Are we paying for the Prince of Arcots' luxaries ?
While the commies are active and busy dethroning Nepals' monarch they are busy here in TAmil nadu enjoying the parties of the only known recogniseable H H Nawab of Arcot. What can we say it speaks to itself in volumes and when the exhibition on Aurangeb was vandaliswed no voices rose neither diod the candles nor did the human rights or atleast the freedom of expression come in to play. All that mattered was the wine and the delicacies served by the Nawab and his hospitality perhaps the votebank to some extent. And yet the Nawab claims he is not interested in politics,......
Part III. Article 18.
Abolition of titles.-
(1) No title, not being a military or academic distinction, shall be conferred by the State.
[Constitution of India] but still the GOI made an amendment to honour the pledge made by the Queen of whom england, this was finally achieved by an amendment to the Constitution at the end of 1971. So is there equality in India atleast the Congress which made this amendment need to clarify it to us the ignorants as to why we should be paying through our pockets for the maintainance of filthy palaces and his family and staff of 600.
And look at all the links and you find one name in common Mr N Ram presiding over this function or that function or pouring praise on the "nawab". So what else do we need ?
Read the following of the Nawab I didn't write, but rather all from his friends in the press. Links given .......
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Despite a history rich in heritage (the family claims descent from the Caliph Umar, second successor of the Prophet Muhammad) Asif Ali says he and his brother have always been free to do as they please. However, he plays the part of diwan to his father, taking care of his official affairs. The Prince of Arcot is the only royal in India whose title is recognised by the President even today, says Asif Ali. His main duties are administering his ancestral endowments. This includes the Wallajah Mosque in Chennai and several madarssas in Tamil Nadu to which they contribute money. Asif Ali says, ‘‘We have several shops and property that are a source of income.’’ He says they also receive a privy purse from the Central Government. His father, the prince, is given the status of a State Cabinet Minister
http://www.indiavarta.com/m2c/royal.asp
The historic institution of His Highness, The Prince of Arcot has been in existence since 1867 A.D.
After the abolition of the Nawabship of Carnatic in 1855 A.D., the Government took over the original Chepauk Palace, known as Kals Mahal, which stood on 121 acres of land situated at Marina, which now houses Senate House and Public Works Department offices.
As per a Government Order (No: 113, dated 28-03-1870), the Royapettah Police Court was purchased for converting it into the official residence of the Prince of Arcot and his successors in title. This building, with its stately facade, grand Durbar hall and Banquet hall, was built in 1798, used as Royapettah Police Court and finally converted into a palace, fit for the residence of the Prince.
Under further orders, the building was named Amir Mahal and the Government made an allotment in their budget for its upkeep and annual repair works. In 1940, the Government of Madras, in consultation with the Prince of Arcot transferred the management of Amir Mahal from the charge of the Madras Government to the Central Government that is now looking after its maintenance, annual repairs, electrical installation and furniture establishment through the Central Public Works Department (CPWD).
The present Prince of Arcot, who is the eighth in accession, continues to live in his ancestral 's historic and official residence - Amir Mahal, along with his family, staff and servants and their families, who total nearly 600 in number.http://www.chennaibest.com/discoverchennai/sightseeing/history/amirmahal.asp
CHENNAI, AUG. 18. The mother of the Prince of Arcot, Nawab Jeelani Begum Saheba, and the Editor-in-Chief, The Hindu and group publications, N. Ram, today launched a website on the Nawabs of the Carnatic and the Princes of Arcot.
The historical website (www.princeofarcot.com) contains details of the Nawabs of the Carnatic from 1690 to 1855 and the subsequent Princes of Arcot since 1867 to the present day.
http://www.hinduonnet.com/2004/08/19/stories/2004081908611200.htm
The direct descendent of the erstwhile rulers of Carnatic from 1690 to 1855 and subsequent Princes of Arcot since 1867 to the present day, Nawab Ali is the only royalty in India that’s being recognized by the government that pays for his upkeep and maintenance.
Born in the Royal House of Arcot, on the 9th August, 1951, Nawab Mohammed Abdul Ali is the eldest son of the Nawab Ghulam Mohammed Abdul Khader, the late Prince of Arcot and lives in the historic palace of his ancestors, 'Amir Mahal', in Royapettah in the city of Chennai (Madras), India.
The family traces its lineage from the second Caliph of Islam, Hazrath Omar Bin-Khattab. Nawab Mohammed Abdul Ali succeeded his later father, and was recognized by His Excellency the President of India, as "HIS HIGHNESS THE PRINCE OF ARCOT".
