The Economic Enquiry, Part II
THE KSHATIIIYA SECTION!
INTRODUCTION .
The Mshratts Kshatriya residents in the City of Madras form a fairly large proportion of the Mahsrashtrisn community settled here permanently.
But curiously enough they have lived all these years as a distinct social unit.
It is understood that even among them, members of the different subsections live in separate gmups or entities. No serious attempt wss made hitherto to bring tagether the two main sections of the community. The Mahrstts Edu- cation Fund has been established with the main object of improving the social and economic condition of the entire community in these parte; snd in fur- therance of this object, it has already created-s fund called the Economic Amelioration Fund. Under' its suepicee the present survey has been under- taken with reference to all the sections of the community. We propose to re- cord in the followiug pages the results of the enquiry so far as they concern the Kshatriya section.
The reasons which impelled us to deal with the Brahmin and Kshat- riya sections separately are two-fold. As already stated, the two sections have sll along remained separate snd developed distinct social habits snd eco- nomic traits. The food requirements of the one are greatly different from those of the other. An evaluation of the material well-being snd depth of poverty in the whole community on au unified classificatio of the results of investigation rekLting to both the sections wss therefore bound to be mis- leading. Further, collection of information in regard to Kshatriya families wss greatly delayed on account of the paucity of volunteers drawn from that section. The work had to be managed mainly by two volunteers who had offered to help us in this matter.
The Method oj Enquiry: The investigation in respect of the Kshat- riya section was conducted on lines more or less identical with those adopted for the other section. The same form of questionnaire was used. The same doubt'snd distrust born of a lack cf appreciation of the object or purpose of the enquiry of this kind were met with; but our volunteers were pble to dis- arm suspicion and collect fairly reliable data.
Though every attempt wss made to reach all the families settled in the City, it wss possible to record the'particulars of only 228 families till the date of tabulation. These families were not specially selected for inveytigs- tion. They were visited by our volunteers at random without any bias. The particulars obtained may therefore be taken as a reliable basis for our pre- sent review.
10
SOUTH INDIAN MAHARABHTRIANB
The particulars furnished in about s dozen forms were. 'found to' be rather meagre. They have therefore been excluded and the results noted below sre drawn mainly from the forms relating to the remaining 216 fami- lies.
Diztri6ution of families: These 216 families contain 957 people, in- cluding men, women snd children. A classi8cstion of the population accord- ing to sge, and sex together with the number of'occupied snd unoccupied per- sons per 1,000 inhabitants is given below:
TABLE A
1000 0 957
24512 1
373 5 18.3I 5 273.76
3514
115.8 416 2
53.421.3 1000.0 656»
957216 107195 Whole population
Number of families Children under 5 years Children between 5 snd 14 years
4991 Children per family under 5 years
Chiklren per family between 5 atrd 14
1 41
cThe rest sre boys between 14 snd IB, sir!z between I4 zed Is, snd children be- low 14.
Children under 14 years Males between 14 and 20 years
II II 40 II
II 40 65
65 and above Females between 14 and 20 years
II II 40 II II II 65 II 65 and above
Occupied Males Females boys under 18 girls under 16 Unoc'cupie'd Males over 18
Females over 16 boys under 18 girls under 16
Total 30364 180105 1253 173'61'7
Pcc ICOO 315.6 188 166 9 109 7 55-312 5 180.8
63 97 2
W g1 'g 0 Ã d r 0P
g 8$
=44Zl
S R
THS SCOIIQIIIC hRQUIRY
The Foraffp: A family may be defined ae a group of persons, usual- fy relations, living together in a self-contained tenement and sharing,com- mon food. It, generally consists of s man, hie wife and children. Very often his parents live with him. In some cases, brothercp sisters snd other rela- tions also foun part of the family. The constitution of sn average family is given below:
AVERAGE FAMILY Earner
1 13.06
1.19 3 26
All persons, earners snd non-earners 4 45.
A single earner in a family is thus found to support 2 7 other members, of whom more than 50% are children.
This average does not indicate fully the variety in the constitution of the family. Hence s classificatio of familfce by earning strength and number of dependent children is given below.
CLASSIFICATION OF FAMILIES ACCORDING TO NUMBER OF EARNERS
No. of fsmiliec 18228
42
216 100 0
FAMILIES CLASSIFIED ACCORDING,TO 'NUMBER.
OF DEPENDANT CHILDREN No. of non-earning including bors under children16 snd
girls under 16. 0 1 9 3 4 5 6 7 8 No. of families. 75 ~ 57 36 28 13 6 0 0 1 Percentage of all'fsfoilies. 34'7 26tt 16'7 12'9 6'0 '2'8 0 0 '5
Over 84% of the families depend on a single earner for sustenance. The percentage of families with 2 earners is indeed small and that with more than 2 negligible.
No. of earners in the family
21 34 And more
Men over 18 years Women over 16 years Boys under 18 years Girls under 16 years Children between 5 14 years Children below 5 years
Non-earner 1.26.37
~ 16.07 .4991
Percentage of the total
84 312 9 1.9.9
SOUTH INDIAN MAHARASIITIIIANS
As regards the number of dependent children, it is interesting to not<ca that Pmiiics with less than the average number of children per family. cise 1.4 constitute the bulk. Families with more than 9 children form but 91%
of the total number.
PnnsoNAL REsPoNBIBILITY 0P EABNEBs EQB DEPENDANTS.
Degt'ee of responsibility. Percentage
of such FemalePercentage of such earnersMale
over 90 5
earners over 18.
earners. I
99 earners.
No responsibility 8'3 Part responsibility for
I person
Bo. 9 6
<10. 3 10
do. 4 or mors 10 Total responsibility:
0 children and I adult 35
do. 9 14
do. 3 7
40. 4 or more 3
I do. 0
do. I 90
do. 9 15
do. 3 6
Bo. 4 or more 4
9 do. 0
do. I 14
do. 9 8
do. 3 4
Bo. 4 or more 9
3 do. 0
do. 1 15
Bo. 9 7
Bo. 3 9
do. 4 or more 9 4 do. or more 0
do. 1 5
do. 9 4
do. 3 I
Bo. 4 ' or more '5 904
16'783 16'716'7 4'99'9
4'9 17'16'8 3'4I'5 7'959'8
9'9 3'96'8 91 7 958'4
I1 9'49 9'4'5
100'0 100'0
A further classificatio showing the burden of responsibility of each earner in the family is furnished in the following statement:
THE ECONOMIC ENQUIRY
An analysis of the particulars available shows that 14 fsmiliee live in houses owned by them. The rest live in rented houses. The following table shows distribution of these familiee on the basis of the rent paid.
Rent paid Re. 0 to 5 per month
11 156 10 16 20 Over 20
Others particulars not known!
No. of families 4979 18
4 I
63
Percentage 2337
82 29 55 214
As it wiH be useful for purposes of comparison at s future date if a simi- lar enquiry is undertaken, the Median, Quartile and Decile rent se derived from the recorded information, sre noted below:
1. Decile .. Re. 5 0 0 4. Quartile 2. Quartile .. 5 0 0 5. Decile 3. Median .. » 7 8 0
8 0 0 14 0 0 Income: The particulars regarding Income were the most difgcult to obtain. Many do not keep accounts. Several have no regulaz employment, Some are employed on casual labour on varying wages. Hence it was ddll- cult to assess the monthly income exactly. A few cases of exaggeration and under-ststetnent were also met witlf. Every eSort wss made to check the figures furnished se fsr as practicable. to ensure st least s reasonable appro- ximation to the actual. It may therelore be taken that they are not wide of the mark. In making the estimate of family income it was assumed that the income of such earning member in the family went into the common purse,
Housing: As in the case of Mshrstta Brahmin families the particulars given under the head "habitation" in the questionnaire were meagre. No detailed information was furnished regarding the type of houses inhabited, their situation snd surroundings, facilities of water supply snd drainage or the extent of accommodation, etc. No correct estimate can therefore be made of either the general housing condition or the extent of overcrowding. Never- theless it is possible to discern some broad characteristics of the situation.
The distribution of the population in the City shows that nearly 90% of the families live in the revenue divisions of George Town snd Triplicane. The cause of this conceatration is not clear. Perhaps the traditional herd-instinct common to all species accounts for it. The chief occupation of the people is tailoring; snd as most of the tailoring houses sre situated in the two locali- ties referred to, there is a tendency to live in close proximity to their places of wouk. These parts of the City sre noted for congestion snd high rent. So the people have to endure the inconveniencee of overcrowding.
