Global Impact Meet a King in , a Custodian in Perpetuity

An Interview with Shriji Arvind Singh of Udaipur, 76th Custodian of the House of Mewar

in the country, Shriji has been conferred sev- we’ve gone much beyond palace-hotels eral prestigious awards that include the IATO because the next generation is into the opera- Hall of Fame Award in 2009, the Tata AIG tions and the running of the business. but i’ve Lifetime Achievement Award by Galileo Express been in the hospitality business since 1961. we TravelWorld for 2007, and the ‘Agastya Award’ opened the palace in 1963, so we have been in by the Travel Agents Association of (TAAI) it for a long time. for 2001. Shriji has been an active member of What is the main business focus now? the prestigious World Travel & Tourism Council other than our personal portfolios, the (WTTC). With the Government of , running business is heritage hospitality. but Shriji has been the advisor to the Rajiv Gandhi my responsibilities go beyond hospitality. the Tourism Development Mission, as well as an western world, in particular, needs to under- Executive Member of the Rajasthan Foundation. stand what the house of mewar is all about. the Shriji was educated at the prestigious Mayo scope of responsibility that i have assumed is College, from where he completed his rather large. i’ll take you back to 1947 being the school certificate conducted by Cambridge year of independence when we amalgamated University. He obtained his Bachelor’s of Arts the state of udaipur into the union of india. degree in Udaipur. He studied English liter- at that time, india consisted of nine british ature, economics, and political science at the principalities and approximately 565 princely Maharana Bhupal College in Udaipur. Shriji states. the challenge was to unite and form Shriji of Udaipur undertook a hotel management course from them into the republic of india, which is what the Metropolitan College, St. Albans in the U.K. happened in 1947. so when the british left, the EDITORS’ NOTE Shriji Arvind Singh Mewar of Later, he gained invaluable on-the-job training presidencies went with union and 565 states, Udaipur has been preserving a vibrant cultural in hospitality services in the United States. one of which was ours, was also amalgamated heritage enshrined in the City Palace Complex, with the union of india. there was a special po- Udaipur in Rajasthan. As the Chairman and ORGANIZATION BRIEF The House of Mewar sition for the ex-rulers guaranteed in the indian Managing Trustee of the Maharana Mewar (www.eternalmewar.in), acknowledged as the constitution as it fi rst came into existence in Charitable Foundation (MMCF), Udaipur, Shriji world’s oldest-serving dynasty, has faced chal- 1951. thereafter, it was amended and all the citi- is managing a spectrum of philanthropic and lenges, which have tested the maintenance of zens of india were brought on a similar platform charitable activities emanating from the City the Custodianship form of governance and the in 1971. Palace Complex in Udaipur. Several nonprofi t Custodian’s commitment to carry on serving the challenge, fi rst for my father and now and commercial organizations are seamlessly as The Diwan of Shree Eklingnath ji. In 1947, for me, is how to continue to discharge our age- networked to exemplify ‘Eternal Mewar’ for with India’s Independence, and again in 1971, old responsibilities as the head of the house of global and Indian audiences. The Maharana with the abolition of Princely Privileges, the of- mewar. i understand and i accept that we now Mewar Charitable Foundation, Vidyadan Trust, fice of the Custodian necessitated reinven- have no constitutional responsibilities today. we Maharana Mewar Historical Publications Trust, tions. In 1984, the mantle of 76th Custodian are not in the business of active elective politics, and Rajmata Gulab Kunwarji Charitable Trust devolved upon Shriji Arvind Singh Mewar of which is also our choice. and yet the desire is have emerged as the public charitable trusts re- Udaipur. The original status of Custodian, as that this house should continue to function in sponsible for more than 50 developmental proj- provided in the Constitution of India, ceased ects in and around Udaipur. The City Palace to exist. The challenge for Shriji Arvind Singh Museum, Maharana Mewar Special Library, Mewar of Udaipur was to bring the different Maharana Mewar Research Institute, the pub- identities of inheritance under one umbrella. lications division, and educational institutes Eternal Mewar was conceptualized to pro- are some of the key projects being managed and vide the vision for the 21st century. It encom- developed by the Trusts. HRH Group of Hotels, passes the core values and legacy of the House Udaipur, is the fl agship commercial venture of of Mewar. Eternal Mewar covers all the activi- the House of Mewar. HRH Group of Hotels is ties of the House of Mewar. Eternal Mewar has India’s largest and only chain of heritage pal- also emerged as a unique heritage brand exem- ace-hotels and resorts under private owner- plifying hospitality, cultural preservation, phi- ship. Shriji Arvind Singh Mewar of Udaipur is lanthropy, education, sports, and spirituality the Chairman and Managing Director of the for global audiences. HRH Group of Hotels, which offers regal expe- riences in island-palaces, museums, galleries, Your main focus since the beginning has Shriji Arvind Singh Mewar of