Yaduveer Gopalraj Urs, the first among Wadiyars to be educated abroad

The formal announcement of Yaduveer Gopalraj Urs as a successor to late Srikanta Datta Narasimharaja Wadiyar of the Mysuru royal family continues the tradition of Wadiyars’ adopting from the Bettadakote Ursu family.

The Bettada Kote family’s association with the Wadiyars of Mysuru goes back more than 200 years. Pramoda Devi, wife of Srikanta Datta Narasimharaja Wadiyar, also hails from the same family. Krishnaraja Wadiyar III was just a five-year-old boy when he was placed on the throne after the fall of Srirangapatna following the British victory over Tipu Sultan on May 4, 1799. He was chosen by Maharani Lakshammanni, who hailed from the famous Bettadakote Ursu family. As Krishnaraja Wadiyar III had no issues, he chose a young boy, Chamarajendra Wadiyar, also from the same ruling family of Ursus.

Again, Krishnaraja Wadiyar IV, who succeeded Chamarajendra Wadiyar, had no heirs to the throne. He adopted his nephew, Jayachamaraja Wadiyar, son of Yuvaraja Kanteerava Narasimhaaraja Wadiyar. Now, after the demise of Srikanta Datta Wadiyar, Pramoda Devi on Thursday announced the adoption of Yaduveer as successor, who also hails from the Bettadakote Ursus.

Yaduveer will be given the new name, Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar, a combination of names of some of the past rulers, including late Srikanta Datta Wadiyar, following his adoption. He will be the first one to succeed to the post with an educational background abroad. He is currently studying in Umass University of Massachusetts, US.

His degree in economics and finance may become useful in managing the royal family’s affairs better, it is said. A fitness freak and tech-savvy person, he is seen as the right choice for the ceremonial post.

Formal religious ceremonies will be conducted on February 23 at the Mysuru Palace for adoption as announced by Pramoda Devi. The installation, however, will be after his graduation, it is said. It is also learnt that he was engaged just recently. His parents, Swarup Anand Gopalaraj Urs and Tripurasundari Devi, live in Yelahanka at Jakkur, in Bengaluru and he studied at Vidya Niketan educational institution, Hebbal, and Canadian International School, Bengaluru, after which he left for the US to pursue his Bachelor of Arts.

Though the royal family members have endorsed Yaduveer’s succession, Chaduranga Kantharaja Urs, Yaduveer’s uncle who had performed the last rites of the late Srikantadatta Wadiyar and conducted the 2014 Dasara rituals, appears to have fallen out. He was conspicuous by his absence on Thursday’s press briefing while the other members of the Wadiyar’s family were present to back Pramoda Devi’s choice of Yaduveer.

Dismissing reports that there were differences in the family on the choice of Yaduveer, Pramoda Devi has asserted that the decision was in compliance with the wishes of her late husband and supported by all members of the royal family. However, Kantharaj Urs’s absence brings to fore his displeasure over the denial of the post to him.