80<>T<> <NDIAN V<ARARASRTRfA98 Pensions vere also counted as ir>come. Thc folloiving statcu>cnt shows the nuniber of fminlics in tlie d>fferent erades of mcome:
I>fontbfy income. Not known Rs 1 10 11 15 16 20 21 25 25 30 No. of families. '>3 2 10 33 29 34 I'ercentage. 10 I 0 4'4 144 127 >40 31 35 36 40 41 45 46 50 51 100 101 1>0 151 snd over
19 20 6 lo 31 4 2
8'3 88 26 f>6 13'G I'8
Poverty ,Tiieie is no universal definition oi' " poverty ". Thc meaning ot the tern> varies iru>n tuue tu tin>c anti place to place. Thc. conventional econon>ic standard based on the iuinimmu primary ncods o feud> ct«thing, shelter ctc, v;ss therefore;uiopted to detcrru>ne tl>e line of puverty and sn eetiiuatc mado of tlie number of families above or below it.
Tlie allowun<. e uiadc fur food it> <lie above stan<turd is based on thc scienti- fiic data regarding foo<l generally, provided by <8>r ltobctt RfacCarmson in hfa book on ' I'OODJ A nu><ed diet which w>R provide nouwsbment suihc>ent for the physiolobficsf needs of an individual >iml crmurc l>calth and elficicncy was drawn up hy a «uitable modification uf.the one pre«cribed hy Sir Iiobert with reference to the actual cunditiims prevailin ~ >n the comn>unity. The re- Ruirnl balance of protein, faf srulcsrbohydrstc corifcnts eral color>c vah>e was n>ainf.sincd in it.. The cons<it.ncnt, chui>cnts ol ehst lies ls:en corisuicrrml sr
<.hcai! and ivl'll-balanced diet are given beloiv:
Amount in In l'linlmps.
buucos. Protoins. lets Carbohydrates.
>i 3 «tuff
Calories 199 I
967 6
3181 0'9 16 90 83 <4 73 21
831 709 74'BJ 71'20 4fi'5
4< 45ti 9
103> for was<< 45'G
411'3
>tents, thr cost of Bus<:d on flic current r<>tail prices of thc dill'<rcn<
inm> ives calculated ut;uums 4 pcr day. food pm ll,iceAtts
hfest 4 Fish OilOhee
1<nots 4 Vegetables Greens
Dbsl S< ' l ll
196 91 158 8I 7
23'4 3 24 BTG 10 2 1194 396
31'628
44 'BG
31 94
fi'5 '!
8 9 G'8
1190fill IGB252 3<2 14856 100120 2957205 2662
'IRK bldBEhlTa 1Jlt'L'hTIOXFVlU!, TAMDEK BH!dIKI, 19Ã
Trrx !I fir, ma Erl c:.roi Few>. Yzxiaz La:.era. 1!t',
TEE ECONOMIC ENQUIRY 79 The expenditure on other necessaries such ss clothing, fuel, lighting snd quasi-essentials wss diflicult of actual assessment. In most of the forms, no separate information in respect of these wss furnished. Even in the very few it wss given, the varisuon of expenditure wss large. A more intensive enquiry in the case of about s dosen fsmiliee selected st random was there- fore undertahen; which disclosed that the expenses for other necesssriee snd quasi-necessaries were on an average, 25rc of the'expenditure on food. Thus the total provision for food snd clothing and other essentials was fixed at snnae 5 per msn per dsy.
As regards rent it is not possible to lsy down a general minimum. As sn individual is free to obtain accommodation to suit.hie requirements and in- come, snd as rent represents s definite item of expenditure which csn be easily>nd .correctly. ascertained, the rent paid was subtracted from the com- puted income before finrling whether the income was sufficicnt for the needs of the family; The,family wse then reckoned se consisting of eo many equi- valent male adults on the scales mentioned in Part I'of this report. Thus the basic expenditure of each family was ascertained. It, was compared with the net income fie., after deducting rent! to ascertain how many live in "Poverty."
A classificatio of the familiar.with reference to the minimum standard of food and other requisites snd income ie given below.
Certainly shove standard Probably 'shove standard Marginal above standard Certainly below standard Probably below standard
204 100
The next table shows the number of persons included in the last three categories mentioned above:
No. of
Peroent persons Percent- age. claesificd sge.
as margi nsl.
No. of persons Percent
below sge.
standard.
No. of persons probably below standard Earners:
Men over 18 Women over 16 Boys and Girls
96'6 15 100 106 94'6 3'4
6 45I '9 112 All earners;
No. of families 4632 8814 24
Percentage 22 515 7 43 I69 11" 8
SOUTH INDIAN MAHARASHTRIANS 80
No. of No. of persona Percent- persona
below age. Probably standard below
standard
48 13'I 5 8'9 4 11 1
190 39'7 31 50'8 15 41 7
96 7'0 9 3'3 I 9'8
8 9'9 9 3'3
165 45'0 91 34'4 16 44'4
867 61 86
Earners 5 non-earners Ran over 18 154 Women aver 16 195 Boys under 18 97 Girls under 16 8
Children 165
31'9 33 86'7 19 87'9 96'1 39 35'5 15 99 4
5'6 9 9'9 I 9'0
1'7 9 9'9
34 4 91 98'3 16 31'4
90 51
479
Only 38 9% of Mahrstts Kshatriya families sre above standard, while nearly 65% of the people sre below the poverty line.
Cooers of poocrty: li'rom sn analysis of thc statistics relating to the families living in poverty it ie noticed that poverty is generally due to one or other of the three main causes circ Dependents being unemployed, income being inadequate> snd families being large. The number of families sufl'ering fram these causes is given below:
Certainly below
standard Probably below standard Dependents unemployed
Smallness of income Largeness of family
4513 30 88
The 30 families olassified ss " large " contain 98 dependents and 91 child- ren; while the 4 familiee classed as probably below the line of poverty con- tain 19 dependents snd 9 children. The preponderance of dependents is thus obvious.
Ncn-earners:
Ren over 18 Women over 16 Boys under 18 Girls under 16 Children
No. of
Peroent- persons Percent- age. olsssiged ege.
as margi- nal
TBI". I:COXO8110 EKQUIHY
persons m bcloir:
ti8
288 It <vill be noticed that service Government. Public and Private! claims as many a. 80",< of the total number of person employed. Tailoring s«ims to.he the main ocr upation nf nearly 20,8 of thr corning me<nb< r . The learned professions, trade, commerco snd industry are poorly represented.
. Bdurationally the hfahrstta K,hatriya community is bark<var<i. The educational qushfirstions of times in receipt of mdepemlent income arc noted bcloi<':
Ponr eduraiion 209
hfc<ticine: Ayurv<dio 2
Lsrv I
S. S. L C., or AIatriculstion 14 Intennedia,te
Particular: not. given 31
28<8 Tho per<ento e of those cdnratcd beyond thc S.S.L.C. or hfatriculation standard is . rarrely I to tho total nnmbcr of earners. Persons iritb university qualifiraiion arr uidecd,rar< So thr <hief need of tins section .mme to be the spread of education iboth general and tcchnical! aniong the incmbcrs of the community.
Z,'r<ciapfop<n<nt: The «luratcd uneinployed ar<. rare in this ection;
an<i 23c/< of the adult inalc population is unemployed. The spread of,edura,- 11
I,'durotion ond Eraplopm<rt: Tire distribution of all ihc rgccipt of an independent income in thc various avocations is noted
".ovrrnmcnt, servants in the superior service iuid clerks in private employ'
Inferior servants snrh as bill collector', attenders, peons,
<vatchmen, etc Advorstes Doctors lAyuri'edir!
Tailors, etc.
Tcachors Binders It etch repairers Silver miths BCsincesmen
hlotor an<i engine driverb engraver., stone cutters. etc.
Conqiounders Pen.ionera Others
07I
43 6 2
2I 1
27
1 iI
9
BOUTII INDIAN trIAHABASHTHIANrg
tirin anil the creation of an iniqiloyrnent bureau ivill be helpful m the solu- tion of thir problem.
In conclusion, ivc wish to thank most lieartily all the volunteers ivho threw themselves heart and soul into tlic worl- and thns rendered an inquiry of this type ' lhc n rat of its kmrl so fruirfu!
T. RA!rfACHANDRA RAO, Il. R. DHONDI: RAO, Madras,
15 10 1937.
Suitocstiorrs:--Thc suggestions offered I'or the improvement of the econo- mic. condition in answer to tlie specific que tion m the questionnairr: are not many. The only feasible suggestion made is that the profession of tailoring should bc better organiscd and natronised bv all tho menil>ers of the coramu- nity.
