The Aristocracy of Southern India/Chapter 11
SRI RAJAH VATSAVAYA VENKATA SIMHADRI JAGAPATHI RAZU BAHADUR GARU, ZEMINDAR OF KOTHAM
(GODAVARI DISTRICT).
The surviving representative of the Peddapur Samasthanam which was once in its glory, and which is now extinct, is Sri Rajah Vatsavaya Venkata Simhadri Jagapathi Razu Bahadur Garu, who is much loved by his ryots for his generosity and kindness towards them.
From the vernacular records that are forthcoming, we understand that the ancestors of the family of the Zemindar of Kotham originally came from Northern India and settled down in Godavari, Nellore, Kristna and Vizagapatam Districts. They were divided into two sections known as Mandapathi and Vatsavayi; the former were prominent at Ongole in the Nellore District, and the latter at Peddapuram in the Godavari District. These two families acquired extensive lands not by any treacherous means but by adventure and warfare, as it was a period of chivalry, when heroism, bravery and valour were much respected and honored.
The founder of the Peddapur estate was Sri Timmarazu Bahadur Garu, who went against some of the neighbduring Mahomedan rulers, conquered them and built a fort at Peddapur. He drove away some of the Kshatryas from the village of Tirupathi as they were causing a good deal of annoyance to the surrounding Zemindars. This act won the esteem and admiration of the well-known Kings of Anga, Vanga, Kalinga and Chola. He dug a big tank at Peddapuram which is known as "Tirupathi Raz Cheruvu." Sher Muhammad, one of the Mahammadan rulers, in recognition of the heroic spirit of Timma Eazu Bahadur Garu presented him with a sword which he received holding the handle up. The custom in vogue was that the receiver of any gilt should receive the thing in a suppliant posture; but the way in which Timma Razu Bahadur received the gift showed that he was in no way inferior to Sher Muhammad in point of valour.
Sri Raja Jagapathi Razu Bahadur Garu, the next in succession, erected some temples at Kattamuru, and dedicated them to Vishnu, and also built some mantapams and towers. He defeated a powerful Mahomedan chief, Mahomed Beg, in battle, and took possession of such insignia, as dhanka, nagar and nowbath. By sheer dint of valour, he took possession of Kummurn, Bickavol, Tuni, Molleru, and Pittapur, and ruled them, ile advanced towards several turbulent gangs of people in the agency tracts, brought them to subjection and made them his feudatories. He was succeeded by his son Timma Jagapathi Eazu Bahadur Garu who defeated Narahari Deo in battle and captured his fort at Parlakimedi. This was done at the special request of the Maharajah of Vizianagram, Poosapathi Sitharam Razu Bahadur Garu. Timma Jagapathi Razu Bahadur Garu was very charitable, and the monuments of his charities are tanks, wells, and some other useful institutions. He died childless, and therefore his nephew Raya Jagapathi Razu Bahadur succeeded him. Nothing is known of him more than the fact of his having been very charitable to the poor. His son Timma Jagapathi Razu Bahadur Garu was a linguist, for he was well versed in a number of languages, and was also a poet. Raya Jagapathi Razu Bahadur Garu, who succeeded him, conquered all his enemies, and killed a Muhammedan ruler named Jaffer Ali near the Vindia mountains. He composed some verses in Telugu in honor of the God, Ramaswami at Bhadrachalam, and gave away Yanam, which was a sub-division of the Peddapur estate, to the Trench. His son Timma Jagapathi Razu Bahadur maintained a large army consisting of cavalry and infantry. He died in 1797. It was his son Raya Jagapathi Razu Bahadur Garu that obtained a permanent, sunnud for enjoyment of lands under him from the British Government in 1802, He died in 1805 leaving behind him three widows of whom the senior, Rani Lakshmi Narasayya Garu succeeded him. Soon after this, disputes arose as regards the succession between the Rani and Jagannadha Jagapathi Razu Bahadur Garu, the cousin of the former Rajah. The matter was referred to Government ; they upheld the claims of the latter, and accordingly installed him as such. After the death of the youngest Rani in 1837, Suryanaraya Jagapathi Razu Bahadur, son of Jagannadha Jagapathi Razu Bahadur, succeeded to the estate. He was in charge of the same only for five years, during which period, owing to unforeseen difficulties such as cyclones and famine, the arrears of tax could not be paid to Government. Further the estate was encumbered with dpbt owing to mismanagement during the time of the Rani referred to above.
