Page:The Aristocracy of Southern India.djvu/232

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.
186
The Aristocracy of Southern India.

him to reside with his son at Nuzvid. The father and his two wives were instrumental in fomenting these disturbances, and after his death Nuzvid became quieted down.

Ramachandra Appa Rao, one of the sons of the former Zemindar, and also one of his widows tried to follow in his wake in annoying the Company's officers, and Government took the management of the estate and granted the claimants allowances. In 1880, the authorities restored the Zemindari by issuing sunnuds to Venkata Narasimha Rao for the Nidadavole parganas and to Ramachandra Appa Rao for six parganas, and as the youngest brother of these two was yet a minor he received nothing. All arrears due to Government were relinquished, and so they were placed in charge of the estates with clear balance sheets. After the death of Ramachandra Appa Rao and Venkata Narasimha Appa Rao, the management of the estates came under the Court of Wards. Rajah Sobhanadri Appa Rao, the son of Ramachandra Appa Rao, took possession of the estate in 1831. He had in his treasury fourteen lakhs of Rupees, the accumulations of his long minority. His extravagance dissipated this hoard and in a short time he became burdened with a debt of six lakhs of Rupees. Rajah Narayya Appa Rao, the son of Rajah Sobhanadri Appa Rao, was a very enlightened Zemindar. In his time, the town of Nuzvid was cleansed, new roads were made through it, and lamp posts were erected, all at his cost. He died in 1877, leaving three minor sons; the eldest of them was recognised Zemindar, and the estates were taken under the management of the Court of Wards.

The late Rajah Sobhanadri Appa Rao, who died in 1868, left six sons. The fourth son, Rajah Venkata