Q
B
W g
WR C
g C Ft ~V1 d ita A
4 f
OIll g
g,~
l40 h
Eminent Maharashtrians of South India
PAST AND PRESENT!
Rajah Sir T. MADHAVA RAO
On the occasion of the Silver Jubilee of the Mahratta, Education Fund, it is a pleasant duty for us to pay our humble tribute of regard snd reverence to those souls that have contributed to maintain the best ideals and traditions of our community. Among such men, Rajah Sir T. Madhsva Rso easily occupies the first place.
Born in November 1828 at Kumbskonam in a family whose members hsd successively held the Dewsnship of Trsvancore, Madhava Rso hsd inherited those peculiar traits which served him well in later, life. His grandfather, Gundopunt, had occupied responsible positions both under native chiefs snd the British power. His.sons Rai' Rays Rai Venkst Rao, snd Range Rso, after a spell of oflice in the Board of Revenue, were also called upon to enter Travsncore service where eventually they rose to the Dewanship.
Msdhavs Rao wss the youngest of the sons of Range Rso. He lost his father in his eleventh year, snd his mother passed sway while he was 12. He thereupon came under the protection of his eldest bother, Vssudeva Rso, who supervised his studies. Madhsvs Rso passed through his educational career st Madras. He took full advantage of his opportunities at the High School which wss just Chen opened under the Hesdmsstership of Eyre Burt'on Powelh At the end of six years', study 846!, he left the High School ss proficient of the First Class.
The next'year he entered the Accountant Generspe Office from where within two years' time he was called to take up the Tutorship to the Princes of.
Trsvhncore. Hia services ia this capaoity were so well appreciated that he was soon made Deputy Peishkar. The Revenue line gave him ample scope to show hie sdministhative powers. He organised the department in a way that brought him applause from higli quarters. The subsidy due to the British Government wss in arrears, snd even the salaries due to officials had not been paid for months. Revenue hsd to be rehabilitated, and a lot of cormpt prac- tices had to be put down. With consummate ability, Madhsvs Hao showed what an Officer in his position could do within hie are Just then a series of coinplaints hsd gone to the Governor-General as to thestate of Government in Trsvanoorc, and the State itself was threatened with annexation. The Resi- dent, General Culleni saw in Madhsvs Rao the persou who could rescue the State froui such a pass and made him Dewan in 1888.
In this role, Madhsva Rsc fully justified sll expectations. He ruled with s beneficent but firm hand. Wrong-doers felt that their power was at an end
84 SOUTH IVDIAN MAIIARASEITRIANS
and that, iluriiig Madhava Rao's term of ofiice there would be even-handed justice all rouml. Robbers werc apprchendeil aml evidences secre not wantmg tliat there wa. a geiieral feeling of safety among tlie citizeiis.
After thc death of Maharaja Marthanrla st'erma, Maharaja Ayilliani Tiru- nal, one of thc protegee of Madhava Rao succeeded to tlie Gsdi in 1860.
During his regime the coiulitions oi admini.tration uric favourable. The Dewan abolished had a firm grasp ihi State monoliolies of the principles lof pepiier anil tobacco, of pohtioal econoiny: bui, made up for theHc boldly loss of revenuo by imposing duties on these products. There was thus a growth of revenue which not only enabled Madhava Rao to pay off all arrears but to liquidate a portion of the public debt. Apart from these finanmal reforms, Dewaii Msilhsva Rao undertook several iiiimir improvemenis. He reduced lie land taxes which were heavily felt in thc district of Nanlnad. He orga- nized ilia High "our , established a, College for Ifigher Education and im- proved thc Medical and Sauii,ary Services. The title of Maharala was con- ferred on His Highness in 1866 and in thc same year a Kniglithood was aivardcd to. Madhava Rao.
One of the most difficuh, matters deal , ivith by Madhava Rao was the sensational problem relating to the "Upper cloth ". The newly converted Shanar woincn contended on the basis of the Queen's proclaiuation ot 1858!
that they had thc right to appear with thc upper cloth worn by the fughest classes. This was reseiiied by the Noire aml the other higher ca tcs who also took their stanrl ou he sanie proclaiiiation wherein the Queen had graciously promi cd to respect longstanding customs and traditions. 'I'n meet such a difiicult situation Madliava Rao issued a circular that they could appear with a f Kuppayam" jscket! on, like thc Syrian ,"hristians. Bit mstigated by tbe Cliristian missionaries, the Slmnar women ivould be content wiih nothing less than wearing the apparel of thc highest castes. Being convinced of the jusiioc of his stand, Madhava Rao was firm in the attitude he had taken up and ultimately convinceil even the Govcrnniciit thai, ho had adoptecl the wisest course possible.
Elc also came into confiict wii.h the Madras Govcrmnent on a matter re- lading io thc trial of a British subject named John Luldc!. Thc Advocate- General, Mr. Msyne asl ed for the rcleasc of this gentleman after conviction on tlie ground that a NativeState hke Travancore had no jurisdiction over an Iluropeati. This question was s,bly argued in a series of letters, until finally the Advocate-General agreed to revi~e his opinion.
Sir T. 'Afadhava Rao succeeded in ihe course of 14 years in cenvorting Travsncore which had'passed into a tate of anarchy into a "Model State."
Thcreforc his memory is still cherished iii Trsvanoore with love and gratitude and his Statne has bi.en erects<1 by publio subscription in Trivandruin.,
Alien hc relin<iuishcd hi. Iiigli ofiice in Travancorc, Sir T. Nfadhava Rao was only 45 years olii. He,declined the oiler of a immbcrship of the Vice- roy's I.egislaiivc Counml for fear that thc climate of Vorth Imiis, might not suit liim. Ele was requested io give evidence in Enaland with reeard to fiscal
LfrffffEIIT MABARASIITRIANS
matters; but this journey too he could not undertake. In 1873 the Govern- ment of India recommended his name to the Mahsrajs Holkar of Indore who wanted s competent officer to administer hie State. This wss promptly ac- cepted and ss Dewan, Sir Madhava Rao remained in Indore for two years.
Meanwhile owing to the deposition of Mulhsri Rso, Gaekwar of Bsrods, Sir Madhavs Rao's services were requisitioned as Dewan Regent of Bsroda.
Baroda wae then in a state of chaos and confusion. Public order had to be restored and much waste in expenditure cut down. With hie ripe wisdom and experience of Native States, Sir Madhsva Rao achieved a miracle snd re- stored peace snd order in a short time. In recognition of bia remarkable abi- lity he received the title of Rsjs on the 1st January 1877, when Queen Vic- toria assumed the title of Empress of India. After s rule of 7 years, Raja Sir T. Msdhsvs Rso went into zetirement in Madras.
During hie retirement, he occupied himself with s deep study' of Msrsthi literature and composed a few Msrathi poems which are still popular. Once he was also made Chairman of the Reception Committee of the Indian Na- tional Congress, showing that he had won sn All-India reputation. He passed away quietly in 1891, full of years and honou'rc,
By universal assent Rajs Sir T..Msdhava Rso wss one of the greatest Statesmen that India has produced. Hia simplicity of life wss only matched by his eagerness to be of service to the poorest of his friends. His ever-pre- sent motto wss "Whatever you do, do it with all your might". This wss the secret of' his success snd it is our earnest wish snd hope that the present, generation should take this lesson to heart and produce men ss great se, if not greater than Rajah Sir T. Madhavs Rso.
Dewaff Bahadtlr R. RAGUNATHA 'RAO
The life history of Dewan Bshadur Raghunstha Rao must still be fresh 'Tn public memory. He lived to s ripe old age and will be remembered for the
seal snd vigour with which he espoused the cause of social reform, particularly widow-remarriage. This of course brought him s certain amount of unpopu- larity which was inevitable, but no one doubted either his integrity or the pmfundity of his scholarship in Sanskrit and in Vedic lore.
