Choosing a ruler
A little over hundred years ago, when India was a colony of England, the princely state of Baroda, in India, was in the morning. The gaekwar, the ruler of the state, was dead and had left no heir to inherit the throne. He had daughters, but in India, girls could not rule. Find out how a ruler was chosen and if the choice was good.
Jamnabi, THE GAEKWAR’S WIDOW, was a wise woman. She went to British governor-general for advice. “YOUR EXCELLENCY,” she said after the greetings were over, “MAY I ASK WHAT YOUR PLANS ARE?”
The governor- general frowned in thought. He sighed and then he smiled. “MADAM,” he said, “my government’s plans are that you choose a new ruler for the throne.”
“But who, Your Excellency, do you recommend? My brother-in-law, the gaekwar’s younger brother? Or my husband’s uncle?”
“Neither madam,” answered the governor- general. “You choose a boy. A WISE WOMAN KNOWS HOW TO TEST A BOY. A MOTHER KNOWS HOW TO LOVE A BOY. YOU ARE BOTH A WISE WOMAN AND A MOTHER. Go in peace, madam, and pick the future gaekwar of Baroda.”
Four days later, TWO PALACE GUARDS RODE TO KAVLANA, a small village at the foot of the hills. The people lived in thatched huts and earned a living by growing rice and wheat. NOBODY WENT TO SCHOOL, FOR THERE WAS NO SCHOOL. THE CHILDREN GREW UP RUDE AND ILLITERATE.
The guards went to the oldest man of the village and delivered their message. “The Queen Jamnabi greets you all and order that all the boys in the village from twelve to fifteen years of age be sent to the palace the day after tomorrow. We shall take them with us.”
THE ORDER ELECTRIFIED THE VILLAGE. “Why were the boys called to the palace? What crime had the village done to have the boys taken for punishment? Would the boys ever return?” asks by the people.
The guards did not answer. They had strict orders from the queen not to tell why the boys were being taken to the palace.
In one of the smallest huts lived Gopalrao. He was twelve, tall, and thin, with bright intelligent eyes and a cheerful smile. He lived with his widowed mother and helped earn enough to buy rice and curry for a mother and a six children.
THE DAY THE PALACE GUARDS ARRIVED AT Kalvana, GOPALRAO ran home to his mother with excitement. “Mother!” he whispered in a frighten tone. “Mother, the queen’s policemen says that I am to go to the palace tomorrow. Mother, I’m afraid! What will they do to us there?”
His mother, too, was frightened! She hurried to the oldest man’s hut and learned what it was all about. For the old man had offered the guard some strong wine, and in an hour the news was out. FROM ONE OF THE BOYS THE FUTURE RULER OF BARODA WOULD BE CHOSEN. No one knew what the test was but the queen, and the queen herself was going to welcome the boys. WHOEVER SHE CHOSE WOULD BE TRAINED TO RULE THE KINGDOM.
The next day two carriages sent by the queen arrived to take the boys to the palace. THE TIME CAME FOR GOPALRAO TO LEAVE. His mother put her hands on his shoulders and looking into his eyes, she said tenderly, “MY SON, GO IN PEACE. YOU ARE A GOOD SON. A MOTHER COULD ASK FOR NONE BETTER. GO TO THE PALACE WITH MY BLESSING. BE KIND AND GENTLE. THINK BEFORE YOU ACT. FOLLOW OUR KIND HEART, DO NOT BE AFRAID, AND MAY THE GODS OF OUR FATHERS GO WITH YOU.”
The boy had never heard his mother talk so seriously before. He looked at her solemnly and kissed her hand. Then he walked to where the other boys were waiting with the palace guards. The boys got into the carriage and late that afternoon, they arrived at the palace.
Queen Jamnabi stood at the portals with a welcoming smile. “Come boys,” she said, “you must be tired. There is some food waiting for you.”
The boys came in shyly, the younger ones pushing the older boys ahead. They walked in, their bare feet sinking into the thick carpet. They followed the queen to the banquet hall and stopped at the door, amazed by what they saw. HUGE CHANDELIERS, EACH GLEAMING WITH HUNDREDS OF GLASS PRISM, HUNG FROM THE CEILING. The long dining table was loaded with silver platters of food, crystal glasses, gold spoons and forks, white napkins. The chairs with glass legs had velvet cushions.
