Chapter XV: Later Years

My dear Jit has begun his work well and is doing his best to make the State prosperous. His love for his people is deep and he takes great interest in administration. He works hard and sometimes sits at his table and writes till midnight. He looks into every detail himself, and I often wonder how he can do so much: a boy who was never brought up as the heir. How I long for my dear husband to come and see his Jit working for the good of the State. He built a hospital in Lord Carmichael’s name, and has done many things to improve the health of the people, but unfortunately during his reign we have had the dreadful Western War from which the country has suffered much. Such things as rice and potatoes have been sent out of the State, and jute could not be exported. Everything has been very high in price, more than double. Jit has increased the salaries of the officers, and the pay of the servants, besides giving numberless subscriptions and donations, and helping in the War Loan; but he does things quietly and no one knows of them. He has five children, three girls and two boys; they are all lovely, especially the eldest girl. Jit is a clever man and has written some charming poems and books. It is hard for him that all the old officers now are either dead or retired and he has to work with new and untried men, but he takes it quite coolly.

One day he said to me: “Mother, if we believe that God is all-merciful, we shall never ask Him ‘Why?’ We may think father has gone too soon. He was young and strong and many lives depended on him, but God is merciful and God knows best. If God loves us he would not do anything that would hurt us. It is all for the best, and we must believe it.” Jit has been one of the best of sons to me, so loving, so kind and thoughtful, and he often treats me as if I were the same age as his little daughter.

Victor is a wonderful brother. I do not think in the wide world any one could find a more unselfish and affectionate brother than he is to Jit. Anything that Jit says is law to him. He would give his life for his brother; he would go to the ends of the earth to get anything that would make his brother happy. In his life Jit comes first. Victor has married the daughter of a distant cousin of mine, a pretty girl. They have two children, both boys. Victor’s wife is called Nirupoma; she is of the same faith as we are, a Brahmo. She is well educated and edits a magazine in Bengali. She is devoted to her husband and children.

Baby has married Alan Mander, the younger brother of Lionel. I did not wish her to marry so young nor to part with her so soon, especially as it was only six months after I had lost my Rajey, but now my life has come to that stage that I must not be heard, my love must pray silently for the happiness of my children. They are very precious and their happiness is my happiness. Baby wished to marry this boy; he is fine-looking, and has travelled a good deal, and as he was anxious to have the wedding soon I did not stand in the way, and they were married at Woodlands on the 25th February, 1914. During the War he was in the Army and now they are in England. Alan has been a very good son-in-law; I don’t think I could have had a better, even in fancy.

Among the Maharajahs of India I know but few. The Maharajahs of Bikanir and Gwalior call me “Mother;” the former was at school at Mayo College with Rajey. The Maharajah of Kapurthala was like a brother to my husband; the Maharajah of Idar I know very well. In India there are very few Maharanis, perhaps none except myself, who come out, so it is difficult to get to know them, and without a special invitation one cannot visit their States. Some of the Maharajahs could do much for their country. Surely there is enough money in India to revive its ancient history and search out its ruined palaces and temples; but the Maharajahs seldom meet together to discuss these things, and that is perhaps why our Western visitors do not know much of our ancient India.

During the last few years I have travelled a little, and would like to tell my readers something about my country. Once I went on a Hindu pilgrimage to a place called Hardwar. In my book “Nine Ideal Indian Women,” there is a story about Sati; near Hardwar is Sati’s birthplace, an old palace now in ruins, and this I and my third sister went to see. Among the ruins are said to be dozens of cobras, but they do not hurt any one. We sat on the steps that led down to the river and had a little service. There was a feeling about the whole place, even after these thousands of years, as if it had been the home of a beautiful soul and was near the spiritual world. We gazed upon the beautiful scene: the wonderful old ruined palace with its flights of steps leading down to the deep blue river, and in the distance the pure white snows of the Himalayas. We noticed a strange thing as we sat there; in the middle of the river was a tiny island, and on this a tortoise was playing with a snake; one would never have thought that a snake and a tortoise could be together, yet here they were like two friends.

In that same book of mine is the story of Harischandra and the burning ghat; that ghat still remains in Benares. We sisters went there to see it one day after sunset in a boat kindly lent to us by the Maharajah of Benares. Down the stream floated hundreds of little lights; it looked as if the Ganges had rows of necklaces round her throat. It was an impressive sight; on the banks and down in the water were thousands of men and women with clasped hands and down-bent heads, saying their evening prayers near the ghat where the Maharajah Harischandra worked disguised as a chandal.

