Hi Thats very interesting. In 1970s, my grandparents were neighbours of Nirmala raje at Forjett road in Bombay. I too have heard stories about her. She had separated from her husband and lived mostly in Bombay and Poona. Can Farah throw some light as to where did Nirmalaraje live in Bombay around this time? I think the baroda family will be the only source of info on her. Due to family disputes, Akalkot family wants nothing to do with her. They even refuse to acknowledge her existence!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! --- Henry Soszynski <h.soszynski@uqconnect.net> wrote: > In 1970 I gave piano lessons for a few months to Her > Highness, Nirmala Raje > Bhonsle,a truly dignified and gracious woman, and a > Maharani in the fullest > sense of the term. I remember a memorable evening at > my place, when she > came to > meet an Englishman,who had decided to stay on in > India, after Independence. > His > name was Charles Grundy,and he was a Solicitor,a > senior partner in the > distinguished firm of solicitors, Little and > Company. When I told him that > I was > giving piano lessons to her Highness,the Rajmata of > Akalkot, he said that he'd > gone on tiger shoots with her late husband, the > Maharaja of Akalkot. When I > told > Her Higness that, she expressed a wish to meet him, > and I invited them both > over one evening. I sat across from them as they > reminisced about old times. > her Highness had also bagged a tiger. They are both > no more. But I realize how > fortunate I was to have met her. She was in her > sixties when she took piano > lessons with me,and I was in my twenties:-) She told > me that her grandmother, > the Maharani of baroda, and wife of the great Sayaji > Rao took some piano > lessons in Baroda.There was a concert grand piano at > Lakshmi Vilas,as there > were in other great palaces around India > -Jodhpur,Jaipur and Mysore,to name > only three where I personally saw three magnificent > concert grand pianos. > Where > can I find an old photograph of her Highness, > Nirmala Raje Bhonsle? > > Anyone have a photo, that can be sent to Farah. > > Cheers, > Henry > > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email > to INDIA-ROYALTY-request@rootsweb.com with the word > 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and > the body of the message > ____________________________________________________________________________________ Looking for last minute shopping deals? Find them fast with Yahoo! Search. http://tools.search.yahoo.com/newsearch/category.php?category=shopping