For generations of Indian royals of the princely states of India because of their close association with the status conscious British officers, pomp and luxury mattered more than anything else. However, they, as rulers of the state, never shied away from their duty to keep their subjects of all walks of life cheerful. For example the people under the princely state of Baroda, Mysore, Indoor, etc., were quite happy.
With the advent of motor vehicles. rich maharajahs evinced keen interest in flashy American and British cars. When Rolls Royce opened their company in the early 1900s (1906) initially their sale was poor because of high prices. However impressed by their stylish look, classic engine, custom made interiors, etc., Indian rules took special interest in RR cars of various models. Rolls-Royce was the marque of choice. RR company's sluggish market got a boost because of Indian Maharajahs and others like the Hyderabad Nizam, who, in the 1930s, was the richest man in the world. The company to please their clients commissioned coach-built bodies to suit a variety of functions, from the formal motorcade to the tiger hunt with the British Bobs in the dense jungles of India.
One of the most famous stories related to Rolls Royce cars and rich Indian rulers was about the Maharajah is Sawai Jai Singh of Alwar, Princely state, Rajasthan and his vigilante justice against the RR company. Reason: The RR company's salesman in the London Showroom in 1920) mistaking the ruler for a poor fellow from the ghetto did not treat him well. The rich Indian ruler never wore the royal flashy regalia. Furious and feeling slighted the ruler silently took revenge on RR company by buying six RR cars. Back home in India he turned them into municipal garbage vehicles.
This story about the purported disparaging incident in London is very much similar to the one about the Nizam who was said to have experienced ill-treatment at the RR showroom. Some sources are quick to point out that car with a broom is not RR. This kind of story needs authenticity and verification.
Points to ponder: The reign of the ruler Sawai Jai Singh II of Alwar, Rajasthan (Nov. 1688 to Sept. 1743) ended long before the appearance of motorized vehicles on the streets of western nations (production began in 1885 under Carl Benz of Germany). The famous Rolls Royce Co began operations only in 1906 with better engines and stylish look, apparently after Maharajah's life time. What was the reason for the brooms fixed close to the wheels of RR, The possible explanation was the brooms were jerrybuilt to prevent damages to the wheels being caused by sharp objects or small pebbles or cobbles on the streets particularly in the country sides. The roads in the interior places in India were dirt roads.
Any way, this story - may be a figment of somebody's imagination brings to my mind of Mahatma Gandhi's advice on the treatment of customers by the business people and other quote.
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| M.K. Gandhi's quote on customer. rare-gallery.com |
Above quote: ''A customer is the most important visitor on our premises, he is not dependent on us. We are dependent on him''
"It has always been a mystery to me how men can feel themselves honored by the humiliation of their fellow beings ” – Mahatma Gandhi