Nearly two years ago I came from Simla to meet my sister, who was waiting for me to go with her on a pilgrimage to Sarag-duar (the Door of Heaven). We planned to go by train to a station near the place, and as there was no passenger train about that time a railway carriage had to be attached to a goods train. When we arrived at the station some of our party went in tongas and for my sister and me a friend sent a carriage, the best that could be had, but very ordinary in our eyes. We started off happily. It was a very rough rocky road, but our hearts were full of the Sarag-duar and we were longing for the end of the journey. My sister’s two little children who were with us behaved wonderfully, and did not complain of either hunger or fatigue. After several hours we arrived at the river-side. It was early in the morning, the sky was bright blue, at our feet the Ganges flowed between high banks, and tall trees guarded the Door of Heaven. Two boats were waiting and we crossed the river. As we went over I felt as if I must say to the river: “May you take me on my last crossing even as you take me to the Door of Heaven to-day.” We arrived at the Sarag-duar; it was still beautifully cool and fresh, and as my sister had brought fruit and sweets we sat there and refreshed ourselves. While we were eating, a message arrived from one of the holy men that he would like to see us, and after a few minutes he came. What a good and handsome face he had! He was dressed in an almond-coloured (sacred) robe and brought fruit and flowers for us. His good words dropped on our hearts like cool water on an aching brow. When he saw my sister’s children he said he must send some milk for them, and soon after he had left us warm milk came. In this little land of peace there is one house in which food is cooked once a day for the hermits and the pilgrims, of whom there are thousands in the summer months and hundreds in the cold weather. In the fields are splendid cows. Gifts of money are made by some generous friends and this pays for the food. It is a wonderful place, so peaceful, so beautiful; whoever visits it, whatever his religion, must feel that it is indeed near heaven. Far away are blue hills, and nearer great plains over which herds of wild elephant, tigers, and leopards roam, but do no harm. Some of the hermits live among the roots of the big trees, and even in the winter months when the cold is very severe they bathe daily in the river. No women are allowed in that holy place, nor any families; we were allowed to halt there a few hours as a special favour because we were my father’s daughters. There is no smoke of cooking, no shouting, no cry of children; all is peace; even the river is calm and quiet.

From there we went to the place where Harischandra’s brother Lachman spent his last days, and had to cross the river by a bridge of planks which shakes all the time one walks. As we went we saw jutting out into the stream the piece of rock on which Dhruba, when a little boy, knelt one day to pray to his God and was much disturbed by the loud noise of the waters. So Dhruba addressed the river and said: “Mother Ganges, how can my prayers reach the feet of God if you disturb me so; how can my mind be quiet while such loud sounds go on?” And it is a curious thing that just where Dhruba sat the river is perfectly calm, while a few yards off on the other side of the rock the water boils and rushes. We bathed in the river; it was icy cold but it gave us new strength and new hope.

I should so much like my Western sisters to see some of these peaceful holy spots. Unfortunately there is no history of India in which all the old stories are told; they would make the country so much more interesting to the traveller. India is not the country some Western writers make it out to be. It is an ancient land and a spiritual. Modern ideas, to my thinking, often make young people hard and perhaps selfish. If we do not love each other can we do good to any one? In the old history of India unselfish love was given to one and all, and the crown of India was love. We are lucky indeed to be the children of such a country, but are we worthy of that love, have we forgotten what our ancestors did? Learn all the good you can from other countries, but remain an Indian still is my poor advice. Hurting others cannot make us Indians happy. I am so proud of being an Indian. Let the world know how beautiful and good India’s daughters were, and let us try and follow in their footsteps; in their time Love and Peace reigned. Love will bring us all together and make India once more happy and rich. A number of Western authors make great mischief by writing things that are not true. One lady, Maud Diver, I know has written many untrue things about us, and I am afraid people who do not know us will believe the worst. It is a great mistake to write such things; one by one we shall all go, but our letters and books will remain for the next generation to read.

I often feel that if Her Majesty would include a Maharani among her ladies, she would get to know the Indians much better; she is so fond of anything Indian and takes so much interest in India that it would help her, especially at such a time as this. Her Majesty might take a lady from each Presidency in turn, changing her every four months; and if His Majesty also would choose an Indian of noble birth from each Presidency, changing him in the same way every four months, I am sure it would keep Their Majesties informed of the state of feeling throughout the whole of India, and they would gain first-hand and correct information. Much mischief is often done because things have to go through so many channels. I might mention here that sometimes the representatives of His Majesty are not very sympathetic nor tactful with the Indians. Indians do not get asked to parties as they used to be, and it is only natural they should expect to be invited by the high officials in India who represent their Emperor.

The last time I visited England was in order to be with Baby for the first arrival in her family. I got there on the 13th June, 1920, and went to Baby’s house, where I was very comfortable. Her little girl was born on the 8th July at 7, Lyall Street, a house which Baby had rented. The dear newborn delighted our hearts. We thanked God for her safe arrival. It is our custom to have a children’s feast on the eighth day after the birth. On the following week we had all the children from the garage next door and some others to tea. Each of them and every member of the household staff received a little souvenir of our happiness.

When Baby was strong enough to be moved she returned to her house at Kingston and I visited her there. Suddhira and Alan gave up their room to me and occupied the drawing-room, which was not at all comfortable for them, still we were all very happy at being together.

In September I moved up to town to Grosvenor Street, where I had rented a house from a rich lady. Our stay there would have been a happier one had it not been for the continual annoyance of receiving unpleasant messages from the owner. Oh, what a worry the house problem in England is nowadays!

