A Revised and Enlarged Account of the Bobbili Zemindari/Chapter 11/1889—1892
1889—1892.
At the express desire of his brothers, the Rajah of Venkatagiri and Rajah Muddu Kristna, the Rajah went to Venkatagiri and took a prominent part in effecting a compromise concerning the family property by the execution of the family settlement deed, dated 8th April, 1889. For this sole object he stayed at Venkatagiri and Madras for four months. Before the close of the year he was again called by his father, the late Rajah of Venkatagiri, to settle about the maintenance which had to be paid to him from the Estate. For the purpose of making his eldest son, the present Rajah, agree to pay what he demanded, the late Rajah instigated his 5th son, Rajah Muddu Kristna, to file a partition suit against the eldest son, the Rajah, and got some one as a friend to file a similar suit on behalf of his youngest son, Rajah Venugopal, who was a minor at that time. The 6th son, Rajah Venkata Kristna, did not yield to the father's inducement. It took nearly three years for the Rajah of Bobbili to bring them to terms. He used to go to Madras every year for three or four months, and at last succeeded in making a compromise amongst them, i.e., the old Rajah, the present Rajah, and Rajah Muddu Kristna. Before it was settled, Rajah Venugopal attained his majority and withdrew the suit, knowing it was simply filed by a next friend at the instigation of his father. Rajah Muddu Kristna also withdrew the suit according to the above compromise. The poor old Rajah did not, however, enjoy the maintenance long. He died on the 6th of June, 1892.
The Rajah of Venkatagiri received the following reply from the Right Hon'ble Lord Connemara about this amicable settlement:—
"106, Mount Street,
Grosvenor Square,
19th August, 1892.
"My dear Rajah,
"I thank you for your letter of the 6th May, and I am very glad indeed to hear that the suit for a partition of your estate instituted by your father has been withdrawn. 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.
The late Maha-Rajah of Vizianagaram and the Rajah of Bobbili were in the habit of conversing on very friendly terms with each other whenever they happened to meet; but on the 1st March, 1891, the late Maha-Rajah of Vizianagaram all on a sudden called on the Rajah, who was luckily at home then in Madras. On the next day the Rajah returned his visit, and since then, and up to the demise of the late Maha-Rajah, they used to visit each other very often at Madras.
The Rajah paid his respects to H. E. Lord Lansdowne, the Viceroy, at Madras in 1892.
On the 29th August of the same year, the Rajah was blessed with a son, Sree Rajah Rama Kristna Ranga-Rao Bahadur, by his 3rd and the present wife.
As the mud ramparts of the Old Fort of Bobbili, which was the scene of so much havoc in 1758, were completely wearing out, the Rajah thought fit to mark the scene by means of a Monumental Pillar*[1] bearing inscriptions in Telugu and English describing the martial spirit of his ancestor and his followers.
- ↑ * The following is the Inscription in English on the Pillar:—This Pillar is erected to mark the Fort of Bobbili, which was attacked in January 1758 by Rajah Viziaramaraz of Vizianagaram, assisted by Monsieur Bussy. The then Rajah, Ranga-Rao, after fighting eight hours, finding it impossible to save his fort, and preferring death to dishonour, first put to death the women and children in the fort, and then fighting fell like another Leonidas with all his gallant band. Three nights afterwards, a faithful Sirdar from Rajam, Tandra Papayya, effected an entrance, in spite of vigilant guard, into Viziaramaraz's tent, and stabbed him to the heart. Erected by Raja V. S. Ranga-Rao in 1891.