SRI MANYAM MAHA LAKSHMAMMA GARU, ZEMINDARNI
OF THE GUTALAH MUTTAH
(GODAVARI DISTRICT).
The only prominent family of the Vaisya community amongst the landed aristocracy is the Manyam family, and the present representative thereof is Sri Manyam Maha-Lakshmamma Garu, Zemindarni of the Gutalah Muttah, who bears a good name, and an exemplary character.
The first member of the family to which the Zemindarni has the honor to belong was Manyam Kanakayya who flourished at Cocanada in 1790 as a negotiation merchant. He went to Yanam, started business and succeeded very well.' He had five sons, Venkata Karasayya, Sathialingam, Reddiah, Venkata Rathnam and Prakasa Rayadu. Of these, Sathialingam who rose to prominence bought the Gutalah estate, which was originally in the possession of Mangapathi Deo, Maharajah of Polavaram. In 1812 the whole of the Polavaram estate was put to public auction, when Rajah Appa Rao of Nuzvid purchased it. In 1827 Sathialingam bought the same from Rajah Appa Rao for 230,000 Rupees. Till 1850 the former managed the estate, but after his death, his son, Kanakayya, and his brother, Venkatarathnam took the management into their hands. Venkatarathnam had four sons, Kanakayya, Venkatasubba Row, Seethia and Rajah Jee. In 1860 Venkatarathnam died then the first two became joint Zemindars. As all the brothers died one after another, Kanakayya was in sole charge of the estate for about ten years. He had a son, Chinna Kanakayya, who knew English, French and Sanskrit. He
