The Aristocracy of Southern India/Chapter 9
Sri Rajah A. V. Jugga Rao Garu.
SRI RAJAH A. V. JUGGA RAO BAHADUR GARU,
ZEMINDAR OF SHER MUHAMMADPURAM
(VIZAGAPATAM DISTRICT).
Of handsome person and with fascinating manners and a brilliant intellect, Sri Rajah A. V. Jugga Rao Bahadur Garu, the subject of our sketch, is a gentleman of varied attainments, and has rendered such signal service to the scientific world as cannot fail to raise him in the estimation of many a savant both of the East and the West. He has been much abroad; he has travelled through Europe and many other foreign lands, and his mind being stored with all he has seen and heard his conversation is most agreeable and instructive.
It is said that the family from which Sri Jugga Rao Garu has sprung is an ancient one, and that some of his ancestors held respectable and high posts under the Nizam of Hyderabad, prominent of them being Mr. Ankitam Sriramulu Garu, who was Dewan to the Nawab of Masulipatam. Rai Bahadur A. V. Narasinga Rao Garu, the son of Dewan Sriramulu Garu, was born in 1827. Mr. Narasinga Rao lost his father when but an infant; and so he was taken to Vizagapatam and brought up under the care of his maternal grandfather. His education was, at first entrusted to Mr. Porter, and then to the Rev. J. Hay, D. D., the father of modern education in Northern Circars. Mr. Narasinga Rao entered the service of the East India Company when he was young, and early rose to the position of Deputy Collector through sheer dint of energy, good character, and perseverance. He married Sri Achayamma Garu, the daughter of Mr. Godav Jugga Rao Garu. Sri Rani Achayamma Gam, the wife of Rai Bahadur Narasinga Kao Garu, and mother of Mr. A. V. Jugga Rao Garu, comes of a very highly respectable family, the first prominent member of it being Mr. Goday Jugga Rao Garu, who came from Masulipatam to Vizagapatam as the Dubash of the then Governor-in-Council of Northern Circars, which had a special Governor in those days. Mr. Jugga Rao Garu built a temple—the only chief temple now—dedicated to Sitharamaswami, which is a living monument of his piety. He had two sons, Prakasa Rao Garu, and Narain Rao Garu. The former died heirless, but the latter was blessed with two sons, one of them being Mr. G. V. Jugga Rao Garu.
Mr. Goday Venkata Jugga Rao Garu was sent by his father to Madras for education, where he remained for some time, and made considerable progress in his studies. He had a scientific and inventive turn of mind. He built in 1874 an Observatory at Vizagapatam, and determined the latitude of the place, and also invented a Pluviometer (instrument for measuring rain). The following extracts show the position he held in the scientific world:—
Miscellaneous Papers.
No. 1405.
From
- The Meteorological Reporter to the Govt. of Bengal
To
- A. V. Nursing Row, Esq.,
- "Daba Gardens," Vizagapatam,
- Dated Calcutta, 22nd August 1870.
- "Daba Gardens," Vizagapatam,
- A. V. Nursing Row, Esq.,
Sir, I am directed to communicate to you the thanks of the Lieutenant Governor for the valuable assistance you have voluntarily rendered to this Department by forwarding your observations for collocation with those of the official observations.
I have the honor to be, Sir, Your niDst obedient servant, (Signed) HENRY F. BLANFORD, Meteorological Beporter to the Govt, of Bengal. No. 67. From The Meteorological Reporter to the Govt, of Bengal. To A. V. Nursing Row, Esq., • Vizagapatam, Dated Calcutta, 10^/t February 1872. Sir, •
I am directed to convey to you the thanks of the Lieutenant Governor of Bengal for the valuable assistance you have rendered to this office in communicating copies of the Vizagapatam Registers.
I have the honor to be, ^ Sir, Your most obedient servant, (Signed) HENRY F. BLANFORD, Meteorological Reporter to the Govt, of Bengal. »»
No. 416.
From The Meteorological Keporter to the Govt, of Bengal. To • A. V. NuiisiNG Eow, Esq., ViZAGAPATTAM, Dated -Calcutta, Uh Aiirjust 1874. Sir,
I am directed to communicate to you the thanks of the Lieutenant Governor for the valuable assistance you have voluntarily rendered to this Department by forwarding your observations for collocation with those of the official observatories.
I have the honor to be, Sir, Your most obedient servant, (Signed) M. G. WILLSON, Off<j. M c tea ruIo(j leal Reporter to the Govt, of Bengal. Extract from the Hanchj Booh of Meteorology. Alex. Buchan.
