{"id":10126,"date":"2025-08-11T11:38:24","date_gmt":"2025-08-11T09:38:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/miviajealaindia.com\/?p=10126"},"modified":"2025-08-11T12:01:16","modified_gmt":"2025-08-11T10:01:16","slug":"princess-of-kapurthala","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/laindiaentusmanos.com\/en\/princess-of-kapurthala\/","title":{"rendered":"Anita Delgado, Princess of Kapurthala"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I read the novel <em>Indian Passion<\/em> the same year it was published, and it has been almost two decades since that discovery. I remember perfectly how it came into my hands at a time when I was looking for stories from other lands, stories that made me dream of different lives and distant realities. Those pages were an open door to the magical and enigmatic world of India, a country that, silently, was already vibrating inside me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The history of <strong>Anita Delgado<\/strong>the young girl from Malaga who became a <strong>Princess of Kapurthala<\/strong>He made me travel, without leaving my couch, to a world of palaces, aromatic spices, majestic elephants and destinations full of mystery. Although my life was nothing like hers, I saw myself reflected in her desire to cross borders and live bravely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Today, more than a century after that romance between a Spanish woman and the <strong>maharajah of Kapurthala<\/strong>his name continues to shine just as brightly, reminding us that there are lives that are born to become legends.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_88 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Contents\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewbox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewbox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseprofile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/laindiaentusmanos.com\/en\/princess-of-kapurthala\/#Las_paginas_de_un_libro_reviven_a_Anita_Delgado\" >The pages of a book bring Anita Delgado back to life<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/laindiaentusmanos.com\/en\/princess-of-kapurthala\/#La_historia_de_Anita_Delgado\" >Anita Delgado's story<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/laindiaentusmanos.com\/en\/princess-of-kapurthala\/#Los_origenes_de_Anita_Delgado_de_Malaga_a_Madrid\" >The origins of Anita Delgado: from M\u00e1laga to Madrid<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/laindiaentusmanos.com\/en\/princess-of-kapurthala\/#El_encuentro_con_el_maharaja_de_Kapurthala\" >Meeting with the maharaja of Kapurthala<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/laindiaentusmanos.com\/en\/princess-of-kapurthala\/#De_artista_a_princesa_de_Kapurthala\" >From artist to princess of Kapurthala<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/laindiaentusmanos.com\/en\/princess-of-kapurthala\/#La_vida_de_Anita_Delgado_en_Kapurthala_India\" >Anita Delgado's life in Kapurthala, India<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/laindiaentusmanos.com\/en\/princess-of-kapurthala\/#La_separacion_y_el_regreso_a_Europa\" >Separation and return to Europe<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/laindiaentusmanos.com\/en\/princess-of-kapurthala\/#Una_vida_entre_dos_mundos\" >A life between two worlds<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/laindiaentusmanos.com\/en\/princess-of-kapurthala\/#Libros_recomendados_sobre_Anita_Delgado\" >Recommended books about Anita Delgado<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Las_paginas_de_un_libro_reviven_a_Anita_Delgado\"><\/span>The pages of a book bring Anita Delgado back to life<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Some lives are so intense that they seem born to be narrated in a novel. It was <strong>Javier Moro<\/strong>with his famous work <strong><em>Indian Passion<\/em><\/strong>who immortalized Anita's life for the public at large, bringing her life back to the <strong>Kapurthala Maharani<\/strong> their place in history.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This book not only takes us to know the heart of <strong>Kapurthala, India<\/strong>It takes us into a time of maharajahs and unimaginable luxuries. Thanks to him, we discover a brave woman who was not afraid to break the rules to live the love and adventure of her life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"La_historia_de_Anita_Delgado\"><\/span>Anita Delgado's story <span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Los_origenes_de_Anita_Delgado_de_Malaga_a_Madrid\"><\/span>The origins of Anita Delgado: from M\u00e1laga to Madrid<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Anita Delgado Briones was born in Malaga in 1890, into a humble family. When she was barely 15 years old, she moved to Madrid with her sister Victoria to work and began to work singing and performing in cafes. There, between songs and looks, she began to forge her destiny.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Her dark beauty and determined character made her one of the most admired artists of Madrid's bohemian life. What she could not imagine was that her path was about to cross that of an Indian prince.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"El_encuentro_con_el_maharaja_de_Kapurthala\"><\/span>Meeting with the maharaja of Kapurthala<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Anita's story changed in 1906, when Madrid dressed up for the wedding of King Alfonso XIII. Among the royal guests was <strong>Jagatjit Singh<\/strong>the sophisticated <strong>maharajah of Kapurthala<\/strong>who was traveling from India.