Law Kumar Mishra
On Tuesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Jam Saheb Shatru Shailya Sinh ji, the last ruler who could enjoy privy purse and princely privileges, at Jamnagar.
I was privileged to have more than four hours one-to-one meeting in his Palace at Jamnagar in the late 80s, when I went to invite him for the Times of India public speaking contest as Chief Guest. His ADC had given an appointment for 10 minutes only, but the meeting went over for four hours.
He has interest in environmental conservation and wildlife; had a big sanctuary close to the Palace. As Prime Minister, Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru, once stayed in the Palace.
Then comparatively younger, Jam Saheb was a perfect host and our meeting was extended with fresh rounds of tea and snacks. I started the conversation by showing interest in his zoo and talked of the upcoming Marine National Park on Jamnagar-Navanagar coast.
His long-time fiancée, younger sister of the then international fame classical danseuse, joined us and the time for dinner reached. When I told His Highness, I will miss my train, he said, “You stay here, we will drop you by our car to Rajkot”.
Jam Saheb put me in Circuit House, once his property, much to the surprise of the manager, who said, “Jam Saheb never comes here and that too to drop a guest, you are lucky.” As a gift, Jam Saheb handed over two books on Cricket and Navanagar state written in 1912.
He attended the Times of India event, enjoyed it and gave away the prizes. We recall the humble, Jam Saheb, first class international cricketer. The Ranji trophy is instituted in the memory of his Father. Jam Saheb recalled the last evening of Ranjeet Sinh ji, “Generally, he used to say good night before going to bed, but on that night he said “good bye”.
His cousin was member of Lok Sabha and his nephew, Ajay Jadeja, Indian cricket team captain in the 90s.
(The author is a senior journalist and has worked for The Times of India in Gujarat)
