The Aristocracy of Southern India/Chapter 7

by A. Vadivelu

SRI RAJAH VASUDEVA RAJAMANI RAJA DEO GARU,

ZEMINDAR OF MANDASA

(GANJAM DISTRICT).

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Mandasa is one of the most ancient zemindaries in the Ganjam District, and the chief members thereof in olden days distinguished themselves in many a battle-field, and hence it claims to be the possession of a noble family of historical importance. The present Zemindar Sahib Mehrban-i-dostan Sri Rajah Vasudeva Rajamani Raja Deo Garu, a highly enlightened prince with broad views and noble generosity has rendered himself very popular with all, and has won golden opinions from collectors and governors.

The first member of the family to which the Zemindar has the honor to belong was a famous Kshatrya named Varma Simha of the lunar race who came to prominence in the 13th century. The estate obtained by him has been during all these centuries in the enjoyment of the family in unbroken perpetuity. Sri Srinivasa Rajamani Raja Deo, the grandfather of the present Rajah, had a splendid record for great ability and noble character. He was very charitable; temples, agraharams and other institutions of public utility that he established are ample evidences of his large-heartedness. The choultry built by him at Haripur has been of much use to the pilgrims that go to Benares and Rameswaram. As he was a nobleman of high respect and vast experience, he was accepted as a safe counsellor by almost all the officers who came in contact with him; he was frequently consulted by them in matters of importance. He was specially of great service to the collectors of the district. Whenever a disturbance took place he was the first to render all possible aid to suppress it and to restore peace and order by sending his own armed men and retainers. The Government of Madras had reposed so much confidence in him, that he was generally commissioned to capture on their behalf the rebels and mutineers. On a certain occasion, there were within the jurisdiction of another Zemindar in the District, insurrections and rebellions and everything was in confusion and disorder. All this called for the interference of the Government of Madras, but they did not disturb the management of the estate by the Zemindar, because of the surety of the Rajah of Mandasa in whom they had placed implicit confidence and for whom they had the highest respect.

Rajah Sri Jagannadha Rajamani Raja Deo Garu, c.i.e., the father of the present Rajah, was a scholar, artist, and statesman. His loyalty to the British throne which he had inherited from his ancestors, was of a superior order, and the successful manner in which he had managed the estate was admitted on all hands. He was the recipient of the following sunnud in 1877, conferring on him the title of Companion of the Indian Empire:—

"Victoria by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, Queen, Defender of the Faith, Empress of India, Sovereign of the Order of the Indian Empire.

To

Sri Rajamani Raja Deo,

Zemindar of Mandasa,

Madras.

Greeting:

Whereas ¥e are desirous of conferring upon you such a mark of Our Royal favour as will evince the esteem in which we hold your person and the services which you have rendered to Our Indian Empire, We have thought fit to nominate and appoint you to be a member of Our said Order of the Indian Empire, We do by Grant of the Dignity of a Companion of the Order of the Indian Empire, to Sri Rajamani Raja Deo of Mandasa, these presents grant unto you the dignity of a Companion of Our said Order and hereby authorize you to have, hold and enjoy the said dignity and rank of a Companion of Our said Order, together with all the singular privileges thereunto belonging or appertaining.

"Given at Our Court at Osborne, under Our Sign Manual and the Seal of Our said Order, this first day of January, 1878. in the Forty-first Year of Our Reign."

By the Sovereign's Command,

(Signed) SALISBURY."

In further appreciation of the Rajah's excellent management of the estate he was authorised to keep two pieces of cannon by the grant of the following license:—

No. 49.

Goverment of India,

Home Department.

Public,

Simla, the 22nd August 1887.

License.

With reference to rule 12 of the rules made by the Governor-General in Council under the Indian Arms Act, 1878, and published in the notification of this department, No. 518, dated the 6th March 1879, the Zemindar of Mandasa in the Ganjam District of the Madras Presidency is hereby licensed to possess two cannon.

By Order of His Excellency

The Viceroy and Governor-General,

(Signed) A. P. MACDONNELL,

Secretary to the Govt. of India.

The title of Rajah as a personal distinction was conferred on him by the Government of India in 1887, when H. E. the then Governor of Madras, wrote as follows:—

Madras, January 6th, 1886.

"My Friend, ^

Now at last I am able to address you as Rajah officially and I need hardly say that it gives me very great pleasure to do so.

Long may you live to enjoy honors and to benefit your people on your noble estate.

Believe me to be, Your sincere friend, (Signed; M. E. GEANT-DUFF."

The Rajah Sahib and Sir M. E. Grant-Duff were on very friendly terms, and they always corresponded with each other. We give here one of the letters written by his Excellency to the Rajah Sahib:—

November 6th, 1886, GUINDY.

"My dear Rajah,

It is always a great pleasure to me to hear from you and I trust that when I am in Europe I may now and then have tidings of your welfare.

I think it must be you who have sent me a very pretty little carved bottle which came yesterday from Mandasa with a letter.

Will you permit me to offer two books of myself—the one published and relating to my life here—the other privately printed and belonging to my pre-Indi::,n life. "I should feel it a great honor to be thus represented in your ancient castle where you so kindly received me.

I am, With every good wish, Your most sincere friend, (Signed)^ M. E. GRANT-DUFF."

