Wadiyar dynasty

"It was later that I discovered that not a single book had been written in the modern times that covered the entire span of the Wodeyar history through the dimensions of political, social, economic and cultural history of the place and its contribution to the creation of a modern, progressive Karnataka. In the highly Delhi-centric view of Indian history, large swathes of the country remain underrepresented. But as Toni Morrison famously said, ‘If there’s a book that you want to read and it hasn’t been written yet, then you must write it.’ This was how, totally serendipitously, my childhood passion metamorphosed into my first book Splendours of Royal Mysore: The Untold Story of the Wodeyars in 2008."

"While people in Kerala felt affronted by the serial, opposition brewed even in Karnataka. A large part of Southern Karnataka, which was previously known as Mysore State before independence, was ruled by the Hindu monarchs of the Wodeyar dynasty. It was one of the longest reigning royal houses of India that maintained its hold over the region from 1399 when the dynasty was established, till 1947 when India won her freedom. There was only a brief forty year interregnum or an intermission period when their throne was usurped by Haidar Ali and his son Tipu Sultan. To boost the image of Tipu, the tele-serial portrayed the Mysore Royal Family in an extremely derisive manner. The ruler from whom Haidar usurped the throne, Immadi Krishnaraja Wodeyar, was shown as an obese retard who was effete and danced along with the court dancer. His wife, the sagacious queen of Mysore whose efforts eventually won back the kingdom for her family, Lakshmi Ammanni, was portrayed as a cunning and conniving vamp of sorts. This upset several common folks in the state who still hold the Wodeyar family in great regard and reverence for all the progressive measures that they took,"