THE new sunday express Voices Devdutt Pattanaik Preeti Shenoy Ravi Shankar Ajai Sahni Dr Deepali Bhardwaj Mata Amritanandamayi MAGAZINE Princess Buffet People Wellness Books Food Art & Culture Entertainment june 7 2026 SUNDAY PAGES 12 Diaries From palace corridors to forest sanctuaries, India’s royal heiresses are rewriting inheritance as a practice of care, not power B By Tanisha Saxena orn into privilege but increasingly defined by purpose, a new generation of royal women is reshaping the meaning of inherited status in contemporary India. Rather than retreating into nostalgia or ceremonial roles, many have become advocates for causes ranging from women’s empowerment and education to conservation, craft revival, community development, and cultural preservation. Their work reflects a distinctly modern form of royal feminism— one that seeks to translate influence into impact, and inherited visibility into public service. Across India, the idea of royalty has outlived the institution itself. Titles were abolished decades ago, privy purses withdrawn, and political authority dissolved into a democratic order that left little formal space for kings and queens. And yet, in cities like Udaipur, in the forests of Odisha, and in the hinterlands of Punjab, the physical and cultural imprint of royal families endures—visible in palaces, archives, and in the expectations that still attach to certain names. What has changed is how that inheritance is being understood. For a younger generation, it presents itself as a collection of responsibilities and resources. Some have turned to hospitality opening ancestral homes to paying guests. Others have established , foundations, conservation initiatives, educational programmes, or enterprises connected to local economies. Across regions, these women are moving beyond symbolic inheritance to active participation—reimagining heritage through entrepreneurship, cultural work, and community engagement. They are not preserving history behind glass, but placing it in motion: adapting textiles, opening palaces to public dialogue, supporting craft ecosystems, and creating opportunities for future generations. Their legacy lies not in what they have received, but in what they choose to build. All in One Mrinalika M Bhanj Deo Mayurbhanj, Odisha I n Mayurbhanj, where The Belgadia Palace rises against the forests leading to Simlipal National Park, Mrinalika M Bhanj Deo has redefined what inherited legacy can mean in contemporary India. Alongside her sister, she transformed the former royal residence into a heritage homestay The Belgadia Palace . has become a gateway to the cultural, ecological and social fabric of Mayurbhanj, introducing visitors to indigenous food traditions, local crafts, community experiences, and the remarkable biodiversity of the region. Under her stewardship, the palace has evolved into a living cultural space where heritage is not preserved behind glass but experienced through meaningful engagement with local communities. Guests are encouraged to explore the region beyond the palace walls, discovering traditional crafts, local cuisine and the unique relationship between the people of Mayurbhanj and the forests surrounding Simlipal. Yet it is through the Mayurbhanj Foundation that Bhanj Deo’s vision has perhaps found its most far-reaching expression. Established to create sustainable and inclusive development across the region, the Foundation works across education, livelihoods, environmental awareness, sports development, and craft preservation. Its initiatives are designed to strengthen local communities. “Real change happens through partnership,” she explains. “You have to listen to communities and understand what they need before offering support.” The Foundation’s work reflects her belief that heritage cannot be separated from the people who sustain it. Whether supporting artisans, creating opportunities for young people, encouraging environmental stewardship or promoting local entrepreneurship, the organisation seeks to build long-term resilience rather than short-term interventions. Its projects embody a model of development that places communities at the centre of preservation and progress alike. She and Hers Mrigesha Kumari Nagaur, Rajasthan F Palace Palate Seherinder Kaur Patiala, Punjab F or Princess Seherinder Kaur, heritage is best preserved not through monuments or memorabilia, but through traditions that continue to be lived, practiced, and shared. Among her most meaningful pursuits is the revival of heritage recipes—many of them drawn from royal kitchens and family archives—that might otherwise have disappeared with time. She has spent years rediscovering dishes passed down through generations, tracing the stories behind them and bringing them back into contemporary kitchens. “Each recipe carries a memory attached to it: a person, a moment, a place,” she says. For Seherinder, recipes are not static heirlooms but living narratives that reveal how families, communities, and cultures evolved over time. By revisiting forgotten dishes and documenting their histories, she is helping ensure that culinary traditions remain accessible to future generations. To this end, she organises talks and workshops to raise awareness about lost recipes. She is now looking forward to one of her most ambitious cultural projects: a coffee-table book dedicated to signature recipes that have been passed down through generations of her family. Through her work in food, Princess Seherinder Kaur is demonstrating that tradition remains relevant only when it continues to evolve. or over 15 years, the Khimsar Foundation has been quietly transforming lives across the villages surrounding Khimsar in Rajasthan’s Nagaur district. Established with a commitment to community welfare and inclusive development, the foundation has evolved into a multifaceted rural initiative focused on women’s livelihoods, traditional crafts, education, health, environmental stewardship, and social welfare. At the heart of the Foundation’s work is a belief that sustainable development begins by recognising and strengthening the skills that already exist within a community One of its most successful initiatives emerged . from this philosophy through a programme designed to create economic opportunities for rural women. The initiative began with the distribution of sewing machines. “What we realised,” says Mrigesha Kumari, “was that the skill already existed. These women knew tailoring and stitching. What they lacked was a platform.” The foundation responded by creating a home-based enterprise model that allowed women to work from within their own communities. What began as a livelihood programme gradually became a catalyst for confidence and social change. Women who once hesitated to engage in public spaces now participate in meetings, collaborate with one another, and take an active role in managing their work. The economic stability generated through these initiatives has had a ripple effect throughout the region, improving access to education, healthcare, and nutrition for numerous families while fostering greater financial independence among women.