Rsghunaths Rso wss s cousin of Sir T. Msdhavs Rao snd aon of Rai Rays Rsi Venkat Rso who wae foz some time Dewan of Travancore snd eub.
eequently Revenue Commissioner under Sir Mark Cubbon in the State of Mysore. He wae born st Kumbakonam in February 1831 and wss first edu- cated in s school in Bangalore Forff In 1845 he entered the Government High Scliool, Madras, but left the institutmn without taking the proficient'e certifi- cate, During the period of 4 years, when he managed hie paternal estate, he gaingd an insight into the Revenue system of the country. He obtained a pleader's diploma in 1856 but entered Government service, first ae Translator
88 SOHTH INDIAN MAHABASHTBIAXS
in the Collector's Offfce. He soon rose to l>ighcr positions, as Sheristadar of the Civil Court and lat.er Deputy Collector. He wss placed on special duty with regard to the acquisition of lands. After serving in the Tungabhadra proicct, st thc personal rcquc t of Sir 'i>aries Trevelyan, he sas t>snsferred Lo tl>o Tiirl»>ug>oly»>nl Coi»>lm>f»v <h. »>c> s>»l cv< nLuslly csruc 4> M>uiras ss Town Pol>ce Msg>stratc sr@i du.ucr. of tl>c Pes«» A pilgrnnagt to Penna
>n lgtgi brought, birn mto a chance contact with Tukoi> Bso, Holkar of Indore.
ypithin two years h<*, vras requ><>tioned to smri in tliat State us Special Sct- tlenient Oflicer snd !ster as Dews» m success>on to S>r T. Mmlhav>i tao.
Baghunatl>a Rso had a <l>fficult snd»<hist< task >o p<rform, for tl» Ki<ihs- rain was not hav>ng good relations <vi>h the tovernn>ent of India. Owmg to hiv unyielding noLurc, hc liud soon to give iqi ins i»>,itum snd >cvcrt to hfad- ras as Deputy Collector. In LSSS hc re<us<i frou> io<crnmcn service snd sq»nt the rest of his <lay i>i educatn'.g public opimon, on social, pohticsl and econouuc problcu>s, n>a>niy tlirongh tin: P>cer.
Dcivan Itshadur Baghunatha Bao wss as sctiv< in his old age as ln his youth. Ilc ><'as a mend ot Liic poor and. prcwde<l river several agrarian insti- tutions. He ass one of tlie founiicrs of the Ind>an Hat>on»l 'i>ngrcss sail took a keen arid sl>»ling interest in the politics. n'.' hc country Even st the ad- ~ vanced sge of 80, he turned out very value!i e work ss»» mh< r oi tii< I,< g>
lative Council snd did lu. be»L to auieliorate the cond>t>ou ot his countrymen, in rccognit>on of which hc wae n>adc CH.I.
On hlay 3, 1912, lie pss"-cd a»ay in peace. Ilia life wa- remarkable tor ite ceaseless activity in >hc interest. of >he country Althougli u>ibe>iiling to hi ~ .upcri»>s i» office, lie lied b>uml ey»>p>ul»es,'u><t gcuvrou' >uq>ul c'. Pub- hc hfc >n the pres>dcncy >vss u>sdc r>cuc> by ii>e lire ence,;md in. career st:imls,
"as a beacou hgbt. Lo those uu<r>ncrs ivho esii stormy sea of public hfc."
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Rai Raya Ral R. VRNIkAT RAO
Bai it»ye Itai yeuksr. Ban >s n'ell kno<in a> tiie father of Dc» ati Balia- dur It. Itaghuuaiha Itao. If>, carlirr years src involved m ubscunty Tl>at he was horn;<>. Kui»bake»am >s fa>rly clear.
hIr. Tanks! Rm> su. Dewan Pe>eliksr u> Trsi sucorc for t>vo years 820-2! froii»vluch position lie wse eievsted to tlic Vtiice of Dc>vau. Tl>erc are >nsny spprecisi.ivc references to l»s ab>l>ty, integrity and upright conduct in the corrcspondencc between higli officials of the hladras Go<em>nant and tho various Roe»lent in Travancore, and tkc. fact, tliat he continued a. Dewan for 10 years in ihe conditi<ms then prov»lmg»isy h< raked av bearing >'e- n>srksble t<etnnony to 1» powers. Ile iva: at lne be t >n hsn<lling Rover>uc in»i>lcu> ~ . Thc regula»ty an<1 cfffc>ency w'>th s'1»ch thc vsr>ous publis de- partn>ents werc conducted received Souci el apii>nba ion.
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I;MINER' 1<IAHABASHTRIANS 87
Venkat Rao's services ivere soon to be transferred to another «phere. He went to tbc Stale of kfysore a. Head Shcristadsr, anil ivss lsler «tylcd as thc Native Assistant to th< i<sin<us«inner. Tlie l'ommi«sioner, Air iklorrison, de- rivod great holp from Vcnkat Rao in preparing i<is "Notes on My«ore," in- tended ss tbe foundation of a. rcport on thc State of thc country, its establish- ment and finances, arid said uf him that Vrnkat Bao should bc regarded as
"the first native revenue servant in this part of India." The esteem in which he was hekl by Col. Morrison's «uccessor will be evident from the fact that on rcecipt, of an applicaimn for leave from him, Venkat Ra<i wa provided ivdli s military vs< ori to nccompany him to Kuiiibskonmn aml letters were addressed to all tho Collectors on lns way to afford him every iirwi tance dur- ing his progross.
In r< cognition of hi«goo<1 ivork in Mysore, the Governiucnt of Imlia hono<ircd Vciikat Bao iii 1838 <vi<h Hic titlo of Rai ltayu Bai.
The year 1838 saiv Venkai. Bao os Its<van of '1'r;<vnncore in «uccession to his brother, Hangs Rao. H< rouiinu<d in this oflice for two years, but circum tnnres dul not adiuit of hia eoiitinuing in olfice longer. In 1843 he ,passed away.
ln Travan<ore, Vcnkat Rao's name ii'ill hc. rcnicmbcr<d among nther things, dn coniwction ivith tbe sy«tern of en<mls constructed tiy liiin for trade purpose«bet<veen Trivamlruni and Cocliin. It rcinaincd for lus ncphcw Sir Madhava Rso io rcmove thc single VVarkalay barrier ivhich obstructed the passnge by funnelling.
Dewan T. RAMA RAO
The life of De<i'an T. Rama Bao illu«trat<« th<»rinci»lc thai. ' a iusn <>1' plairi sen ii and cool resolution has niors u eful talent ond i bcttcr qualifie for the highest public scrvicc tlmn a nisn of- tbc finest, »arts wlio wants tem- per, judgment and kn<ml<dgr- of msnkmdy It has been said of him that he ives not only an nlile and loyal servant of hi. Sovcrmgn, bnt a great friend of all hone«t nicn.
igl'r. Raisin Itao ivii« lnirn at Trivsndruiu in Junc 1830. His fnihcr Ssl harem Bao ivas District,ludgc st Affcppcy and fiad ivon for bin<self a reputation for scinpulous hone. ty snd high character. Tliese qualities <vere reflected in his son who in ihe iuuist of seriuur, temptations maintaiiu <1 «n np- rigbtness tliat was almo.t unknown among iu colleagnes. Sir T. Madhava Rao who,o cou«in li< iva.', cntortained a lngh opinion of filr. Ra<us lbio, so much so that in his later years he took Mr. Rema Rso as bis trusted lieutenant.
Tlie first yi sr«of Mr. Sama R<fi<'s school life werc .pent in the'Malia- raja's Free School, where lie picked up surh English education as could be had in those days in thc L. M. S. Seminary at Nagerkoil. In 1851 hc. entered thc Travan<ore State Service as a clerk in the Iluzur Engli«b JAice. Hi«
SOUTH IBDIAff MAHABASBTBIAhg
renderings into the vernacular won for him the adiniration of the District Judge of "alicut at whose instance he went to the Session- Court at :anent ss Tr:mslator. He reninincil in British service for over a year, lmt was called again to Trivandruni as Tahsililar. 'I'hc nEer came when S>r Madhava Ran wss Dewan Peisht.sr, but thc state of service in Travancore was such that Mr. T. Bamn Bao cimld not ca. ily make up his mind. Bevertheless love of hir own ni>tive lund prevailed in tlic cnd and hc jomcd the Travancore ser- vice. In 1%7 he was promoted as Police Shor>stadar anrl as sucli hc. gave a very good account of hi>i>self during the Shansr rebellion. IIis prompt and business-like mr:iliods anil daring stnoii him in gnnil strad in deli rbng crim>a, In the perforinancc of his duties hc sparcrl no onc. Any other in his place ivoulil have shrunk from thc delicate sitnation in ivhich he was sometimes placed. But his suprriors trusted him and warmly approved of his acts. He ivan, however, not free from the evil notice of those who wire naturally»fraid of him. Bvcntt>ally, of course, hc succeeded in inaintaining his positioi> despite influential opposition.
