Year-long birth centenary celebrations of JC Wadiyar to begin on July 18

Mysuru: A year-long birth centenary celebration of the 25th and last king of princely Mysuru State Jayachamarajendra Wadiyar has been planned by the erstwhile royal family of Mysuru.

The birth centenary celebration will begin from July 18. Jayachamarajendra Wadiyar was born on July 18, 1919, and passed away on September 23, 1974.

It is gathered that the inauguration of the birth centenary celebration will be done by Governor Vajubai R Vala. The inaugural ceremony will be held at the main Durbar hall of the palace in the presence of close to 800 to 1000 dignitaries who are expected to attend from different parts of the country.

Speaking to presspersons with this regard Pramoda Devi Wadiyar said, “The year-long celebration will begin from the D-day. Former West Bengal Governor Gopalakrishna Gandhi grandson of Mahatma Gandhi will be delivering the keynote address. A symphony orchestra from the artists of the national centre for performing arts (NCPA) is organised on the same evening. It will be a fitting tribute to the late ruler who had supported western music during his reign.” said Pramoda who is also the daughter-in-law of the late king.

She further added that although President Ramnath Kovind was invited for the inaugural event on July 18, he would not be able to make it, but he would participate in one of the events during the year. Besides the Mysuru royal family and their relatives, members of royal families from Delhi, Mumbai and other parts of the country, political leaders and around a 1000 other guests are expected to participate in the event.

The royal family has also requested the postal department to issue a commemorative stamp on Jayachamarajendra Wadiyar, informed sources.

Jayachamarajendra Wadiyar was the twenty-fifth maharaja of the Kingdom of Mysore from 1940 to 1971, ruling from 1940 until the monarchy was abolished in 1950, continuing to hold the title of Maharaja until princely titles were abolished in 1971, and remaining head of the erstwhile royal family with the unofficial title of Maharaja thereafter through his death. He was a noted philosopher, musicologist, political thinker, and philanthropist.