The Ilonourable Diwan Bahadur V. Rama Bhadra Naick Garu is one of the most prominent noblemen of South India. As a representative of the zamindari interests of the Southern Group, he has, since 1910, been in the reformed Legislative Council of Madras. Of winning and affable manners. and ever of a cheerful disposition, the Ilonourable gentleman is a very popular and influential non-official member in the Council. He is looked upon as a model Zamindar in Southern India, and his economic and ellicient management of his estate is considered a good object lesson to the other Zamindars. In the Legislative Council his views are characterised by Wisdom and broad-mindedness, and it is no exaggeration to say that the Honourable Mr. Rama Bhadra Naick is an excellent example of the aristocracy of Southern India. IIe represents the ancient house of Vadagarai, and is the lineal descendant of the famous Rama Bhadra Naick.
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To trace the ancestry of the founder of this well-known ancient family we have to go back to the events that had occurred three centuries ago, that is, to the period when the power of the once famous kingdom of Vijianagar was at its height, Rama Bhadra Naick I is said to have been a follower as well as a close relation of the well-known Kottiya Nagama Naick, the Revenue Collector and Commander of the Vijianagar army in the South. He was next in rank only to Nagama, for he was appointed to remit money from the Pandya and Chola kingdoms which had been inciebted to the King of Vijianagar and also to provide the things needed for the office of Kottiyam. Nagama Naick, who was childless, went on a pilgrimage to Benares, when he appointed Rama Bhadra Naick and the steward Ke-avappa Naick to the offices of Kottiyam and Karkoon respectively. On returning from his pilgrimage, Nagana Naick found that both of them had rendered faithful service in their respective posts. This won his esteem and regard, and ever afterwards he tried to further their prospects. In the meanwhile, Nagama Naick was blessed with a child, who was named Viswanatha Naick. During this time, Virasekhara Chola, King of Tanjore, led an expedition against Chandrasekhara Pandya, King of Madura, and captured his dominions, on account of which, he went to the King of Vijianagar and sought refuge under him. Thereupon, the King directed his Commander, Nagama Naick, to help Chandarsekhata Pandya in getting back his lost dominions. Accordingly, Nagama Naick, with an army, defeated the Chola king, expelled him and reinstated Chandrasekhara, with the advice and immediate help of his Lieutenant, Rama Bhadra Naick. Nagama Naick then demanded from Chandrasekhara the arrears of tribute due to the Viji anagar Samasthanam, and left Rama Bliadra Naick as his deputy at Mad ura, to collect the amount. Chandrasekhara pleaded inability to meet the demand as he was powerless to subdue his cousins, who lived at Thenkasi and Gangai Kondan, and who were a source of great annoyance and trou ble to him. He requested Nagama Naick to bring them to subjection, to take the reins of the administration into his hands, and to grant him an allowance. Agreeably to the wishes of Chandrasekhara, Nagama Naick took charge of the Pandya dominions, crushed the disturbing elements, and restored peace. While matters stood thus, Chandrasekhara repaired to Vijianagar and made a complaint against Nagama Naick. The latter got scent of this treacherous act, and sent Rama Bhadra Naick to see that no misrepresentations were made to his sovereign lord.
The King of Vijianagar, believing the reports made by Chandrasekhara to be true, became incensed against Nagama Naick, for his having taken the management of the King dom of Pandya without any formal sanction from his sovereign, and issued an order for the immediate arrest of Nagama Naick, and to mete out a condign punishment to him. Those surrounding the King remained silent without executing the mandate, when Viswanatha Naick, the son of Nagama Naick, induced by Rama Bhadra Naick, offered his services to bring his father as a captive and produce him before the King. This roused the suspicion of the King, lest Viswanath should join his father and establish a rival kingdom. Viswanath solemnly pledged his word and promised the King that he would be true to the salt. Thereupon, he was allowed to proceed against his father, At this stage, Rama Bliadra Naick again played the part of a diplomatist by 'advising Nagama Naick to surrender. Nagama was obstinate for a time, but eventually gave in, when he was taken captive and produced before the King, who appre ciated the conduct of Viswanath, and made him Viceroy of all the Pandya Kingdoms. On perusing the deed of abdication made by Chandrasek hara, which he had written by his free will and consent, the King granted a reprieve to Nagama Naick. The diplomatic skill of Rama Bhadra Naick and the prominent part played by him in every crisis did not go in vain. Viswanatha Naick, in recognition of his faithful service, made him Fouzdar (Military Governor and Collector of Revenue) of Madura, Just then, the Chola King took possession of Kuum and Gudalur which have since become very fertile parts irrigated by the river Periyar.
