Mejobou of Raja Santosh Road Soumitra Das takes a peek behind the iron curtain and into the inner cesses of the stately homes that have survived Snipped from http://www.telegraphindia.com/1050507/asp/calcutta/story_4686167.asp Saturday, May 07, 2005 Renukadebi, who has written many a book in her time, says the family first resided at 3 Alipore Road, where the Bajorias live today. 21 Santosh Road was bought from a sahib and a tower clock was constructed in 1912. The lifestyle was very regal. The sentry stood guard round the clock. A bell would ring once whenever anybody passed by. Twice when anybody came home. Riding was their favourite pastime, she said. The viceroy would visit the house twice a year, when lavish parties were thrown. But the maharani was always in purdah, and the English ladies would go inside to meet her. All the food and drinks were home made. Yet the maharani would herself cook for the maharaja. He preferred her touch. No alcohol was ever served. The maharaja, a teetotaller, wouldn't even touch tonics. Then came the sunset law and the family fell on hard times. The maharaja died around 1935-36. Later we were compelled to leave the house, says Renukadebi. Alipore was the playground of royalty. As Karuna Devi of Burdwan had said, all aristocratic families lived in Alipore, the seat of the government at Belvedere to enable them to receive the Raj dignitaries. Burdwan, Cooch Behar, Santosh in Tangail and Mayurbhanj coexisted. ==================================== --- Harshawardhan_Bosham Nimkhedkar Nagpur, India