi/afirst person, though the story of the novel one can
search and ascertain about the extinguishing states and their rulers. 'The
1
G.S. Amur, Manohar Malgonkar (New Delhi; Hamish Hamilton, 1973),
p.78.
23
Princes', by Manohar Malgonkar, is predominantly historical in its nature
covering the epoch of the princely states of India at their declining stage from
1938 to 1947, until they were merged with independent India in 1949.
" The Princes' evokes a vivid picture of the partition days in
India when the aristocratic rulers of the princely states were
put to untold suffering and hardship owing to the changing
political scene ... The title of the novel is actually a pointer to
these rulers in general and not to even one single prince of
Begwad whose life-story forms its subject-matter."2
The historical facts and events are moulded and characterized in an
artistic and fictional way. The novel is a document of contemporary history
presented in fictional terms. It records artistically the recent Indian history of
freedom struggle of the last phase, in which the Britishers, the princes and the
congress party had played their role. There were 565 and odd princely states
in India which struggled hard to retain their rule and supremacy with the
Britishers on one side and with the congress party of the National Movement on
the other.
Manohar Malgonkar discerns pretty well that it is statutory to write a real
history in chronological order of events. Being g dry one as such the history
does not entertain its reader, whereas a novel though written on historical theme
with all its decor and delighting description will drag the reader unto its end.
Malgonkars source of inspiration to write 'The Princes', can be conceived on his
close contact with the prince of the State of Dewas Senior and also on what
happened at different stages of his life.
2
A.N. Dwivedi, I!3fi_UiMQdacLas_a_J3<2iffiIi^ (New Delhi • Abhinav
Publishers, 1985), p.139.
24
At the first stage of Malgonkar's association very early in his life with the
princes of India, is clearly evident in his own statement:
' My grand father was the Prime Minister in one of the bigger
States in India and l grew up .... knowing the princely ways,
knowing their peculiarities, knowing the little things that they
did different from other people, knowing their little vanities."3
Hence, he has depicted the interior and the exterior of the characteristics
of princely life in his novel 'The Princes'.
The second stage of the source of the theme of 'The Princes1 can be
traced out to his hunting experiences, along with the princes and Maharajas.
"Malgonkar took to the hunting at the age of ten, and from
1935 to 1937 he earned his living as a professional big-game
hunter, organizing big-game shoots to and tracking tigers for
Indian Princes."4
He was a guide in hunting not only to the princes and Maharajas of India
but also to their friends coming from America and elsewhere. So all his practical
and personal experiences are exposed and explained in dramatic manner
through the characters of the novel.
The episode of tiger hunting is correlated with the life style of the princes
of India. The life styles of the princes are innately connected to historical events.
The author's historical theme for 'The Princes' is also derived from his army
James Y. Dayananda, Manohar Malgonkar. (Boston : Twayne Publishers
1974), p.95.
4
Ibid., p.19.
25
experiences as illustrated in the chapter 'Patrol Report1 of the novel. He was in
the British Indian Army. James Y. Dayanand while writing about him says :
"When World War II started he (Malgonkar) was seconded to
the British Indian Army. He served for a time in the infantry, in
Counter Intelligence, and in the Army's General Staff and rose
to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. He stayed on in the Army
from 1942 to 1952. ..... During these years of service in the
army, Malgonkar traveled to Nepal, IndoChina, Malaya and
Western Europe."5
The extensive travel in foreign countries in addition to his war field
adventures and experiences had contributed to his calibre to write the historical
fiction - 'The Princes'.
The personal experiences of Malgonkar in the war field against the
Japanese during the Second World War in Burma are glaringly described in the
novel.
After returning from the war, Malgonkar started his literacy career as a
writer of history first. He wrote the two histories of Princely dynasties .... Kanhoji
Angrey in 1959 and Puars of Dewas Senior in 1963.
This is foremost and an
authentic source of his historical knowledge which enabled him to bring the
factual events into fictional events in 'The Princes'.