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It was in the <strong>Fornos Coffee<\/strong>One of the most elegant places in the capital, where the maharajah met Anita. That meeting was like a flash of lightning: he, with his majestic bearing and oriental jewelry; she, with an Andalusian grace and a look capable of disarming anyone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The maharajah was fascinated. His courtship was as insistent as it was romantic, and within a few months Anita's life took a radical turn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"De_artista_a_princesa_de_Kapurthala\"><\/span>From artist to princess of Kapurthala<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Anita traveled to Paris to prepare for a life that seemed like something out of a fairy tale. In the French capital she perfected her education, learned languages, etiquette and became familiar with the oriental customs that awaited her on the other side of the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In 1908, at the age of 18, he set out on the journey to <strong>Kapurthala, India<\/strong>to marry the <strong>maharaja<\/strong>a step that would change his destiny forever.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The wedding was a spectacle of color and splendor: saris embroidered in gold, elephants covered in precious fabrics, hypnotic dances, exotic perfumes and music that resounded like an echo from another era. From that day on, Anita was recognized as <strong>Princess of Kapurthala<\/strong>, or <strong>Kapurthala Maharani<\/strong>a title that would make her a legend.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"La_vida_de_Anita_Delgado_en_Kapurthala_India\"><\/span>Anita Delgado's life in Kapurthala, India<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Anita's arrival at <strong>Kapurthala, India<\/strong>It was like entering a world of fantasy. The maharajah's palace, inspired by Versailles, was a place of marble, mirrors, infinite gardens and parties where luxury knew no limits. She lived surrounded by jewels, banquets, elephants adorned and silk dresses that seemed to float in the air.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"664\" src=\"https:\/\/laindiaentusmanos.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/palacio-de-kapurthala.jpg\" alt=\"Kapurthala Palace\" class=\"wp-image-10127\" srcset=\"https:\/\/laindiaentusmanos.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/palacio-de-kapurthala.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/laindiaentusmanos.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/palacio-de-kapurthala-300x195.jpg 300w, https:\/\/laindiaentusmanos.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/palacio-de-kapurthala-768x498.jpg 768w, https:\/\/laindiaentusmanos.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/palacio-de-kapurthala-18x12.jpg 18w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Anita Delgado, public domain, via public Wikimedia Commons<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">However, his life as a <strong>Kapurthala Maharani<\/strong> was not a perfect story. <strong>Anita was not the only woman in the maharaja's life.<\/strong> He kept a harem, as was customary in the Indian royalty of the time, and this generated much jealousy, tension and moments of loneliness for the young Spaniard. Although she enjoyed privileges and the affection of the maharaja, living with other wives was not easy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Despite these difficulties, Anita knew how to make a place for herself in the court, standing out for her elegance and charisma. Over time, she became a symbol of modernity and sophistication, admired both in India and Europe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"La_separacion_y_el_regreso_a_Europa\"><\/span>Separation and return to Europe<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The years of marriage were not free of tensions. Rumors about a relationship with <strong>Ajit Singh<\/strong>Anita, the son of the maharaja, caused a great scandal at court. Finally, Anita separated from Jagatjit Singh in 1925.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">On her return to Europe, she settled in Paris and later in Madrid, where she lived surrounded by intellectuals and artists. Although she left India behind, her history as a <strong>Anita Delgado, Princess of Kapurthala<\/strong>was never forgotten.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Una_vida_entre_dos_mundos\"><\/span>A life between two worlds<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The history of <strong>Anita Delgado<\/strong>from Malaga to <strong>Kapurthala, India<\/strong>is a reminder that some lives are meant to break the limits of what is possible. Her journey was not only physical, but also emotional and spiritual.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Thanks to books such as <em>Indian Passion<\/em>Anita Delgado's legacy continues to beat strongly, inspiring those who dream of living transformative experiences and delving into the deep soul of India. Her life has been told and reinterpreted in multiple works, each one shedding a different light on that young Spanish woman who conquered a throne in distant lands. Here I share with you a selection of essential books to know her story.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Libros_recomendados_sobre_Anita_Delgado\"><\/span>Recommended books about Anita Delgado<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you want to immerse yourself in this fascinating story, these are the must-read books about Anita Delgado and her relationship with the maharaja of Kapurthala:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3H2a7mz\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\"><em>Indian Passion<\/em> <\/a>- Javier Moro<\/strong><br>The book that made Anita's life known to the general public, with an involving and exciting narrative.