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Chamaraja Wodeyar X. Dr. B. R. AMBEDKAR OPEN UNIVERSITY LIBRARY HYDERABAD-500 033 Dr. B.R. AMBEDKAR OPEN UNIVERSITY LIBRARY CallNo. H Accession No. Author: Title This book should be returned on or before the date last marked below. DEDICATED to the revered memory of CHAMARAJA WODEYAR X. Maharaja of Mysore, who first made ihe experiment of a constitutional form of Government for an Indian State a success, and in the hands of whose son HIS HIGHNESS KRISHNARAJA WODEYAR IV. the present MAHARAJA, it has received great development. PREFACE. In this volume is comprehended the story of modern Mysore from 1868 to the present time. If Bowring came hack to life and took a survey of Mysore, it would not be far from truth to say that he would find the Mysore Administration developed more largely on the British model than when he left the country. Similarly, if Sir James Gordon revisited the earth, he would find that what was regarded in his time as only an experiment in constitutional government in the hands of Indians is no more so, but has practically established itself as a successful reality, though not in the exact form generally associated with it in other countries. It is ' ' true that the expression Constitutional Government has not the same meaning in Mysore as it has, for instance, in England. This constitutional government in Mysore cannot be attributed to any struggle between the sovereigns of the country and its people, but is the outcome of a spontaneous desire on the part of Chamaraja Wodeyar X, the first Ruler of Mysore after the Rendition in 1881, and of his son and successor the present Maharaja Krishnaraja Wodeyar IV, to share the responsibilities of government with the people of the State. Whether in taxation or legislation or in any important administrative measure, the people may be said to possess an effective voice to influence the final decisions of Government. Rarely are the wishes of the representatives of the people as expressed in the two constitutional assemblies the Representative Assembly and the Legislative Council are overriden, unless the ministers of the Maharaja can place a clearly convincing case before His Highness. The ministers themselves being generally the inhabitants of the State and being affected by the operations of any measure that may be introduced in the same manner as the rest of the people, few occasions arise for radical differences of opinion between them and the people to cause embarrassment to the sovereign who, in the existing political circumstances of the country, cannot divest himself of the final voice with which he is invested, A perusal of the chapters of this volume will confirm the truth of this statement. These happy results, it must be acknowledged, are as much due to the care bestowed on and the solicitude evinced in the imparting of suitable education and proper political training to their wards Chamaraja Wodeyar X and Krishnaraja Wodeyar IV by the British Government during the period of their minority, as to the naturally good instincts possessed by these two rulers. It may also be noted that the value of the experiment of a constitutional form of government in Mysore transcends the limits of the State, as the hope expressed by the Government of India that such a form of government, if successful, would serve as a model for other Indian States may be said to have been substantially realised. In conclusion, I repeat my obligations to all those whose names have been mentioned in the previous volume Sir Mirza Ismail and Messrs. Ranganatha Rao Sahib, T. V. A. Iswaran, N. Madhava Rao, A. V. Ramanathan, T. R. A. Thumboo Chetty, B. T. Kesava lyengar, R. Ranga Rao, M. Seshadri, M. Rama Rao, H. V. Ramaswamy, A, K. Syed Taj Peeran, K. Mylari Rao, Amildar K. Seshagiri Rao as well as to C. M. Cariapa and C. E. Noronha. In the preparation of this volume also, I have to repeat that my obligations are due to my assistant Mr. B. M. Gopala Rao, B.A. (Hons.), for the very valuable help he has given me. Messrs. Higginbothams are again entitled to my thanks for their neat execution of this volume also. BANGALORE, M. SHAMA RAO. September 1936. TABLE OF CONTENTS. PAGE. CHAPTER I. Installation of Chamaraja Wodeyar X. 1 to 12 CHAPTER II. Fresh arrangements connected with the Palace ... ... ... ... 13 to 19 CHAPTER III. Closing years of the British Com- ERRATA. * ' Page 304. Line 14 from top For Mysore* read Madras.' ' * 1 1 Page 384. Line 20 from top For clear read cleaner. CHAPTER VI. Re-settlement of political relations with the British Government ... ... 43 to 53 CHAPTER VII. Re-settlement of political relations with the British Government (Continued I An experiment in constitutional government for Native States ... ... ... 54 to 58 CHAPTER VIII. Investiture of Chamaraja Wodeyar with ruling powers ... ... ... 59 to 67 CHAPTER IX. Economic, social and other conditions in Mysore about the period of the young Maharaja's assumption of power ... ... 