A Revised and Enlarged Account of the Bobbili Zemindari/Chapter 11/1898
1898.
His Excellency Sir Arthur Havelock at the request of the Rajah, came to Bobbili on the 21st February to open the Victoria Town Hall, and was accommodated at the Raj Mahal.
At the entertainment in the evening His Excellency proposed the Rajah's health in return thus:—
"I thank you, Rajah, for the kind and too flattering terms in which you have proposed the toast of my health. I thank you, Gentlemen, also for having so cordially responded to it. It is true, as the Rajah remarked, that the determining cause of my visit to the Circars was his invitation to take part in the ceremony of opening the Hall, the ceremony which I look forward to performing to-morrow. I had the intention of coming to this part of the country during this season if it had been possible. But for my promise to take part in this ceremony, I think, I should have been compelled to postpone it to a future occasion. 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. She could not possibly have undergone the fatigues of this long and hasty journey. Before I sit down, I must ask you to join with me in drinking a toast which probably needs little or no commendation, that is, the toast of the health of the Rajah of Bobbili. The Rajah of Bobbili is, as we all know, a descendant and a representative of the race which has distinguished itself in the wars in this part of the country, and has left its mark on the history of the Circars. 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."
In the morning the Rajah paid a State visit to the Governor, who shortly afterwards paid a return visit to the Rajah in the Palace, and was received in the new Durbar Mahal, which had recently been completed and was then for the first time used.
On leaving the Durbar Mahal, His Excellency proceeded to the Victoria Town Hall close by, and after he had taken his seat on the dais, the Rajah requested the Governor formally to open the Town Hall.
After the Rajah had handed over the silver key of the Town Hall, the Governor replied thus:—
"The Rajah has so fully and clearly explained the history and objects of this Town Hall, that there remains little for me to say except that I feel it a pleasure and honour to be asked to consummate the work which was begun by my distinguished predecessor. I appreciate very heartily and deeply the sentiments which have moved the Rajah to carry out this work, and I trust that the usefulness of the building with which he has endowed the Town of Bobbili will be extensive and long-lasting. With these words I now declare the Victoria Town Hall to be duly opened."
Then the people of the Town and the Zemindari presented an address to His Excellency, and received the following reply from him:—
"Representatives of the People of the Town of Bobbili,—I thank you for your kind address of welcome. It is with the greatest satisfaction I have heard the tribute of praise which you have bestowed upon the Rajah of Bobbili, who, as you say, has endowed you with many useful Public Institutions, and they are valuable works to that extent. You admit that you are supplied with Schools, Hospitals, and other charitable institutions, and water-supply has been more than supplied and safe-guarded. This is a very high tribute of gratitude and praise to your enlightened Rajah. In consequence of his munificence towards you, you say that there is very little left for you to ask at my hands.
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"I am glad to be able to join with you in congratulating ourselves on the success of the efforts of the Government to withstand the horrors of famine and distress during last year. I take this opportunity of expressing the gratitude of the Government, for the efforts that were made by the Rajah himself to assist the people in his own immediate neighbourhood, and I wish also not to lose this opportunity of expressing the high appreciation of my Government of the skill, zeal, and devotion of the District Officers under extremely difficult and trying circumstances. I thank you once more for the welcome you have accorded to me here."
His Excellency then visited the Monumental Pillar and the Samasthanam Gosha Hospital before going back to the Raj Mahal and left the same afternoon for Vizianagaram.
With reference to this meeting of the Governor and the Rajah, the following remarks appeared in the Madras Mail:—
"It will be seen from the reports we publish to-day that the Governor's visit to Bobbili was marked by some very cordial speech-making. Referring to His Excellency the Rajah remarked:—
'It is a rare fortune for a Province to be presided over by such a statesman, a statesman who, by a life which has been devoted to his country's service, has added to the high gifts of nature a vast store of practical knowledge and experience, and who, while he is ready to listen to the popular voice and official advice, is at the same time capable of maintaining his own independence of judgment.'
"Of the Rajah, Sir Arthur Havelock remarked in just appreciation:—
'The Rajah 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.' "
In the middle of April the wedding of the Kumara Rajah of Bobbili was celebrated with much rejoicing. The Rajah's mother, the Rajah of Venkatagiri, K.C.I.E., Rajah Muddu Kristna with his wife, and Rajah VenkataKristna came from Venkatagiri. Rajah Venugopala Kristna, and the second son of the Kumara Rajah of Pittapur, also arrived from Madras. The late Zemindar of Sangamvalsa was also present at the wedding.
His Excellency the Governor re-nominated the Rajah to the Legislative Council, and in June he went to Ootacamund, and in the Legislative Council criticized and protested against the Tenancy Bill.