Biographical Sketches of Dekkan Poets/Cavelly Venkata Boriah
was thwn surveying the Nizam's dominions. This officer in a letter to Sir Alexander Johnstone, makes honorable mention of the subject of this biography, as will be seen from the following extracts of the Jetter in question: "The connection then formed with one person a native, and a bramin (the lamented V. C. Boriah, then almost a youth of the quickest genius and disposition, possessing that conciliatory turn of mind, that soon reconciled all sects and all tribes, to the course of enquiry followed in his surveys) was the first stept of my introduction into the portal of Indian knowledge devoid of any knowledge of the language myself, I owe to the happy, genius of this individual the encouragement, and the means of obtaining what I had so long sought. On the reduction of Seringapatam, not one of our people could translate from the Canarese alone; at present we ha«e translations made not only from the modern characters, but the more obscure, I had almost said obsolete characters of the Sassanums (or inscriptions) in Canarese and Tamul; besides what have been made from the Sanscrit of which in my first years in India, I could scarcely obtain any information. From the moment the talents of the lamented Boriah were applied, a new avenue to Hiudoo knowledge was opened; and though I was deprived of him at an early age, his example and instructions were so happily followed up by his brethren and disciples, that an establishment was gradually formed, by which the whole of our provinces might be analized, on the method thus fortutously began, and successfully followed." Boriah was deputed by his master to collect information useful for the office, and the sagacity and diligence, be displayed to collect materials, and in making researches obtained the unqualified approbation of his employer, and the result of his labours was such as materially to promote the interest of the Honourable Company. The service was very arduous for Boriah had to traverse dreary woods, and lofty mountains about Srisale, While on this survey, Colonel Mackenzie was appointed Engineer to the expedition against Manilla, and Boriah was obliged to return to his home; while on the way from Hyderabad to Madras, he kept a correct journal, and wrote some poems in Sanscrit and Telugu, be likewise collected a great many literary materials to elucidate the history of India. While at Ellore, he displayed his skill in mechanism and knowledge in the arts and sciences, and obtained the admiration of his townsfolks, who highly esteemed him on account of his sweet temper and unimpeachable character. When, his employer returned to the Peninsula from the expedition, Boriah accompanied him to the survey, they had been formerly employed upon.
In the year 1798 Boriah accompanied his master in the campaign against Tippo Sultan, and kept a poetical journal of the route, till he reached Gadewa, a petty zemindarry in the Nizam's dominions. It happened once that his employer's official papers were plundered by marauders of that zemindarry, and Boriah was deputed to recover it; in endeavouring to do this, he was confined in prison, and denied food by the zemindar, and very harshly treated at first, but owing to his conciliatory behaviour, and some affecting poetry that he composed, he was able to soften the obdurate heart of that chieftain, so that he not only regained his master's property, but received besides some presents on his own account; after this he Joined Colonel Mackenzie, whom be accompanied to Seringapatam; he was present at the storming and capture of that fortress, and described all the incidents attending it in animated versification: the planting of the British colours on the ramparts, was excellently described. Boriah was well rewarded by his master for this performance. Colonel Mackenzie was shortly after the fall of Tippo Sultan, appointed as superintendent of the Mysore survey; and Boriah attended his master to Chittledroog, by the route of Bangalore, Nijagall, and Sira. He was eminently useful in making arrangements to procure useful information connected with the service, so as to promote considerably the interest of the Hon'ble Company, and procure for his employer an extensive body of literary materials to elucidate the history of the southern Peninsula. When the Maharata chief Doondea was captured at Harihar, by the detachment under Sir Arthur Wellesly in 1800. Boriah wrote a poem on that occasion; after this the poet composed a piece of a hundred stazas on a prophet, which brought that holy man's name into increased celebrity. Another work Was also written by Boriah, intitled "Sreranga Raja Charitu," containing the genealogy of the Srirangapatam sovereign from the foundation of Umattore, giving a description of the ancient ruins of the former city, where the Yadava princes ruled, and became powerful. When the army broke up from before Seringipatam, he marched about with detachments thro,'different parts of the ceded districts and Mysore dominions, and was highly noticed by General Campbell, Colonel Munro, and other officers of distinction, as well as by the Mysore dewan. By the directions of bis master, Boriah acquired perfect knowledge of mathematics, geometry, astronomy, geography, and other sciences, both according to the European and Hindu methods, and his memory was so tenacious, that he soon acquired a proficiency in different native languages. He could draw very neatly, and constructed maps that were excessively admired by his master.
He discovered various ancient coins, and made fac-similes of inscriptions in different obsolete characters. When he decyphered the Hala Kanada characters, inscribed on a Tablet found at Dodare, which is now deposited in the museum of the Asiatic Society, his master was highly gratified, and put his name on it.
Colonel Mackenzie having been ordered by the government of Fort St. George, to return to Madras on public business. Boriah accompanied him in 1801, and was employed two years at that presidency, in translating books, and valuable manuscripts and documents; in the twenty sixth year of his age, Boriah was unfortunately attacked by apoplexy, which terminated in his premature death in 1803. His master ordered a monument to be erected to his memory, with a suitable inscription on the sea-shore, which is still standing. At the age of twelve years he had married the younger sister of Venkatachellum, zemindar of Kasemicota district, and left issue an only daughter; and died universally regretted, on account of his public and private virtues.