"Since this rain gauge does not admit of very nice measurement another sort is frequently used, consisting of a receiving- vessel and a glass measure of much smaller diameter, which admits of as nice graduation as maybe desired. A good specimen of this class is the gauge recommended by Mr. Symons, London, Fig, 80, in which (b) is the vessel which receives the rain, and (c) the graduated vessel which measures the amount. There being often great difficulty or trouble experienced m replacing the glass measure when it chances to got broken, the late G. V. Jugga Row, a wealthy Zemindar of Vizagapatam, proposed a gauge (Fig 31) in the form of a funnel having a diameter of 4" 697 inches or a receiving area of 17.33 square inches. Now since a fluid ounce contains 1.733 cubic inches of water, it follows that for every fluid ounce collected by this gauge, the tenth of an inch of rain has fallen. The measure can of course be graduated to any degree of nicety; and it may easily be reproduced if required. It is also the cheapest rain-gauge costing only 7s. 6d. when made of copper and 4s. 6d. when made of tin. Self-registering rain gauges have been invented by Osier and Cresley; but being too expensive for general use, they need not be described."
Mr. Venkata Jugga Rao had no sons, but he had an only daughter, Sri Achayamma Garu, who was given in marriage to Mr. Narasinga Rao Garu. After the death of Mr. Goday Jugga Rao Garu, his daughter inherited his estate, and in order to manage this, Mr. Narasinga Rao resigned his post of Deputy Collector and Magistrate.
Mrs. Narasinga Rao was a lady of really fine character, elevated thoughts and noble disposition. The Government of Madras in recognition of her qualities, both of head and heart, conferred on her the personal distinction of Rani.
A cultured man himself, Mr. Narasinga Rao enlarged the observatory founded by his father-in-law by adding to it an equatorial Telescope, surmounted with a moveable dome at a cost of a lakh of Rupees, a transit instrument and a sidereal clock. He also opened a Meteorological Observatory and furnished Government daily with meteorological reports. The Government of India in recognition of his services conferred on him the title of Rai Bahadur. He waa appointed Honorary Meteorological Reporter to »» the Government of India for Vizagapatam. The Government evening gun at that station having been discontinued in 1871, Mr. Narasinga Rao offered to bear the expenses of the firing which the Government of Madras allowed as a special case and this useful institution has been maintained ever since. He was elected Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society in 1871, and of the Royal Geographical Society in 1872.
We give the following extracts we were able to collect from Government records, and also from the annual reports of A. V. Jugga Eao Observatory for the information of our readers:—
No. 465.
" Order dated 28th November 1871, No. 3837.
The Right Honorable the Governor in Council authorizes the firing of an evening gun at Waltair under the orders of the Officer commanding Northern District, Mr. Nursing Row paying for the powder on presentation of the necessary vouchers.
(True Extract.) (Signed) A. C. SILVEE, Col., Offg. Secy, to Govt. To The Adjutant General, Controller of Military Accounts, Insr-Genl. of Ord. d Magazines. (True Copy.) (Signed) T. TAYLOE, Hd. Clerk, Adjt. GenVs. Office. My dear Mr. Nursing Eow,
I have the pleasure to forward for your perusal Proceedings of Government sanctioning the evening gun under the arrangements proposed by you. I will send the order giving effect to above from this evening by my Serjeant-Major to Vizagapatam about 4 to day. If you have any thing in the v^^ay of instruction to send to the man who regulates the clock by which the gun is fired, let me know before hand please.
Believe me, Waltair, Your's sincerely, 6th Dec. 1871. (Signed) C. G. GUNNING. Kindly return the " Proceedings of Government."
From The Indian Magazine, August 1887, issued by the National Indian Associstion London, in aid of Social Progress and Education in India
Review.
G. V. Juggarow's Observatory, Daba Gardens, Vizagapatam; Results of Meteorological observations, 1885. With an Introduction, containing Astronomical observations, &c., by A. V. Nursingarow, Esq., f. r. a. s., F. R. G. s., Calcutta : Thacker, Spink & Co.
