The Aristocracy of Southern India/Chapter 12
SRI RAJAH VENKATA RANGIAH APPA RAO BAHADUR,
ZEMINDAR OP KAPILESWAR MUTTA, NUZVID
(KRISHNA DISTRICT).
The Nuzvid Zemindari family is perhaps the oldest of the families of Zemindars in the Krishna District, and in olden days some of the members distinguished themselves in battle, attained great successes in the field and thus rose to prominence. The present representative Sri Rajah Venkata Rangiah Appa Rao Bahadur, a member of the Nuzvid family, and the Zemindar of Kapileswar Muttah, has had the benefit of Western education, and having travelled to most of the important places in India, accompanied by his tutors while he was under the management of the Court of Wards some years ago, has been able to manage his estate without any difficulty.
The first member of the family of whom anything is known was Meka Basavanna who hailed from the south, and established himself on the left bank of the river Krishna some two hundred years ago. It is said that he built a small fort near Gollapalli, which was then a debatable land and a battle field for the armies of the Orissa Rajahs, of the King of Vijianagar, and of the Nawab of Golconda. The fort must have been an insignificant one, or else it would have drawn the attention of those powerful chiefs. In 1667, Appanna, generally known as Vijaya or "victorious" added much to his ancestral estate, and received from the Nawab of Golconda the titles of Thahavar va zalalat and dastugaha with some insignia of royalty. He was further given the titles of
Sri Rajah Venkata Rangiah Appa Rao Bahadur.
Bahadur. There is a legend to the effect that on a certain day as he was going on a hunting excurtion he came to a field of gingelly oil seed, where a goat was defending itself most furiously against the attacks of a wolf. This the Rajah considered to be a good omen inasmuch as a feeble animal successfully resisted a mighty one, and on the spot he built his fort; and hence Nuzvid is derived from Nuvid chetta vidu (the place of the oil seed plant).
Sri Rajah Narasimha Appa Rao Bahadur, the next prominent member of the family, received the title of Teen hazar mansubdar which meant that he held his estates on the feudal tenure of leading three thousand men to the standard of his suzerain or lord. He was a very successful and popular ruler, and many poems were composed in his honor by the prominent poets of those times. The Rajah died childless, and hence the estates passed to a distant relation named Appanna, and on his death, to Ramachandra, also called Narasimha Appa Rao. It was in the time of Ramachandra that Asaf Jah, Subadar of the Dekhan, went to the Krishna District to bring it under the central authority. Ramachandra set himself resolutely to the task of defying the authority of the Subadar, and stood a siege which lasted for three months in the Nuzvid fort, but fell a victim to the sword of Rustum Ali Khan, who kept the estates for twelve years; but his successors were not able to manage them, and so they arranged to rent them out. Under the influence of two members of the Kamadana family who were dependants on the Rajahs of Nuzvid, one Venkatadri a descendant of the Nuzvid family, took the eighteen parganas of his ancestor for rent. The Kamadana people exerted their influence with the Nawab of Hyderabad and got a permanent sunnud for those parganas in the name of Venkatadri, but before they returned, Venkatadri had died. However, his brother Jagannadha received the sunnud. The new Zemindar in a short time Earned against his benefactors, and in the struggle that ensued they made him prisoner. Before setting him free they wrung out a promise from him to give them the management of the Nidadavole and Pentapad parganas; but he failed to fulfil his promise as he tried to expel them from his jurisdiction when he had regained his liberty. They used their influence again with the Nizam of Hyderabad and succeeded in obtaining a sunnud for the whole of the Nuzvid estates. When this fact reached the ears of Appa Rao he was in a fix, and scarcely had the Kamadana people arrived from Hyderabad, when he offered them the whole of the Charmahal estate on condition that they got the sunnud cancelled. This they did, but he proved false to his promise. By this time the French had established themselves at Masulipatam and were very influential in the Dekhan. They had a fort at Divi within the jurisdiction of the Zemindar. The Kamadana people made known their grievances to the French and sought their help. They wanted Appa Rao to come to terms, but he would not do go; the consequence was that a battle took place, in which he was made prisoner. He died in the prison. Thereupon the Kamadana people exerted their influence with the French, and got one Venkatadri, a lineal descendant of the family, to succeed Appa Rao. Venkatadri obtained Amaldari and Zemindari sunnuds through Hasan Ali Khan. Venkatadri Appa Rao, in token of his gratitude to his benefactors, the Kamadana people, gave away the Charmahal estate. Narasimha Appa Rao, the next in succession, managed the state badly and the tax due by him to Government fell into arrears, and as he failed to pay though repeatedly demanded, the authorities were constrained