Jamnabi took her seat at the end of the table. As if at a signal, the boys rushed to grab seats. Gopalrao found himself near the queen. Then the boys reached across each other, smelled the strange food first, and spat out what they didn’t like.
Gopalrao was just as ignorant as the other boys. But one swift glance had assured him that there was more than enough food- there was no need to grab. HE LOOKED AT THE QUEEN TO SEE IF SHE WAS GLAD THAT THE BOYS LIKED THE FOOD. Why, she was spreading a white square cloth on her lap! SHE WAS USING A LITTLE TOOL NEAR HER PLATE TO CUT THE MEAT AND PUT A PIECE IN HER MOUTH.
The boy thought it was a game. He would follow her, he thought. So he quietly picked up the square of cloth near his plate and spread it on his lap too. He held the metal tools near his plate the way she did and struggle to place a bit of meat into his mouth.
Jasmnabi’s eyes and ears missed nothing. Her eyes noted Gopalrao awkwardly trying to use a knife and a fork. Without appearing to watch him, she noticed his keen eyes and his quiet movements. BEFORE THE MEAL WAS OVER, SHE HAD CHOSEN THE FUTURE GAEKWAR OF BARODA. For the test the queen had devised was the meal. SHE KNEW THAT A TABLE OF FOOD WOULD BRING OUT THE BEST- AND THE WORST- IN A HUNGRY BOY.
Gopalrao was taken to the palace, where at twelve, he began to learn how to read and write. HIS TUTORS FOUND HIM EASY TO TEACH, FOR HE WAS INTELLIGENT AND CURIOS. HE NEVER FORGOT HIS MOTHER’S ADVISE TO HIM TO BE KIND AND GENTLE AND THINK CAREFULLY BEFORE ACTING. Jamnabi loved him like a son and taught him the art of ruling with both his head and his heart. In 1879, when he was 21, he was crowned gaekwar of Baroda. He took the name SAYAJI RAO II and ruled for 60 years. He gave the state an enviable reputation for progressive administration and educational advancement. When he died in 1939, he was one of the richest men on earth - personal wealth of the maharajah of Baroda had been calculated to be MORE THAN A BILLION DOLLARS - and one of the best loved rulers, for his heart, he was still Gopalrao, the village boy, thoughtful, obedient, and observant.
Jamnabi, THE GAEKWAR’S WIDOW, was a wise woman. She went to British governor-general for advice. “YOUR EXCELLENCY,” she said after the greetings were over, “MAY I ASK WHAT YOUR PLANS ARE?”
The governor- general frowned in thought. He sighed and then he smiled. “MADAM,” he said, “my government’s plans are that you choose a new ruler for the throne.”
“But who, Your Excellency, do you recommend? My brother-in-law, the gaekwar’s younger brother? Or my husband’s uncle?”
“Neither madam,” answered the governor- general. “You choose a boy. A WISE WOMAN KNOWS HOW TO TEST A BOY. A MOTHER KNOWS HOW TO LOVE A BOY. YOU ARE BOTH A WISE WOMAN AND A MOTHER. Go in peace, madam, and pick the future gaekwar of Baroda.”
Four days later, TWO PALACE GUARDS RODE TO KAVLANA, a small village at the foot of the hills. The people lived in thatched huts and earned a living by growing rice and wheat. NOBODY WENT TO SCHOOL, FOR THERE WAS NO SCHOOL. THE CHILDREN GREW UP RUDE AND ILLITERATE.
The guards went to the oldest man of the village and delivered their message. “The Queen Jamnabi greets you all and order that all the boys in the village from twelve to fifteen years of age be sent to the palace the day after tomorrow. We shall take them with us.”
THE ORDER ELECTRIFIED THE VILLAGE. “Why were the boys called to the palace? What crime had the village done to have the boys taken for punishment? Would the boys ever return?” asks by the people.
The guards did not answer. They had strict orders from the queen not to tell why the boys were being taken to the palace.
In one of the smallest huts lived Gopalrao. He was twelve, tall, and thin, with bright intelligent eyes and a cheerful smile. He lived with his widowed mother and helped earn enough to buy rice and curry for a mother and a six children.