He soon rose to be Deputy Peislikar and then Dewan Peishkar. His magisterial work was insrkcil by great, ability snd fair dealing. In thc large portions of thi State entrusicd io him >here was excellent order which prove>j s, t>leasing to the people. In 188o Mr. Sama Rao was made Head Dev'an Pcishkar and the next year hc was made Dewan.
Mr Bmna Rao's elevation to the Stewardship of thi. Stnh was hailed with joy by thi. Rnler and the people sl>ke. 11>s close associat>on with the administration in several departments had given lnin a rare insight into the defects that, needed mending, and so, liis later ymirs werc packed with achieve- ments of a iiuijor or minor character. H>s first sct as Dewan was the celebra- tinn nf lf M thi Qncin's floldrn,lnhilee in an eminently Hindu >'ashion.
tyhat will constitute >Vfr. Barns Rao's bc t title to the subjects' gratitude is the institution of the Legislative Couiicil " composed of s. umxiuiuui of 8 ineii>- bere of whom not less than two werc to be outside the servirc anil prrsiikd over by the De>van, or in 1>is absenre by the Senior inembcr present." The Council hss now been cxpaniii'd ai>d g>ven extra powers to suit the times.
Among thc insny reform. int'roduccd by Ivfr. Ran>a Rao msy be men- iioned the Rcvenu> Survey and settlement, the organisation of the egenry to work the system, the oontruct>on of embankinrnts to ward otf brarki. h water suhnierging cultivated lanrls, better ilrainage works, tlic separation of Re- venue from Devasivom, besides juilicia! reforin and educational improvements.
Sporial mention >nay be mails of tl>o onfranohisement of the "Viruthi" which hail bccn a source of oppression. Tlic. Viruihicars are persons to whom lands are given on condimon of thmr supplying vegetables ctc, on tl>e ocrasioii of ccrtam ceremonies. Those persons vers not allowed lo give up their lStste!
lands and yet were compelled to give these supplies at a fixed rate, which v'ss fsr below the market, vain> ot >hi goods Ther> src now paid s. fair prie>, the price that i rul>ng in the open market. Tliis is only one of the many
EMINENT MAEARASETRIANS 89 instances in which Mr. Rema Rao carefully attended to the needs of the poorer classes of the population.
Despite these remarkable achievements, sn agitation in favour of the recruitment of local people to the public services wae brewing. Owing tp the participation of certain European members, the agitation assumed threaten- ing proportions. Lord Connemara thought it best to psy s personal visit to Travancore and judge for himself. His conclusion wss that the agitation wss baseless. He wae perfectly satisfied with Mr. Rema Rao's administration snd so in 1891, gave him the title of C.I.E.
When Mr. Rsms Rso laid down the reins of office in 1892, he hsd served as Dewan f'o r s period of 5ks years. He was already a F'ellow of the Madras University and was alca the only Indian fellow of the Incorporated Society of Science, Letters, and Arts of London.
Mr. T. Rema Rao was s conservative in many ways. His ideal was cautious advance and hie criticisms on the Marumsksttaysm marriage Lsw, early marriage, snd widowhood and the Gains of Learning Bill give evidence of his general attitude towards these problems. Mr. Rams Rao was emi- ndhtly philanthropic. His numerous charities in the cause of the poor have earned for him the reputation of the "Good Dewan Rema Rso ". He passed sway on 8 5 1895 after s period of well-earned reck
V. P. MADHAVA RAO
Like his namesake of an earlier generation, V. P. Msdhava Rso was Dewan in three Iudiaa States Travancore, Mysore and Bsrods, and hie ripe experience and judgment in political matters were responsible in s large mea sure for advancing the destinies of the whole of India along fruitful lines.
Madhava Rao was born on the 10th February 1850 at Kumbakouam. He wag brought up under the personal care of hie father Vicvanatha Rao, a member of the Subordinate Judicial Service and a strict disciplinarian. At the early age of 19, Madhava Rao passed out of the Kumbakonam College ae a graduate, winning the applause of his beloved Principal, Mr. Porter, for whom he always entertained the deepest respect and regard. In his youth be wae fond of physical exercises, especially swimming, and used to jump in the river Kaveri from dicey heights.
Soon after becoming s graduate, Madhsvs Rao joined the London Mis- sion School st Bsngslore ss s teacher. Hie eificiency in this'.work attracted the notice of Dewan C. Rsngacharlu and he wss thereafter made Palace tutor in Mysore where t!e late lamefited Maharajc, Sir Sri Chamrajendra Wodiar Bshsdur wsc his august pupil. From fhis sphere, he wss transferred ts the judicial service and again to the post of Revenue Sub-Divisional Oificer at French Rocks where for the first time he began to show hic breadth of outlook snd sympathy for the poor. The provision of good drinking water in villages,
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SO> Tff Iu>>1.<W X>AH <R <. RTniARS
the fern>ation of exteusions to reliev< rene<stion, ihc putting up of buildmgs for irsv«llers ct<, i«<re some of thc iinpro««ments he carried out His ",hicf Sir K. Sc»hmlu fy<'r, iree ln. «<m i ti>it, fi:<nd .ind,u>p<wi<r»nd fr< cly <' on- milt«i liim m connection iwth <he i<«i, i<»i uf tl>c kly orc L»nd Rc«ci»»: 'o<i«
anil R«saint>on. with r< gaul >o i'ic,high;r.
Public apprecistio>i g<cir ei<h iris pron>enon io tiie offire oi Deputy Cou>- missioner in which capsc>ty he further extended water supplies, conservancy arrangements in towns, draining of water-logged areas, etc. He fully utilised bis power of patronage by buying up hand-woven cloth in times of scarcity to rcli«vr <hstrc»r»mong il «was«< r» Tli«nuiicii gsrilcners ot iklalnsd pari»
«iuaily r<ceived ll>» attention v li«ii ii]iai is knoivn ss ' Kolcrr>ga" »i?mt«il this <rop. Tlie uncerism yi«ld <oi>ib>i,iul i«i>'i;li< iex and ortrm <lutic» press ed heavily on tlimii, c>»l h<. »nncd coc.>aniiy»t il>c»holi<ion oi' thi s« handi- caps klsdhs«s Rsok srrvirr< vvrc al o rc<im»it>mr<i m connection witli tlic Regulation t'or thc n<hmnistrstion of kfuri«>i>:d snd I.o<>il l'nnd, the Civil Sprvi«<, snd Police Rrvi. ion Scheirc:, snd the City Improven>eni. Committee, of whirh hr wss President
As President of <hc y>ccrcga'. Reception Committee, ikfadhcva Rao evinc- ed a tssre for tlie artistic snd the ornamrnral, and his ansngcments elicited the warm commendation alike of his superiors and the public. Soon s>fter this, he was made, Inspector-General of Police the first Indian to occupy this high post. This position brought his talents as administrator to the fore. His organisation of the Police School became a inodel for other "provinces and many years later some of the features introduced by Madhava Rao were copied in the Police Training School st Vcllorc.
In addition to his duties ss Inspector-General of Police, Madhava Rao had to look after the plague-afiected areas ss Plague Commissioner. He set about, this task with a zeal and energy whirh drew the unstinted admiration of even those outside the State. Indeed the Pioneer remarked,? Who would not live in a Native State with surh mi n as Mr. Nfadhava Rao?»
The elevation of Mstlhsva Rao to thc Office, of a» 21ember of Council"
in these circumstances was hailed with great joy, and even the Mshomedsns accepted him ss their representative in Council. Hc was deputed on special duty to study the Bombay I.snd Revenue System snd thereafter became tire First Revenue Commissioner in Mysore while still a Member of Council. In 1899 he wss awarded the title of C I. K, and the next year he was given the Kaiser-i-Hind gold medal for his unique service».
About the close of 1904, he went to Trsvancore as Dewan. Within hardly two years, he wss able to efiect a good n>any iinprovcments» of s fsr- reaching character, reforms which any administrator would consider him- self fortunate to be able to achieve during a whole lifetime." One of these noteworthy reforms wss the reorganisstion of the Settlement Department.
The scheme which Madhava Rso devised brought the completion of the set- tlement operations in a comparatively short time, which meant for the State
RMINEfrT frfAHAIIASII'fftfAII6 9i a saving of Rs. 36 lskhs in cost snd 16 years in duration. A second reform was the introduction of the system of " daily audit ", which enabled the speedy adjustment of advances which in the psst had remained unadjusted over long periods. A third was the 4cceptsnce of cash payments of land snd the other taxes which had been till then paid in kind snd were felt to be sn oppressive burden. Last but not least, wss the inauguration of the Sri Mulam Popular Assembly where the peoples' representatives hsd opportunities to discuss and inguence public policies.
