Venkata Ranga Rao

“ On behalf of Government I can only express my sincere thanks for the manner in which you look after all those in whom you are interested, and amongst whom your work is cast. The ceremony that I had the honour of being present at this afternoon was a specially interesting one, as it was one commemorating the visit which you yourself paid to Her Majesty the Queen-Empress, when you were in England; it is one which will hand down to posterity a record of that visit, and specially of the loyal spirit which was predominating in your own mind at the time when you paid your visit to that country. ”

“ I dare say you are all aware that it is the duty of every person to carry out the good wishes of his forefathers, especially in a family like mine.
"Allow me once more to thank you most heartily for the address you have so kindly presented to me." In the month of December the Maharajah paid his respects to Lord Curzon, the Viceroy, at Madras, and endowed a bed in the Caste and Gosha Hospital, Madras, in the name of Lady Havelock. He was present at the assumption of the Governorship by Lord Ampthill, and to bid farewell to Sir Arthur Havelock when he left Madras. ”

“ A son of Sher Mahammad Khan, Nawab of Chicacole, an agent to the Mogul Emperor, while out shooting, was seized and confined by a powerful Fittooridar at Rangavaka near Palasa in Ganjam. That part of the country, being covered with impenetrable clumps of bamboos, afforded no passage for the Nizam's cavalry. The Nawab, therefore, called for assistance from Rajah Lingappa Bahadur, who at once proceeded to Rangavaka with a strong force of his own, captured the Fittooridar in a single battle, rescued the boy, and restored him to his bereaved father. ”

“ The Bobbili family belongs to the tribe known as Velama Doras, who (according to Orme) "esteem themselves the highest blood of Native Indians next to the Brahmins, equal to the Rajputs, and support this pre-eminence by the haughtiest observances, insomuch that the breath of a different religion, and even of the meaner Indians, requires ablution." The men of this race are, as a rule, well-built and of a warlike disposition. They are proverbially haughty, so much so that they are not known to serve any but the chiefs of their own caste. ”

“ The Rajah himself is a man of literary ability; he has also been an observant traveller; he is a large landowner who knows how to work his property to the best possible advantage, and he is, I can testify, a most valuable member of my Legislative Council, representing there the interests of the large landed proprietary of the Madras Presidency. I can only say that I wish that we had many more men in the Madras Presidency and in India like the Rajah of Bobbili. ”

“ The Rajah accepted his Dewan's advice and sent his army to Bobbili. There all the Velama Doralu and noted hill-tribes attacked the enemy with a firm determination to fight to the last. They thought that unless Viziaramaraz was killed, the unceasing attacks on Bobbili would never cease even with the sacrifice of their lives. In this battle they killed all the enemy in front of the elephant on which Ramachandraraj seated himself in an Ambari (hooded-howdah) , and stabbed him to death with long spears. ”

“ Though it is a melancholy object for which we have met here now, yet it is a loyal duty for us all to come here and to express our deepest sympathy and profound grief at the death of our good, beloved, and venerable Queen Victoria, the Empress. She was born on the 24th May, 1819, succeeded to the throne on the 20th June, 1837, reigned for 63 years, 7 months, and two days, and was called by the Almighty to the Heaven at 6-30 P.M. on the 22nd January of this year at Osborne. Her loss has been felt by all classes of people with deepest regret. ”

“ If the Government, although they should thereby subject us to a variety of losses, should contemplate the removal, from our hands, of the collection of the Motarpha— a tax that was included in the permanent assessment and not excluded from the operation of the stipulations of the Permanent Cowle bestowed upon us by the Government, how can we have any faith that the Government would keep the promised advantages in our permanent enjoyment? ”

“ The Gosha Hospital at Madras, the gift, almost the entire gift of the Rajah of Venkatagiri, shows very well how keenly the members of your family take interest in this particular matter. The foundation of this institution here shows that you yourself are as keenly alive to the interests of those unfortunate women of this country, who, up till now, have received so little support. I hope this institution, when it is once started, will be the means of affording relief and comfort to a very large number of women of this country and this town ”