to send a small army to take possession of the estate. He borrowed money from Government officials and met the demand. As he had not paid the money borrowed from them, they brought their claims against him. He first appealed to the Governor-in-Council at Madras, and then to the Court of Directors in London. The latter ordered a strict enquiry to be made. While matters stood thus, Narasimha Appa Rao, assumed an attitude of defiance, and the result was that a small army of the British was sent against him. He made his escape to the Nizam's territory, and when an extradition for his arrest was obtained, he appeared before the Chief in Council and offered to pay his arrears if his rebellion was condoned and his estates were restored. His requests met with a favorable response, but he failed to pay his arrears, and Government were obliged to send a small army to take possession of the estate. In the severe fight that ensued, Narasimha Appa Rao escaped in disguise, and his opponents levelled the ramparts to the ground. The Government issued a proclamation to the effect that they had removed Rajah Narasimha Appa Rao from the Zemindari, and that his elder son Rajah, Venkata Narasimha Appa Rao was recognised Zemindar. The father took refuge in the jungles of Bhadrachalam and caused much annoyance to the Company's officers by burning villages, plundering treasure and killing and mutilating any who resisted. The Company's officers effected a compromise with him in 1785 and permitted him to reside with his son at Nuzvid. The father and his two wives were instrumental in fomenting these disturbances, and after his death Nuzvid became quieted down.
Ramachandra Appa Rao, one of the sons of the former Zemindar, and also one of his widows tried to follow in his wake in annoying the Company's officers, and Government took the management of the estate and granted the claimants allowances. In 1880, the authorities restored the Zemindari by issuing sunnuds to Venkata Narasimha Rao for the Nidadavole parganas and to Ramachandra Appa Rao for six parganas, and as the youngest brother of these two was yet a minor he received nothing. All arrears due to Government were relinquished, and so they were placed in charge of the estates with clear balance sheets. After the death of Ramachandra Appa Rao and Venkata Narasimha Appa Rao, the management of the estates came under the Court of Wards. Rajah Sobhanadri Appa Rao, the son of Ramachandra Appa Rao, took possession of the estate in 1831. He had in his treasury fourteen lakhs of Rupees, the accumulations of his long minority. His extravagance dissipated this hoard and in a short time he became burdened with a debt of six lakhs of Rupees. Rajah Narayya Appa Rao, the son of Rajah Sobhanadri Appa Rao, was a very enlightened Zemindar. In his time, the town of Nuzvid was cleansed, new roads were made through it, and lamp posts were erected, all at his cost. He died in 1877, leaving three minor sons; the eldest of them was recognised Zemindar, and the estates were taken under the management of the Court of Wards.
The late Rajah Sobhanadri Appa Rao, who died in 1868, left six sons. The fourth son, Rajah Venkata Narasimha Appa Rao, presented a petition to Government, praying that the Zemindari might be divided, which petition was rejected. He then commenced a suit against his five brothers to recover a share of the estate and also the personal property left by his father. The case was decided by the District Judge of Krishna, and an appeal was preferred to the High Court of Madras against the decision of the Lower Court, and ultimately the Privy Council decided that the Nuzvid estates became a new Zemindari not feudal in its tenure or impartible in its nature, and therefore the succession to them must be regulated by the ordinary Hindu Law.
In consequence of the said decision the five surviving sons of Raja Sobhanadri became entitled to one-sixth of the estates with arrears of mesne profits, which arrears the minor sons of their eldest brother could not possibly pay out of their sixth share. The District Judge, in 1880, issued an injunction to the Collector to divide the estate and the Collector anxious to avert the ruin of the three minors, endeavoured to persuade the successful litigant to agree to some compromise. The uncle of the minors would listen to no argument. To arrange a division among claimants of this nature was a troublesome business, but in 1881 it was accomplished by the Collector who effected a compromise under which the minors retained one-sixth of the estates and a sum of money in hand. The remainder of the estates and of the money at credit of the minors was divided among the five uncles in accordance with the decision of the Privy Council.
Sri Raja Venkatadri Apparow Bahadur Garu went to Hyderabad with his elder brother Sri Raja Jagannadha Appa Row Bahadur to recover the estate of Joojjooroo which was taken possession of by the Government of His Highness the Nizam of Hyderabad from the Kalavakollu family, of which his mother's sister was a member. He stayed about three years in Hyderabad with his brother. As His Highness was then a minor, Sir Salar Jung the Prime Minister was ruling the country on behalf of the Nizam.
