During the Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival (2006) I had the honor of sitting down with Maharaja Gaj Singh II of Jodhpur (India). It was after the screening of "The Maharaja of Jodhpur," a documentary based on his life. We talked about maintaining royal traditions, Oxford University and growing up too fast.

Dan Hudak: You recently celebrated [in 2002] your 50th anniversary as Maharaja.  At four years old, your father died and you were expected to take over.  Did you have the pressure of making a lot of decisions that were pertinent to the welfare of your people?

Maharaja: At that time, the council looked after my affairs.  As far as state affairs, that situation was already resolved in ’49 when my father signed over sovereign powers.  So mine was always a diplomatic position, and my mother and the council looked after my affairs, including my education.  But my main responsibilities became known to me during that period through conversations with my mother and grandmother, who always had a particular binding with the people because she was a local.  They also taught me my family’s history, and I learned that the responsibility of preserving my family’s legacy would not be easy.

DH: Was there ever any resistance or resentment on your part in being thrust into this position at such a young age?

Maharaja: Of course as a child, yes, sometimes I was made to be less of a child and had to act accordingly, especially when in the company of formal people.  So yes, I would’ve liked to have played football and run around with my friends more.  But otherwise, no.  By the time I got to England [for boarding school] I always knew I had to go back to my life in India.

DH: Admittedly, I didn’t think that you and I would have much in common, but there is one thing: Both of us studied at Oxford. And yet you let your daughter go to Cambridge!  What happened?

Maharaja: [Laughs]  Well, as you know it is getting more and more difficult to get into a good college, and she got a great offer from Cambridge, so she couldn’t turn it down. 

DH: Okay, then I guess I can forgive her.  I also admire how important family is to you.  How do you balance your political duties with making time for your family?  Is it possible to be equal to both, or do you just try to make the most of it?

Maharaja: I think life and all the changes that happen can make family time difficult, especially when I was away at boarding school when I was a child.  But I always came home for holidays, and always felt linked with my family, which always provided a certain stability.  We’d also go on holiday [vacation] together, like a safari in Egypt, and the whole experience in Trinidad & Tobago a few years ago was wonderful [the family lived there for two years].  There it was just the five of us [he and his wife have a son and daughter], including my mother, which was wonderful. 

DH: Are you worried about the longevity of the royal family traditions now that India is a Democratic Republic and your position, by law, no longer has the political power it once enjoyed?

Maharaja: The important thing is how much the individual can continue to derive a certain respect and admiration from the people, which comes from social interaction and being involved.  The one thing that has endured the transitions of late has been the clan system.  As far as the clan is concerned, I am the head of the clan, and that won’t change unless the clan decides to do so.  It was through the clans that we became the rulers of the area in the 1400s, and it was the clan that’s been recognized and has developed the traditions that have been passed on, traditions that my son is ready to take over when needed.

DH: How involved do you get in the “Bollywood” film industry?

Maharaja: We’ve had some shooting in Jodhpur; in fact, one film was just completed that had its entire shoot there, and there’s a Hollywood production in town right now. 

DH: Is this part of your effort to generate the economy?

Maharaja: Yes, absolutely. 

DH: How are you enjoying Miami?  I assume this isn’t your first trip to the states.

Maharaja: I used to come when I was in Trinidad.  I didn’t have enough time to get a real feel for it, but from what I can see it’s very spread out and very pretty.

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