Turning Rolls Royces to collect garbage 

Not many of us know that before first world war more than twenty thousand Rolls Royce was built and almost 20 per cent were shipped to India. At that time there were almost 230 Indian Kings (Maharajas) and on an average, there was around 2000 Rolls Royce in India. Indian Kings and Rolls Royce had a strong connection back then. Owning a Rolls Royce used to be a pride. But a famous king from Alwar, Rajasthan used to buy three automobiles at a time. In 1920, Maharaja of Alwar, Jai Singh was walking around the streets of Mayfair Area, London. He was in a normal attire and he walked into a showroom of Rolls Royce. Then a British salesman ignored Maharaja Jai Singh because he thought he is just an ordinary poor Indian.

King Jai Singh couldn’t take this humiliation and return to his hotel room. He then asked his servants to the call the showroom and tell them that King of Alwar city is going to buy few of their cars. After that, all the salesmen in the showroom were lined up to honour the King’s visit and a red carpet was rolled out in the showroom. Then the King visited the showroom with his royal appearance. At that time there were six cars present in the showroom, the King purchased all the six cars at a time. He paid the full amount including the delivery charges.

Once all the six Rolls Royce had been transported to India, the King ordered the Municipality to use these cars to sweep the streets of the city. He also asked them to use these cars to collect and transport garbage from every corner of the city. And in no time the news got spread in all over the world and the number one car manufacturer Rolls Royce was in total shock. Their reputation and revenue dropped rapidly. And finally, Rolls Royce sent a telegram apologizing for their behaviour to the Indian King Jai Singh. They also offered six more brand new cars at free of cost. The king then asked the Municipality and others to stop using the Rolls Royce for collecting garbage, he also accepted their apologies.

Sir Jai Singh Prabhakar was the Maharaja of the princely state of Alwar from 1892 to 1937. The only son of the previous ruler, Sir Mangal Singh Prabhakar Bahadur, Sir Jai Singh initially was noted as brilliant, erudite and charming. However, he was later forced into exile. He died in 1937 at the age of 54. He was succeeded by a distant relative, Tej Singh Prabhakar
Bahadur.

He was educated in Mayo College, Ajmer. He was a highly regarded Indian English orator and scholar. He lived a lavish lifestyle and spent treasury money on hunting and palaces such as Sariska Palace (now a tiger reserve and hotel). He assisted the farming community with the construction of a number of bunds (irrigation dams).

India.com