On the religious side, Madhavs Rso wss wellknown for his patronage.of Vedic learning snd the construction of places of worship, pstssalas snd restj houses for scholars. For thesd purposes be hsd to acquire lands with great caution. His Holiness Sri Ssnkaracharys of Sringeri was his spiritual Guru, but his religious sympathies were catholic. The Ramskrishns. Mutt, the Theosophical movement, the IIttsradhi, Vyasarsys snd other Mutts, the Muslim institutions and Christian Churches equally received his moral snd material support.
In March 1906 he went back to the scene of his former labours ss Dewan of Mysore. Msdhsvs Rso's fame had grown to such proportions that he wss presented with an address st s monster meeting of Englishmen, Americans;
Kunchmen, Germans, Jews, Hindus, Mshomedsns snd Persia.
Foremost among the things which Msdhsvs Rao did for Mysore must be mentioned the steps he took for the eradication of plague and the improve- ment of the Sgnitary and Health Services. He sought to relieve congestion by what has since become known ss "town planning". A separate pre- v'entive branch in the form of the Department of Public Health was brought into being. The Veterinary Branch no less received his attention. He organised agricultural exhibitions, opened credit co-Operative societies, and established a " Famine Reserve Fund " 906-7! to meet im- poverished conditions during the times of distress without dislocating the finances of the State. Education was imprcved by the abolition of school fees in village schools snd by the introduction of religious and moral instruc- tion in Schools snd Colleges. Technical snd Industrial Schools, were opened up st suitable centres, snd foreign scholarships became a noticeable feature from the year 1907. The Dewan also took the bold step of doing'away with the Sayer and other duties on arecanut which caused considerable hardship to the gardeners of this crop. This meant s loss of Rs. 4 lskhs of revenue, but the loss wss compensated by the revival of this industry and its return to normal prosperity.
After retirement in 1909, Msdhava Rao undertook an extensive tour " to gain grat-hand information on the condition of India ". He presided over the District Conference at Tanjore and wss invited to the Comnation Festivi- ties at Delhi in 1911. In 1914 on the invitation of H.H. The Gaekwar, he accepted the Dewanship of Baroda. Here he showed an interest in Art by calling. for s Music Conference with s view to systemause the good features of the Northern and Southern styles of Music and musical composjtion. A
SOUTH INOIAN MAHARASHTRIANS
Sanskrit Conference eufxcequently held discussed the Pmohit Bill, snd Madhava Rso had s great hand in modifying its objectionable features. He also organised the first Health Exhibition in Baroda, snd during the Great War 914-18!~endered good services to the Troops and roused the loyalty of the public which resulted in liberal contributions to the Wsr Relief Fund.
Msdhava Rso wss sn ardent advocate of the Permanent settlement snd succeeded in bringing shout s settlement at intervals of 60 years after s great deal of correspondence. As regards the Public services be advocated recruitment by competitive examinations and the establishment of q Adminie- traNve Research" in order to bring the State to sn up-to-date condition.
After retirement from Baroda, Madhava Rao devoted s considerable part of his.pnergies to the social, economic snd political uplift of India. Once he presided over the Annual Sessions of the Hindu Mahseabhs snd later went to England on deputation by the Indian National Congress to give "evidence before the Joint Parliamentary Committeq in 1919. He wae an ardent nationalist in hie leanings and his contribution to the Madras MaH on the subject of the Memorandum of the 19 non-officisl members of the Imperial Legislative. Council on Post War Reforms deserves special mention in this connection.
In September 1920 he fell ill and wss practically incapacitated for public work. But s few years later he practically recovered his health; snd in 1929 presided over the Silver Jubilee of the Sri Mulsm Popular Assembly
which he had brought into being in 1904! and personally paid hia respects to the Mahsrsja of Mysore about s year before hie death. He also paid~
visit to his Guru at Sringeri. Hic popularity with all claseea of people wae s measure of hie good work in sll spheres. He psaeod away quietjy in 1935.
His rich contribution to the political advancement of India entitles him to our gratitude. That he wae good enough to lend hie personal support by becoming a Life Member of the Mahratta Education Fund should be a matter of legitimate pride for all of us.
Pradhana Siromagd T. ANANDA RAO
Pradhanssiromani Anands Rso had the unique honour, besides being a Dewan himself, of being the son of a Dewan and eon-in-law of another Dewan.
He wae the eldest con of that illustrious statesman Rajah Sir T. Madhsvs Rao, and hie wife wae a daughter of the good Dewan Rema Rao, a close kinsman of hie father. The impress of these environments on hie chsrscter- wae unmistakable. He was indeed a gentleman with unfailing courtesy' and consideration for all alike.
Ananda Rao was born in Padms Vilas, Fort Trivandrum on the 15th May 1852. He studied in the Maharaja'e CoRqge, Trivandrum and in the Presidency College, Madras, under Mr. Edmund Thompson. All the Univcr-
EMINHNT MAHARASHTRIANS 93 sity Examinations he passed with distinction snd finall took his degree in 1871, with s high rank in the first class.
After this he qualified himself for the post of s Deputy Collector in the Madras Revenue Board, but wae recommended by General Duly for the tutorship of the Princes of Indore. As the Indore climate did not suit his health, he eventually joined the Myeore Service in 1873, as sn Attache under the British Commission. In 1875 he became Assistant Commissioner and wss in due course promoted to the Office of Deputy Commissioner. His remarkable coolness snd courage enabled him successfully to deal with the Myeore strike.
Far from treating those responsible for the troubles in s harsh manner, he walked up to them with only a single personal attendant and succeeded in winning over the strikers by hie concifistory methods.
Lger, he wss made Palace Controller and Chief 'Secretary, in which capacity he discharged hie ilutiee with, great firmness. As he fell ill about this time, he had to go on long leave. Gn return, he wae made Director of Statistics which paved the way for his becoming the Census Superintendent, His volmnnious reports earned for him the thanks of Mr. Gait, Census Commissioner of India. Hc then successively filled the important Offfces of the Revenue Commissioner, Firsti Councillor snd ultimately Dewan to H.H.
the Mshsrsjs of Myeore.
As Dewan, Ansnds Rao wae a splendid success. It is true he hsd none of that brilliance, initiative and inspiration which marked out his respected father above all ordinary statesmen. But his diTigence and tenacity of .purpose, his upright character, his open mind, his devotion to duty and hie
unbounded loyalty to his sovereign were assets that *ere bound to raise his general administration to a high level Ansnda Rso had eet Gladstone as hie ideal; snd he tried to follow in hie hero's footsteps as fsr as possible.
During the period of his Dewsnship, several important events took place.
Lord Minto paid s visit to Mysore ss Viceroy; the marriage of H.H. the Yuvarsjs wae celebrated with great pomp and ceremony; and Mysore had aprominent part in the Delhi Darbar. The times were propitious for silent but, useful reforms. Ananda Rao inaugurated tbe Myeore Economic Conference, sanctioned large funds for the spread of education, constructed the Minto Ophthalmic Hospital, comncenced the Kannambady project, and pursued sn active policy of railway construction. On the side of increase of revenue, he secured, through the friendly assistance of Sir Hugh Daly, the recognition of the claims of the. Myeore Darbsr to the surplus revenues of the C. A M. Station, Bangalore. Myeoreans sre grateful to him for reserving the higher posts in the Civil Service to Mysoreans only.
For his splendid work in these directions, the Government of India conferred upon him the title of C.I.E; and the Msharajs of Myeore not only honoured him wfth the title of Pradhanasiromani but treated hiia with exceptioiial privileges even after he retired in November 1912. A peunanent establishment st the cost pf Government wae allowed to him snd a Medical Officer was deputed to attend on him daily at his residence.
SOUTH INDIAN 1<fAHARASHTRIANS 94
Dewan Ansnda Rao passed away on the 19th July 1919. What endears him most to us is his preference for discriminate charities. The Executors of his will recognised this feature in the testator and crcstcd an endowment, named aft<r in>n, o ov'or Bs. 4,000 >n the VI.E. Fund for n>cdical schojarships to pour and deserving tudcnhs uf uur run>mun>tv sperialiung in Ophthalmo- lugy, with 4 preference for lady students, li is. the b>ggest, cndmvn>ent, that the ihfahrstta Education I"und ha so far gor. 'iyc therefore cherish hi.
men>ory w'itl> respect and grat>tudc bui, may be pei>nitted here to expre s the hope 'Lbat hm nobh: cxan>pl<* <v>ll soon be followed by scvcral other:, for thc lasting welfare of oiw c<>nnnunnv.