68 to 73 CHAPTER X. Establishment of a Representative Assembly Experiment of establishing Anglo- Indians and Eurasians in agricultural and industrial occupations Death of Rangacharlu... 74 to 81 CHAPTER XI. Appointment of Sir K. Seshadri Iyer as Dewan Steps taken to improve the finances of the State ... ... ... 82 to 90 iv PAGE. CHAPTER XII. More Judges for the Chief Court Revenue Code, Local Boards Bill Separate legislative branch in the Secretariat Some important Regulations including the Prevention of the Infant Marriage Regulation ... ... 91 to 98 CHAPTER XIII. Improvement of administrative efficiency (Continued) Anche or local post Life Insurance Civil Service examination Status of village servants Offer of Imperial Service troops Revision of the State Council... 99 to 107 CHAPTER XIV. Famine Policy Railways ... 108 to 114 CHAPTER XV. Irrigation ... ... ... 115 to 121 CHAPTER XVI. First agricultural and industrial Exhibition Special encouragement given to arecanut gardens Agricultural Banks En- couragement to industries Gold Mining Trade and development of communications Census of 1891 ... ... ... ... 122 to 133 CHAPTER XVII. Progress of education in general Special encouragement to women's education Oriental Library Archaeology Encouragement to native drama Chamaraja Wodeyar's catholi- city of mind ... ... ... 134 to 140 CHAPTER XVIII. Four distinguished visitors Lord Dufferin, Prince Albert Victor, Lord Lansdowne and Field Marshal Sir George Wolsley (later Viscount), Commander-in-Chief ... ... 141 to 154 CHAPTER XIX. The Representative Assembly and its growth ... ... ... ... 155 to 165 CHAPTER XX. Tours of the Maharaja His last days. 166 to 170 CHAPTER XXL The Maharani- Regent Reformed State Council Sir Seshadri Iyer continued as Dewan Visits of Lord Elgin and Lord Curzon. 171 to 174 PAGE. CHAPTER XXII. Some useful measures introduced Construction of the Marikanave reservoir Re- construction of the Palace destroyed by fire First appearance of plague The Kaveri Electric Power scheme Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria Boer War Military Transport Corps Census of 1901 Sir Seshadri Iyer's retire- ment and death in 1901 Sir P. N. Krishna Murti appointed Dewan ... ... 175 to 185 CHAPTER XXIII Termination of the Regency In- vestiture with power of H. H. Krishnaraja Wodeyar IV Edward VI Ts coronation in England ... ... ... ... 186 to 195 CHAPTER XXIV. Form of the new Government in Mysore ... ... ... ... 196 to 201 CHAPTER XXV. Maharaja's visit to Delhi for the Coronation Durbar Opens the Madras Exhibi- tion and visits Lord Ampthill, Governor of Madras Tours in the State Yuvaraja's illness at Ajmer Visits of Lord Kitchnerand H. R. H. the Prince of Wales Birthday and Dasara festivities ... ... ... ... 202 to 209 CHAPTER XXVI. Various administrative improve- ments Mr. Kiernander's scrutiny of the finances of the State Educational progress Local Boards Regulation passed Revised scheme of tank restoration Ethnological investigations Electric illumination of Bangalore City Co- Societies The operative Regulation eccj conditions of the country as they opening years of the Maharaja's ru CHAPTER XXVIL Retirement of Sir Murti V, P. Madhava Rao and the next successors V. P. 'gloomy view of the finances of vi r measures to establish equilibrium Change in the working of the State Council Railways Study of forestry Sericulture Mining Irri- gation Veterinary Department Abolition of Halat Establishment of a Legislative Council Tank Panchayet Completion of the Palace reconstruction The Kannambadi reservoir Formation of the Public Health Department Encouragement to Ayurvedic and Unani medicines The Newspaper Regulation The Co-operative Movement Economic Conference. 223 to 240 CHAPTER XXVIII. Anniversary of Queen Victoria's Proclamation Visit of Lord and Lady Minto to the State Death of Edward VII Accession to the throne of George V Coronation Durbar at Delhi ... ... ... ... 241 to 246 CHAPTER XXIX. Sir M. Visvesvaraya appointed Dewan Visit of Lord Hardinge and the treaty of 1913 ... ... ... ... 247 to 250 CHAPTER XXX. Part played by Mysore in the Ger- man War ... ... ... ... 251 to 260 CHAPTER XXXI. Fresh railway construction Deve- lopment of electric power and Kaveri arbitration Jury System Separation of magisterial from executive functions Reform of the Legislative Council Fresh financial scrutiny ... ... 261 to 269 CHAPTER XXXII. Economic Conference Establish- ment of the Mysore Bank Sandal Oil Factory Soap ^Eactory Commercial and industrial activities Climber of Commerce Bhadravathi Iron Works Sericulture Agricultural experi- ments Rural arid Malnad improvements Educational improvements A University for Mysore ... ... ... ... 270 to 280 XXXIII. Local Self-Government ... t COPTER 281 to 286 vii PAGE. CHAPTER XXXIV. Aftermath of the war Food control Retirement of Sir M. Visvesvaraya and appointment of Sir M. Kantaraj Urs Mr. A. R. Banerji acting Dewan during Sir M. Kantaraj Urs' illness Effects of food control Unsettle- ment of the State's finances Public loans of 1920 Income-Tax Special finance com- mittee ... ... ... ... 287 to 294 CHAPTER XXXV.