Old Parr Gone Sour! by Ajay Singha - Raconteur Indica

Mirthful Vignettes from a Bygone Era !
Much after India’s independence and the merger of Rajputana’s Princely States into the State of Rajasthan, Ajmer-Merwara continued to be centrally administered from New Delhi till, as late as 1956. It was just a couple of years after India’s independence when Rai Bahadur Capt. Seth Sir Bhagchand Soni, who went by the sobriquet ‘Merchant Prince of Rajputana’ invited Mr Kriplani ICS, the new Chief Commissioner of Ajmer-Merwara for dinner. The top brass of the State’s administration and prominent citizens of the city, including my father were invited at this VIP banquet. The British Raj had ended some years ago but Kriplani, an ICS officer of the old school was, as they say, more English than the Queen and expected that the Merchant Prince would serve nothing less than his favourite Old Parr whisky. Much like in the days of the Raj their respective staff had exchanged notes about the Commissioner’s dietary preferences and confirmed that Old Parr would rule that evening. The evening commenced with the chief guest being served first and the host announced “Cheers – long live the Republic” instead of “To Her Majesty – Long live the Queen” in the years gone by. Chief Commissioner Kriplani sipped his favourite scotch and as Old Parr made its way into thirsty gullets, Kriplani made quite a sour face.

To everyone’s great surprise the chief guest, after taking a sip, put his glass aside and refused to imbibe any more of his favourite whisky. Out of politeness the other guests too put away their glasses. My father went up to the chief guest whose position was comparable to that of a Ruler of any Princely State of the past and quietly asked him if his drink was fine. Kriplani made another wry face, wrinkled his nose and whispered quite aloud ‘You see this Grand Old Parr is a sensitive scotch, it doesn’t sleep well in moth balled cupboards, but never mind, I will go home and have a drink.’ The whisky was moth balled. Seth Bhagchand who was a teetotaller didn't know better and his servants had dutifully stored his whisky in an outhouse, amongst woollen blankets along with insect repelling moth balls. Non-vegetarian food was absolutely prohibited from entering his palatial residence but over the years Sir Bhagchand had permitted serving alcohol to VIPs, as long as the whole exercise was carried out in the lawns and never inside his home.

(The palatial residence of Sir Bhagchand Soni as it stands today)

The host was dutifully informed by my father of these sudden developments. As conversation dwindled and guests exchanged nervous glances, Sir Bhagchand sensed that the evening was heading for a disaster. ‘What if the chief guest departs without having dinner? That would be the last time he would accept my invitation’ thought Sir Bhaghchand. He turned to my father requesting him to salvage the situation and urgently arrange some bottles of Old Parr whisky from someplace. No one present had any bottles of this particular brand at home and the Ajmer club’s well stocked bar from the British days was closed that day. It was the 15th of August and young India had decided to celebrate independence by declaring it a dry day. The entire top administration of Ajmer-Merwara was involved in the evolving fiasco and at risk was the impeccable reputation of the perfect host, Sir Bhagchand himself. My father told Sir Bhagchand to keep the chief guest busy for just fifteen minutes and he would be back with a solution. He rushed to the Ajmer Club, yanked open the bar lock and was back within no time with a few bottles of Old Parr.

With Kriplani’s favourite whisky flowing once again, jollifications quickly resumed and Sir Bhagchand’s reputation of being the perfect host, the ‘Merchant Prince of Rajputana’ continued unscathed. As it happened my father, in those days was an honorary office bearer of Ajmer club as well as a senior officer of the State Police. No one stopped him on his way in and out of the club. The Chief Commissioner and the select few of renown had an enjoyable evening and life in the small State of Ajmer-Merwara moved on.

Ajmer early 1950s: a private cocktail party in progress

The Ajmer Club as it stands today