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Rama Bhadra Naick and Viswanatha Naick proceeded against the aggressor and took his fort by storm, when Nama Bhadha Naick pressed forward gallantly in spite of severe wounds which he had received on his cheek and on his forehead, and hoisted Nagama's flag on the ramparts of the Kumbum Fort. Highly pleased with the valour and heroism displayed by Rama Bhadra Naick, Viswanatha Naick conferred on him the Palaiyam of Vadagarai in the Era of Salivahana 1356, corresponding to 1184 A. D., and desired him to reside in that well-chosen spot which was dedicated to god Subramanya. It was, and is, still a lovely place surrounded on all sides by a picturesque scenery and hallowed by religious sanctity. It lies to the north of the Varahanadhi and is bounded on the cast by the Kamakshiamman temple, on the north by Kumbakarai, in the Varaha Infl slopes, where is situated the temple of Malles wara founded by the sage Agasthya, Later on, Viswanatha Naick, with his famous Minister, Ariyanayka Mudaliyar, created seventy-two Palayapats the most important political event of his time, built seventy-two bastions all round his fortress, and assigned a hastion to each of the Polygars. According to this scheme Rama Bhadra Nauck was put in charge of one of the bastions to the right of Thirumanjanavasal of the temple, which post of honour he held for twenty yeus. Shortly after this, Rama Bhadra Naick died. The King deeply mourned the loss of such a rare and faithful servant and distinguished relative who had worked so zealously for his own as well as his father's interests, invited Kumara Naick and Machi Naick, the brother and the infant son of the deceased respectively, to his epurt, and directed the former to instal the latter in the place of his father, and to take special care of him. Viswanatha Naick, the King, died, and was succeeded by his son, Krishnappa Naick, Machi Naick, in the meanwhile, cleared the forests, excavaled (inks, and improved the estate in severa, other ways at a great cost. His rule lasted seventy-five years. He was succeeded by his paternal uncle's son, Rangappa Naick, who reigned fifty years. He was in his turn succeeded by his son, Machi Naick II.
The Kingdom of Madura was then under the sway of Thirumala Naick, the greatest of the Naick Kings, who invited Machi Naick to spend some tin:c with him. On a certain occasion, the King happened to be at the Mariam man Theppakulam in the company of other Fouzdars and Polygars. Finding the Theppakulau which was 300 yards square to be very spacions and wishing to test the strength of those present, he proposed that each one of them should try and shoot from the westera end so that his arrow might reach the eastern end of the tank. None but Machi Naick succeeded in the feat. The King therefore presented him with a village known as Pulimankombai, He returned to Vadagarai and spent a short time there. Directed by the King to join his Minister, Dalavai Ramappaiyar, he marched in 1638 with his forces against Sadeika Devar II, the rebellious Sethupathi of Ramnad, and eventually captured and brought him to Madura, and kept him in prison there. It is on account of this that Mr. J. H Nelson of the Madras Civil Service, in his Madura District Manual,observes: The Chief of Vadagatal all these make no obeisance of any kind to the ruler of Ramnad,The King highly complimented Machi Naick for his services, and sent him home with honours and valuable presents. Machi Naick II reigned fifty-five years. He was succeeded by his paternal uncle, Naranappa Naick, when Chockanadha Naick was the King of Madura. Between him and the Tanjore King there arose some family disputes. In this connection, Naranappa Naick was despatched by the King to join the Fouzdar Venka fakrishnama Naick, and march against Tanjore in 1674. The result was that the King of Tanjore, Vijiaraghava Naick, was defeated in battle and brought to Madura in chains, Naranappa Naick ruled for thirty-five years. His successor was his infant son, Kumaia Rama Bhadra Naick, whose mother, Bangaramma, was regent for ten years. When he came of age, the King of Madura was Vijiaranga Chockanadha Naick. Kumara Rama Bahadra Naick is still remembered at Vacagarai by a street called after his name, and at Thenkarai by a mantapam constructed by him to the north east of the Balasubramaniaswami temple. The King of Madura sent his Minister, Subek Manchal Naranappa Naick, to Dindigul on the important mission of thwarting the Mysoreans who attacked the place in 1741. Naranappa Naick convened a conference of the Polygars of that Province, and Kumara Rama Bhadra Naick was one of those that responded to the call, and attended the Durbar. As he was a distinguished personage, and a relation of the Naick King of Madura, Manchal Naranappa Naick offered him an equal seat and discoursed with him, but the Polygar of Gandama nayakkanur prostiated himself before the Minister, and though motioned to rise, he did not do so as he had not noticed it. Thereupon, Kumara Rama Bhadra Naick desired Gandama to rise. The latter took it as a deliberate offence as he had not prostrated himself at the feet of Kumara Rama Bhadra Naick. This supposed humiliation rankled in the mind of Gandama, who gave incessant trouble to the Vadagarai Polygar. Evidently Kumara Rama Bahadra Naick was a contemporary of the King, Vijiaranga Chockanadha, and tried had to frustrate the Mysorean attempt against Dindigul.
