The India that was...cont

What a sight! The Delhi durbar

On to the durbar again.
..the native states...as the British referred to the princely states were supposed to attend, and each had its own campsite.
... strictly in the order of their status! A Rajput maharaja wd find it belittling..if he was placed beside some Raj of Eastern hilly states. Sleeping rooms. billiard and card rooms dining and bath tents. 12the Dec dawned bright and clear. India's new Emperor KIng George the Fifth and Empress Queen Mary, emerged from their tents in ermine and satin gowns with heavily bejewelled crowns perched on their heads. Drove to the site in a four horse drawn carriage escorted by scarlet coated guards.On to the dias where their gilt edged marble thrones awaited. A hundred and one gunsalute and The Royal Standard slithered up the flagpost and strains Of God Save the King ranted the air... The Durbar was open...
gun salutes... signifies your status. 1 measly salute..and its King wd be hounded by Govt Officers of all ranks..hi or lo!
The more the gun salutes..the lesser you r troubled..and if you have a 19 gun salute..you r left alone as you please.   no messengers or officials lesser than the Viceroy cd come to you, who himself had a 31 gun salute! Hyderabad and Mysore had the highest Gun salutes..for your info..Then came  Baroda.

The begum of Bhopal paying allegience