Both the aspects like
historical knowledge on one side and the close acquaintance with the princely
states on the other, paved a base for him to write his novel. A.N. Dwivedi rightly
observes :
5
Ibid. ,p. ?n
26
"The fact to be borne in mind is that he was a historian of the
Marathas even before he entered the domain of Indo-English
fiction. Some might take this as evidence of the paucity of his
imaginative and inventive powers but the truth remains that
he is a writer with a firm consciousness of the area of his
depiction."6 7
Malgonkar has written two histories - 'Kanhoji Angery’ and 'Puars of
Dewas Senior' by the time he started writing 'The Princes', to his credit and
became a historian first and thus attained the full knowledge of the location, the
period and events covered in the novel, without distracting from historical truth.
In the context of adopting historical events as raw-material to the theme
of events in fiction in allegorical form, Malgonkar, in an interview with Dayananda
states :
"To my mind, history and fiction have not only many elements
in common, history now forms the basis for most of my work
....I think the bonds of all fiction are these facts; and the facts
are fantastic in Indian history, as they are in any history.... 1,7
As a matter of fact the history writer is always binding with exactitude of
chronicles, dates and gazetteers of events and leaves rhetoric aesthetic sense
behind and makes the history dull; but Malgonkar being a both historian and
fiction writer made the novel magnificent and vivifying.
6
A.N. Dwivedi, Perspectives on Indian fiction in English. (New Delhi :
Abhinav Publishers, 1985), p.135,
7
James Y. Dayananda, Manohar Malgonkar. (Boston, Twayne Publishers,
1974), p.87.
27
The most important base of the theme for 'The Princes' has been derived
from the state of Dewas Senior, a small Maratha State of which Malgonkar was
quite familiar.
E.M. Forster an English novelist and a friend of Malgonkar, wrote a novel
called 'The Hill of Devi1 basing on the theme of the small Maratha State Dewas
Senior and it has almost the same theme of 'The Princes' of Malgonkar. In a
letter to Malgonkar, Forster says :
"I have just finished 'The Princes' and should like to thank for
it.... I happen to have been in touch with a small Maratha
State (Dewas Senior) during the years of its dissolution. The
parallels are numerous and heart rending...... 1,8
In fact, Forster also stayed in the same State of Dewas Senior and shed
a good deal of the rulers of this State in his novel 'The Hill of Devi'. Malgonkar
was also quite familiar with this state and treated the same characters in his
IMiMnces1. But Forster appreciated and gave a good credit to 'The Princes'.
Speaking about this letter of Forster at the time of his interview,
Malgonkar tells Dayananda :
“It is surprising that you should mention it, because I also know
the very same prince of the very same state very well. The
prince that E.M. Forster knew died soon after Forster's visit.
And his son, who became Maharaja after him, is a great friend
of mine, and I am friendly with him to day........ "9
G.S. Amur, Manohar Malgonkar. (New Delhi: Arnold Heinmann, 1973),
p.78.
9
James Y. Dayananda, Manohar Malgonkar. (Boston, Twayne Publishers
1974), p.94.
28
E.M. Forster, while he stayed in the State of Dewas Senior knew the
Maharaja Sir Tukoji Rao III, well, he mentioned in his novel, his contact with the
Maharaja Chatrapati Shahaji, son of Sir Tukoji Rao, became the next Maharaja
who was a great friend of Malgonkar and so, admittedly more historical facts
were brougttbut to "The Princes."
So affirmatively it can be stated that the theme of 'The Prince1 is based
on the small Maratha State Dewas Senior and its Maharaja and the prince really
existed, and it was merged into India after independence. The State of Dewas
Senior is given a fictitious name as State of Begwad in the novel.
"What Malgonkar has done is to take the authenticated facts
of the State of Dewas Senior, its Maharaja, and his son, and
camouflage them through the transforming power of novelistic
imagination. In his hands facts become fiction."10
But his fiction does not leave the historical facts in the cross-roads and
never distract the historical realities, but magnifies the fact hyperbolically.
