Spreading the royal light

Wed, May 7 01:05 AM

Like her name, she exudes light. Not literally, but The Palace School, a Montessori started by princess Diya Kumari in April 2001, is surely spreading the light of education.

The royal family of Jaipur has been relentless in their effort to provide quality educational facilities to the students of Jaipur. And next on Diya's anvil is a 13-acres school near the airport to be named after her father, Sawai Bhawani Singh.

If that isn't enough, an in-house event management firm - Durga Diya - with over 300 staffs, few hotels to be managed and three children are the other things that keep her busy. But when we meet the princess at her office in the premises of the old palace, that is well stocked with modern amenities, not a speck of tiredness could be noticed on her face.

Diya, an alumni of Modern School, Barakhamba and Maharani Gayatri Devi college, Jaipur, says, "Well, I'm not that important to be given titles. And frankly very few call me 'princess'.

" Her studies in decorative arts helps her manage the museums and galleries in the palace. Diya loves Indian traditional dressing, except when out on holidays where she prefers wearing western outfits.

Yoga and eating healthy is the lady's secret to a glowing demeanour. Descendants of Lord Rama, the erstwhile royal dynasty of Jaipur gets their name from kacchawas (kushawas) - derived from Lord Rama's son Kush.

She is also related to Jodha (the Rajput princess - now more famous after the Hrithik-Aishwarya starrer). So, how proud is Diya of Jodha? "Well, why only Jodha? There are Rajas like Sawai Jai Singh II, the great astronomer and astrologer, who designed the whole city of Jaipur," she replies, but acknowledges that Aishwarya has portrayed the role finely.

Diya's eldest son Padmanabh, 10, was adopted by the present Maharaja which had created a stir in the Rajput community. But Diya has no qualms.

"I didn't have a brother and all social responsibility needs a Maharaja. So the next best heir was Padmanabh.

But there is no special treatment for him. He's just like other two children, but only being made responsible so to take care of things later.

" Surely, her actions and endeavours can be held in high regards.

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