Since I lost my dear husband I had lived in a very retired way. Now in Grosvenor Street I began to see a few old friends, and this happy intercourse recalled to me the golden days of my life. I had the great pleasure of meeting Lord and Lady Lansdowne, General Birdwood, Colonel and Mrs. Burn, Lord and Lady Suffield, General and Lady Blood, the latter as cheery as ever. Lady Hewitt, Mrs. Roberts, Mrs. Beverley and others. Lady Headfort was as kind as ever. I had the great honour of going to see Their Majesties and stayed to tea with them. I went to see Her Majesty Queen Alexandra. How sad it made me to see her so changed! This was the first time Her Majesty spoke sadly. H.R.H. Princess Beatrice was the same gracious and kind Princess. I had the honour of having tea with her. Miss Minnie Cochrane, a lady-in-waiting to the Princess, is a very dear friend of mine and it made me so happy to meet her again. I also went to see H.R.H. the Duke of Connaught. How it saddened me when I met him all alone in his drawing-room! In the days of the past, H.R.H. the Duchess and her children filled the house with their merriment. My heart went out to the Duke in his loneliness. I compared myself with this Royal Prince. He had lost his life’s companion and his first-born, and my husband and eldest son are both gone. H.R.H. was most kind and sympathetic.

Just as I was beginning to revive old friendships and go about a little there came the crushing sad news of my poor darling Hitty’s last illness. How shall I bear his loss! I am no longer young and sorrows have worn away my strength. I am nearing the end of life’s journey, oh, why have I suffered this terrible blow? Why was my Hitty called away so early? His life was hardly begun and it is ended! The half-opened flower of his manhood is for ever closed. Before I left for England I had put aside jewels and household silver-ware for him, hoping he would marry soon. I was prepared to go, I thought that perhaps my ashes would be brought back from England, but he is gone and I still linger here. How cruel it seemed to me; what great sorrow I suffered! Only a mother who has lost her boy can realise the anguish. If we could but have a glimpse of our happy departed dear ones in the realms of bliss what consolation it would be to our bereaved aching hearts!

Jit was sweet in those dark days. How he tried to comfort me. He said: “Mother, be brave, be brave. Trust in God, mother—God does everything for the best. Hitty is happier there than he was here. He is with father and Dada.” Jit said many kind and comforting words; how I love him for his gentleness! Indira, too, was very kind and often came and spoke consolingly. Suddhira and Alan were a help and comfort to me. I do not know what I should have done at that time had they not come and stayed with me. Suddhira often cooked for me, and she looked after and nursed me as if she were the mother and I her child. Her loving devotion touched me deeply. What a sweet true daughter she proved herself in those days of bitter bereavement! Her little baby girl was a real blessing, and seemed a bright messenger from above bringing hope from our heavenly home.

THE MAHARANI AND HER GRANDDAUGHTER, PAMELA GHITA, 1921.]

In February I left England and arrived in Bombay on the 26th of the same month. Jit and Indira were there on their way to Calcutta. I arrived at Howrah on the 1st March, the anniversary of the day when our mother was taken from us. Victor met me, and with him were my brother and other relations. How I missed my Hitty. I went straight to Lily Cottage, where we had a short “In memoriam” service. Monica was there, and after the service I went to my sister Sucharu’s, where Bino and others were waiting. One and all wept over my sad loss. They were all devoted to dear Hitty, and Victor in particular feels the parting.

Dear Hitty is resting now near his father and brother in the palace garden, where all is quiet and still, and the scent of the flowers seems to speak of the sweetness of heaven. His voice is hushed and no one will ever again look upon his dear face, but his soul lives on in the Land Immortal where he has been called to greater work. I am longing to be with my loved ones who have gone before, to be where we shall never part again.

This sad loss has brought a great change into my life. I feel the unknown world is very near to me and I must try and finish what I think I have to do quickly. God gifted me with everything that was precious, and one thing I wish to leave behind me and that is Love. I feel my strength has gone and often wonder why I am left. I had a house with four walls like rock and a strong roof that sheltered me, and now the roof is gone and two of the walls are down. The happy past is very far away, and I seem to be living in a different world. Life goes on, days and months have passed laden with sorrow and grief, but I am still walking on the edge of this life. My only wish now is to serve my family and my people and my Church, the Church of the New Dispensation.

It is my happiness to know that Jit and Victor are working hand in hand for the welfare of Cooch Behar. Jit’s great ambition is to make his State a model one, and he is always eager to help forward its progress.

Some of the Governors of Bengal have been most kind to my school at Darjeeling, where sixty or seventy children of all castes are taught kindergarten, and I am glad to say it does very well indeed. My technical school for poor Hindu ladies in Calcutta too is a success. The Victoria College was established by my dear father for the better education of women.

We often used to speak of a terrible tragedy which happened in our own family through a relation not knowing how to read.

This lady’s son was ill with typhoid, but he got better rapidly and one day the doctor told the mother the patient might eat a little solid food. After the doctor had left, two bottles of medicine arrived. The happy mother at once insisted that the boy should take a dose to hasten his recovery. But, alas! one of the bottles contained liniment for external use only, and this happened to be the bottle picked up by her. The boy died in great agony. The poor mother became almost insane with grief when she found out that she was the unwitting cause of her son’s end. This is one of the many stories of what has happened in Hindu homes where the ladies are kept from the knowledge of reading and writing. It is no wonder therefore that we have tried hard for education for our country-women. But we found it uphill work for many years.

