Bangalore during the time of Diwans of Mysore

It would be interesting to visit the 'petes' of Bangalore, still existing as separate entities!

Chandramouli takes us back in time!

"The British took over administration of Mysore Kingdom from Wodeyars in 1830 and ruled till 1880. Several Commissioners, Bowring, Cubbon and others did great work. The small area of these Pete-s expanded into the nucleus of the 1900 city. Separately, they developed areas around the military bases in Cantonment." 

"My great great Grand Father was a Dubhashi (interpreter) in the British Civil Court in the Fort specializing in Hindu Civil Law for the British Judges. He lived in one of those Pette-s (near about Kashi Vishveshwara Temple). Hundreds of educated* migrated to these Petta-s to work in the British Civil Administration of the City and on to work in the Districts and Taluks of the Mysore Kingdom." 

"Central College was set up in 1835 by the Madras University. A basic framework of railways are roads were built. More and more educated went into teaching, courts and business. When the Kingdom was handed back to Wodeyars, they “inherited“ an excellent system (for that era) and an enlightened "cosmopolitan“ population which ran the show till 1947."

Diwans, who were right on top of the executive pyramid played a great role in improving the Mysore Kingdom and Bangalore in particular. Diwans were chosen for their education  (taught by the British), experience and ability in administration. The record of their achievements is impressive. 

They came from different economic levels, walks of life and it was only ability that mattered. It was neither religion nor caste! Perhaps these had a role to play, but was not the only consideration. 

The list of Diwans after the British handed over power back to the Wodeyars' makes interesting reading! We also learn that the earlier Diwans had wonderful opportunities and they used it well for the betterment of the people! 

The Diwans who came later, prior to 1947 had different challenges! Diwans were accountable to the Kings, unlike the present day Chief Ministers who take an oath to "bear true faith and allegiance to the Constitution”. 

The history after gaining independence needs to be dispassionately analysed by the experts and lessons drawn. As one succinctly said "The Brits left and 'these' grabbed the opportunity!". Only experts and historians can teach us how the future needs to be navigated!  What happened in India after independence was inevitable. 

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" Rangacharlu, born to poor parents, studied in Madras with financial help. He began his career as an acting clerk, and as Head Writer, he published "Bribery and Corruption in the Revenue Department". Later moved up the ladder as Tahsildar, Head Sheristadar and finally joined as Commissioner of the Madras Railway Company."

"Rungacharlu moved to Mysore as the Comptroller of the Mysore palace. As Revenue Secretary, he revamped the entire administration by hiring efficient Indians in place of expensive Europeans!  Also reduced the numbers of bureaucrats and judges."

 "Rungacharlu was once in a spot of trouble due to missing jewels from royal household. However, it was found to be a clerical error, nothing was missing!  He was Diwan of Mysore from 1881 and  till 1883. During his time a railway line from Bangalore to Tiptur was built. He fell seriously ill at the end of 1882, resigned and moved to Madras where he died in early 1883. He was 52 years old"

Clearly he was the product of the British system. It appears, his move to a  royal court was not easy! The intrigues, and his efforts to improve efficiency of the administration must have taken its toll. 

"Sheshadri Iyer: Both his father and Elder brother were advocates.  And as a personal assistant of Diwan Rangacharlu, he was the obvious choice when Rangacharlu retired. His achievements: extension of railway lines, Kolar Gold fields, Water works near Hesaragatta Lake and starting of Shivansamudra power station! 

 "Plague devastated Bangalore city and wiped out many residents of the old city. The survivors moved into camps until the plague abated. The extensions of Basavanagudi and Malleswaram were developed  from 1898 onward to house the displaced population.  Meanwhile, the old city was demolished and developed anew. Streets and roads were widened and straightened; sanitation was improved."  (May not be to the same extent as the new areas!)

Known as the maker of modern Bangalore, the city remembers him through the names of Seshadripuram (a city extension created in 1892), Sheshadri Road, Sheshadri Memorial Library, and a statue in Cubbon Park.

