Of all the roles one plays, that of leading the heritage platform Royal Fables fulfils me the most. Especially when the ones to witness the sheer gravitas of this old world ‘fable’ is as evolved as the heritage seekers of Bengaluru. Hence, when nearly two years ago, Revathi Raju, Chairperson, FICCI Flo, Bengaluru Chapter called me asking to bring the heritage exposition to her city, I was beyond thrilled. It was November 2020 and wave one of the Covid-19 pandemic had just subsided. We were parked in our cottage in the hills, still scared to step out into the city of Delhi where Covid presumably awaited us at every corner. An exposition, a physical one seemed impossible. But we went on planning, doggedly between waves, tsunamis and ripples of the pandemic. Three cancelled attempts later, here we were in The Leela Palace, Bengaluru thrilled to see the fable unfurl finally.
(L-R) Revathi Raju, Chairperson 21-22 Ficci Flo,Nidhi S BBG Royals, H.H. Maharani Radhika Raje Gaekwad, Anshu Khanna.
H.H. Maharani Radhika Raje Gaekwad and Prasad Bidapa in conversation.
(L-R) Anshu Khanna, Founder, Royal Fables and Revathi Raju, Chairperson, 21-22 FICCI Flo.
(R-L) Anshu Khanna, Ambika Raje Ghorpade Sandur, Revathi Raju and H.H. Maharani Radhika Raje Gaekwad.
H.H. Maharani Radhika Raje Gaekwad, Revathi Raju, Yashodhara Shroff and Shubha Kulkarni.
The royals guests at FICCI Flo X Royal Fables celebrations.
Safir Anand, IPR lawyer and brand evangelist.
At a one day exposition, 15 royal brands and 12 heritage studios presented ‘hand’ made in India at its finest. As members of leading royal families including Baroda, Sandur, Kangra, Kishangarh and Pratapgarh came together, the VIP dinner the night before had three young royals present their culinary legacy. From the temple cuisine of Kangra by H.H. Rani Shailaja Katoch of Kangra-Lambagraon to the famous laal maas of Bikaner, the recipe of which was shared by Princess Mahima Kumari of Bikaner to desserts rustled up by patisserie chef Anushka Raje Ghorpade, the dinner was the Raj era relived. The khatta kaddu gaining as much importance as the laal maas and the bhature and chana of Kangra sweeping the South palate off its feet. Full marks to Zafar Ali, Executive Chef, The Leela Palace Bengaluru, who interpreted the recipes to perfection.
Revathi Raju exclaims, “It was an honour to bring this exhibition to Bengaluru that celebrates and revives old crafts and promotes our traditional weavers. The idea of hosting the Royal Fables exhibition in Bengaluru has been brewing in my mind for a long time. Through this association, generations young and old can traverse through our textiles and designs from the royal past, bringing it into the present and finding a way to sustain it in the future.”
A float captured the ‘Nafasat of Avadh’, the delicacy of a life lived by the Talukdaars of the region, three scions of this heritage, sisters and Princesses of Pratapgarh, Alka Rani Singh and Rani Archana Kumari Badnore along with Kanwarani Kamini Singh Seohara unveiled the gracious life of royal Uttar Pradesh. Its beauty rituals poshaks, paan potlis, silver etc. A cameo of the exhibition held on 29th March at Royal Ballroom was unveiled. Prasad Bidappa conversed with the royal delegation on stage along with art historian Cynthia Meera Frederick.
Shares Anshu Khanna, Founder, Royal Fables, “Bengaluru is a city that is steeped in culture. The world looks up to it for its royal palaces and pleasure gardens. I am thrilled to be able to bring our regal story to the city with the dynamic women of FICCI Flo.”
Another precious highlight was a talk by celebrated couturier and costume collector Umang Hutheesing on design over the years. He conversed with Safir Anand, a leading IPR lawyer and brand evangelist.
The exhibition, inaugurated by Ambika Raje Ghorpade Sandur, presented 30 rare craft stories curated from across the country. Block printed cottons by Rani Jaykirti Singh Baria, art inspired chiffons by BBG Royals from Awagarh. Embellished formals from Rosetree, restoration stories by Rang Riwaaz, rare embroideries by Charu Saigal, embroidered chiffons by Preeti Rathore, Daspan, Patan Patolas by Nirmal Salvi, elegant jewels from Amrita Rana Nepa as well as antique border saris from Ashok Maaney, a designer from Bengaluru were on display.