Queen Meenakshi, the last of the Naick rulers, died in 1787 A. D., and her king dom became subject to the Mahommedan intrigues and the Mahratta invasions In the midst of these disturbances, the Mysoreans, under the ambitions Nanjaraj, the Commander-in-Chief, tried to wrest Dindigul from the Mahominedan Governor who had then a precarious hold on it. As a close relation of the old Naick family, of which there were yet living the degenerate Bangaru Thirumala and his son-the latter of whom had been adopted by Queen Meenakshi, Kumara Rama Bhadra greatly helped the Naick Minister, as stated above, in summoning the Polygar Chiefs to a council of war. Gandama Naick, one of them, who was already indignant at the superior airs assumed by Kumara Rama Bhacha, invaded his territory, cut off his head, and took the village of Kodivalarpatti, up to which proba bly the Vadagarai territory extended. This event is yet remembered in and around Periyakulam, and some of the streets in which Gandama's forces halted even now go under the popular designation of Dandupalaiyam (military cantonment). Thus the reign of Kumara Rama Bhadia Naick which lasted for twenty-one years, came to an end. His mantle fell on Kondama Naick. The province of Dindigul, which was conquered by Colonel Lang, was restored to Tippu, in 1784, under the treaty of Mangalore, Tippu appointed Sayyid Salib as the Viceroy of Dindigul, and the latter ill-treated Kondama Naick. The neighbouring Polygars took advantage of this, and gave them constant trouble. As the country was thrown into great con lusion on account of the unbridled raids of the Mysorean army, Kondama Naick repaired to the hill fortress called Kulukkaiyadi (granary shaped) which is still in existence on the Vellaigavi Hills, on the slopes of the Pambar Forest. As the neighbouring Polygars were unfriendly to him, Kondama Naick applied to the Polygar of Saptur for help, whose estate was then in the Tiunevelly District. The latter, though of Kambalathar caste, reachly complied with the request, drove the Mysor cans and the hostile Polygars, and reinstated the Vacagarat Polygar. Since then a strong feeling of brotherhood has been established between the two families, and it has become a rule with the Vadagarai family to send a special invitation to the Zamindar of Saptur on marriage occasions. In commemoration of this bond of union, the latter observes the custom of sending a sword and a horse by way of presents to the Zamindar of Vadagarai during the installation ceremonies. Kondama ruled for thirty-five years, and his son, Nagama Naick for half a century. Next came his son, Venkataswani Naick otherwise known as Rama Bhadia Naick, and it was during his reign that Mr. T. 13. Hun dis settled the estate for a permanent beriz in 1802. Mr. Wynch, in his report, dated 24th November 1795, on the Dindigul Province, said that the Polygar of Vadagarai was a man of caste which was an unusual thing in that pistrict. This simply emphasises the status as . well as the respectability of the family which was closely allied to that of the Naick Kings.
Kondama Naick II, the next Zamindar, was in charge of the estate for four years, from 1806 to 1810. He was succeeded by his son, Meenayaswami Rama Bhadra Naick, who ruled from 1810 to 1824. IIe presented to the Periyakulam Varadarajaswami temple a big brass thiruvachi on which figures of himself and his mother are engraved. IIe was succeeded by his brother, Rama Bhadra Narck III. In 1856 the valuable forests and a major portion of the estate were seized by the Government of Madras for the arrears of peshcush amounting to Rs. 22,000, Rama Bhadra Naick ruled from 1824 to 1864 with much lact and wisdom. IIe was a great friend of Sir Henry Levinge, Collector of Madura, and first of the European settlers at Kodaikanal. The latter's regard for the Zamindar was so great that he kept up correspondence with him even after his retirement, from the estate of his brother, Baron Levinge, Knockdrin Castle, Westmeath, Ireland. The Zamindar also enjoyed the special friendship of Mr. Rouse Peter, the . Collector, who presented him with a valuable shawl, on the 26th December 1826, in appreciation of his skill in elephant hunting, and the gift is still preserved in the family. Ile was succeeded by his son, Venkataswami Naick, in 1864. His services during the great famine of 1876-77 were much appreciated by the Government of Madras. Ile was a handsome man with a commanding stature. When a Governor of Madras visited Kodai kanal, he was so struck with the noble demeanour and majestic appear ance of the Zamindar that he was pleased to grant him the first interview. He enjoyed the privilege of attending the reception at Madura accorded to His late Majesty King Edward VII, who, as Prince of Wales, visited that historic city in 1875. His son, the Honourable Diwan Bahadur V. Rama Bhadra Naick, is the subject of this account.