"Sir T. R. A. Thumboo Chetty ( 1837- 1907) became the First Indian Chief Judge of the Chief Court of Mysore, and officiated many times during the absence of the Dewan."

"He lost both his parents at an early. He was brought up by five executors, the principal of whom,  became his father-in-law. He studied law, he won the first prize for proficiency in law. He began as a clerk, and rose to be the Chief Judge of the Chief Court of Mysore."

"Sir Purniah Narasinga Rao Krishnamurti KCIE (1849 – 1911), a lawyer and administrator served as the Diwan of Mysore kingdom from 1901 to 1906. He was a direct descendant of Dewan Purnaiah,. He graduated in law from the University of Madras and joined the Mysore service as Assistant Superintendent in 1870. Whilst he was Dewan, electric lighting was introduced in Bangalore (the first city in India to get electric street lighting)."

Vishwanath Patankar Madhava Rao CIE (1850 – 1934), served as the Diwan of Mysore kingdom from 1906 to 1909 .He entered the service of the Mysore kingdom as a headmaster of the royal school. He later served in the Judicial and Revenue departments. Also the Inspector General of Police, Plague Commissioner and Revenue Commissioner before being appointed Diwan in 1906.

During his time, a Department of Public Health was created and competitive exams for the Mysore Civil Service were revived. Taxes on arecanut were revoked. Kindergartens started and primary education was made free. A number of irrigation projects were undertaken  and  completed . The Government sanctioned land to the Indian Institute of Science. Electric lighting was introduced in Bangalore and Mysore."

Tanjore Ananda Rao CIE ( 1852 – 1919) served as the Diwan of the Mysore kingdom from 1909 to 1912. He was the eldest son of Sir T. Madhava Rao, one of the early pioneers of the Indian National Congress. Rao completed B. A. (History) in first class from the Presidency College. Held many positions before serving as the Diwan of Mysore from 1909 till 1912. 

During his tenure, a lot of measures were taken for the economic development of Mysore. A reservoir was constructed  for the power station at Shivanasamudra and the Mysore-Hassan railway line was extended . The 1st Mysore Economic Conference was inaugurated  which met once every year. In 1911-1912, the construction of the Krishnarajasagara Dam across the Cauvery at Kannambadi was commenced."

It was Diwan T Anand Rao who invited Sir M Visvesvaraya to be the chief engineer and secretary to government of Mysore.

Visvesvaraya was born in a Telugu ancestral family.  He took a job as an assistant engineer with the Public Works Department of Bombay, and later was invited to join the Indian Irrigation Commission. 

Visvesvaraya is known to have designed and planned an entire area of Jayanagar in South Bangalore. The foundation of Jayanagar was laid in 1959. It was one of the first planned neighbourhoods in Bangalore and, at the time, the largest in Asia and the best-planned layouts in Asia.

He was instrumental in the founding of Government Engineering College at Bangalore in 1917, one of the first engineering institutes in India. This institution was later named University Visvesvaraya College of Engineering. He commissioned several new railway lines in Mysore state.

Viswesvarayya National Memorial Trust manages a memorial for Visvesvaraya at his birthplace of Muddenahalli. The memorial exhibits his awards, titles and personal belongings. Models of Krishna Raja Sagar dam, which Visvesvaraya designed and supervised the construction of, are exhibited. The memorial is adjacent to his house, which was refurbished and regarded as a temple by locals.

Times were changing in India.

Sir Mirza Muhammad Ismail - Amin-ul-Mulq, KCIE, OBE (1883 – 1959)  was the Diwan (Prime Minister) of the Kingdoms of Mysore, Jaipur and Hyderabad.

Travancore Diwan called him "one of the cleverest men in India". Long-time friend Sir C. V. Raman said that "Sir Mirza's accessibility and personal charm coupled with his depth of knowledge and his keen sense of human and cultural values made him a great and highly successful administrator".