“ The assault soon recommenced ; and when at sunset Bussy entered the fort as victor with the remnant of his army, it was only because every man of the garrison was dead or desperately wounded. An old man, however, crept from a hut, and leading a child to Bussy presented him as the son of the dead chief. Four other men had preserved their lives; and two nights later, when the Vizianagaram camp was buried in sleep, they crept into the Rajah's tent, and before the sentries had discovered and shot down the assassins, they had stabbed the Rajah to death with thirty-two wounds. ”

“ In my opinion, in which many of you, I am sure, would join, our late Empress, must have been an Incarnation of Lakshmi, born in this world to become a model to others as a Sovereign, as a wife, and as a mother. ”

“ I have never seen a larger or better shaped room outside Madras in the Presidency, and I have no doubt whatever that it will be of the greatest profit and mutual advantage to the people of Vizagapatam, when they meet here for every sort and kind of occasion in the future. ”

“ When it is said that any person who lived over 1,000 months is to be revered, how much more respect should we show to her, who not only lived for 1,000 months, but is also the best Sovereign that India has ever possessed in this Kaliyuga. In the Tretayuga Rama, an incarnation of Vishnu, distinguished himself in his duties and virtues as a king, as a son, and as a husband. ”

“ However, I have managed to find sufficient time to carry out the projected visit to this part of the country, and I am very glad to find myself to-night as the guest of the Rajah. I am certain that Lady Havelock would have been pleased, if she could, with her presence on the present occasion, have given an additional satisfaction to the Rajah. But the Rajah has rightly said that the long journey from Madras, performed in the hurried way that my journey on the present occasion was arranged to be performed, prevented her from coming. ”

“ He was called Sarvagnya (one who knows everything) by the people. Though they were members of the Venkatagiri family, which was the original line of Ravu Varu, they were praised in the histories of Bobbili and Pittapur as the members of their own families, for the simple reason that they were their ancestors and of great reputation. But they were always mentioned before the founders of the houses. Their names have also become household words in every Velama family. ”

“ With the help of this Sirdar, the Zemindar of Bobbili sets us at defiance, and even the Commander-in-Chief. This will be evident if you only consider the fact that even when we who have been so famous for strength and courage have implicitly obeyed your summons, he has not thought fit to pay his respects to you in answer to your call. I need not say any more on the matter.'
"Roused by the inflaming words of the Rajah, Haidar Jang exclaimed, 'For us who have conquered so many countries, you seem to say it is a great matter to overcome Ranga-Rao, who is but a common Zemindar of a hilly tract. ”

“ The present Rajah of Venkatagiri, being a member of the twenty-eighth generation, comes, therefore, under the sixteenth generation after Dharma Rao. If we take this Dharma Rao as the head of the Bobbili family, there must have been about sixteen generations from him to the present Rajah of Bobbili. But from Rajah Lingappa who, all the Prabandhams say, was the builder of the fort at Bobbili, there are only ten generations. Therefore, from all these circumstances, it seems clear that Dharma Rao could not be the founder of the House. ”

“ The year 1893 is the most important and the most enjoyable one of the present reign. The Rajah left Bobbili on the 14th April on his way to Europe, left his son, the Kumara Rajah, at Madras, under the care of his tutor, Mr. E. P. Oldfield, took leave of his mother and brothers at Venkatagiri, and embarking at Bombay landed at Marseilles. Thence he went to Paris, stayed there for a few days, and reached London on the 19th May. His Excellency the Governor, Lord Wenlock, was kind enough to write letters of introduction to the Secretary of State for India and others. ”

“ In the matter of succession to the estate, the custom of primogeniture has been observed in our family. Our Samasthanam has never been divided. It is customary in our family that the eldest son is bound to maintain all those of its other members that have, at their heart, the interest of the Samasthanam. The other sons of the Zemindar have equal rights with the eldest son in respect of all the property of the family, the Samasthanam and its fitting equipages excepted. ”

“ My Dear Maharajah,
I have read your Lectures with great interest and in returning them (under separate cover) with many thanks I venture to congratulate you not only on your work but also on the motives which induced you to undertake it. It has often seemed to me that the rising generation of the aristocracy of Southern India, to whom we are giving an English education, need nothing so much when they assume the management of their estates as sound practical advice from men of their own class. ”