My father founded other institutions, but they do not all exist now because of lack of finances, but we do not despair, where there is a will there is a way and Indian women are not so ignorant as Western people think. In the zenanas you will find fine characters, educated up-to-date women, good nurses, clever accountants, sweet singers, most loving mothers, and devoted wives, and as far as looks go, it is hard to beat a real Indian beauty. I have an ambition, if I live, to have an Asram for gentlefolk where they can live in peace and receive instruction, and it is my great hope that before many years have passed Indian women will stand in their right place and once again India will cry aloud: “I am proud of my daughters.”

INDEX

Abergavenny, Lady, twin daughters, 127;
dance, 127

_Abhishek_ ceremony, 201

Adams, Captain, 219

Adamson, Dr., 191

Albani, Mdme., 123

Alexandra, Empress of Russia, at Windsor Castle, 117

Alexandra, Queen, kindness to the Maharani of Cooch Behar, 106, 115, 121;
portrait, 120;
at Hatfield House, 128;
the Buckingham Palace review, 172;
death of her husband, 188, 237;
receives the Maharani of Cooch Behar, 188;
message of condolence on the death of the Maharajah of Cooch Behar, 194

Amir Ali, Lady, 167

Anderson, Dr., 216

Anderson, Mary, 123

Ascot, 207

Asram establishment, 7, 20

Bagpipes, the, 131

Bagshot, 162

Baird, Colonel and Mrs., 150

Banerjee, Dr., attends the Maharajah of Cooch Behar, 192

Barnes, Sir H., 177

Baroda, Gaikwar of, 208

Baroda, Maharani of, 103

Baroda, Princess Indira of, 208;
marriage, 209.
_See_ Cooch Behar

“Bart-Auta,” meaning of, 25

Battenberg, Prince Henry of, 120

Battle, 169

Bayley, Lady, 150

Beatrice, H.R.H. Princess, 118, 120, 237

Belghuria garden-house, 7, 29

Benares, Ward’s institution at, 42

Bengal, marriage customs, 34-37

Betel leaves, use of, 75, 94

Bethune College, 15

Beverley, Mrs., 237

Bexhill, 169, 190

“Bhaikota,” festival, 38

Bhopal, H.H. the Begum of, 217

Bignell, Mr., 105

Bignell, Mrs., 118

Bikanir, Maharajah of, 230

Birdwood, General, 237

Blair Atholl, 130;
bagpipes, 131

Blood, General and Lady, 237

Bombay, 136, 185, 239

Brahmins, 2

Brahmo or Religion of the New Dispensation, 2, 8

Brahmo Act, 70

“Brahmo-Somaj, The History of the,” 68

Brahmuna, the god, 2

Brighton, 125

British Museum, 123

Browne, Lord Ulick, 74

Browne, Colonel, 204

Buckingham Palace, garden-party, 118;
review at, 172

Burdwan, 78-80;
palace at, 79;
zoological garden, 80

Burn, Colonel and the Hon. Mrs., 150, 237

Bury, Lord, 183

Cadet Corps, 167, 179, 185, 220, 227

Calcutta, 67, 136, 144;
London National Indian Association, branch at, 222;
Masonic meeting, 204;
Presidency College, 77;
technical school, 240;
Victoria College, 21, 240

Cambridge, Jesus College, 131

Carmichael, Lady, 205, 223

Carmichael, Lord, Governor of Bengal, 203, 205, 222

Carnduff, Sir Henry, 136

Carter, Mr., school at Farnborough, 162

Caste, meaning of, 2, 8

Chatterjee, Hari Mohum, 151

Chaurakaran ceremony, 44

Chowdhuri, Sir A. A., 8

Chuckerbutty, Jadab Chandra, Magistrate of Cooch Behar, 45, 50;
letter to Prosonna Babu, 52;
letter from Mr. Dalton, 57-60

Churchill, Lady Randolph, 126

Civil Marriage Act, 42

Cobb, Miss, letter from K. C. Sen, 71-75

Cochrane, Miss Minnie, 169, 237

Colombo, 147

Connaught, H.R.H. Duchess of, 112, 118, 174;
at the Delhi Durbar, 178;
visits the Maharani of Cooch Behar, 182;
on the death of Rajey, 213

Connaught, H.R.H. Duke of, 174;
at the Delhi Durbar, 178;
death of his wife, 237

Connaught, Prince Arthur of, 162

Cooch Behar, Church of the New Dispensation, 90;
legends, 90;
the old palace, 92;
the new, 92;
Masonic Lodge, 96;
climate, 98;
number of flying insects, 144;
the Pilkhana, 146;
administration, 203, 228, 240;
mausoleum, 213

Cooch Behar, Dowager Maharani, 80

Cooch Behar, Prince Hitty of, birth, 143;
attack of pneumonia, 144;
school at Farnborough, 170;
death, 238

Cooch Behar, Princess Indira of, 209, 238;
at Bombay, 239

Cooch Behar, Prince Jitendra of, birth, 90;
attack of bronchitis, 106;
at Windsor Castle, 117;
loyalty, 139;
conjuring tricks, 142;
at Eton, 166, 170;
joins the Cadet Corps, 166, 168, 170;
in England, 182;
at Bexhill, 192;
marriage, 209;
administration of Cooch Behar, 228, 240;
children, 229;
on the death of his father and brother, 229, 238;
at Bombay, 239