THE DAY THE PALACE GUARDS ARRIVED AT Kalvana, GOPALRAO ran home to his mother with excitement. “Mother!” he whispered in a frighten tone. “Mother, the queen’s policemen says that I am to go to the palace tomorrow. Mother, I’m afraid! What will they do to us there?”
His mother, too, was frightened! She hurried to the oldest man’s hut and learned what it was all about. For the old man had offered the guard some strong wine, and in an hour the news was out. FROM ONE OF THE BOYS THE FUTURE RULER OF BARODA WOULD BE CHOSEN. No one knew what the test was but the queen, and the queen herself was going to welcome the boys. WHOEVER SHE CHOSE WOULD BE TRAINED TO RULE THE KINGDOM.
The next day two carriages sent by the queen arrived to take the boys to the palace. THE TIME CAME FOR GOPALRAO TO LEAVE. His mother put her hands on his shoulders and looking into his eyes, she said tenderly, “MY SON, GO IN PEACE. YOU ARE A GOOD SON. A MOTHER COULD ASK FOR NONE BETTER. GO TO THE PALACE WITH MY BLESSING. BE KIND AND GENTLE. THINK BEFORE YOU ACT. FOLLOW OUR KIND HEART, DO NOT BE AFRAID, AND MAY THE GODS OF OUR FATHERS GO WITH YOU.”
The boy had never heard his mother talk so seriously before. He looked at her solemnly and kissed her hand. Then he walked to where the other boys were waiting with the palace guards. The boys got into the carriage and late that afternoon, they arrived at the palace.
Queen Jamnabi stood at the portals with a welcoming smile. “Come boys,” she said, “you must be tired. There is some food waiting for you.”
The boys came in shyly, the younger ones pushing the older boys ahead. They walked in, their bare feet sinking into the thick carpet. They followed the queen to the banquet hall and stopped at the door, amazed by what they saw. HUGE CHANDELIERS, EACH GLEAMING WITH HUNDREDS OF GLASS PRISM, HUNG FROM THE CEILING. The long dining table was loaded with silver platters of food, crystal glasses, gold spoons and forks, white napkins. The chairs with glass legs had velvet cushions.
Jamnabi took her seat at the end of the table. As if at a signal, the boys rushed to grab seats. Gopalrao found himself near the queen. Then the boys reached across each other, smelled the strange food first, and spat out what they didn’t like.
Gopalrao was just as ignorant as the other boys. But one swift glance had assured him that there was more than enough food- there was no need to grab. HE LOOKED AT THE QUEEN TO SEE IF SHE WAS GLAD THAT THE BOYS LIKED THE FOOD. Why, she was spreading a white square cloth on her lap! SHE WAS USING A LITTLE TOOL NEAR HER PLATE TO CUT THE MEAT AND PUT A PIECE IN HER MOUTH.
The boy thought it was a game. He would follow her, he thought. So he quietly picked up the square of cloth near his plate and spread it on his lap too. He held the metal tools near his plate the way she did and struggle to place a bit of meat into his mouth.
Jasmnabi’s eyes and ears missed nothing. Her eyes noted Gopalrao awkwardly trying to use a knife and a fork. Without appearing to watch him, she noticed his keen eyes and his quiet movements. BEFORE THE MEAL WAS OVER, SHE HAD CHOSEN THE FUTURE GAEKWAR OF BARODA. For the test the queen had devised was the meal. SHE KNEW THAT A TABLE OF FOOD WOULD BRING OUT THE BEST- AND THE WORST- IN A HUNGRY BOY.
Gopalrao was taken to the palace, where at twelve, he began to learn how to read and write. HIS TUTORS FOUND HIM EASY TO TEACH, FOR HE WAS INTELLIGENT AND CURIOS. HE NEVER FORGOT HIS MOTHER’S ADVISE TO HIM TO BE KIND AND GENTLE AND THINK CAREFULLY BEFORE ACTING. Jamnabi loved him like a son and taught him the art of ruling with both his head and his heart. In 1879, when he was 21, he was crowned gaekwar of Baroda. He took the name SAYAJI RAO II and ruled for 60 years. He gave the state an enviable reputation for progressive administration and educational advancement. When he died in 1939, he was one of the richest men on earth - personal wealth of the maharajah of Baroda had been calculated to be MORE THAN A BILLION DOLLARS - and one of the best loved rulers, for his heart, he was still Gopalrao, the village boy, thoughtful, obedient, and observant.