So, Malgonkar transformed the real state of Dewas Senior into -
"The state of Begwad, H.H. Sir Tukoji Rao III, K.C.S.I, into H.H.
Sir Hiroji, the Fourth K.C.S.I., Maharaja of Begwad, and his
son Maharaja Vikramsinha Rao (Later called Chhatrapati
Shahaji) into Abhayraj Bedar III in the novel. The princes,
Chhatrapati Shahaji Maharaj and his fictitious counterpart in
the novel, became officers in the British Army during the World
Ward II.11,11
10
Ibid.,p.95.
11
M&, p.96.
29
Begwad was a pretty principality in Deccan Plateau ruled by Bedar
dynasty. The story of the events of this small State covers the period between
1938 to 1958, the recent past before and after independence.
The events of the novel that took place during the regime of Maharaja
Hiroji the Fourth of Begwad, of the clan of Bedar, are narrated.
Inspite of
abolition of the princely states, the Maharaja was under the firm belief that:
"There will always be a Begwad, and there will always be a
Bedar ruling .... so long as sun and the moon go round.11 (p. 14)
Abhayraj, the prince, has undergone thorough ceremonies of Bedar Royal
Traditions in his boyhood. His father advised him to become a fearless man.
"We are like lions .... Be a man my son" (p.33) he said.
Abhayraj made
friendship with Kanankchand an untouchable in his school days and helped him
in giving his school books and helped him for further education.
Those were the days of Gandhi's nation-wide agitation for self rule.
Maharaja of Begwad was taking all repressive measures against nationalists.
He banned the circulation of nationalist news papers,and also of the wearing of
white cap in Begwad state.
"He earnestly believed that education was at the back of most
of the political trouble that the British were encountering in
India." (p.66)
During his boyhood days Abhay knew about the totems and taboos of his
Bedar family, his father's affairs of keeping prostitutes and his mother's secluded
life in the palace devoid of his father's care and love.
30
During holidays, he spent time in touring and hunting along with his father
in Bulwara and got acquainted with the Bhils and also knew about a dam
proposed to be constructed by the Britishers in the valley where the Bhils lived
and it was undesirable to his father as well as Bhils, even though a
compensation was assured by the Britishers.
Abhayaraj completed his education and accompanied his father in tiger
hunt of which his father was said to be very efficient as stated by the Viceroy
himself;
"The Maharaja of Begwad is the only man in India who can
guarantee a tiger. His excellency said to one of his dinner
guests. "I mean really guarantee." (p. 116)
Meanwhile the World War II broke out in 1939. This gave a sign of
unmitigated relief to Maharaja, who faced betrayal by the treaties of British rule
and troubles by nationalist movement.
Abhayaraj went to Simla and
got
selected to the British Army. He met there an English girl Miss. Mannie Bradley
and loved her and had premarital sex affairs.
Abhay revealed his love for Minnie to his father who refused this love and
marriage affair with an alien girl.
His mother, however, consented to his
marriage with Minnie. Disgusted with her miserable married life, she told her
son about her dejected mood :
And sometimes, the desire to set fire to everything to get
away from it all, nearly drives her mad. She wants to break
through the bonds of convention and go away." (p.172)
31
Abhayraj went to war front. From Sathpura Regimental Centre he was
sent to Malaya and Burma to face the Japanese attack. On his abilities in the
war he was promoted as captain and was sent to Karachi. At this time, he came
to Begwad on leave and heard the bitter and sad news that his mother had left
Begwad for Jhansi and later arranged for his marriage with a girl belonging to
a royal family proposed by his father. He set up his family at New Delhi when
he was posted as staff officer there.
The novelist describes the condition of the country in the forties :
"The years of war were coming to a close, giving place to
those of political upheavals. Khaki and jungle green uniform
would soon put on dust heaps; the new garb of power was the
white cap and the toes knee length shirt of the Indian National
Congress. Nehru and the other leaders were released from
jails and took of transfer of power to India reached fever heat."