Cooch Behar, Princess Nirupoma of, 229

Cooch Behar, Nripendra Narayan Bhup Bahadur, Maharajah of, 42;
the “Poonyah” festival, 40;
education, 42;
at Benares, 43;
Patna, 43;
tutor, 43;
at the Delhi Durbar, 44;
presented with the Kaisar-i-Hind medal, 44;
negotiations for his marriage, 44-53, 55-60;
in England, 45, 50, 67, 103;
views on polygamy, 53;
meeting with his future wife, 54;
betrothal, 54-56;
marriage ceremonies, 61-67, 78;
at Darjeeling, 67;
return to India, 77;
joins the Presidency College, 77;
reception at Burdwan, 79;
at Calcutta, 80, 137;
strict views, 81;
installed ruler, 86;
development of the State, 95;
founds a college, 96;
received by Queen Victoria, 108;
dress at the Guildhall, 114;
characteristics, 116;
at Windsor Castle, 119-121;
G.C.I.E. conferred, 125;
at Blair Atholl, 130;
death of his step-sister, 139;
love of animals, 146;
elephant, 146, 195;
shooting parties, 152-156;
sports, 156;
simple life, 157;
A.D.C. to King Edward VII., 172;
accident at polo, 184;
illness, 185, 188-194;
grief at the King’s death, 186;
at St. George’s Chapel, 187;
at Bexhill, 190;
death, 194;
funeral, 194

Cooch Behar, Princess Prativa (or Pretty) of, birth, 147;
in England, 182;
appearance, 182;
character, 183;
illness, 189;
marriage, 203.
_See_ Mander

Cooch Behar, Prince Raj Rajendra of, birth, 83;
nickname, 85;
appearance, 98;
attack of typhoid fever, 98, 216;
characteristics, 99-101, 141, 202;
in London, 106;
at Windsor Castle, 117;
education, 158-160;
at Mayo College, 159;
school at Farnborough, 162;
at Eton, 162;
Oxford, 166;
joins the Cadet Corps, 167;
at Ditton Park, 170;
attends the Coronation of King Edward VII., 172;
appointed to a commission in the Westminster Dragoons, 172;
plays in a polo match at Trouville, 174;
accident, 175;
at the Delhi Durbar, 177;
illness 178, 189, 206-211;
ordered to England, 179;
in England, 182, 189, 205;
attends the funeral of his father, 195;
succeeds to the Gadi, 199;
devotion to his mother, 199;
predictions of his death, 200;
dismisses the Dewan, 200;
pays homage to his mother, 201;
attack of ptomaine poisoning, 204;
at a nursing home, 206;
at Cromer, 208;
death, 211;
funeral, 212

Cooch Behar, Princess Sudhira of, birth, 147;
in England, 182;
appearance, 185;
operation, 189;
marriage, 230.
_See_ Mander

Cooch Behar, Princess Sukriti of, birth, 89;
simple life, 141;
acts charades, 145;
marriage, 165;
birth of a child, 176;
attack of fever, 176

Cooch Behar, Sunity, Maharani of, 66, 69;
marriage ceremonies, 61-67, 78;
return to Calcutta, 67, 80, 136, 144, 176;
life at Lily Cottage, 75;
governess, 76;
joined by her husband, 77;
reception at Burdwan, 79;
strict ideas of her husband, 81;
birth of her sons, 83, 90, 137, 143;
death of her father, 87;
birth of her daughters, 89, 147;
life at Cooch Behar, 93-95;
death of her mother-in-law, 97;
food, 97;
voyage to England, 103-105, 169, 182, 186, 205, 236;
at the Grosvenor Hotel, 105;
received by Queen Victoria, 107-109;
attends the Drawing Room, 108;
at the State ball, 110;
the Jubilee, 111-113;
Windsor Castle, 113, 117, 119-121, 187;
gift to Queen Victoria, 114, 117;
at Buckingham Palace garden party, 118;
gift from Queen Victoria, 120;
at the theatre, 123;
the Naval Review, 123;
at Edinburgh, 124;
Brighton, 125;
social functions, 126-130;
at Hatfield House, 128, 129;
lost in the maze, 128;
at Blair Atholl, 130;
Cambridge, 131;
Studley Royal, 132;
voyage to India, 135, 196;
at Malta, 135;
Bombay, 136, 185, 239;
tennis parties, 139;
sons, 141-143;
at Darjeeling, 144;
Colombo, 147;
entertainments, 148;
visit to a Maharani, 149;
shooting parties, 150-156;
simple life, 157;
parting with her son Rajey, 158;
on the education of her sons, 160-164;
death of her mother, 164;
marriage of her daughters, 165, 203, 230;
in Switzerland, 170;
at Ditton Park, 170;
the Coronation ceremonies, 172-174, 190;
presented with a medal, 173;
dress at the Court, 173;
grandchildren, 176, 236;
at the Delhi Durbar, 177;
Marlborough House, 183;
interview with Queen Alexandra, 188;
illness, 189;
at Bexhill, 190;
illness of her husband, 190-194;
grief at his death, 194-198;
marriage of her sons, 209, 229;
death of her sons, 211, 238;
acquaintance with Viceroys, 215-222;
dines with Lord Elgin, 219;
“Nine Ideal Indian Women,” 231;
pilgrimage to Sarag-duar, 232;
old friends, 237

