The Raj of Dhrangadhra

This is a photo book of a region in India called Jhalavad. Jhalavad was an ancient desert kingdom ruled by Jhala kings called Jhallesvars since 1082 A.D. The title of His Highness came into existence after British rule was established in Jhalavad in 1807. This book showcases aspects of the life of the current Jhallesvar, His Highness Dr. Jayasinhji Jhala, Emeritus Professor of Anthropology at Temple University. I, Alex Goldblum, am his former student and friend. I am a photographer, filmmaker, and book maker and I was invited to Jhalavad and offered the opportunity to explore the region, its culture, architecture, and life, and the art and palaces of the Jhallesvar. I have been privileged to examine this archive of photos over eighteen years. This is a compilation of my experience with Jhalavad and the present Jhallesvar Maharaja of Halvad-Dhrangadhra, Jayasinhji, who is also known as Bapa or Bava. I am from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and I first met Professor Jhala when I entered his anthropology class at Temple University in Philadelphia in 2005. I enrolled in Temple’s summer study abroad course which Dr. Jhala held in the town of Dhrangadhra in the western province of Gujarat in India. Dhrangadhra was the former capital of the Kingdom of Halvad-Dhrangadhra. I was surprised when I arrived that I was to live in a beautiful palace. I realized my professor was a prince, Prince Jayasinhji of the Kingdom of Halvad-Dhrangadhra. This book is an in depth look at the history and culture of The Raj of Dhrangadhra. This is the fifth book project I have published in collaboration with Dr. Jayasinhji Jhala. Previous book titles by Dr. Jhala, edited by me are as follows: Royal Jhallesvar Paintings of The Floating Desert; Ganga Speaks; My India: Voices of The Floating Desert; Jhallaraangadh: The Lake Palace at Halvad. The photographs in this book have been extracted from several sources. Principal photographers include myself and Premji Rudatala, with the lion’s share of photos coming from the personal archive of Dr. Jayasinhji Jhala. Special thanks to Barbara Kates for her close review of the book’s manuscript.