(pp.248-249)
During this crucial period, Abhay narrated the plight of his father thus :
"My father was worried about the prominence the British had
been giving to the Congress leaders." (p.253)
The princes were openly advocating to emerge as third force, to fight
against, the two opposing forces - the British and the National Congress.
Here in Begwad, a political unrest, was expected to grow.
"Particularly among the aborigines (Bhils) of Bulwara who had
begun to agitate against the prospect of the Bulwara Hydro­
electric dam being taken in hand by the Government as soon
as the war was over." (P.250)
32
On the other side Kanakchand Dhor nad become the president of
Begwad. Praja Mandal was making agitations.
Events on national scene were moving very fast at this stage and the
Britishers were almost yielding to the demands of National Congress. The
meeting of the “Chamber of Princes" on 17 Jan. 1946, convened, but it failed
because the princes were incapable of uniting. At last the Independence to India
was declared on 15th August, 1947.
After this historical announcement, Abhayaraj resigned his commission
and returned to Begwad.
He was a different man now.
He followed the
objectives of his father, moulded his behaviour as per traditional values of the
Bedar clan.
The memorandum of "The Instrument of Accession" which was given to
all the princes was not consented by the Maharaja of Begwad.
Kanakchand was campaigning in Begwad state instigating apathy in the
people against princely rule.
"To see the end of your rule here .... the rule of the Bedars.
This I have sworn." (p,290)
Kanakchand challenged Abhayraj who equally challenged .... I too have
an obligation. I would go to any length to honour it. I would die for it, but equally
so, I could kill, (p.290)
33
When the situation became tense to merge the State, Maharaja agreed
to hold elections and transfer of power to the elected representatives." (p.299)
But Kanakchand refused this proposal by saying :
"Elections ! You know you can rig the elections you and your
damned aborigines ... the Bhils." (p.301)
Maharaja was called on to Delhi for discussion, where the election
proposals by Maharaja were totally rejected and the merger of the State was
confirmed and the division of properties, jewels etc., was finalised.
Totally lost in frustration, the Maharaja returned to Begwad without
signing the merger document and the very next day he went to tiger hunt to kill
Kolaras giant tiger, and killed himself by tiger. It was a suicide as confirmed by
Abhayraj:
"....... the Maharaja of Begwad had committed suicide
because he made up his mind not to sign the document of
merger," (p.323)
Abhayraj ascended the gadi, after his father's death as Maharaja
Abhayraj III of Begwad and he was a "ruler of Begwad exactly for forty nine
days." (p.324)
Abhay's mother came to Begwad at this final stage and informed her son
that she had marriedn Abdullah Jan and left all her jewellery to him by saying :
"I am going as I came taking nothing from here; a woman, not
a Maharani."(p.338)
34
The new administration was ordered to be established finally in Begwad.
Kanakchand Dhor had become an education minister.
In the final scene of the story, Abhayaraj passed through the meeting
place where Kanakchand, the minister was addressing the audience, speaking
against Begwad princes and as to how he was flogged. Abhay replied from the
audience ;
"But, the folly was yours too, I yelled "you had cheated to win
the scholarship." (p.359).
In angry defiance, Kanakchand shouted at the audience :
"I challenge him (Abhay) to come here. I defy him .... (p.359)
..... It was the sacred oath of the Praja mandal .... we were
determined to wipe them out. This we had sworn this we have
fulfilled." (p,360).
The story of 'The Princes1 comes to a close after Abhay's proclamation
of “his decision to abdicate his title and renounce his privileges as an ex-Ruling
Prince," (p.360) and the Bulwara hydro-electric dam was inaugurated by the
President of India.
In the first chapter of 'The Prince1, the Maharaja says:
"He (Gandhi) was only thrown out of a railway carriage. My
grand father was certified mad by them.... " (p.18)
This is a reference to the incidence of Gandhi's being thrown out of a first
class railway carriage meant for the British officials, when he was travelling from
Durban to Pretroria in South Africa.