Cooch Behar, Prince Victor of, birth, 137;
godmother, 137;
characteristics, 137, 143;
devotion to his brother Jit, 137, 229;
at Eton, 166, 170;
joins the Cadet Corps, 168, 227;
at Cuba, 227;
marriage, 229

Coolootola, 1, 12, 16, 26

Creagh, Sir O’Moore, Commander-in-Chief in India, 221

Crewe, Lord and Lady, 106

Cromer, 208

Cross, Lady, 109

Cross, Lord, Secretary of State for India, 107

Cuba, 227

Curzon, Lady, 220;
at the Delhi Durbar, 178

Curzon, Lord, Viceroy of India, 145, 160, 219, 226;
Cadet Corps, 167, 220;
speech at the Delhi Durbar, 178;
treatment of the Maharani of Cooch Behar, 225;
policy, 220, 226

Cutch, Maharajah of, 128

Dalmeny, Lord, 106

Dalton, Godfrey T., 44, 49, 65, 74;
letter to the Maharajah Sen, 50-52;
to Chuckerbutty, 57-60

Dane, Sir Louis, 185

Darjeeling, 144, 176;
school at, 240

Datchet, 170

Delhi, Durbar at, 44, 176;
elephant procession, 177;
Hospital, 216

Denmark, King of, at the Buckingham Palace State ball, 110

Derby, the, 206

Dhruba, story of, 234

Ditton Park, 170;
toy railway, 170

Diver, Maud, 235

Dover, 206

Dufferin, Lady, book on India, 87, 216;
starts the Delhi Hospital, 216

Dufferin, Lord, Viceroy of India, 8, 136, 156, 216

Dugdale, Col. Frank and Lady Eva, 150

Duke, Sir William, 223

Durham, Earl of, twin brother, 127

Durnford, Sir Walter, Provost of King’s College, Cambridge, 162

Duth, Calica Das, the Dewan, 57, 89, 137

Eden, Sir Ashley, 105

Edinburgh, 124

Edinburgh, H.R.H. the Duke of, at Malta, 135

Edward VII., King, kindly tact, 114;
liking for the Maharajah of Cooch Behar, 116;
at Goodwood races, 125;
personality, 126;
Coronation, 129, 171-174;
illness, 171;
presents medals, 173;
holds a Court, 173;
State Ball, 173;
death, 185

Eldridge, Mrs., 93, 143, 151;
marriage, 135

Elephants at Cooch Behar, 146;
procession at Delhi, 177

Elgin, Lady, 218

Elgin, Lord, Viceroy of India, 218

Elliott, Lady, 139, 223

Elliott, Sir Charles, Lieutenant-Governor of Bengal, 160

Elphinstone, Lord, 124

Elphinstone, Mr., 150

Englefield Green, 182

Etawah, 12;
massacre at, 13

Eton, 162

Farnborough, 162

Francis, 193

Franz Ferdinand, Archduke, 139

Frederick, Emperor of Germany, at the Jubilee, 112, 117

Frederick, Empress, of Germany, at the Guildhall, 115

“Fullsaya,” or flower ceremony, 37

Galloway, Lord and Lady, 150

Ganesh, the god, 33

Ganges, 180, 234

_Ganges_, the, 103

Garth, Sir R., 151

George V., King, 126;
visit to India, 184;
Coronation, 190;
message of condolence on the death of the Maharajah of Cooch Behar, 194

