Ranji by Alan Ross

Author:Alan Ross [Alan Ross]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780571298211
Publisher: Faber & Faber
Published: 2012-07-14T16:00:00+00:00

PART TWO

The Jam Saheb

SIXTEEN

Coming into his Own

Nobody is forgotten sooner than a famous cricketer, Ranji once observed drily to Charles Fry. It happens not to be true in his case, but from the moment of his succession as Jam Saheb of Nawanagar Ranji did his utmost to bury his fame as a cricketer. It stood, he felt, in the way of his being taken seriously. While other leading men of affairs, when they met him, always wanted to talk cricket, Ranji insisted on talking tariffs.

He was installed at Jamnagar on 10 March 1907, an event the timing of which had been set by the astrologers, Pandit Hareshwar chief among them.

Ranji arrived in a special train from Porbander, accompanied by Fitzgerald. The Rana of Porbander had given a farewell party for him the night before and the Nawab of Junagadh had provided a luxurious saloon. The train steamed in to Jamnagar at exactly half-past six, but it was seven o’clock before the committee of joshis decided that it was an auspicious moment for Ranji to emerge. Before he did so, however, high-born Hindu maidens, according to custom, entered the carriage to perform the ceremony of happy augury and welcome.

When Ranji, in silk Durbar dress, jewelled sword belt and thick rope of pearls, finally stepped out, it was to receive the Dewan, Mirwanji, and a line of waiting dignitaries. His elder brother, Devisinhji, was present to witness his frequent garlanding and opposite the station entrance the Jamnagar troops, forming three sides of a square, presented arms. Along the fourth side the elephants flicked their tails under the brilliant carapaces of their howdahs.

The band struck up, and Ranji, advancing to his carriage over a carpet of strewn marigolds and hibiscus, posed for the first of his many photographs as ruler.

The route to the summer palace, chosen after much pondering by the joshis, was lined with cheering crowds. Banners and flags fluttered from buildings festooned with shields and arches. Flowers were showered from balconies.

Such was the poverty of the State that almost everything for the celebrations had to be borrowed – carriages, tables, beds, tents, cutlery. Because of the urgency of the preparations – the astrologers had warned, according to the Hindu sashtras, against the days between 11 March and 11 May – invitations had to be sent out in a hurry.

Nevertheless, soon after Ranji, having halted to offer prayers at the various temples, had reached his palace, the special trains began to steam in. Among the first batch of arrivals were his old ally Colonel His Highness Maharajah Sir Pratab Singh of Idar, the Maharajahs of Alwar, Jodhpur, Porbander, and Junagadh and the Kumar Manchir Kachhar of Jasdan.

The Nawab of Junagadh provided Ranji with a large staff of Arab guards for his personal safety and his own servants supervised the food. Among the presents pouring in from distant rulers was a horse and sword presented by the Maharao Saheb of Cutch, most senior of all the Rajput Jadeja chiefs.

The Masaheb, Ranji’s mother, had already arrived with other members of the family.

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