As specimens of local art and handicraft, the Rajah sent some beautifully carved boxes to the Colonial and Industrial Exhibition held in London, of which His Most Gracious Majesty King Emperor (then Prince of Wales) was President. The Rajah was the recipient of two medals for the carved boxes. Much credit is due to him for being the first to establish an English school in the District. Mr. G. S. Forbes congratulating him uu the interest he evinced in matters relating to education wrote in the following terms:—

"My Dear Rajah.

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I wish all the Zemindars would follow your excellent and generous example in the establishment of schools, I hope your are going on satisfactorily and that all the villages on your estate are taking advantage of them."

In honor of the visit of His Royal Highness, the then Prince of Wales to India, the Rajah endowed a scholarship called "The Prince of Wales' Scholarship."

Sir M. E. Grant-Duff, in a public speech made at Bezwada, classed the Rajah of Mandasa with the Maharajah of Vizianagram, and the Rajahs of Bobbili and Pittapur and said: "We have in these north-eastern Districts, men who, like the Maharajah of Vizianagram, the Zemindars of Mandasa and of Bobbili, are doing much in various ways forthe enlightenment of those around them." In recognition of the public spirit and loyalty of the Rajah, the Government of Madras in 1877 granted to him the following certificate:—

"By Command of His Excellency the Viceroy and Governor-General this certificate is presented in the name of Her Most Gracious Majesty Victoria, Empress of India, to Sri Rajamani Raja Deo Garu, Zemindar of Mandasa, son of Sri Srinivasa Rajamani Raja Deo Garu, in recognition of his services to the State in handing over free of cost the land required for a road through his Zemindari and of the public spirit and loyalty which he has evinced in various ways,"

Sri Rajah Vasudeva Rajamani Raja Deo Garu, the eldest of the three sons, was placed, while young, under the careful supervision of his father; and under the instructions of his teachers he- learnt English, Telugu, Bengali and Urdu. The Rajah Sahib wishing to show his loyalty to the British Government volunteered himself to place his services at the disposal of the Government of Madras and to proceed to South Africa at a time when the Boer war assumed gigantic dimensions and threatened to become a serious matter. This was just before the relief of Lady-smith when Field-Marshal Lord Roberts was of opinion that every available man in the Empire would be required for active service in the war. The Rajah spared no time in making arrangements about the management of the estate by the Government of Madras during his absence in field service. On hearing that Ladysmith had been relieved, and that there was no necessity for him to join the war service, the Rajah rescinded the arrangements he had made. At every successful stage of the war there were great rejoicings at Mandasa and prayers and thanks-givings in the temple. ' f. . On hearing the death of Her Most Gracious Majesty, the Queen-Empress Victoria, the Rajah evinced his sympathy in various ways. To commemorate the memory of that august lady, he came forward to build a hospital last year and the foundation stone was laid by the Collector of the district. The building is in course of construction and it will soon be an accomplished fact. He maintains a bed in the Gosha Hospital, and has endowed a secondbed. To the Victoria Memorial Fund, the Dowager Ranee and the Ranee of Mandasa subscribed Rs. 2,000. The following letter was addressed by H. E. Lord Ampthill, on the 3rd October 1901 to the Rajah Sahib:—

"To The Zemindar of Mandasa. Dear Sir,

I wish in reply to your letter of the 26th September last, to thank you most sincerely for the generosity with which your family has come forward, to support the Women's Victoria Memorial Fund. Will you be so good as to express my gratitude to the Dowager Ranee, and to your lady the Ranee of Mandasa.

Believe me, Yours very truly, (Signed) AMPTHILL."

The Rajah Sahib takes much interest in students' hostels, and the present additional ward to the students' hostel at Berhampore owes its existence to his generosity.

When the Rajah Sahib heard of the redemption of the Victoria Town Hall at Madras, he not only subscribed Rs. 3,000 towards it but also induced many of his friends to contribute towards the movement. He maintains a lower secondary school, a girls' school, a Sanskrit school, and a primary school for boys. He has instituted a scholarship for students that study for the B. A. Degree Examination in the Vizianagram College after passing the F. A. Examination from the Parlakimedi College or the Kallikote College.

In 1897 the Government of India granted the following certificate to the Rajah Sahib in recognition of his services as a member of the District Board of Ganjam and also for the special interest taken by him in vaccination:—

"By command of His Excellency the Viceroy and Governor-General in Council, this certificate is presented in the name of Her Most Gracious Majesty Queen Victoria, Empress of India, to Sahib-i-Mehrban-i-dostan, Sri Vasudeva Rajamani Raja Deo Garu, Zemindar of Mandasa, son of Sri Jagannatha Rajamani Raja Deo, in recognition of his services as a member of the District Board of Ganjam and of the special interest taken by him in vaccination."

The Rajah Sahib manages the affairs of the Samasthanam assisted by his brother who is known as Thatraz (Commander-in-chief), and also by the Dewan, Mr. Chalapathi Sastri Garu, a gentleman of great worth and excellent principles.

It is gratifying to note that the Rajah Sahib is very kind to all his ryots, and whenever they represent to him their grievances, he gives them a patient hearing and affords them ready redress. His qualities both of head and heart are admired by everybody ; he is a perfect gentleman; he is very charitable and sympathetic to the poor; his loyalty to the British throne is exemplary; and he has been maintaining the prestige and honor of his family by his generous acts and noble behaviour.