Dewan RL>DDY RAO
Beddy Bau had the umque honour of being f!c<van of Trnvancorc on two differen occas>uns, f>rat froin 1817 >u 1821 and tlien again froui 1848 to 1845.
Born ot a talented Alali>atts, Brahm>n lra>u>ly in >hc Tanj<ne Distritt, Re<l<ly Rau sent. tu Travancorc along witl> Colouel Nfunro, who was then Resident, and by dmt of bis industry and intelligence rose very <4u>cfcly >n the public sc>x>cc until he becainc Dewan, Pmshkar. Wlicn there was rome misunderstanding between Ban>an Menon. tl>e Dewan, sml tbc Be >dent, Beddy Bao was elevated io ihe Dewanship m which Nice h'e distingu>shed biuisclf by introducmg evera! reforms. Iie >shaved thc Chrisiian ryots fron> their ooziyam service; lic intrudu<cd s<a>oped cadj»n for docu- ments; hc 'removed thc restriction on thr: Sudras and others regardu>g thc
>rear>ng of gold and ilvcr oman>ants; lie mtroduccd coffee culuvation m tlie land 92vll>ch nlean>. >ln a[>l>r<*c>rible u>L>'<'!>sc >n ihe State revenues: and above sll, purified thc sdmmis<r>u>on oisli corrupt>on IIe al o <ntertamcd a number ui' vaccinators and by inaking tlie systmn uf vsrmnation popul'ar, iinpruveil ihe liealth of flic 1m'>bc.
Hc >no<le very grm>u arrange>uen>s for >l>c >nzrrm c iur T'»likaituj of Princess Rukniini Bayi, snd for his efficient. services lie obta>ned from thc Bam the Jahgir of tso villages in the Shencottali taluk. Cul. Ncivsll isla>
had become Bc identl oblected to this accep!ance of the jal>g>r as improper snd so, Reddy Rao re igne<i bi post in 1821 and settled m Kumbakonaiu.
'I<fore than tiventy years later, when S>.a>,e aff's>rs u'ere all >n a confus>on, General Cullen, Iwlio v;ss then Bes>dentl with thc approval uf thc hfsdras Govern>uent, sent for Rcddy Rao agaiii arid uffcred hin> tbe Dcwanslup in 1848. He then lal>ourcil for thc welfar< of tlie country for two years, anii on sscount oi ohl agc, i it>rcd m 1848.
B«i<ly Bao <vn. a v<ry charit l>ly il»pose<i uian IIi hs dug n hirgc teiik i>i Kun>bakonani slurb»>s even no>v <allc<l ai'ter lun>. lie cncuurag<sl
EMINENT MAHARASHTRIANS
Vedic learning too, by buiiding an agrsharam and bestowing sll the ,hopcee in it as gifts to learned Brahmins.
It is this magnanimity that makes his memory fragrant even now. " Light bcgete light". And it is said that the famous Pachayeppa Mudsliysr's mind wss directed in the path of goodnees and charity, because in early life he came under the influence of tliie Reddy Rso.
English SUBBA RAO
Over a hundred years ago, when Education wss not so widespread ss now, s knowledge of English was a great accomplishment snd a sure passport to posibWns of power and prestige. This accounts for the phenomenally rapid rise of Subba Rso, who went to Travsncore in the train of Col. Munro ss tutor to the Royal Princes in 1819. After remaining as tutor for five years, he served in various capscitiee until he rose to the' post of Dewan Peishksr and wse ultimately appointed Dewan in 1830.
Hie Dewanehip ie remarkable for various events. First, the Madras Governor paid s visit to the State that wss the first gubernatorial visit 'to Trsvsncom!. His Excellency was pleased with all that he esw snd formed a very favourable view of the administration of the State snd of the capacity.
for work of the New De~an.
Subbs Rso re-orgsnised the Military Department snd asked the Com- manding Officcr to train eepoys after the model of British troops. He also got down fresh horses and improved the dress of mounted troopers. The State forces were re-deeignated "the Nsyar Brigade " a name which is still in use to-dsy
For the guidance of the Judicial Department, he ilrew up along with.
Cunden Menon! a Code of Regulations, both civil snd criminal, modelled on British enactments. This wss the first code of Regulatione S36! snd, thdhgh considerably modified later on, is the ground work of the present judicial administration.
The same year, s detailed census of the whole State wae taken the first of i s kind and it msy be of interest for ue to note that the population then wss 12,80,668.
Meanwhile in ISSS an English School wae opened at Trivandrum tmder one J. Roberts snd as this wss popular a few District Schools were started ae feeders for the Central institution.
The Observatory snd the Chsrifry Hospital at Trivsndrum also came into being in the cnuree of 1836.
All these reforms, the Dewan was able to push through, because he enjoyed the full corifidenee of the Mshsrsjs His Highness Rema Vsrms, Swsii Tirunsl!, snd the Resident, General Fraeer.
SOI;TH INDIAN MAHABASEITRIANS qg
The next year, his popularity vened snd so he scut, in his resignation
>vhi<h ives reluctantly avcvpteil by Lite Jlali«raja LFcb. 1837!.
Hi>L Ovo yv«rs later, Apr>l 1889! he wss reappo>ntcd Dmvan, and his powers werc further strengthtned. During the svcond Dcwsnship of Subba Rao, the Puthannialdca and Rungau>lasa>a palaces were constructed.
In September 1840, C'cnersl Cullen was appointed Resident and hv hsd his 'own protege to back up. So, thc nos>tion of the Dewan became uncom- fortable, in spite of the fact that thc Maharaja reposed the greatest trugt in him. The result >vss tliat in June 1842, S«bb«, R«o resigned his post. and retired on a pension of Rs. 500 a month. He speht his last days in Tanjore, In l>is old age he was a loved arid respected figure v l>crcvcr he went.
Dewan Bahad>>r K. KRISHNASWAMY RAO
"His life was gentle; and the ele>nent.s so mixed in him, that Nature might stand up and say to aB the world, ' this was a man ' ".
The abov< quotation aptly describes Dewan Krishnaswamy Rao as we know him. He was President of tho blahrattc, Kducst>on Fund' from its inception to the <late of his death; and the esteem and affection iii which he was held render it impossible to take «, detached view of his life's work; but one can feel sure that distance of time w>ll only serve to enhance the value of his serv>ces to tliv prvscnt generation.
Mr. IC Ifrishnas>carny Bac «'a horn in 1845 «L Salem. His father Kanchi VvnkaLa R«o had been Huzur Sheristsdar st thc Collectoratc and died a>, Kurnool, to which place he iva t,ran<iferred, while Kriehnaswsmy Rao was still young. He was thus thrown on the support, of h>r elder brotlier Ksnchi Subba Bao, a name familiar so us in connection with the inauguration of the S.M.S.O. Sabha at, Tirup«Li. Aft<r a brief period of education in the Vcnkatag>rt IEaja's H>gh School, NeHore, where Kancbi Subba Bao was Tahsil<lar, K. Krishnaswamy Rao joined the Government H>gh Sdiool, Madras and rompleted 1>is Matr>volation in due course. Owing mamly to poverty, he couhl riot take a university course. He soon secured a footing as Tranglator fn the District Court at Nellore, snd by bis diligence and vapamty rose to thc position of Head Clerk in that Court.
ygith a view to improve his prospects, he passed the Plvaikr's test~ snd thv Criminal Elighvr Exa>nina<iona. Thv thvn Distri<>,.fudge rebuked hint for the mad idea of giving np his <leriral post in favour of practising as a lawyer;
but soon after hc was n>ade District Munvig and later Sub-Judge. About 1884« thc lion. Dewan Bahadur V. Barns, Iyrngar wss at the basil of the adrninistrat>on in Travancore. IVhen lic wanted a suit«Sic person for tliv.
Oflice of Chief Judge of Travanoorv, tlic Madrus Guvernrnent recommended Mr. K, Prisluxaswau>y R«u fur Llie post.
HMINRNT bfAHARA. HTRIAVR
This office he filled with credit for nearly 13 yearc. Many reforms in ,Imlmial adnnnisisstion were .cet, afoot during his period, and the rodo o Crnninal I'roce<hiic drafted by hini was Im . e<1 into lass. Kiiehnsswuiiy Rao . o<m fon<»l him. clf ii n«;inbcr of ihc I,< gi. Isiivc Cmmcd whirli in s <hffcrcnt capacity he had hclpcd in bringing into existence He was finally appointed Dmvsn of Trsvanrorc, in 1897.
