RAJPUT MAHARAJAS Conference

Asian Division of the Library of Congress
Asian Division Friends Society (ADFS)
Johns Hopkins University
School of Advanced International Studies

Present a Conference

"RAJPUT MAHARAJAS"

Friday October 17, 2008
9:00am-3:00pm
The Montpelier Room, 6th Floor, James Madison Building, Library of Congress

Accompanied by a Book Exhibit
9:00am-3:00pm
Asian Reading Room, LJ-150, Jefferson Building, Library of Congress

Organizer and Moderator:
Dr. Kenneth X. Robbins, Member of the Board of Directors, Asian Division Friends Society

Patron and Inaugurator of the Conference
His Highness Maharaja Gaj Singh II of Jodhpur

Book Exhibit Curator:
Dr. Allen Thrasher, Coordinator for the South Asia Team, Asian Division

Co-sponsors:
Rajput Association of North America (RANA)
Joyce and Kenneth X. Robbins
The Tata Group of Companies

Description:
Rajput maharajas have ruled hundreds of places throughout northern India, not just Rajasthan. The Rathor clan of Rajputs, headed by the Maharaja of Jodhpur, ruled states in Central India (Alirajpur, Jhabua, Jobat, Ratlam, Sailana, Sitamau), Eastern States Agency (Seraikela), Rajasthan (Bikaner, Jodhpur, Kishangarh, Kushalgarh), and Western India (Idar, Malpur). The speakers include the son and grand-daughter of the Maharaja of Dhrangadhra, who heads the Jhala clan of Rajputs. Jhalas ruled states in Western India (Chuda, Halvad- Dhrangadhra, Limbdi, Laktar, Limbdi, Sayla, Wadhwan,and Wankaner) and in Rajasthan (Jhalawar) and were also in Central India.

The program includes talks dealing with Maharaja Gaj Singh II and Maharaja Ganga Singh, two of the greatest Rajputs of the 20th century. The conference will reveal why the romantic image of the Rajputs seduced both the tourists of today and a British political agent almost 200 years ago. The current controversy over a Bollywood film about a Rajput princess will be addressed.

PROGRAM
9:00 a.m.–9:20 a.m. Registration

9:20 a.m.–10:00 a.m. Welcoming Remarks
Dr. Mi Chu, Acting Chief, Asian Division
Maharaja Gaj Singh II of Jodhpur
Dr. Kenneth X. Robbins, Member of the Board of Directors, Asian Division Friends Society
Janaksinh Jadeja, President, Rajput Association of North America (RANA)

10:00 a.m.–10:35 a.m.
“Maharaja Ganga Singh and the Making of Modern Bikaner and the World”
Kenneth X. Robbins
Member, Board of Directors, Asian Division Friends Society of the Library of Congress

10:35 a.m.–11:10 a.m.
“Names and Titles in Story and Image: Making Majesty and Divinity in the popular imagination”
Jayasinhji Jhala, Professor of Anthropology
Temple University

11:10 a.m.–11:45 a.m.
“The prince’s education: sovereignty, imperialism and nationalism in royal India”
Angma Jhala, Professor of History
Bentley College

11:45 a.m.–12:10 p.m. Questions and Answers

12:10 p.m.–1:10 p.m. Lunch Break

1:10 p.m.–1:45 p.m.
“Forts, Palaces and Museums: Tourism in Rajasthan”
Barbara Ramusack, Professor of History
University of Cincinnati

1:45 p.m.–2:20 p.m.
“Colonel Tod and Rajasthan”
John McLeod, Professor of History
University of Louisville

2:20 p.m.–2:55 p.m.
“The film Jodhaa Akbar and the real story of Jodha (Jodh Bai), the Mughal queen from Jodhpur”
Frances Taft
President, Rajasthan Studies Group

2:55 p.m.–3:15 p.m. Questions and Answers

3:15 p.m.–3:30 p.m. Conclusion and Closing Remarks

3:30 p.m. Tour of Garden & Cosmos: The Royal Paintings of Jodhpur, at the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, led by curator Debra Diamond
(1050 Independence Ave., SW, Washington, DC. Metro stop: Smithsonian on the Blue/Orange Line)