He was born at Vadagarai on the 23rd December 1873. During his minority the estate was managed by the Court of Wards. When he was len years of age, he was sent to Madura for his education. Though he lost his father in his boyhood, he was fortunate in being entrusted by Mr. Crole, then Collector, to the guardianship of the late Mr. Siva Subba Iyer, of a respectable family, who spared no pains in moulding the character of his ward. He matriculated in 8191 with Sanskrit as his second language, and completed the First in Aris course in 1898. His scholastic career was so bright that the late Principal, Mr. S. Venkoba chariar, of the Madura College, characterised him as a model student, and as of opinion that he was an example to his brother Zamindars. He could not continue his college studies as the Court of Wards, constitute d as it then was, could not manage the estate after he had attained his majority in 1894. He married the next year, and the elder of his two sons was born on the 21st December 1897. He has devoted his life to public service. He is a great patron of learning and education. 1tim self a good Sanskrit scholar, he encourages the study of Sanskrit and many a Sanskrit work, as Kuvalayananda Karika by Mr P. R. Subramanya Sarma, was dedicated to him and brought out under his patronage. A translation of the Vedanta Sutra by the same gentleman was similarly published. 1le has patronised many other useful publications in English and in the Vernaculars.
In the management of his estate, he takes the keenest interest, and is an enthusiast in the matter of introclucing improved methods of agriculture and in planting trees. One of the first acts on his assuming charge of the zamindari was the establishment of a model agricultural farm. In the Madras Agricultural and Industrial Exhibition of 1904, the exhibits from the farm were very much appreciated and the Inspector in charge was given a silver medal. To the Provincial Agricultural and Industrial Exhibition hold in Madura in 1906, and to that held in the same town and in Tinnevelly in the following year, he lent his active support and received a silver medal for the excellence of his exhibits.Ilis speeches as Chairman of the Reception Committee of the Group Conference held at Madura in October 1913, and as President of the Coimbatore Agricultural College Union in July 1912, and the introduction he has written to the book, entitled "A Guide to South Indian Agriculture," by Mr. C. Kamakshi Rao Nimbalkar, and dedicated to H. E. Lord Carmi chael, Governor of Bengal, his paper on Kappilian (Cumbum) breed sent to Mr. Sampson, Special Officer deputed for Cattle Survey, and his evidence before the Forest Committee, are marked by practical common sense and an earnest desire to improve the agricultural industries of the country.
The Victoria Memorial High School at Periyakulam, started to commemorate the august reign of Iter Majesty Queen Victoria, is under the wise and generous guidance of the Zamindar, who, as its President and Manager, spares neither time nor money in its management. The present most satisfactory condition of this institution is chiefly due to his liberality, and the Government justly appreciated his service in the cause of education by granting him a certificate of honour on the Coronation Day of Edward VII in 1908 at Delhi, The school is now located in a fine building at a cost of Rs. 20,000, the major portion of it being borne by him. On the day the Zamindar sent his elder son to school for the first time in 1902, he made a gift of the site on which the High School stands. He maintains a model Primary School of his own at Vadagana. In recognition of his services in the cause of education, II, E. Su Arthur Lawley, as Chancellor of the University of Madras, nominated him a Fellow thereol. He has in stituted annual prizes to some of the successful students of the Madura College, and Meenakshi Girls' School, Madura Many poor students of the Madura District and elsewhere, find in him a ready and willing patron. He takes warm interest in the well-being of the Native College, Maduta, of which he is one of the most distinguished alumm, and it is through his efforts that the Native College Day has become a permanent institution. He has been on the Visiting Committee of the Newington Institution, Madras, for the last cight years, and the Government of Macias have praised him for his services and have selected him as a member of the Rajkumar College Committee. He is a prominent member of the Madras Central Agricultural Committee and an honorary visitor to the Coimbatore Agucultural College. Ile was instrumental in founding the prize, called "Lawley's Prize," to the best student of the said college to commemorate the interest evinced by His Excellency Sir Arthur Lawlev in starting the institution. He is a member of the Telugu Academy, the Cosmopolitan Clubs at Madras and Madura, and the Union Clubs at Madura and Periyakulam,
His administration of the Periyakulam Municipal Council, of which he has been Chairman since 1904, has been a maked success. The good work done, and the energy and public spirit displayed by him, have won from the successive Collectors of the District, and the Government of Madras, warm appreciation. The revenues of the Municipal Council have risen from Rs. 23,000 to about Rs. 42,000, and he deserves to be congra tulated on the other results achieved.The important Water Works at Periyakulam, which have cost the Municipal Council Rs. 2,30,000 were, through his efforts, brought to a suc cessful completion on the 4th June 1912. The supply of water is a grea boon to the town on account of its purity and lightness. IIc is fortunate in having seen the execution of the Irrigation Work, called "Berijam Lake," formed to the north-west of Kodaikanal hill station, to supplement irrigation and the water works.
