'Maharaj' no more around to help

By Lalit Shastri

GWALIOR, OCT. 1. A pall of gloom has descended here on Gwalior and the people are in a state of shock. They do not have words to express their grief over the demise of their beloved Maharaj, Mr. Madhavrao Scindia, who died in a plane crash on Sunday.

Mr. Scindia's residence here - the imposing Jai Vilas Palace - has been the venue of many royal functions and ceremonies since it was built in 1874.

Today the whole place is wrapped in grief as the palace staff and workers stood in tears. All shops were closed and mourners lined up at the palace entrance from early morning. The queue of grief- stricken citizens moved forward in the most disciplined manner to sign the condolence register kept before a framed portrait of Mr. Scindia inside the palace.

Simultaneously, preparations were on in the adjacent Rani Mahal to receive the mortal remains of Mr. Scindia on Tuesday.

The palace grounds have been barricaded to control the movement of people who would be flooding the palace in the next two days to pay their last respects to their `Maharaj'.

When this correspondent talked to one of the personal staff members of Mr. Scindia, he said ``Maharaj was always there to help. But now there is darkness all around and it appears that we have lost all that we ever possessed''.

Another staffer recalled how their Maharaj was always courteous and warm even towards his political opponents.

Gwalior citizens recall with gratitude Mr. Scindia's singular contribution to the progress and development of the region. They give full credit to Mr. Scindia for making Gwalior an important destination on the railway map and also for the recent setting up of the Indian Institute of Information Technology.

The sports lovers here particularly remember Mr. Scindia for his passionate commitment to cricket. The Madhya Pradesh Government has announced a three-day state mourning and all Government offices remained closed today.

The authorities, led by the District Collector, Mr. Wasim Akhtar, were supervising arrangements for the last rites.

Mr. Scindia's mortal remains will be brought here tomorrow from Delhi and kept at the Rani Mahal.

The cremation will be attended by the Prime Minister, Mr. Atal Behari Vajpayee, the Home Minister, Mr. L.K. Advani, the Congress president, Ms. Sonia Gandhi, the Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister, Dr. Farooq Abdullah, and the Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister, Mr. Digvijay Singh.

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