IN the heart of Chennai is a mahal which is home to a princely family that traces its lineage from the Second Caliph of Islam, Hazrath Omar Bin-Khattab. Not many residents or visitors to the city, as they hurry through the crowded streets of Royapettah, would be aware that beyond the high crimson walls that enclose the wrought iron gates, lie centuries of history. Enter them and you pass through a driveway, flanked by sheds and outhouses, to a huge building in Indo-Saracenic style.
This is Amir Mahal, the 14-acre residence of His Highness Nawab Mohammed Abdul Ali Azim Jah, the eighth Prince of Arcot. More than 300 years ago, his ancestor Zulfikar Ali Khan was summoned from Mecca by Emperor Aurangazeb in order to fight against the Marathas. In the 17th Century when the Marathas were holding sway in the Southern Carnatic from their stronghold at Gingee, Zulfikar Ali Khan came down and inflicted a crushing defeat on the ruler Rajaram.
The delighted Mughal emperor made him the Nawab of the Carnatic under the suzerainty of the Nizam of Hyderabad and thus were sown the beginnings of the House of Arcot. Later holders of the title identified closely with their area of domicile. The cordial interaction between the Nawabs of Arcot and the Hindu inhabitants of the Tamil country generated a climate of mutual tolerance and secularism that is proudly being carried on to this day.
His Highness the Prince of Arcot is ranked on par with the Cabinet ministers of the State in the Warrant of Precedence, the Courtesy ranks accorded to officials and non-officials.
The Prince is founder-secretary general of "Harmony India" a registered association formed in 1990 to promote communal amity and national integration. Mr. N. Ram, Editor-in-Chief of The Hindu, is the president while the other 32 members are drawn from different communities.
The 70-room Amir Mahal is home to 600 people all the govt expense.
http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/mag/2004/02/01/stories/2004020100120200.htm
Haj refund
By Our Special Correspondent
CHENNAI March 9. The Tamil Nadu State Haj Committee today said those who undertook the pilgrimage this year need not contact it for now, on refunds.
The committee said the pilgrims who were accommodated in Arcot Rubat were entitled to a higher refund, being the excess rent paid by the Consulate-General of India over and above 750 Saudi Riyals, for which the Rubat was eligible. But the Muthavalli, Prince of Arcot, agreed to refund only 500 Saudi Riyals per pilgrim. The refund is still awaited from the Consulate-General and is expected through the Central Haj Committee, which has not received the fund. The pilgrims accommodated in Arcot Rubat would be informed separately after receipt of funds from the Central Committee towards refund, says an official release here.
http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/2004/03/10/stories/2004031006160400.htm
The High Court of Madras, in a judgement in O.S.A. NO. 103/1913, held that the Wakf was created not by a private person, but a sovereign. When in 1913 a scheme suit was filed at Tiruchirapalli in respect of the Endowments, the then Agent, Moulvi Mohammed Abdur Rahman Sahib 'SHATIR' with the Fatwa of prominent Muslim Ulama issued on 15-91921, was able to persuade the Government to enact the 'Prince of Arcot Endowments Act' and the private wakf was converted into a public wakf with the consent of the then Prince of Arcot. The Bill was piloted in the Legislative Council, Madras, by the then Law Member, Sir C.P. Ramasamy Aiyar with the main object of preserving the institution of the Prince of Arcot and preventing any move to remove the Prince of Arcot from the management of public charitable and religious institutions. The Act under Sec. 5 created a scheme for Trichy properties and the Act barred future invocation of reliefs under Sec.92(i) CPC, or reliefs specified in the Religious Endowments Act XX of 1863 in respect of religious and charitable trusts. This Act still continues in force for the governance and administration even today as unequivocally decided by the Bench of the Madras High Court in W.A.2204/1987.
Mr. U. Mohamed Khalilullah, a leading chartered accountant, is the present agent to manage the Prince of Arcot Endowments at Chennai and Trichy and other places outside Trichy district. His appointment is approved by the Tamil Nadu Government.
http://www.princeofarcot.org/present1.htm
Some of the rulers listed here were granted increased gun salutes after the independence. The Maharana of Udaipur was raised to first place in the Order of Precedence, displacing the Nizam of Hyderabad and Berar, and all 9-gun states were permitted the use of the style of Highness. However, it has not been possible to obtain complete details for all the rulers from sources available in England. Arcot appears at the head of the list since the Prince of Arcot is the only prince officially recognised in India. |
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