George, King of Greece, at the Buckingham Palace State ball, 110

Ghosal, Jyotsna, 164;
marriage, 165;
at Dover, 206

Ghose, B., private tutor to Rajey, 158

Ghose, Dewan P., at Bexhill, 193

Girlie, Princess, 89.
_See_ Cooch Behar, Sukriti

Glamis Castle, 131

Goodwood races, 125

Gordon, Colonel and Mrs. Evans, 151

Government officials in India character of, 225, 236

Grosvenor Hotel, 105

Guildhall, party at the, 114

Gwalior, Maharajah of, 230

H⸺, Mr., 226

Hamilton, Lord Frederick, 150

Hanover, Princess Frederica of, 172

Harbord, Capt. Charles, 148.
_See_ Suffield

Hardinge, Lord, Viceroy of India, 222

Hardwar, 231

Harischandra, story of, 231

Hatfield House, 128;
maze, 128

Haughton, Colonel, Commissioner for Cooch Behar, 42

Headfort, Lady, 127, 237

Headfort, Lord, 127

Hemming, Miss, 16

Hermitage, the, 144

Hesse, Grand Duke of, 112, 173

Hewitt, Lady, 150, 237

Himalayas, the, 93, 231

Hindu women, ignorance, 241

Hitty, Prince, 143.
_See_ Cooch Behar

Holmes, Mdme. Oliver, 123

Holmwood, Lady, 223

Holyrood Palace, 124

“Hooly,” festival, 37

Howrah, 239

Hyde, Lord, 150

Hyde Park, 106

Idar, Maharajah of, 230

Ilbert Bill, 215

Ilchester, Lord, 150

Imperial, Prince, picture of, 124

India, festivals, 38-41;
Civil Marriage Act, 42;
ancient and spiritual land, 234

India Office, party at, 129

Indian women, 241;
devotion to their husbands, 13-15, 33

Indira, Princess, 208.
_See_ Baroda

Insects, flying, number of, 144

Jadab Babu, 46, 57

“Jamai Tashti,” festival, 39

Jatras, or open-air operas, 18, 40, 183

Jenkins, Lady, 223

Jersey, Lord, 150

Jitendra, Prince, 90.
_See_ Cooch Behar

Jubbalpore, 13

“Jurini” ceremony, 56

Kaka Babu, 12

Kaisar-i-Hind medal, 44

Kali, the god, 33

Kamari, 32

Kandy, temple at, 147

Kapurthala, Maharajah of, 230

Kastogir, Miss, 7

Katnyas, the, 3

Kennedy House, 145

Kinnaird, Mr. and Miss, 114

Kinsky, Prince Charles, 140

Kitchener, Lord, 224

Kneller, St. John, tutor to Maharajah of Cooch Behar, 43, 54

Krishna, the Hindu god, 37

Kurseong, 176

L., Mr., 226

Lachman, 234

Lafont, Father, 85

Lansdowne, Lady, 148, 150, 237;
kindness to the Maharani of Cooch Behar, 217

Lansdowne, Lord, Viceroy of India, 150, 158, 217, 237

Lakshmi, goddess of luck, 33, 36

Leeds, Duchess of, ball, 127

Lily Cottage, 75, 136, 164, 239;
sanctuary at, 37, 76

Lind, Letty, 116

Lock, Colonel William, principal of Mayo College, 158

London National Indian Association, branch at Calcutta, 222

Lonsdale, Lord and Lady, 150, 175

Loretto Convent, 32

Lotus, blue, 175

Lowther Castle, 175

Luddhi, Miss, 28

Lumsden, Colonel, 150

Lytton, Lord, Viceroy of India, 44, 215

M⸺, Mrs. H., at the Delhi Durbar, 177

Mahalanobis, Sadhu, 31

Maharajahs, stories of, 10-12, 23, 90, 180;
education of their sons, 163

Maharani, visit to a, 148-150

Maharanis, position, 96

Malta, 135

Manchester, Duke of, 124

Mander, Alan, 236;
marriage, 230

Mander, Lionel, marriage, 203

Mander, Princess Prativa, 203

Mander, Princess Sudhira, birth of a daughter, 236;
devotion to her mother, 239

_Mantua_, the, 224

Marlborough House, 121, 183

Marriage customs in Bengal, 34-37

Mary, Queen, 106;
appearance, 107;
children, 184;
visit to India, 184;
message of condolence on the death of the Maharajah of Cooch
Behar, 194;
interest in India, 235

