Le dernier Maharaja d’Indore

by Géraldine Lenain

Unknown Binding

Reviews

[Aakanksha · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 ✨

The story revolves around the last king of Holkar
Dynasty who ruled over the province of Indore, Madhya Pradesh in India, Yashwant Rao Holkar || and his life beyond his love for eye-catching art and textile aesthetics. Beneath all the royal society's charisma lies the social-political struggle for the province his family once ruled while dealing with personal betrayals and health issues. Considered a dreamy child, he was trying to balance life which was torn between India and the West.
The highlight of this biography is his style and taste in art, wardrobe, furnishings, jewellery, palaces and the story of Manik Bagh, the palace in Indore, commissioned by the royal couple, Yashwant and his wife Sanyogita Devi who wanted a life away from the ceremonies of the crown and the colonial architecture prominent at the time.

His life then took a devastating turn after the death of his sister and the subsequent death of his wife. Then all the fiasco of independence and the fear of losing privileges, the moment of deciding which side to choose and hence the end of princely ruled state in the country.
The writing was good, simple and interesting. I've read about the earlier Holkar dynasts and he was really different from them. The most famous ones are Peshwa Malhar Rao Holkar and Devi Ahilyabai Holkar who held power gracefully there but as the new generations came, many things change, "the royalty" started to exist in just title and they didn't seem to care that much as long as they were having privileges, and the stories of new royals make me wonder that nothing is permanent. The riches are still there but not that power.

[Anusuya Sarkar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book Name- “The Last Maharaja Of Indore: Yeshwant Rao Holkar II – Aesthete, Patron, Tragic Prince”
Author- @lenaingeraldine
Publisher- @rolibooks
Genre- Biography
.
The book explores the life of Yashwant Rao Holkar II (1908–1961). He was Indore’s last ruler, a man caught between cultural confrontations and modernist dreams. Translated by Sindhuja Veeraragavan, it divulge a prince torn by his royal roots and Western avant-garde passions. He became king at the age of 17 after his father’s scandalous abdication. Yashwant transformed Indore into an Art Deco marvel. His palace Manek Bagh merged sleek European design with royal grandeur. Loss and identity struggles scared him. Educated in England, he balanced silk robes with jazz-age cocktails. He married Sanyogitabai Devi. Their relation thrived on shared artistic passion. Her sudden death shattered him. He later wed two American women. These unions echoed his father’s scandals. This contradicted his earlier criticism of such matches. His life then took a devastating turn after the death of his sister and the subsequent death of his wife. Then all the disaster of independence and the fear of losing privileges, the moment of deciding which side to select and hence the end of princely ruled state in the country. He championed modernity but remained trapped by heritage and demons. Lenain’s evocative storytelling immortalizes a tragic prince. A compelling tale of art, ambition and inner squabble.
Review- ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[myliteraryworld · Rating 4 out of 5]

‘The Last Maharaja of Indore’ explores the life of Yashwant Rao Holkar II (1908–1961). He was Indore’s last ruler, a man caught between cultural clashes and modernist dreams. Translated by Sindhuja Veeraragavan, it reveals a prince torn by his royal roots and Western avant-garde passions. He became king at the age of 17 after his father’s scandalous abdication. Yashwant transformed Indore into an Art Deco marvel. His palace Manek Bagh blended sleek European design with royal grandeur.

Behind the glamour lay a fractured soul. Loss and identity struggles haunted him. Educated in England, he balanced silk robes with jazz-age cocktails. He married Sanyogitabai Devi. Their bond thrived on shared artistic passion. Her sudden death shattered him. He later wed two American women. These unions echoed his father’s scandals. This contradicted his earlier criticism of such matches.

The book captures Yashwant’s duality. He championed modernity but remained trapped by heritage and demons. Lenain’s vivid storytelling immortalizes a tragic prince. A compelling tale of art, ambition and inner conflict.

[KARISHMA · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting. It's pretty amazing that he was one of the first art patrons of his time., not only in India but internationally as well. A man who was an important Art Deco collector of his time. He brought modernity to India. Not many people know of him.
It is also interesting how he managed to integrate the two cultures.
His palace Manik Bagh palace is still seen as an iconic Art Deco structure.
Overall a nice read for history and art buffs...

[Pouillot · Rating 4 out of 5]

Destin triste et pathétique que celui de ce dernier Maharajah d’un petit état de l’Inde. Perdu entre traditions locales, pression familiale et l’attrait de la modernité et de l’art. Étonnant qu’un homme destiné au premier plan et qui a rencontré tant de personnes illustres, ait finalement pu sombrer dans l’alcool et l’oubli.

[Diego Pignatelli · Rating 3 out of 5]

Destructive story which is repeated in many families of unearned wealth.