For scarcely had three years elapsed from the date of his succession, when the Collector brought the estate for sale on account of arrears. His proceedings were, however, set aside by the local Government, and they passed an order dated 4th January 1842, declining to confirm the sale on the ground that "there were strong objections to the transfer of landed property from a family who had possessed it for centuries," and remarking that "as the Collector admitted that the season had been adverse, and as it appeared from the petition of the proprietor (the father of the present petitioner) that he was desirous of entering into an adjustment of the arrears. His Lordship in Council would prefer some arrangement being made with the view of preserving the estate to the family." Then he thought that by proposing to Government to take the estate under their own management, he might effectually show them that the short collections of the Zemindari were not caused by his inability, and he accordingly made the proposal by a petition addressed to Government on the condition that it should be restored to him after the discharge of the arrears. In the meantime the Collector and the Board of Revenue had, in pursuance of the order of Government, dated 4th January 1842, recommended that as the sale of Veeravaram having been regularly completed, could not be legally set aside, the petitioner should be "allowed to retain possession of the remaining portion of the estate, consisting of six Muttas paying an annual Peishcush of Rs. 1,69,434-8-0, on the condition that the balance of arrears which, after giving credit for the purchase-money of Veeravaram, amounted to Rupees 2,55,997-10-3 should be liquidated by twenty annual instalments of Rs. 12,799-14-1, to be paid of course in addition to the current permanent Beriz." Thereupon the local Government passed an order, dated 11th April 1842, directing that the property should be managed by the Collector on his account in accordance with his proposal. The Collector managed it for 5½ years, but his management did not show any better results, and the arrears were considerably augmented. At the end of that period the Collector again recommended the sale of the estate, and ultimately it was sold in auction and bought in on account of Government.
Sri Rajah Vatsavaya Venkata Simhadri Jagapathi Razu Bahadur Garu was born in 1853 at Tuni. He learnt Sanskrit and Telugu at home under able pundits, and can talk Hindustani fluently. At a comparatively early age he evinced much interest in hunting and riding, and in course of time he became an expert in both. He did not spend his time in frivolous pursuits but in careful study of vedic lore; and books treating on the ethical code of Hindus occupied a great portion of his time. He is very active and energetic, and he has developed these qualities to such an extent that he works for hours unfatigued.
The present Zemindar some years ago appealed to His Excellency the Governor in Council to restore the estate owned by his ancestors.
His prayers were:—
- 1st. That the Government would be pleased to restore his Zemindari to him with all its profits, after deducting the annual Peishcush and the charge of management from the collections of the twenty years from 1842 to 1862.
- 2nd. That, if the Government did not consider that he was entitled to a remission of the whole balance due by his father, they would be
- pleased to restore the estate to him with all surplus funds which might now remain to its credit, on condition of his paying the balance of Rupees 2,55,997 minus such portion of it as they might think proper to remit, or of paying the whole if no remission was thought prober, or,
- 3rd. That if His Excellency considered that the surplus funds could not be paid. His Excellency would be pleased to restore his Zemindari to him.
The prayers of the Zemindar did not meet with a favorable response.
As soon as the Rajah Sahib took charge of the estate, he established a choultry at Tuni, where a large number of people, irrespective of caste, colour or creed are fed gratis every day. There are special wards for each caste. There is a separate establishment for the management of the choultry, and those who go there are highly satisfied with the treatment they receive at the hands of those in charge of it.
The Rajah Sahib lately contributed towards the Lady Dufferin Fund, Rs. 2,000, Rs. 1,000 to the Victoria Memorial Fund, and Rs. 200 to the Seshadri Memorial Fund.
Being a great Sanskritist himself, the Rajah Sahib is an admirer and encourager of Sanskrit study. Till a few years ago he had in his Samasthanam a well-known pundit Mahamahopadyaya Sriman Paravastu Venkata Rangachariar. He maintains eight Hindu temples at the head quarters of his estate, and in the month of Karthika (December) ceremonies are performed on a grand scale at a cost of a thousand Rupees. On these days hundreds of poor people are fed.
The Rajah Sahib has excavated many channels and tanks. When famine threatened furiously in 1899-1900, he spent Rs. 10,000 at the request of Government on repairs to tanks and channels.
He has much faith in Ayurvedic medicines. He has studied medicine well and is a great doctor. He prepares excellent drugs, mixtures, &c., and gives them away free to all people. He has English, Ayurvedic and Unani medicines with him. He maintains an establishment for preparing and administering them.
He once went out hunting in one of his forests, and chased two tigers to a distance of 12 miles, and ultimately shot them dead. He has killed a number of tigers and cheetahs. He would ride on horse back wherever possible, and go walking long distances at a stretch while on hunting excursions. He is undoubtedly a keen sportsman. He has trained a number of animals to peform different kinds of feats. Horses of the best mettle, goats and sheep of excellent breed he has in his menagerie, and their performances in the ring are simply wonderful. Those animals have been trained under the immediate supervision of the Rajah Sahib and they are all kept in good order.
He has a press of his own with a large establishment for the purpose of printing rare medical books. All the proofs pass through his hands; he does not grudge the trouble of going through them carefully.
The Rajah Sahib is extremely kind to his ryots. He advances them money for purposes of cultivation. He makes large remissions during famine times, and hence they do not emigrate to other places in times of difficulty. Though he is said to be orthodox his views are very liberal. He is very loyal to the British Government, and is a friend of every one of the Collectors of the District. He is held in the highest estimation by his ryots, and is very popular with the general public.