Mayo Collage, 158, 230

Mazdidi, 84

McConnell, Dr., 143

Mecklenburg-Strelitz, Duke of, 130

Minto, Lady, 150, 183, 208, 220;
fancy dress, 221

Minto, Lord, Viceroy of India, 150, 220

Moghulhat, 91

Monghyr, 9

Moor Hall, 169

Morgan, Rev. Henry A., Master of Jesus College, 131

Morgan, Mrs., 132

Mourbhanj, Maharajah of, 30, 203

Muir, Captain, 114

Mukerji, Babu Kasi Kanto, 43

Naval Review, 123

Neville, Lady Rose and Lady Violet, 127

Newcastle, incident at, 133

“Nine Ideal Indian Women,” 231

Normal School, Native Ladies, 20

Oakley, 141

Orleans, Princess Hélène of, 128

Panga, 139

Park Close, 182

Patna, Government College, 43

Pemberton, Mrs., 151

Pembroke, Lord, 150

Perrier, Mrs., 223

Pigot, Miss, 21, 49, 57

Playfair, Sir Patrick, 184

Pless, Prince Henry of, 151

Pless, Princess Henry of, 151, 172

Polo team, at Trouville, 174

“Poonyah,” or “the Day of Good Luck,” festival, 39-41

Port Said, 104

Prativa, Princess, 147.
_See_ Cooch Behar

Prinsep, Lady, 150

Prosonna Babu, 46, 48;
letter from Babu Chuckerbutty, 52

Raikut, J., 104

Raj-Kumari, 80

Rajputana, 158

Raj Rajendra, Prince, 83.
_See_ Cooch Behar

Ram Chandra, 175

Reilly, Kate, 148

Revelstoke, Lady, ball, 127

Ripon, Lady, 127, 215;
at Studley Royal, 132

Ripon, Lord, Viceroy of India, 132, 215

Risien-Russell, Dr., 206, 211

Roberts, Mrs., 237

Ronaldshay, Lady, 223

Ronaldshay, Lord, Governor of Bengal, 223

Rose-bank, 145

Rosebery, Lady, 106

Roy, Rev. Gour Govind, 67

S⸺, Miss, 76

Sadhankanan, 21

Sadharan-Somaj, Church, 68

Salisbury, Lady, 109, 129

Salisbury, Lord, 129

Salterne, Lady, 131

Sandringham, 134

Sarag-duar (the Door of Heaven), 232

Sassoon, Mrs. Arthur, 126

Sassoon, Sir Edward and Lady, 150

Sati, story of, 231

Scott, Miss, 209, 210

Sen, Bino, 27, 30.
_See_ Sen, Savitri

Sen, Karuna, birth, 6;
education, 15;
nickname, 25;
religious views, 28

Sen, Keshub Chunder, 1;
religious views, 2-4, 20, 24;
marriage, 3;
conversion, 6;
illness, 6, 86;
personality, 7;
appearance, 8;
gifted with extraordinary powers, 8;
stories, 9-12;
motto, 20;
Native Ladies’ Normal School, 20;
Victoria College, 21;
negotiations on his daughter’s marriage, 46-57;
letter from Mr. Dalton, 50-52;
letter to Miss Cobb, 71-75;
death, 87;
mausoleum, 87

Sen, Mrs. (mother of the Maharani), character, 1;
marriage, 3;
accompanies her husband, 4;
visions, 4, 12;
birth of a son, 6;
appearance, 22;
relates stories, 23;
children, 28-31;
on the marriage of her daughter, 64;
keys, 77;
death of her husband, 87;
death, 164

Sen, Miss, 164

Sen, Monica, disposition, 31;
marriage, 31

Sen, Nirmal, 28;
marriage, 28;
visit to England, 104;
at Bexhill, 191

Sen, Rev. P. L., 195, 199

Sen, Profullo, 28;
illness, 29;
pet names, 29;
marriage, 29;
visit to England, 104;
return to India, 134

Sen, Saral, 29;
characteristics, 29;
pet name, 29;
care of his sisters, 164;
marriage, 164;
nurses the Maharajah of Cooch Behar, 192

Sen, Savitri, story of, 27;
pet name, 27, 30;
marriage, 30;
twins, 138

Sen, Subrata, 29;
pet name, 29;
marriage, 29

Sen, Sucharu, sad history, 30;
marriage, 30;
death of her husband, 31

Sen, Sujata, character, 31;
marriage, 31

Sen, Sunity, birth, 1;
parents, 1-3;
childhood, 15-19;
education, 15;
attack of fever, 16, 48;
grandmother, 17;
vows, 19;
religious views, 24;
haunted by cats, 27;
brothers and sisters, 28-31;
ambition, 32;
negotiations for her marriage, 46-53, 55-60;
meeting with her future husband, 54;
betrothal, 54-56;
journey to Cooch Behar, 60;
marriage ceremonies, 61-67.
_See_ Cooch Behar

Sen’s House, 1, 26;
haunted, 26

Sergius, Grand Duchess, 111

Serpentine, the, 106

Shakespeare, W., “Winter’s Tale,” 123

Simla, 85, 144

Simpson, Sir Benjamin, photographs, 155

Sing, S., 104

Siva, the god, 90

Slough, 170

Soap, attempt to make, 26

Souls of the poor, legend, 101

Strathmore, Lady, 130

Streatfeild, Colonel and Lady Florence, 150

Studley Royal, 132, 133

Sudan, legend, 180

Sudhira, Princess, 147.
_See_ Cooch Behar

Sudhras, the, 3

Suffield, Lady, 127, 187, 237

Suffield, Charles, Lord, 148, 150, 237

Sukriti, Princess, 89.
_See_ Cooch Behar

Sutherland, Duke of, 150

Switzerland, 170

Tagore, Maharshi Debendra Nath, 3, 5, 70, 166

Tagore, Sir Rabindra Nath, 166

Teck, Duchess of, 106;
personality, 106

Temple, Sir Richard, Lieut.-Governor of Bengal, 45

Territet, 170

Thakoorma, 17

Thomson, Sir Rivers, Lieut.-Governor of Bengal, 86

Thorne, Dr. Beasley, 188, 192

Tichborne, Sir Henry, 151

Tigers, 152

Tilbury Docks, 105

Tower of London, 124

Trouville, polo team at, 174

Turin, Count of, 150

Tussaud, Madame, 124

Typhoid fever, case of, 241

Varan ceremony, 63, 136

Victor, Prince, 137.
_See_ Cooch Behar

Victoria College, Calcutta, 21, 28, 240

Victoria Institute, foundation, stone laid, 185

Victoria, Princess, 128

Victoria, Queen, proclaimed Empress of India, 44;
Jubilee, 103, 111-113;
receives the Maharani of Cooch Behar, 107-109;
holds a Drawing Room, 108-110;
State ball, 110;
gift from the Maharani, 114, 117;
garden-party, 118;
godmother to Prince Victor, 137;
the “Good Queen,” 169;
death, 169;
mausoleum, 169

Villeneuve, 170

Violin concert, 127

Vyner, Mrs., 132

Waldstein, Count, 154;
attack of fever, 155;
death, 155

Warwick, Lady, 174

Wenlock, Lady, 217

White, Mrs., 77

William II., Emperor of Germany, at Buckingham Palace, 113

Windsor Castle, 113, 117, 119, 187

Wood, Mrs. Nicholas, 167

Woodlands, 82, 136, 165, 176

THE END

PRINTED BY WILLIAM CLOWES AND SONS, LIMITED, LONDON AND BECCLES, ENGLAND.