Mirza Ismail was born in Bangalore into a Persian family, who took refuge in  Mysore.  Krishnaraja Wodeyar IV and he were classmates in college. After his graduation from Bangalore in 1904 he started off as an Asst Superintendent of Police with the government. It is well documented that Sir Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya became Mirza Ismail's mentor. In 1926 on the recommendation of Vishvesvaraya the King supplemented Mirza Ismail by elevating him to the coveted position of the Diwan of Mysore.

The Bangalore Town Hall was designed by Mirza Ismail. Impelemented the first rural electrification programme in India,made substantial progress in both in the private and public sectors industries. The sugar factory at Shimoga and the Khadi Production Centre at Badanval  were set up during his time. A trade commissioner was also appointed in London. Industries started include Porcelain Factory and the Glass Factory all in Bangalore. Also   established, Vysya Bank, cement factory, the Chemical and Fertilizers factory and Sugar mills.

A major part of his administration was spent in suppressing various kinds of public disturbances. He had to do a great deal of tight-rope walking in the face of popular agitations conducted by the Congress Party. 

Following the King Krishnaraja Wodeyar IV death in 1940, he continued as the Diwan with king Jayachamaraja Wodeyar. However, he resigned in 1941 over differences.

 Sir Nyapathi Madhava Rau, CIE ( 1887 – 1972)  served as the Diwan of Mysore from 1941 to 1945. 

He was Diwan while the State of Mysore was gripped by severe food shortages due to the World War II. Madhava Rau  managed the situation well and organised its successful recovery. 

After his retirement, Madhava Rau was a member of the Drafting Committee of the Indian Constitution headed by Dr.B. R. Ambedkar and of the first Constituent Assembly of India. He died at the age of 85.

Madhava Rau was strongly opposed to the imposition of Hindi language as the lingua franca for India and favoured the continuation of English as the official language of the Indian Union

The last of the Diwans:

Arcot Ramasamy Mudaliar presided over a very turbulent period. Lord Mountbatten, the last Viceroy made a public declaration about the acceptance by the Indian Leaders for partition of India in to two Independent dominion. This announcement had a tremendous impact on the Indian States. In June 1947, the Dewan convened a Press Conference, at Bangalore, and announced that the Mysore Government had taken a decision to accede to the New dominion of India and to send its representatives to the Indian Constituent assembly. 

Thereafter British parliament passed the Indian Independence Act. This act provided for the creation of independent dominion of India and Pakistan on 15 Aug 1947. This act freed the Indian states from the suzerainty of British Government.  Indian leaders drafted an Instrument of Accession asking the 560 Rulers to accede to the dominion government on three subjects of Defence, Communication and External affairs. 

Maharaja of Mysore executed the Instrument of accession and the same was accepted by the Governor General of India on 16 Aug 1947. This gave impetus to the local congress leaders to renew their demand and led to an agitation known as " Mysore Chalo". 

There appears to be an obfuscation of facts among the agitating public that Mysore Maharaja on the advice of the Dewan and his secretary Sir T. Thamboo Chetty was refusing to join the Indian Union. The truth of the matter was India was not a Union then. India had just become an Independent Dominion. Maharaja of Mysore was one of the earliest to sign the Instrument of accession. 

Maharaja soon  gave his assent to setting up of a Government and on 25 Oct 1947, Mr. K.C. Reddy became the First Chief Minister with a cabinet of nine ministers.The Dewan continued to remain as a link between the Cabinet and the Maharaja. 

 Maharaja accepted the recommendation of the Constituent assembly of Mysore to accept the Constitution of India for the state of Mysore and become a Part-B state in the soon to be formed Republic of India, and issued a proclamation to this effect on 25 Nov 1949. With this the post of Dewan was also abolished.

During his tenure as Diwan of Mysore, Mudaliar organised a number of Tamil music concerts in the Mysore kingdom in order to raise money for the restoration of Carnatic musician Tyagaraja's samadhi or tomb at Tiruvaiyaru. Mr. Ramasamy Mudaliar was sent by Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru as head of the Indian Delegation to New York to argue India's case in The Security Council when Hyderabad appealed to it against Accession to India and eloquently argued the case for India and Security council decided in favour of India.