Perhaps the most picturesque of all the coast districts of the Madras Presidency is Vizagapatam—the land of the Hindoo Mars, which is the meaning of the word—lying along the north-west shore of the Bay of Bengal. Here, in the chief native town of the district, lived in former days a wealthy Zemindar, G. V. Juggarow Esq., who, to the many acts of benevolence he practised among the people* around him, added a great taste for scientific enquiry, especially in the subject of Meteorology; for the furtherance of which, he established there in 1841 the excellent observatory which bears his name. In the introduction to this Report of Results, Mr. Juggarow's diaries are largely quoted from, to show what had been his great desire, to provide and maintain an establishment for the accurate record of these observations, as also to communicate to the residents around "the state of my barometer or the approach of bad weather," and he enjoined upon his heirs, "in case I breathe my last before doing so, they should make the Institutions permanent at the cost of my estate." The observatory had originally been well stocked with instruments, but these becoming antiquated, others of much greater value and of recent date have been introduced by his son-in-law and successor Mr. A. V. Nursingarow, who, with the help of a number of well trained native assistants, has so carefully and regularly conducted these observations in the past, that in all subjects, such as temperature, rainfall direction and force of winds, &c., comparison is made with what had been recorded daily in sixteen previous years.
From The Collector's Office, ViZIANAGRAM, Mth August, 1874. My Dear Sir,
I have the pleasure to forward you the Government Order which please return after perusal on the subject of the light to be exhibited from your flag staff tower, and shall feel obliged if you will permit overseer Soobiah Nayudu to proceed with the work.
Believe me, Yours faithfully, (Signed) NOEDMANN, Executive Engineer. A. V. Nursing Eow, Esq. I From To Sir, Sri Bajah A. V. Jugga Eao Bahadur Gartj. 161 — — j — — . No. 743. ViZAGAPATAM COLLECTOR'S OFFICE, 5th June, 1885. H. G. Turner, Esq., Ag. Collectoj' of Vizagapatam. A. V. Nursing Eow, Esq., Vizagapatam.
I have the honor to annex for your information extracts from reports to Government on the subject of the signal Tower on Dolphin's Nose.
Extracts from the Proceedings of Government, dated 13th May 1885, No. 200 Marine.
- * * Notes of Inspection by the Chief Engineer,
P. W. D., 1 Circle, February— March 1885.
- „ * -x- *
Signal Tower on Dolphin's Nose. This building is in a state of great disrepair, and has evidently been neglected for years. It is surmounted by a Flag Staff the supporting ropes of which appeared to be rotten, and the wood work might fall at any time. The present condition of the building is certainly dangerous and it should be either repaired or pulled down.
From J. H. Taylor, Lieut. R.N.R., Master Attendant, Madras, to the Chief Secretary to Government, dated Madras, 28th April 1885, No. 3493. The signal Tower on Dolphin's Nose is private property. It is an old observatory belonging to the Nursing Row's family ; it was put at our disposal for the exhibition of a lantern for the benefit of the shipping, but on the occasion of a cyclone, in October 1876, the light and portion of the house was destroyed, but the injury to the direct property was not in any way caused by the lantern or any marine interference.
- * * *
I have the honor to be, Sir, Your most obedient servant, (Signed) H. G. TUENEE, Acting Collector. ViZAGAPATAM DiSTEICT GAZETTE, Ut May 1886.
Notice.
Flag staff on Dolphin's Nose.
"It is hereby notified for the information of the public that Mr. A. V. Nursing Row has erected an expensive and durable Flagstaff on the Dolphin's Nose, and the time signals are now hoisted on it under his orders every morning between 8 and 9 o'clock to indicate time.
"The flags are hauled down at nine in the morning with great precision, and it is intended thereby to indicate the precise time of that hour not only for the information of persons whose distance from the Fort renders the report of the 9 p. m. time gun inaudible, but also to afford the Shipping in the Roads the means of finding the error of chronometers and to indicate the error of the time gun." Rai Bahadur A. V. Narasinga Rao Garu loved, cultivated, and encouraged arts and sciences, and held men of learning in the highest esteem and confidence. He was fond of society, and his course of life was sober and regular. Lively in conversation, he kept up the dignity of his station by the most amiable and condescending behaviour.
He left Rupees 1,15,000, as an endowment for a College to be called after his wife. The College is managed by a small committee of which the Collector of the District is the Chairman, and Sri Rajah A. V. Jugga Rao Garu is the Vice-chairman. The strength of the College is 450 with Mr. P. T. Srinivasa Iyengar, m.a., l.t., a teacher of tried abilities, as Principal, who has a good staff of assistants, consisting chiefly of graduates. There is a library and reading room attached to the College for the use of the students and teachers. There is also a hostel of which the Principal is the Warden.