35
Abhayraj states as to how his father reacted against the nationalist
movement and nationalist papers :
"My father had banned all the nationalist papers such as 'The
Chronicle of Bombay1 and 'The Hindustan Times of Delhi1 and
had promulgated ordinances in the state to keep in step with
Viceroy's Ordinances legalising preventive detentions." (p.65)
The statement of Abhayraj on the ban of nationalist papers in the wake
of freedom struggle and agitation against British rule in India is quite relevant to
history. Many of the news papers, belonging to the same period, as referred to
in the novel, were actually banned by the alien government. This incident is
recorded in the history of India :
“On 23 April 1930, the Bengal Ordinance was promulgated
and the life of freedom fighters was made very hard .... Many
news papers and magazines stopped their publication ....
prisoners were starved and suffocated."12
So, Malgonkar's accuracy in mentioning about the historical incidents like
promulgation of preventive detention acts and the ban of news papers in the
novel are chronologically true.
Malgonkar is alive to the recent national events in India.
The Salt
Satyagraha event is mentioned in the novel. The prince narrates :
“Mahatma Gandhi is going to go on making salt, and he is not
going to pay any tax." (p.71)
12
V.D. Mahajan, India since 1526. (New Delhi : Chand & Co Ltd., 1993)
p.414.
36
This great event of independence movement called :
"Salt Campaign plan began on 12th March, 1930. The
essence of the Salt Campaign was to break the salt laws and
manufacture salt in violation of the salt laws and raid salt
depots. Gandhiji chose to begin the Salt Satyagraha."13
Salt Satyagraha was a great historic movement in the freedom struggle
and also it was called a great beginning of a great movement for a fight to finish.
It gave a lot of impetus and encouragement to freedom fighters all over the
country.
Chapter IX of the novel concerns itself with the treaty between the Bedar
of Begwad and the East India Company.
"We were one of the first among the Padmakoshal chieftains
to enter into a treaty with the Company." (p.113) The then
Governor General was Lord Wellesly.
This event of the novel is well resembled with the historic event occurred
during Maratha War - II (1802 to 1804). During this war all the Maratha States
made a confederation and the Peshwa was made its chief. In March, 1800,
Nana Fadnavees died. Some chieftains opposed the command of Peshwa and
fought against him. The Peshwa ran away to Bassein to get help from the
English. It was in those circumstances, the Treaty of Bassein was signed on
31st December, 1802 and it came into force from 1st Jan., 1803.
13
A.P. Srinivasa Moorthy, History of India's Freedom Movement. (New
Delhi: S. Chand & Co., 1987), p.107).
37
"Both the Peshwa and English agreed that the friends and
enemies 0f the one should be treated as the friends and
enemies of the other.1'14
Quite relevant to historical realities and incidences, Malgonkar gave
fictitious names to the historic nomenclature in the novel with an exactitude of
historic events.
The battle of Patalpat of the novel resembles to the second Maratha war
of the Indian History. The Bedar of Begwad is referred to peshwa of the Maratha
chief. Padmakoshal chieftains are referred to as Maratha chieftains and the
treaty of Patalpet is referred to the 'The Treaty of Bassein 1 1802. The then
governor general was Lord Wellesly only.
The outbreak of World War II gave relief to the princes.
The. hero
narrates :
"My father greeted its advent with signs of unmitigated relief...
for it rang the death knell of the scheme for the federation of
India under which the Princes were required to introduce
drastic political reforms within their States. Most princes had
regarded the federation as an imposition, a betrayal of their
treaties. The war had come to their rescue." (pp.132 & 133)
This reference in 'The Prince1 is quite relevant in the history of British
India. The princely states were subjected to many drastic reforms, treaties and
federation of all states.
14
V.D. Mahajan, India since 1526. (New Delhi: S. Chand Co., Ltd., 1993),
p.90.