“ Family disputes are always especially disagreeable. Your brother, the Rajah of Bobbili, is a very sensible man, for whom I have a great regard, and has done well to interfere in this matter.
"With best good wishes for the welfare of all your family.
I remain,
Very sincerely yours,
(Signed) CONNEMARA."
The Rajah attended the Receptions at Madras given to H. R. H. the late Prince Albert Victor in 1889, and to His Imperial Highness the Czarevitch in 1891. ”

“ Amongst the officers, the Brahmins are able and clever, but they are not honest. The greater the care bestowed on them by the master, the better the work they turn out. On the other hand, if the master reposes entire confidence in them, they will certainly ruin him. Now I must tell you about the Velama-varu. Of these people, many are honest, but they lack ability. If they are asked to go and work away from their native place they are afraid. It is unnecessary for me to describe the qualifications of the officers now on duty, as they are well aware of their own characteristics. ”

“ If men are at all well off, they do not care for service. Neither do they care when they are dismissed, because they are sure to get billets in the Police, Salt, Local Fund., or Railway Departments. I wonder how one who cannot behave well under a single master, is able to serve satisfactorily in those departments which are governed by many masters. I cannot understand how departmental officers can engage dismissed servants without first enquiring of their former master as to the nature of the offence for which their services were dispensed with. ”

“ Lord Kimberley, the Secretary of State for India, kindly introduced the Rajah and his brother to H. R. H. the Duke of York at the Garden Party, given by Mr. and Lady Constance Shaw Lefevre, to meet the Duke and Princess Victoria May before they were married. H. R. H. the Prince of Wales, at the interview given on the 10th July to the Rajah and his brother, was pleased to say that he was glad to make their acquaintance, to which the Rajah replied that it was a great honour to them to be graciously allowed to pay him their loyal respects. ”

“ Chinna Ranga-Rao lived at Rajam under his uncle Vengal Rao's care till 1765, and afterwards was under the care of another relative, Inuganti Chinna Narasayya. While he was under the guardianship of the latter, Sitarama Raj, the brother and Dewan of Chinna Viziaramaraz, a grandson of Pedda Viziaramaraz, endeavoured to get hold of Chinna Ranga-Rao, and several times invited him to Vizianagaram, promising to re-assign to him the Bobbili and Sitanagaram pergunnahs, which had been annexed to the Vizianagaram Zemindari after the battle of Bobbili. ”

“ The year 1887 was a very sad year for the Rajah. He lost his adoptive mother, and his dear younger son, and he himself was ill for several months. The most noteworthy event of the year was the Jubilee of Her Majesty the Queen-Empress, in memory of which the Rajah erected the much needed market at Bobbili. ”

“ Ranga-Rao, who observed the enemy, sent for all his Velama Doras and other fighters; and having made his preparations for fighting, he ordered Naubath to be played on the Naubathkhana. Haidar Jang, who heard the sound, asked Hussain Ali Khan what the sound was, and was told in reply that it was the Naubath played on the ramparts of the fort at the orders of the Zemindar. Haidar Jang, whose anger was roused at hearing the sound, deputed Hussain Ali Khan to direct the master of Bobbili to have the playing stopped, and to vacate the fort, as the Commander-in-Chief lay encamped in front of it. ”

“ The Polygar, besides his other towns and forts, has always one situated in the most difficult part of his country, which is intended as the last refuge for himself and all of his own blood. The singular construction of this fort is adequate to all the intentions of defence amongst a people unused to cannon, or other means of battery. ”

“ 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. ”

“ We have in these North-Eastern Districts men who, like the Maha Rajah of Vizianagaram, the Zemindars of Mandasa, and of Bobbili, and the Rajah of Pittapur, are doing much in various ways for the enlightenment of those around them. ”

“ After he was taken to Vizianagaram, the Kavitey and Rajam pergunnahs came under the Pusapatis till Chinna Ranga-Rao was restored to his ancestral Zemindari. He then fled to Samarlakota, where his aunt, Jaggamma, a sister of Mallammadevi, who was killed at the battle of Bobbili, was living with her husband, Niladri Rao Bahadur Garu, the then Rajah of Pittapur, who, for fear of Ananda Raz, had left Pittapur and lived at Samarlakota. ”