Mysore point

As a Mysorean, I was delighted to read Graham Simmon's account on City of Ancient Palaces, Mysore, has too much to offer in The Jakarta Post of Aug. 18, 1996.

However, it is a pity Simmons showed an overall view of Mysore City from atop Chamundi Hill. It would have been nice to see Amba Villas (not Amber Villas) or the Mysore Palace in its full glory, lit by millions of lightbulbs.

Another picture worth showing would have been St. Philomena's Church (renamed St. Joseph's when St. Philomena lost her sainthood after a Vatican ruling). The magnificent cathedral is a scaled-down version of Notre Dame in Paris, the brainchild of Bishop Feuga, a Frenchman, who was responsible for its modification and the sourcing of building funds.

I am curious to learn exactly when Simmons visited this fairy-tale city, as he mentions the Maharaja of Mysore. Unfortunately, all Indian maharajas lost their princely status during the early days of Indira Gandhi's government. She had them stripped of their powers and their palaces became the property of the government of India.

The last Maharaja of Mysore, High highness Jayachamaraja Urs Wadiyar (of the Wadiyar Dynasty) passed on well after Mrs. Gandhi's severe ruling. He died nobly and in dignity, and his only surviving son, Mr. Srikant Jayachamaraja Urs, lives in quarters next to the Mysore Palace.

MARIANNE PEREIRA

Jakarta