Udaipur worshipping the horse on the car collections, and much more. In recognition been the palace-hotels, but you’ve gone be- occasion Ashwa Poojan at the Manek Chowk, City Palace Complex, of his contribution to the promotion of tourism yond that now, correct? Udaipur (above) 78 Leaders posted with permission. copyright © 2011 leaders magazine, inc. volume 34, number 1 its entirety as earlier, as the legacy goes back to everything mewar stood for, whether it is a a lot of what i’ve discussed may seem the 8th century ad; i am the 76th generation of commercial existence or water management or abstract and intangible, but we believe fi rmly this house. environment or cuisine – that which we have in continuing this form of governance even we have always looked at it as a been looking after. in a democratic set up because it has worked custodianship form of government from day so i am the custodian of this but we are for so long and still works. Kellogg school of one, not a Kingship form of government, and looking for joint custodians to make sure we management and the indian school of business, there is a vast difference between the two. that perpetuate the traditions of the house and the hyderabad, did a case study on our family that eternal mewar concept into the future. was presented in march 2010. i am proud that of course, palace-hotels and income are some of the best minds in family business man- very important; earning money is not a sin. but agement – professor John ward and professor at the same time, we feel that the different hats i K ramachandran – spent almost two years re- wear help me discharge my responsibilities and searching and studying the house of mewar and duties on both commercial and non-commercial the challenges it has faced. fronts. How are you handling the issue of wa- You also do a great deal for the envi- ter purification, as well as the lake disap- ronment, particularly on the lake, which is pearing at certain times? man-made. it’s a serious issue, there is no doubt about udaipur is a man-made city, and if it is it, and there is no reason why it should happen. competing with a state like Kashmir which is a i am aware of global warming and i’m aware of natural beauty, then you can imagine that our the insuffi ciency of rain during the . but forefathers must have done something right to today’s technology can do a lot of things in terms is the basic thrust that you must comprehend, of water harvesting and making sure that the lake because this is a unique form of government. never dries up. this is too political for me to go the state of mewar was not acquired into in depth, but there are ways and means of aggressively, but rather on the principle of a ensuring that this lake never dries up. tourism is teacher and a pupil. the pupil was selected the main industry focus for this area. on merit and was given the responsibility of Is the lake being fi lled important for administrating this parcel of land, where the continuing the success of tourism? wise man said, “you’ll be holding it in trust; rajasthan’s economy depends on tourism; you’re not the owner of it.” we still believe this it provides the people with a quality of life and even in the 21st century and i suppose this is with a means to sustain themselves. so it’s an also a modern corporate thinking process. but economic necessity. what the city authori- there was no trust act that governed, so it’s ties haven’t been able to do, tourism has done. your conscience which is responsible. you can we’re a much cleaner place because the people lie to anybody, but you can’t cheat your own have realized that to keep a clean shop front, conscience; that was the critical point of which they can’t put the garbage at the front door and we were made responsible in our governing. expect the municipality to take it; people are in a Kingship form of governance, the own- create this. the , these old-formed ership of everything rests with an individual, mountains, are more ancient and much older so once you’re an owner of something, you than the . you pick a site, you build can do what you like. but if you’re holding a capital city, and you can sustain it. there are something in trust on behalf of somebody, it’s so many cities built on this mountain range, but a different concept of divinity. the idea is that few have had the sustainability that udaipur has you are also responsible towards somebody, demonstrated. we have hotels, but it’s a living so you preserve, enhance, restore, and pass it palace; it’s a living hotel. it’s not a big monu- onto the next generation. ment. we don’t want udaipur to ever become a i am often asked, what is the secret to the dead monument and be talked about in the past sustainability of 76 generations? i’m not saying tense. we want udaipur to be contemporary that everybody was a great contributor to the and we continue to contemporize because we family fortunes, but everybody was very con- are not fearful of change; what was true 1,400 scious of the fact that they have to pass it onto years ago isn’t true today. but as the forefathers the next generation. it’s a collective responsibil- went along, they had the foresight and did not ity, which is continuous and eternal. in today’s fear change and, therefore, they were relevant day and age with iconic thinking about brands, to the time in which they lived and remain con- Exterior View of the (top); Sajjan Niwas Suite (top