Unfortunately at the end of three years, Raja Jagannadha Apparow died of malarious fever before he attained his object. When the sad news reached Nuzvid, the eldest of the brothers, Raja Narayya Appa Row went to Hyderabad leaving behind his aggrieved father who was prepared to start. He reached Hyderabad in time and soothed his other brother. He paid his respects to Sir Salar Jung who told him that he had already requested his brother to return as the settlement was difficult, but that he had not done so. Then both the brothers returned to their place. A year after, Raja Sobhanadri Appa Row died of dysentery. Then Raja Narayya Apparow, the eldest of the brothers, succeeded to the Zemindari. He gave his broiher Raja Venkatadri Appa Row the charge of Kamatams and Bhutadi accounts. He performed his duty so well that he became very popular and he was consulted by his brother on important matters. After some years differences arose between the brothers. Then a suit was preferred by the Zemindar in conjunction with two other brothers. Raja Simhadri Appa Row and Rajah Venkataramayya Appa Row. Several attempts were made by Government officials and private men to effect a compromise, but the Zemindar was stubborn. He was not willing even when the brothers requested him to give them all Nunna Parganna or Rs. 1000, allowance per mensem. He agreed to give Rs. 500 each per mensem. Therefore the compromise was not effected, and the suit was continued with rigor chiefly by Raja Venkatadri Appa Row. He died before the matter was settled.
Sri Rajah Venkatadri Appa Rao Bahadur was first taught Persian under the supervision of his father. He became a great scholar in that language and also in Telugu. He was a poet and his compositions bear testimony to his ripe scholarship. He married the only daughter of Sri Malrazu Kondala Rao Garu, pensioned Zemindar of Narasaraopet. The result of this union is Sri Rajah Venkata Rangiah Appa Rao Bahadur Garu, who bears the name of this sketch.
Sri Rajah Venkata Rangiah Appa Rao Bahadur lost his father while he was three years old. The management of the estate was entrusted to his paternal uncle, Sri Rajah Simhadri Appa Rao Bahadur. Sri Rani Venkata Rama Lakshmi Kanakamma Rao Bahadar, the widow of the late Raja Venkatadri Appa Rao Bahadur, being dissatisfied with the management of Sri Rajah Simhadri Appa Rao Bahadar, took everything into her hands. She went with her son and also with a number of her relations to many places of pilgrimage in India. She was in charge of the estate only for a year, when the Court of Wards took its management under them, and sent the minor Zemindar first to Masulipatam, and then to Madras for education. At the latter place, he joined the Pacheappa's College, and read up to the Matriculation standard, during which period he was under the guardianship of Mr. R. U. Potts. The Zemindar was taken on tour to almost all the places of importance in India and Ceylon, and thus his powers of observation were considerably improved. As a student his conduct was exemplary both towards his tutors aud his classmates. We quote here his views on travel: "Every man, in my opinion, should, as far as his means and circumstances allow him travel over the world; for those who stick fast to their homes are like the frog in the fable, which deems that its abode—the bottom of the well—is the entire world, for it never comes out of it. My dear fellow countrymen, you ought to travel at least in India, for you are fortunate enough to be born in this country, which is the embodiment of all the characteristic features of the whole world. In India you can see the luxuriant foliage and beautiful animals of the Torrid Zone. In India you can also see the snows of the Frigid Zone, the picturesque mountain sceneries, the large and grand river basins, the beautiful waterfalls, and the best specimens of architecture in the world. You can meet with people of almost all the nations speaking different languages."
The Rajah Sahib appreciates highly all the good that the Court of Wards have done him and has specially thanked them for their giving him an opportunity to visit the various sacred places in India.
As soon as Sri Rajah Venkata Rangiah Appa Rao Bahadur attained his majority, he was put in charge of his Estate. As he had received a good education under Mr. Potts, he experienced no difficulty in following the lines already chalked out by Government for his guidance.
He is a father of six children, two sons and four daughters. The elder of the former, Sri Rajah Parthasaradhi Appa Rao Bahadur has been adopted by his paternal uncle, the Zemindar of the Vuyyur Estate. He has not interfered with the charitable institutions maintained and established by his father, but has made them more permanent and useful. He is very religious, but not narrow-minded. He has been managing the estate very carefully with the assistance of a suitable staff of officials. He does not love show, but is very simple, courteous and polite. He is very kind to his ryots, and the public of the Krishna District speak very highly of his noble behaviour and gentlemanly qualities.