The adminictrstion of the Btate remained in his hamls for over 6 years, during which period his tact, nnd ludgment ram<6 for him Ihr; approbation of the Government of Ii«lia. Thc titles Deivan l5al««lur, snd C.I.F,. were con forred on lmn as a niark of personal disiinciion; m 1903 Im rctircd from sorvice and cettlcd down in bfadrns.
Public life in Madras after thic date wac enriched by his presence. H<s active habits and m<ntal cn<rgy placid hini at thc, brad of scvcral institutions a<»l their succe<wful working ives in a large measnre due to his fortering care and guidance. Hc interested himself m Insurance, Rankrng, Fducs<ion and the promotion of industrial training. In politics his place in bfadras ives no lees important,. Hc wac thc Chairman of thc Reception Com<mti.cc of the Session of the Congress held at bladras under thc presidency of Dr. Rash- bchari Ghoch. His constant rhampionship of the cau.e of the citisen. of blmlras ives responsible for a, great deal of improvenient, in Civic amenities.
EIc was <asily accessible to all, and his mahirc advice on all matters was freely availed of by rich snd poor ahkc
Deivan BA'hadur K Krishna.wamy Rao wa. by nature extremely pious and gcncrous to a fault. His charitable disposition led him to help many poor students and orphans to thc limit of his resources. Eylien hc brestl<ed bic last in February 1923, thr: City of Madra., became poorer bv his loss. In fitting rerognition of In.. servnen, a snm of Rs 6,000 collected in pur»uence of a, Sticrifi"s meeting wa utilised for thc institution of a, scholarship in his nauie in the Madras University.
Dewan Bahadur C. KRISHNASWAMI RAO No cali<narc of the el<erector and occomplishmcnts of Dewan Bahadur fh Krishnasivami Rao will be coinplete which fails to take into account thc scrviecc he rendered to imlividuals and famili<c as guide, philocopher nr«l fricml. In many respects he was tlic counterpart of his distinguished name sake. People knew him a, 'Trustee" Kri.!inaciva«ii Ifso in thc sam< way
<liat they had <«irked oni hi» c<»ior c. » President » Krishoasivami Rao Though rcscrvcd l>v nature, he <vas a ivarm friend at closer quarters. His prejudices werc deep and stronm but <,nre hc wac convinced of lii ~ mistake ho was . ur<, to nmkc ample sinends. He w«r a, gontleiuan to thc core, and h<e remarkable talents nnd abilit<cc won for him tlic adniirai ion of all those ivho came in contact iiitll hiin.
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80 TH IKDIAlg 81ARARA8HTRLL>8
C Krishnasnami Rao uas born in th< year 1897 at Raidap<t, wh<re his father Kanrhi Pmna Ran ives Talisildar Ai, s ieiy young;igr hc losi, his father, and was brought up bv lns uiotl><ir umi<r tlie carel'ul siq>erv>sion of a family friend m the person oi' Air. Kurnool !ta>nachandra, Rso. After an rventful acaden>ic career in thc Presi<lcncy Colli.gc, Mmlras, he atirn<ioil the Law I.erbircs ihere and came out first >n tho Presidency in the B.L.
Examination in th . Second Class, there bciri> none in th< First Class that year. He was bound apprentice to bfr C. Rains<1>an<lra Rao gaheb of the Law College ai, '.cia<tres, and when tins was over, set up in<iependent prartire as Vakil at Kurnool,
He soon built up a fairly lucrative practice. His undoubted abilities as a lawyer soon came to notice, and in the year 1898 he was first appointed as District Muns>if. H>s ki><nvledge of Tannl, Telugu and '.snarese pui, him in quirk suec<ssdon in el<urge of Di>iriri blunsiffs Courts over the length an<i hrcad<h of tho Prcsi<knry; aiul his exiieiiitious <lispo al. of suits put bn<> in all plac<a whcr< iwirk iva. in iuavy arrears H< had iher< fore to ilo liard work, and his con titution soiiietimes broke doivn un<ier the hoavy strain He took linis about 1912 when he was arring as Sub-Ju<lge and during this lwriod gave valuable evi<lenc<. bet'ore the Pubhc dervices Commission.
His able disposal oi suits soon brought for C. Krishnaswami Rao the appreciation of his superiors. He rose to tlie position of District,iudge and within the space of a few years he ives >nmlc. to art as,iudge of the High Court at Madras. Owing to certain undercurrents, he was not made permanent as such though, Onve>inmnt had m ih< meanwinie recognised his merits and conferred on him high titles. Hc wss srnt to the Ii>q>crial I.cgi- lativc Assembly at Delhi as noimnated mru>bcr on behalf of the local ".overmnent, irom which position he. retired after a 1'ew inonthc.' leave in 1923.
It, wa <liff>cult for C. Kcri hna wami Rao to reconcile himself even in retirement, to a 1>fe of comparative idlenes, He therefore set up practico an<i gave legal advice.to re>tain Indian rule«s among others.
In the summer of 1928, hc cmnc dov;n to liladrns on a. short, visit from Coonoor A severe and unexpected Co!ir brought about his sudd<n rnd.
The best part of Dewan Bahadur C Krishnasivami Kao's life ivas given to Cover>oner>t service. Keverthelem 1>e had play<if a great part in ren<lering person~i help to friends of a kind that they alone can appreciate His con- nection with local institutions during retirement was not very imper>ent, for hr ivan frrquently drawn awav io the moiu<sii onhis professional >cork.
But bis sympathies were unmistakablv' <m the xi<is of the more unfortunate a>cony, us. Had he lived louger, thu-J<fahrattu Educsti<ni Fund would lone.
secured through him the fn>social snpport of several princes for foreign scholarships. That hc was not sparod to aeldeve this purpose must bc a matter for sincere sorroiv.
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EMINENT MABARASBTRIANS Dewan Bahadur R. RAMACHANDRA RAO Those who ever came jnto personal contact with Dewan Bshsdur R. Rsmschsndra Rso could scarcely have failed to notice hie imperious personality, hie sturdy character snd his bokl spirit of independence. He wsc one of those who proudly owned their Mshrstts ancestry snd cared little for the honours or titles that came in their wsy. By sheer merit and force of character he rose.to s commanding position in British Service; snd even those who opposed hie views could not doubt his sincerity of purpose.
Rsmachandra Rso was born-in an sristocrstic family. in 1871. He was Erst educated in Trivsndrum but graduated from the Presidency College, Madras. He entered the Statutory Civil Service in the year 1890 while yet in his teens. Ae Collector he served in several districts. There csn be no two opjmons ss regards the high quality of his work but his independent outlook often brought him into conflict with his superiors. R. Ramschsndra Rao had sn uncomnlon appreciation of the' difgcultihs crf the poor snd had a passion to serve them. As their sympathetic protector, he saved them from the tyrannous exactions of petty ollic'isla. Ouch tvhen Lord Hsvelock visited B;urnooi as Governor, he refused to collect subscriptions for the occasion as famine conditions prevailed in the uRstrfct 'srid met the whole expenses from his own jjocket.
During the years 1907 1910 he was Registrar of Co-operative Societies, R. Ramachsndrs Rsq wss one of the few who had a real understanding of jhe spirit of co-operation. His wide experience ss a Revenue OScer had brought him into intimate touch with the conditions of the ryots and their special needs; and in his new position he put the knowledge to practical use. Liquidation of debt, the removal of igiterscy snd reduction of the drink evil are some of the problems to which he gave special attention. His method was always to look years ahead instead of merely tinkering with the problems ss they presented themselves for solution.
Of R. Ramachsndrs Rso's broadmindednees, s glimpse could be had from a perusal of his memo as SecretaryLsw Department! regarding the treatment of political prisoners. He was always fearless snd outspoken.
At the time of his retirement 926!, Rsmachandrs Rao wss Collector of Msdrs's. Even while in service he hsd retained s continuous touch with Mathematics, pnd Astronomy. He wss among those who in the.early stages discovered Mr. S. Rsmsnujsm's genius and helped to bring him to public notice.
Rsmachandrs Rao was an ardent patriot The whole of his retired life up to 1930 when he got sn attack of paralysis wse devoted to the service of the country. His admirable organising powers were fully brought into, play in 1927 when he conducted the All-India Exhibition in connection with the Congress Sessions at Madras. Some of his best work wse done at Salem.
He worked there in close sscooiation with the Hon'ble Mr. C, Rsjagopalschsrisr
