Important Notice

Printed Caption on top
THE CHAMBER OF PRINCES (NARENDER MANDAL) DELHI 13th MARCH 1939.

Printed Caption at bottom beneath the photo
Left to right
1st ROW (Seated)
H.H. The Raja of Sangli, H.H. The Raja of Bilaspur, The Nawab of Banganaplle, H.H. The Nawab of Bahawalpur, H.H The Maharaja of Alwar, H.H The Maharaja of Jaipur, H.H. The Maharaja Jam Saheb of Nawanagar, H.E. The Crown Representative, H.H. The Maharao Raja of Bundi,... Printed Caption on top
THE CHAMBER OF PRINCES (NARENDER MANDAL) DELHI 13th MARCH 1939.

Printed Caption at bottom beneath the photo
Left to right
1st ROW (Seated)
H.H. The Raja of Sangli, H.H. The Raja of Bilaspur, The Nawab of Banganaplle, H.H. The Nawab of Bahawalpur, H.H The Maharaja of Alwar, H.H The Maharaja of Jaipur, H.H. The Maharaja Jam Saheb of Nawanagar, H.E. The Crown Representative, H.H. The Maharao Raja of Bundi, H.H. The Maharaja of Rewa, H.H The Raja of Faridkot, H.H The Maharaja of Dewas (Junior Br.), H.H The Raja of Sailana, H.H The Maharaja of Idar, H.H The Maharawat of Partabgarh.

2nd ROW (Standing)
Mir Maqbool Mahmood, The Raja of Jawhar, The Thakor Saheb of Dhrol, H.H. The Maharaja of Patiala, H.H. The Maharawal of Dungarpur, The Thakor Saheb of Palitana, H.H Maharana Raj Saheb of Wankaner, H.H. The Maharaja of Bikaner, H.H The Nawab of Rampur, H.H. The Maharaja of Tehri (Garhwal), The Nawab of Loharu, H.H. The Nawab of Baoni, The Raja of Maihar, H.H The Maharaja of Panna, The Raja of Sarila, H.H. The Raja of Suket.

3rd ROW (Standing)
Dr Wajid Khan, Maj.C.P,Hancock, H.H. The Raja of Samthar, Heir Apparent of Dewas, The Raja of Phaltan, The Raja of Jamkhandi, The Raja of Khairagarh, H.H. The Maharaja of Cooch-Bohar, The Raja of Seraikela, H.H. The Maharaja of Tripura.

4th ROW (Standing)
Mr. CG. Herbert, The Hon'ble Sir Bertrand Glancy, Nawabzada of Rampur, Heir Apparent of Sitamau, Prince of Jaisalmere, Heir Apparent of Jaisslmere, Heir Apparent of Khilchipur, H.H. The Raja of Mandi, Prince of Khairagarh, The Raja of Bamra, H.H The Mabaraja of Jhalawar, The Raja of Jubbal, Heir Apparent of Seraikela, Nowabzada of Banganaplle.

5th ROW (Standing)
Prince of Panna, Heir Apparent of Palanpur, Heir Apparent of Panna, Prince of Dungarpur.

BOTTOM
(Copy Right Reserved) A.R. DATT, DELHI

In 1920, King-Emperor George V issued a royal proclamation that established The Chamber of Princes (Narendra Mandal) as a forum for the rulers of the princely states of India to express their needs and aspirations to the colonial administration of British India. It endured until 1947, the conclusion of the British Raj.

The Chamber of Princes was constituted in 1920 by King-Emperor George V's proclamation on 23 December 1919, following the royal assent of the Government of India Act 1919. The British abandoned their long-standing policy of isolating the Indian rulers from each other and the rest of the world, which led to the establishment of the chamber.

The Chamber's inaugural meeting was held on February 8, 1921, and it was composed of 120 members. 108 of the more significant states were members, while the remaining twelve seats were for the representation of an additional 127 states. That left 327 minor states that were not represented. Additionally, certain of the more significant authorities, such as the Maratha-ruled states of Baroda State, Gwalior State, and Holkar State, declined to participate.

The Chamber of Princes typically convened only once annually, with the Viceroy of India serving as the chairperson. However, it established a Standing Committee that convened on a more frequent basis. From its princely ranks, the full Chamber elected a permanent officer denoted as the Chancellor, who served as the head of the Standing Committee. At the Parliament House, the parliament convened. The chamber is currently utilized as the parliament's library.

A R Datt was a distinguished photographer known for his role as the sole official photographer for the Narender Mandal (Chamber of Princes) from 1919 through the early 1930s. The Narender Mandal, established in 1921, served as a consultative body for the rulers of princely states in India under British colonial rule. Datt's photographs documented these historic meetings, capturing official portraits, group photos, and candid moments that provide a valuable visual record of the era. His work is renowned for its clarity and composition, vividly portraying the regal presence and personalities of Indian royalty. Today, Datt's photographs are treasured in various archives, including the British Library and the National Archives of India, and continue to be an essential resource for historians studying colonial India and the princely states.

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