left); Jag we started calling it eternal mewar, which is nected today. Mandir Darshan Suite (center); Chandra Prakash Suite (bottom right) volume 34, number 1 posted with permission. copyright © 2011 leaders magazine, inc. Leaders 79 you and have enough leadership qualities, you can achieve what you want to achieve. perhaps there is a better way of doing things than in a dictatorial manner. in our family, this business of custodianship form of government always took these factors into consideration and, therefore, the art of management of collective responsibil- ity is something that is not new to us. so when you say King, i wanted to qualify your question by saying that as custodians, what is my great- est frustration, because as a King, i have none. as custodians, you want things to move and it takes a little time, and i fi nd it a little frustrating. One of the frustrations of anyone in your position must be trying to bring better understanding between India, the East and the West, for those who don’t travel and de- velop the understanding of other cultures and peoples as they should. i wish the government would do more to achieve that. unfortunately, even after 60 odd years of independence, there is a feeling of a “you and me” sort of a thing. they don’t look at us – the former princely order – as ordinary contributing citizens of india, be- cause we are very proud to be citizens of doing it themselves, because there is a commer- india today. but our legacy is often held cial value to it. i fi rmly believe that in the suste- against us; this could also be used in a posi- nance or preservation of any destination, there tive manner. but this is how it is. you can’t has to be an element of commercial interest in do anything about it. they still haven’t for- all of it. otherwise, you can talk until you’re gotten the old maharaja days and they pick blue in the face but it won’t impact anything or and choose some of the ones who are not anyone. very good towards their people. The Taj Lake Palace Hotel is one of the today, even though i’m not in politics, i great landmarks in the hotel business and feel proud of my connection with the people of has a view and feeling that is found no- udaipur; we have a great affectionate relation- where else. You made an arrangement a ship based on love and trust. i can’t fi nd a job few years ago with the Taj Hotels property, for everybody, i can’t give a pension or medical and put millions of dollars into upgrading treatment to everybody, but we do what we everything. This must have been a tremen- can. they trust me and any relationship is some- dous investment on your part. thing you need to work at. people ask me why investment in the past 10 years has been i don’t go into politics, but i feel that i can do done with taj because we changed our arrange- more for the people of udaipur by being out ment a bit. we don’t have those deep pockets of politics. which a public company has for this kind of You are a very public person and are work. we thought that in the larger interests of out and about, meeting many tourists. the business and of the people of udaipur, it is i probably meet more people than the best that we come up with an arrangement with people internationally traveling and coming a company like taj, and we’ve been with them to my hotel. obviously, i meet many people since 1971. who are tourists. but at the same time, i give You have remarkable employees work- a lot of my time to interacting with global ing at the hotel. Where do you fi nd such and indian infl uencers and decision-makers. good people? it is a great learning exercise for me, helping you don’t fi nd good people. there is no me to remain contemporary and relevant as a such thing as bad people and good people. it’s custodian.• the culture of the city. we are a very proud peo- i see where you’re coming from, but we ple here. yet we don’t feel ashamed to serve; never coveted any of that. one has to take a lot 90 percent of the western countries fi nd it very of pride in one’s own self-respect today. and diffi cult to fi nd people who take pride in service. in order to do that, you have to lead from the now, if you are not a service-oriented person or front, and unfortunately, the younger genera- service-minded person, you shouldn’t be in the tion is often not prepared to work hard enough hospitality business. you can train people, you to demonstrate those leadership qualities. the can hone in skills, but you can’t hone in attitudes. advantage we have is that we have so many Many years ago, when Kings visited precedents in our family and we take our in- other Kings, they were presented with spiration from our history. we feel that there is decorations, and each country had various an honorable way to live and that is extremely stages and orders of their decorations, and important and dear to us. when, for instance, the Queen or King of As a King, what is your greatest England gave you an order, it was with real frustration? diamonds, rubies, and emeralds – that is no i am a custodian and, yes, there may be longer the case. It seems a sad reminder of some frustrations but not major ones. these Lake Palace, Udaipur: Swimming Pool (top); Spa Treatment Room the good old days of the past. days, if you have the ability to carry people with (center); Private Sit Out (bottom) 80 Leaders posted with permission. copyright © 2011 leaders magazine, inc. volume 34, number 1