Word: durbars
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Dates: during 1950-1959
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They had come over mountains, through jungles, across the tsetse-fly belt, by foot, on horses and camels or in shiny new American cars to pay homage to their Queen, Elizabeth II. It was the first durbar (gathering of the princes) since India's turnout for George V in 1911, and the first ever in Africa. Doing her best to match the expectations of her audience, the guest of honor wore an evening dress, bejeweled Garter sash, diamond tiara and an ermine stole. It was a narrow question whether her costume or the excited plumage of her subjects...
There had been no such excitement since Independence Day in 1947, no such pomp since George V, King and Emperor, summoned the princes of India to pay him homage at a royal durbar in 1911. An army of cosmeticians did over New Delhi. Whitewash and fresh paint suddenly beautified the twelve miles from the airport into the city. Unsightly shacks were torn down, red gravel was spread like rouge over rough paths and disheveled roads, and a multitude of women of low caste swept every inch of the main highway with hand brooms. If the visitors would only visit enough...
...Prime Minister Rana was somewhat embarrassed to learn that Minister Henderson bore a letter from President Truman addressed to the King, in person. After due deliberation, Rana decided that the privilege of getting letters from Harry Truman be added to barley-throwing and being called Sr15. Accordingly, a great durbar was held, and Minister Henderson handed the King his letter. A TIME correspondent who went in with the U.S. mission noticed that the King seemed very shy, as if he had not been allowed to associate with many people...
...walls of New Delhi's great sandstone Government House. The words "Royal" and "His Majesty's" had been taken off mailboxes, trucks and ships. India was breaking her last symbolic bonds to Britain. Declaring Jan. 26 Republic Day,* the government gathered in New Delhi's Durbar Hall to inaugurate its new constitution and install its first President, 65-year-old Rajendra Prasad...