Karnataka Lok Sabha Polls: Need Less Delhi-centric History, Raja Dharma Applies in Politics, BJP Pick 'Mysore Maharaja' Tells News18

From the heritage city of Mysore to Coorg, which is known as the Scotland of India, the Mysore-Kodagu Lok Sabha constituency has two distinct regions but is united by the river Cauvery. It is getting special attention this election due to a high-profile candidate in the fray.

Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar, the scion of the erstwhile Mysuru royal family, is the Bharatiya Janata Party’s nominee. Yaduveer was adopted by Pramoda Devi Wadiyar after the death of her husband Srikantadatta Narasimharaja Wodeyar, who was the royal scion’s great-uncle. He became the head of the family through an anointment ceremony in 2015 and has a degree from the University of Massachusetts.

Speaking exclusively to News18, the 32-year-old royal elaborated on his plans for the constituency, criticism in public life, and matters of history.

Why politics? And why now?

It’s been about a year in coming, but a process of the last nine years; obviously this career option came within the first two years of taking up the responsibility within the palace and we knew there was a space there for that career option. But I stayed away for a while because there were other commitments and other things we had to fulfil. But it seemed that the time was right, and the environment was right for me to take a plunge into it and I always wanted to serve society at a higher level. From a personal capacity we have been doing it within the institutions that were set up by my forefathers but now I am ready to take it up the public mantle with the mandate of the people of Mysore and Kodagu.

But it does come with its own set of challenges and criticism. While you are in the palace you are not criticised by people but as politicians it’s different.

The whole idea of Bharatiya philosophy is to leave out your own destiny. Even if you live that imperfectly it’s better than living another destiny perfectly. So, I certainly wanted to do it at some point in time but now I have a good grip on how to conduct the heritage that is relevant to the palace, I know I can take a much larger role in society. It’s good to have a change in politics. We all could do better in the way we conduct ourselves, the way we behave and further the political role into a more dignified sense and I think we should approach more professionally and certainly limit our criticisms to ideological aspects.

It’s a huge constituency, Mysore has its own aspirations while Kodagu has its own aspirations and challenges. What are you promising to your voters?

While Mysore and Kodagu are uniquely different in culture and people, there is an aligned aspiration in the fact that Mysore would like to be Mysore going forward and retain its identity in terms of its heritage. Kodagu would want to retain its nature and environment and remain Kodagu. That doesn’t mean they don’t need development; they need development that doesn’t harm the identity of either place. It comes in line with the tradition set up by the erstwhile rulers of Mysore. We have to protect the legacy and tradition we come from within our country. But bring development as well which melds the two together and bring the hybrid we need going forward

Ever since your ticket got announced, the Congress has termed it a King vs Common Man fight. How do you respond to this narrative?

They are justified given the perceptions of royalty and rajas, etc, perceived through society. But I don’t think they are very much true in India. Raja Dharma was very specific; your role was to serve society. And those principles can be taken forward in public roles today as well, it doesn’t limit itself for the king. Your primary role is to serve people, develop and bring up your constituency. People will judge based on our abilities and aptitude to do our job than narratives pushed as an agenda by others

What is your promise to the youngsters?

Mysore is famous for many educational institutions but after that, for jobs they have to go to other cosmopolitan cities, Bengaluru being one of them. Retaining that talent will be key. Mysore has significant industrial layouts; we have to bring them here and push. Bengaluru as an IT hub is over-saturated. Mysore can be a good supporting pillar.

I recollect reading that you strongly believe that there should be more in our books on the Mysore Kingdom and their contribution from KRS to HAL.

Not just my family, overall, in the state of Karnataka there have been tremendous dynasties: the Chalukyas, the Gangas, the Hoysalas, and the Vijayanagar empire called the Karnata Empire. All need to be given due recognition within history books. Primarily they have been protectors of Indian philosophy and tradition, and have been a bulwark against the invasions that the north has seen. In lieu of their contribution to southern literature and traditions that are there, the current state we have inherited is because of these people. Certainly, we need a less Delhi-centric history. I would also love to see more of our eastern histories, the Ahoms of Assam. All of this needs its recognition.