Meeting at the threshold, at the edge of the carpet or somewhere in between? Questions of ceremonial in princely India

Abstract

In the interaction between Indian princes and British political officers, ceremonial played a prominent part, especially in forms of salutation and seating arrangements. Hence, the question of a British Resident, quoted in the title of this article, on the proper ceremonial at a Maharaja's visit. The Political Departmentfelt convinced that ceremonial, 'a bit of bunting' in Lord Lytton's patronising words, met a deeply felt oriental need for pomp and circumstance. Some officers, however, acknowledged that in princely states, the maintenance of regal splendour could be more important than sound administration. Similar shades of opinion can be found among social scientists studying court ceremonial. Is ceremonial the hand- maiden of political power or is it rather the other way round?