When Maharaja Of Alwar Made Rolls Royce Nervous

Not many would know that the Maharajas of India had an interesting connection with Rolls Royce. More than 20,000 Rolls Royces were built before the First World War and about 20 per cent of them were shipped to India. The estimate is that, on an average, each Maharaja had three to five Rolls Royces. Since there were about 230 ‘major Maharajas’ in India back then, it is estimated that India had around 2,000 Rolls Royces.

The story of the Maharaja Of Alwar taking a delayed revenge from Rolls Royce is a good one. Jai Singh, the Maharaja Of Alwar, was visiting London in 1920. While taking a walk on the streets of Mayfair area of London, the Maharaja entered the Rolls Royce car showroom. He was humbly dressed at that time.

A British salesman saw him coming and perceived that an ‘ordinary’ Indian had entered the showroom so he chose to ignore the Maharaja. This was the common treatment given by Britishers to Indians back then. Little did he know that this ordinary-looking Indian could very well be the richest customer he had ever seen.

The treatment meted out by the salesman was not usual for Maharaja Jai Singh. He was furious and decided to get back on this ‘insult’.

The Maharaja went back to the hotel and asked one of his servants to arrange for an officially royal visit to Rolls Royce. The visit was arranged and a red carpet treatment was given to Maharaja. He told the showroom manager that he would buy all the cars available with them but the salesman should accompany them to India.

The manager agreed and later the fleet of seven cars was shipped to the Maharaja Of Alwar. As agreed, the salesman accompanied the delivery. After reaching, the fleet was arranged in front of the palace of Maharaja Jai Singh, the salesman was also standing with the fleet happily.

The Maharaja arrived and ordered that all the cars be used as garbage collecting vehicle. The Jai Singh was satisfied with the revenge and Rolls Royce was nervous for sure.

The news of Rolls Royce being used to collect garbage spread all over the world. This spoiled the reputation of Rolls Royce as world’s most reputed car. Maharaja’s move had such an effect that whenever someone boasted of owning a Rolls Royce, people started asking that if they own the same Rolls Royce which is used to collect garbage in India.

Rolls Royce company sent a written apology to Maharaja Jai Singh. On understanding that the Britishers have realised their mistake, Maharaja ordered withdrawal of Rolls Royce from garbage collection services.