Dedication & Coronation

The Maharaja of Patiala, 31, rose to his full 6 ft. 3 in. in his stocking feet. The leader of India's six million warrior Sikhs and ruler of the Punjab's No. 1 state had a duty to perform.

He was honoring Guru (Teacher) Govind Singh and his two martyr sons, by breaking ground for a shrine for them. The story goes that Guru's sons were captured by the Moslems (circa 1700) and held as hostages until their father should renounce his faith. When he refused, the Moslems built a tomb over the two boys, 7 and 9, and buried them alive.

Walking in his socks while his" mustachios curled magnificently skyward, the Maharaja carried a takri (basket) of earth from the site of the shrine. While thousands of his subjects chanted: "Sat Sri Akal!" ("Truth is eternal!"), the Prince bore his burden on his turbaned head in token of his total humility.

On the other side of India, northeast of Calcutta and south of the realm of the Bong of Wong, the Maharaja of Manipur celebrated his coronation--three years late. Because of the Japanese threat to India, he had postponed the ceremony. Taking to wife a third "wartime" bride on the advice of his high priest (three wives can better rule a ruler's heart than two in time of crisis), he had decided to wait patiently for the Japanese to go. Now, with the Japanese gone, he was back in his capital again. Up to his bomb-wrecked coronation hall he rode majestically on an elephant.

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