38
"The Government of India Act, 1935 provided for an All India
Federation. The question of Indian Federation presented a
peculiar problem on an account of the disparity between the
Indian Sates and provinces of British India .... The Indian
States were under the complete control of the Political
Department of the Government of India.''15
Under this federation act all the princely states in India would be under
British control, like the other Indian provinces which were already under the
control of the British. This disheartened the Princely States thoroughly.
All these political treaties were kept aside due to war and it gave a relief
to the Princes.
Abhayraj joined the British Army and went to Burma War front to face the
Japanese attack during the World War II. Fie narrates his experience there :
"By the evening we were attacking the Japanese position
astride the road ... that night our first battle was already
behind us ...." (p.207)
This event is evident in World War II.
In fact -
"The British rulers were in the face of great threat from Japan.
For just about the same time (1942) Japan occupied both
Malaya and Singapore. Shorty afterawards Rangoon and a
great part of Burma also fell into their hands"16
These lines show that Malgonkar has maintained historical accuracy. At
this period of happening these events of great war, Malgonkar was in the war-
15
ibid., p.328.
16
A.P. Srinivasa Moorthy, History of India's Freedom Movement. (New
Delhi : S. Chand & Co., Ltd., 1987), p.131
39
field at Burma war front facing the Japanese attack; and so, his narration in this
reference is factual according to history.
In the Eighteenth chapter of 'The Prince', the failure of the Crips Mission
is narrated. Abhayraj says :
"All over the country there had been an acute disappointment
at the failure of the Cripps Mission, and here was my father
offering gifts to his gods." (p.232)
This event is also relevant in history. Facing serious problems of World
War and the unchanging attitude of Congress leaders "Churchill decided to make an offer of Dominian Status for the
people of India after the war ended. Sir Stafford Cripps came
to India on 22nd March, 1942 and stayed till 12th April, 1942."
....."The above proposals of Cripps Mission did not satisfy any
of the Indian Parties." ..... "After the failure of the Cripp's
Mission, India's struggle for Independance took a new turn and
thence began the final phase of movement known as Quite
India Movement."57
The Cripps proposal of giving Dominion States was rejected by
nationalists on the ground that the Indian Members of the Council would not
have full and unfettered freedom of decision.
The Maharaja of Begwad
eventhough it does not benefit him any way dislikes any compromise to take
place between nationalists and Britishers. This is another instance of historical
accuracy of Malgonkar.
There was a "current of fear that had run through the princely order at the
labour victory in England (p.254) and it was felt evident that the labour party
17
Ibid., p.131.
40
would support the cause of Congress party. This is narrated in chapter XXI of
the novel.
This event happened actually during the same period when the Labour
Party came to power in England in 1945. Attlee, the Prime Minister, decided to
transfer power to India in August, 1947.
The Maharaja of Begwad was called on to attend :
"The meeting of the chamber of Princes on 17th January,
1946" .... "It was a historic meeting if only for the sense of
security it projected among the princes." (p.254)
This event occurred in the history at the time o4 freedom movement. At
the failure of Cripps Mission, Indian States realised that their future was not safe.
The British Government was going to care for British India and not for them.
"It was in this atmosphere that the rulers of the Indian States
started devising plans to safeguard their own interests in the
future .... In his address to a meeting of the Chamber of
Princes held on 17th January, 1946, Lord Wavell assured the
Indian Princes that no changes in their relationship with the
Crown or the rights guaranteed to them by treaties."18
Malgonkar maintains the historical factuality here, after introducing in the
novel, the historic meeting of the Chamber of Princes held on 17th January 1946
for which the Maharaja of Begwad was also invited.
The Maharajasof the Princely States,/sthe Viceroy's assurance had
whipped up their enthusiasm for the third force.
18
V.D. Mahajan, India Since 1526. (New Delhi: S, Chand & Company Ltd.,
1993), p.559.
