Election Highway In Vadodara | Will Congress Be Able To Challenge BJP In Its Stronghold Gujarat?

Maharani’s of Baroda. Let’s also give you a quick walkthrough through that royal palace, which, let me tell you, is four times the size of Buckingham Palace and is also the largest private residence in the world. Four times the size of Buckingham Palace, this is the largest private residence in the world. Welcome to the Laxmi Vilas Palace in Vadodara. It is owned by the Gayakwads, the rulers of the princely state of Baroda. The royal palace is now led by His Royal Highness Samarjit Singh Gayakwad and his wife Maharani Radhika Raje Gayakwad. Often compared to Maharani Gayatri Devi of Jaipur, Radhika Rajaga Akwad is toasted as a beautiful and progressive Maharani of this era. She shares her understanding of princely India in modern times. Princely India in today’s time is as relevant as you choose to make it. I think the titles are redundant, as we all know. But there is still an affection that the people hold for the family, for the members of the family and for the past, the present and for the, you know, my the future. If you see my daughters are receiving so much love and support for their initiatives. My daughters only 17 older one and her project is people are supporting from around the world and it comes because of the legacy because there is a trust you know that is so closely let’s go join with the family people have that the ability to support lenient trust the family because they know that there will be no ulterior motive. We are not going to be fly by at night operators, so so that’s how you it is relevant today, as relevant as you make yourself. Perhaps Raje’s own beauty is a reflection of the Lakshmi Vilas Palace, one that she owns. Spread across 500 acres, it has over 170 rooms. Built in 1890 by Maharaja Sayajirao Gaikwad 3, the Lakshmi Vilas showcases the Indo Sarasenic Revival architecture style. The facades of the palace are dotted with features such as small domed chhatris, cusped arched openings and Haruka windows. Back in the day, the Royals of Baroda ensured that the palace has every luxury you can think of. At the time of construction, it was equipped with the most modern technology available back then, such as wooden elevators. The tropical trees and water fountains still provide relief to the scotching Indian afternoons. The royal element is further enhanced with sculptures, Raj Mata Shubhangi Raja Gaikwad tells us more. It has been a very iconic building and considering that it is now over 100 and almost 30 years, I think around that time, because it was completed in 1889, it was a very modern building for its time in those days and I think Maratha, Saiji, Rao, he built it. He was living in an older palace in the middle of the city and then he was building this. So he wanted to get sort of the best, the techniques of building and the best engineering feats which the Britishers had at that time. And so he had an English architect. But the brief was always that it has to be an the IT has to be Indianised in some way. It shouldn’t be look like a building in England or something like that. Even though the architects were from British Architects, so it was very Indianised. Interestingly, the Rajgharana of Baroda is also known for its women empowerment, an issue that also finds resonance with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a fellow Gujarati and an untiring advocate of Nari Shakti. The royal women from the Rajgharana of Baroda have always been the face of princely India, taking their beauty and voice beyond just looks only because they have always adopted campaigns and issues in the interest of women. During the reign of the Gaikwads, a lot of importance was given to education and empowerment of women which was not there earlier. Lot of institutions were started so that women could get educated and even have vocational training etc. And of course it was first started that the Maharani should get educated before anyone else. So they were also educated. So Maharani Chimna Bhai for her time was one of the good educated women. And to think that in 1934 she even came out with a book. She authored a book on the status of women in India to come out with a book like that because she travelled extensively with her husband all over the world. She had seen women in the Far East, also seen the western women, how they live and the condition of women in India. Baroda was the first state where the parda was removed. So in in our country. So there were a lot of pioneering work done here. Raj Mata’s daughter-in-law sheds light on how Nari Shakti is in fact embedded in the DNA of Gujarat. Baroda has always had a history of very strong women coming down from the from the Maharani who adopted Jasarirao against all odds. So and I’ve seen that my grandmother in law was Regent of the state of Baroda. My mother-in-law is extremely inspiring and visionary and it I draw inspiration from that because I don’t see women always in high positions holding agency. And that cuts across classes, it cuts across society, it cuts across countries. So I’m feeling blessed that I’m in a position that women are already empowered. So I was given this platform that I could, you know, follow and be authentic to what I really wanted to do. And also the fact, Akansha, that I have two daughters, You know, ours is a patriarchal family. Today I have two daughters. And it is a conscious decision that we have them because we realize that there is so much pressure in in households like the ours to produce a son because it is always the male heir. The Baroda dynasty is historically known for progressive women, one who stood up for themselves. But this royal family has also redefined regality in modern India with video journalists Rajesh Bharadwaj and Vasanth in Vadodara, Akanshas Swaroop, CNN News 18. Interestingly, when you talk about the Royals of Gaikwad, the gaikwads, the Royals of Baroda, their contribution in fact goes beyond just culture and arts. They have not just endorsed education but also had a very crucial role to play in the politics of Gujarat. Which is why I leave you with what Raj Mata Shubangni Raje Gaikwad had to say with regards to the comments that have been just passed by Rahul Gandhi of the Congress Party where he attacked the Maharajas of the country saying that it was only his grand old party that had fought for freedom and for democracy in the country. Otherwise, the Maharajas back then were in fact busy giving away land to the British. Shabangi Raje Daiquad has in fact lashed out at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for his comments. Let’s listen in to what she had to say in this exclusive. Meanwhile, I take your leave from Election highway as I now proceed to the national capital. Thank you so much for watching Election Highway on CNN News 80. The election season is on. Flippant remarks are being passed by certain leading politicians. I must say. Case in point is Mr. Rahul Gandhi of the Congress party very flippantly said that it was their party, the Grand Old Party, which fought for democracy, for the rights of people because the Maharajas back then in India were busy giving away land to the British. How do you react to, you know, callous remarks like this? I think it’s very sad and it’s very unfortunate that this year when we are celebrating the Amrit Motsava of our independence, an independence that was hard won from the British in which everybody contributed, everybody of every part of society contributed to it in some way or the other. I don’t think any party can claim for it can take credit for it. Its not the party, its the people of India who who suffered, who fought for it, who supported whatever they felt and did. And also they have to realize that over a 1/3 of India was occupied by the ruling families. If they wanted to be 500 plus rulers were in India. If they wanted to be difficult, they could have been very to accept just as one state of Hyderabad who was not agreeable to join with India. They wanted to be a mini Pakistan there and one Nawab Saib of Junagadh who left for Pakistan but he didn’t take Aaj guna siddha Chuka saja ho chuki is this way new normal resolve country Jem portal Banaya opposition Kisari party is Rahul Gandhi Congress sabya kehte Ki Modi match fixing CBI or CBI.