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/4odbJL6\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\"><em>Anita Delgado, maharani from Kapurthala<\/em> <\/a>- Elisa V\u00e1zquez de Gey<\/strong><br>A rigorous biographical portrait based on letters and historical documents.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong><em>The secret notebook of Anita Delgado<\/em> - Elisa V\u00e1zquez de Gey<\/strong><br>An intimate look into his inner world, inspired by personal writings.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Memoirs of the Princess of Kapurthala<\/strong><br>Special editions with Anita's texts, where she herself narrates her life with the maharajah.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Books hold wonderful stories, capable of transporting us to magical places and distant times. Each page on <strong>Anita Delgado<\/strong> is an open door to the India of the maharajas, to their palaces, emotions and dreams that never die.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you want to travel to India through book pages, do not miss <a href=\"https:\/\/laindiaentusmanos.com\/en\/books-from-india\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"5813\">The best books about  India for travelling from the comfort of your home<\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Le\u00ed la novela Pasi\u00f3n India el mismo a\u00f1o en que se public\u00f3, y han pasado ya casi dos d\u00e9cadas de aquel descubrimiento. Recuerdo perfectamente c\u00f3mo lleg\u00f3 a mis manos en una \u00e9poca en la que buscaba historias de otras tierras, relatos que me hicieran so\u00f1ar con vidas diferentes y realidades lejanas. Aquellas p\u00e1ginas fueron una [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":10128,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","_swt_meta_header_display":false,"_swt_meta_footer_display":false,"_swt_meta_site_title_display":false,"_swt_meta_sticky_header":false,"_swt_meta_transparent_header":false,"iawp_total_views":188,"footnotes":""},"categories":[60],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-10126","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sociedad"],"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["https:\/\/laindiaentusmanos.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/anita-delgado.png",1366,768,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/laindiaentusmanos.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/anita-delgado-150x150.png",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/laindiaentusmanos.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/anita-delgado-300x169.png",300,169,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/laindiaentusmanos.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/anita-delgado-768x432.png",768,432,true],"large":["https:\/\/laindiaentusmanos.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/anita-delgado-1024x576.png",1024,576,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/laindiaentusmanos.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/anita-delgado.png",1366,768,false],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/laindiaentusmanos.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/anita-delgado.png",1366,768,false],"trp-custom-language-flag":["https:\/\/laindiaentusmanos.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/anita-delgado-18x10.png",18,10,true],"yarpp-thumbnail":["https:\/\/laindiaentusmanos.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/anita-delgado-120x120.png",120,120,true]},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"Isabel","author_link":"https:\/\/laindiaentusmanos.com\/en\/author\/a9b968afa56b6702645eae0b2991bafd\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"Le\u00ed la novela Pasi\u00f3n India el mismo a\u00f1o en que se public\u00f3, y han pasado ya casi dos d\u00e9cadas de aquel descubrimiento. Recuerdo perfectamente c\u00f3mo lleg\u00f3 a mis manos en una \u00e9poca en la que buscaba historias de otras tierras, relatos que me hicieran so\u00f1ar con vidas diferentes y realidades lejanas. Aquellas p\u00e1ginas fueron una&hellip;","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/laindiaentusmanos.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10126","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/laindiaentusmanos.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/laindiaentusmanos.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/laindiaentusmanos.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/laindiaentusmanos.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10126"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/laindiaentusmanos.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10126\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":10179,"href":"https:\/\/laindiaentusmanos.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10126\/revisions\/10179"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/laindiaentusmanos.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/10128"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/laindiaentusmanos.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10126"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/laindiaentusmanos.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=10126"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/laindiaentusmanos.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=10126"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}