41
"We shall have a separate India, the India of the Princes' he
explained. 'Powerful, solid, deeply rooted in tradition, six
hundred independent states merging together to form a
princely India." (p.256)
This is referred to in context of the History when the British encouraged,
with their divide and rule policy, to emerge Muslim League in 1906 to act as an
opponent to congress; and likewise the viceroy encouraged the princes to
emerge as a third force.
Abhayraj of 'The Princes' states :
"The government came out with a formula for the acceptance
of the princes which was called 'The Instrument of Accession1.
Under it, the princes were required to hand-over to the
Government control only defence, foreign affairs and
communications within their states." (p.276)
This is referred to even in the books of history.
"The Congress was able to tackle the problem of the Indian
States... on the suggestion of Sardar Patel, the State Ministry
was set up and he himself became its head. An Instrument of
Accession was drawn up which was acceptable to the Princes.
They were required to hand-over to the Indian Union only the
subjects of defence, foreign relations and communications."19
This 'Instrument of Accession1 worked well on the rulers of Indian States,
and however, the Maharaja of Begwad also with a 'less dismal frame of mind
.....signed the Instrument.' (p.279) In this chapter 'The Instrument1 Malgonkar
has maintained the real happenings of history point to point.
.812 8.9.
t
19
V.D. Mahajan, India Since 1526. (New Delhi ; S. Chand & Co., Ltd.,
1993), pp.564-565.
42
Malgonkar has a very good skill in story telling on historical subjects as
he has been historian first and the novel writer next. Most of his novels are
based on historical themes and historical figures with fictional names, in one way
or other.
In 'The Princes'. Malgonkar introduces certain fictional characters like
Heroji, Abhayaraj and Kanakchand who have thdir historical prototypes. Heroji
and Abhayraj are not historical persons but creatures of imagination. Malgonkar
recreates a historical situation, places fictional characters in it and describes how
they behave.
Malgonkar takes historical persons namely, H.H. Sir Tukoji Rao III,
Maharaja of Dewas State Senior as Heroji, Maharaja of Begwad to be the
principal character and historical figure in his novel. Having written a history on
Puars of Dewas Senior, Malgonkar has been well acquainted with the historical
figures of the State and brought out these historical figures of Dewas State
Senior as a fictional character in 'The Princes'.
Sir Heroji, the Maharaja of Begwad though not a hero of the novel is
portrayed as the main character in the novel. Though given a fictional name ,
Tukoji Rao III is transformed into Heroji. Malgonkar does not tamper with the
historical facts in the novel. So, it is a clear evidence that the main character
Heroji, the Maharaja of Begwad is a real historical figure.
43
Prince Abhayraj, the hero of the novel, is a historical figure who is
introduced in the fictional guise by Malgonkar. Maharaj Vikram Sinha Rao later
called Chatrapati Shahaji is a son of Sir Tukoji Rao III, the Maharaja of Dewas
State Senior.
The same Vikram Sinha Rao-, a real historical figure is
transformed into Abhayraj Bedar III of Begwad. Abhayraj inspite of his garb of
modern culture feels a selfish sense at the imagination of their princely states
into the Union. He grows only to assert and idolize the princely instinct of his
father.
Kanakchand, a minor character of the novel is not a historical figure, but
a historical proto-type portrayed to resemble the then National leaders and
congress workers. He is depicted as a social worker hailing from a low caste but
climbed to a minister's post after independence. A number of instances of this
type existed during the independence movement and formation of a national
Government. Many of the poverty stricken persons coming from the lower strata
of the community were looked down and humiliated and denied of their human
equality by the then kings, feudals and landlords of the British India; and
Kanakchand is said to be one among them.
There are other characters like Minnie Bradley, Maharani, Abhay's
mother, Abdullah Jan and others who are not historical figures. But, they are
introduced for fictional recreation by Malgonkar.