When Colonel Pennycuick was in charge of the great Periyar Wates Works, his long-cherished object of bridging the important rivers, Varaha and Pambar, in Periyakulam, and the Vaigai iver near Kunnur, could not be carried out for various reasons. But the strenuous efforts made by the Zamindar in his capacity as Member of the Legislative Council and as Chairman of the Periyakulam Municipal Council, induced the Government of Madias and the District Board of Madua to sanction the bridging of these rivers, at a cost of two lakhs of rupees.
The Municipal Hospital to be built shortly, at his instance, on modern lines, by getting a liberal grant from the Government of Madias to the extent of about sixty thousand tupees, will add beauty to the place and bring health to the town and the surrounding villages. He was success. ful in obtaining a sanitary grant of about a lakch of rupees from the Government during a period of four years for removing the congestion from the municipal town and acquirmg house sites for extension.
At the end of 1909 the Southern Zamindars elected him almost un animously to represent them in the Madras Legislative Council. Since he took his seal on the 4th January 1910, he has worked heart and soul to further the interests of his constituents. His courtesy, forbearance, and just sense of proportion have combined in earning for him both from Govern nient and his co-legislators not only their patient hearing but also loyal co operation. The Maharajal of Venkataguri, the President of the Landholders' Association, Madras, has recorded his opinion in the following terms - "I am glad you are willing to stand for re-election to the Council. I hope that the excellent services you have rendered in the past as a representa tive of Zamindars in the Council will be appreciated by the Zamindars and that you will be returned to the Council once again to continue your good work." In recognition of the good work done by him in the Council during his first term, he was unanimously elected by his constituents again in December 1912. He took his seat in January 1913 for the second term. IIe has been evincing very great interest in his duties as a legislator, and his constituents are highly satisfied with him.
He holds the hereditary Dharmakarthaship of the Malaimel Vaidya nathaswami temple, situated on a beautiful hillock, from where one can command a view of the whole of the green paddy fields and lovely tanks in the village. In July 1912, Sir S. Subrahmanya Iyer, President of the Dharma Rakshana Sabha, and the Honourable Mr. Sivaswami Iyer, then Advocate General, selected the Zamindar as one of the members of the Rameswaram Devasthanam Committee to represent the non-Brahmin communities of the Madura and Ramnad Districts. His work in this direction is characteristic of his zeal and ca: nestness.
He was in Madras in 1906 to meet their present Majestics when they visited it as Prince and Princess of Wales and had the privilege of being presented to them. In appreciation of his public services he was made a Rao Bahadur in 1908. The Government of Madras chose him to represent the Zamindus of North and South groups at the Delhi purbar of 1911, at which function he was present and was accorded the rare honour of paying his homage to Their Imperial Majestics. He then won the distinction of Diwan Bahadur, and a Durbar Medal, and his son, who had accompanied him, was a page to H. E. Lord Carmichael, then Governor of Madras. His plan for the formation of a Co-operative Bank to help Zamindars has been favourably received by the Land-flolders' Association, and if it is approved of by the Government, it is likely to do immense good to thoseconcerned.The Zamindar is well known for his picty and charitable disposition and for his substantial aid to almost all the public institutions and move ments in South India. He is a most loyal subject of His Majesty, After the purchase of the Doddappanaikkanur Zamindari, he is the owner and proprietor of 20,000 acres of dry, wet, and forest lands in both the estates.
As (the Hon'ble) Mr. Francis has officially recorded in the District, Manual, "He has since December 1904 distinguished himself as a patron of education, a protector of beautiful topes, planted by his forbears in the neighbourhood, and an experimentor in scientific agriculture, and the Chairman of the Periyakulam Municipal Council", not to speak of the larger influence he wields in the higher sphere of public life in Southern India as a respected member of the Madras Legislative Council. That he is one of the finest specimens of Zamindars in the Presidency of Madras there are no two opinions. He is still comparatively young, and South India may continue to enjoy the benefits of his services for several decades to come.