Sri Rajah A. V. Jugga Rao Bahadur Garu was born on the 4th February 1866, at Vizagapatam. He received his elementary education in the London Mission High School there. As for scientific education it was chiefly conducted by his father, who took a special interest in training him in astronomical and meteorological work. He made rapid progress in the study of scientific subjects by his steady application. He evinced great interest in amateur dramatic performances while young, and started an association called, "Jaganmitra Dramatic Company," which is still in existence. He succeeded to the management of the estate in October 1898. Till then he was engaged in scientific pursuits. Besides maintaining an Astronomical Observatory opened by his father and the Celestial Photograph Observatory started by his mother, he has expanded very much the scope of the Meteorological Observatory by providing it with all the latest instruments. He also opened a magnetical observatory which is one of the three such grand institutions in India, and is expected to be of immense use to the Government of India in the forthcoming magnetic survey of this country. The portion of the work connected with this part of the Presidency will be conducted personally by Mr. Jugga Rao Garu. He has also opened a Seismological Observatory which is a very rare institution in any country for measuring the current of earthquakes.
He has great interest in Horticulture, and has studied Botany well. He has a rare collection of standard works on Botany. Very many plants not generally found in other famous gardens of India are grown in his horticultural garden. He is a member of the International Association of Botanists.
His drawing room is an evidence of his great taste for art, and he has beautified it by some original paintings which he collected when he went to Paris.
He went to England in 1900, when he had the unique privilege of paying his respects to Her Most Gracious Majesty, the late Queen Victoria, and to the then Prince of Wales, now King Edward VII. When Mr. Jugga Rao was there, he was elected Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society, Royal Meteorological Society, Royal Colonial Institute, and Society of Arts. While in England he visited various Observatories, and studied their working, and also visited the Agricultural Exhibition of York opened by the Prince of Wales. He stayed in Paris for a fortnight, and visited the famous Paris Exhibition, and examined all its departments. He also visited Switzerland, and the famous towns of Italy. In the various places of his visit he gathered excellent specimens of art. He has just published a very interesting diary of his travels and his opinions on most things which he saw in his tour are most lucidly given in it.
He has got a beautiful library of more than 10,000 volumes, treating on science, English literature, and Indian subjects, among them being many rare books out of print, besides the leading Cyclopaedias and other books of reference.
In his mansion one can see a magnificent assemblage of all sorts of furniture, fancy things, trees and plants, forming the sublimes t and at the same time the most charming scenery in all Vizagapatam. Nothing can exceed the diversified and picturesque loveliness of the landscape which is in a conspicuous part of the town. Upon an eminence stands the mansion of Mr. Jugga Rao. The grand building and the grounds occupy a large area, and the enclosure is surrounded by a wall forming a complete square. Standing high above the front storey, one could look down, with the view of a bird, upon the buildings, grounds and walls of the mansion—the sea at a short distance—and the whole circumjacent town far and wide. The grand front of the mansion and the other lines of the square array of buildings that enclose the court yard ar« all of modern architecture. The central hall of the mansion with its lofty roof sustained by no pillars is hung with suits of armour. Passing through the entrance hall, we reach another hall, in the middle of the mansion, which contains excellent furniture and rare specimens of all kinds of novelty he was able to collect when he travelled in Europe. Suffice it to say that all the apartments are of the most splendid description, for they are all embellished with elaborate sculpture work and the furniture bear scientific evidences of their pristine richness and elegance.
In the central hall of the mansion there is a statue of Jupiter, mounted on a beautiful silver dome which was presented to Sri Goday Jugga Rao Garu, by the late Sriman Srinivasa Pillai, Dayawant Bahadur, and others with the following inscription :—
Presented.
To GoDAY Venkata Jugga Eao, Esq., On his departure from Madras. By
C. Srinivasa Pillai and others, his native friends at the Presidency, who fully appreciating his public spirit evinced by his exertions for the general welfare of the Hindu community, thus express their friendship, esteem and admiration inspired by his many amiable qualities and by the successful perseverance with which he has prosecuted the improvement of his mind.
- Madras, 14^7^ Julij, 1838.
Sri Rajah Jugga Rao Bahadur Garu has received a bronze statue of Her late Majesty Queen Victoria from England, and he is going to present it to the town of Vizagapatam. The canopy is in course of construction; as soon as it is finished, the statue will be unveiled by H. E. the Governor of Madras. He has constructed a hospital at his own cost in a conspicuous part of the town. This has been of great help to those who require medical aid. He has erected stone posts in many places to enable the heavily laden labourer to rest his burden on for a while. A rest house in Waltair owes its existence to him.
His friends have received every proof of his natural goodness of heart as well as of his candor and prudence. He is very affable, courteous, and kind to everybody; and in almost all the circles of Vizagapatam he is spoken of well and received with great respect.