A Revised and Enlarged Account of the Bobbili Zemindari/Chapter 11/1895
1895.
In the New-Year's Day Honours Gazette, Her Majesty the Queen-Empress was graciously pleased to confer on the Rajah the Knighthood of the Indian Empire. On the 30th May the Rajah was invested, at Ootacamund, with the Insignia of the Most Exalted Order of the Indian Empire, by His Excellency the Right Hon'ble Lord Wenlock, Governor of Madras This ceremony was the first of its kind that was held at that place. H. H. the Gaekwar of Baroda was also present on the occasion. On his return to Bobbili he received an address from his people, who made several requests. The Rajah, while thanking them for presenting him the address, said he could not carry out all the requests at once, but promised that he would fulfil many of them in course of time. On this occasion he remitted Rs.30,000, arrears of revenue, to the ryots.
The Rajah paid his respects to H. E. Lord Elgin, the Viceroy, when he visited Madras, and he then endowed a bed to be called "Lady Elgin's Bed" in the Victoria Caste Gosha Hospital at Madras.