Malgonkar has drawn the principal figures from his books of straight
history into his novel. In the words of Dayananda ;
44
"Malgonkar's association very early in his life with the princes
is clear from his statement and from two of his books of
'straight' history dealing with the life and times of the princes 'Puars of Dewas Senior1 and 'Chatrapatis of Kolhapur'."20
Amur also stresses that Malgonkar, who is a keen student of history,
narrates the factual and appropriate happenings of historical events, irrespective
of their sublimity or meanness, his imagination will be accurate :
"He is a keen student of history and his non-fictional work
includes at-ieast three books on Maratha history .... whether it
is the history of a Regiment, the record of a war, the chronicles
of Princes and kings or merely an account of smugglers,
Malgonkar's facts are accurate and verifiable."21
Finding a flaw in the novel Saros Cowasjee writes thus:
"Ajlaw in this novel is that 'Politics' impinges on 'literature1,
fidelity to history is achieved at the expense of the story itself,
and it is for this reason that the characters, including the
narrator whose autobiography this is supposed to be, remain
shadowy."22
But, M. Rajagopalachari does not agree with the remarks made by
cowasjee. He states :
"It is difficult to agree with Cowasjee, for in The Princes
'politics' does not 'impinge' but enrich 'literature' by giving it a
new twist. Cowasjee's views that the historical background in
the novel "obtrudes itself upon the development of the
narrative or the characters", is not altogether fair, for history
20
James Y. Dayananda, Manohar Malgonkar. (Boston : Twayne Publishers
1974), p.5.
21
Ibjd., p.15.
22
Saros Cowasjee, I_he Princes in Indian Fiction (Kakatheeya Journal of
English Studies, 2.1. Spring, 1977), p.62
45
and story never come in conflict in this novel."23
Malgonkar portrayed the recent past in Indian History - just before and
after independence, the feudal behaviour of the Maharaja and the young prince
of Begwad State in 'The Princes'. The story is supposed to be mainly of three
sided conflict among three opposing forces.
The Maharaja and the heir
apparent Abhayraj who stood as a first opposing force, fervently tried to retain
their princely rule and status in Begwad. The National Congress stood as
second opposing force to liberate India from the fetters of subjugation, fighting
with non-violent methods. The British colonial government stood as a third
opposing force to perpetuate its colonial rule in India after adopting the 'divide
and rule* policy.
While putting the historical theme on the background of the novel,
Malgonkar has brought about the events pertaining to the private life of
Maharaja and the prince of Begwad, their whims and fancies, their luxuries and
conjugal affairs, their heroic deeds and high spirits.
Pondering over the story of 'The Princes1 in its entirity and culmination,
it is made to conceive that Malgonkar has a sympathy and a soft corner for the
princes of Begwad. He has highlighted the pompous and dignified spirit of
Maharaja dealing with nationalists and Britishers at the chambers meeting and
at bringing down the nationalist flag etc.. The same attitude is reflected in Abhay
23
M. Rajagopalachari, The Novels of Manohar Malgonkar (New Delhi :
Prestige Books Publishers, 1989), pp.43-44.
46
also. Kanakchand, who played an important role in the nationalist movement is
hypothetically lowered.
Kanakchand was flogged twice - once at his innocent boyhood and at the
second time when he became a minister by Maharaj and his son respectively.
His only fault was to accept the prize money on the essay written by Abhayra]
with an ambition to further his education.
Abhay himself encouraged
Kanakchand, a poor downtrodden penniless cobbler's boy, to accept the
scholarship. This acceptance of the prize by a miserable innocent boy cannot
be attributed as fault. But Abhay's saying to Kanakchand at the end : "But, the
fault was yours too" did not seem to be justifiable on the part of the hero *
Kanakchand, though an education minister, was flogged in a public meeting.
So, at-least as a nationalist, Kanakchand could not get the sympathy of the
novelist.
Nevertheless, all the situations and events are rightly and honestly
putforth by the very artistic genius of Malgonkar.
Malgonkar's historical
consciousness achieves cohesion with the fictional art here and it achieves
some more perfection in his next novel 'A Bend in the Ganges'.
★ *