Poet Laureate Rabindranath Tagore described him as a Prince among Men! Trained under Alfred Marshall and a close friend of renowned economist Maynard Keynes, N. S. Subba Rao embodied the very best of the intellectual traditions of Cambridge University. He was a visionary educationist who served the University of Mysore as a Lecturer, Professor, Principal and Vice-Chancellor across three decades. His foresight and landmark contributions in shaping the nascent University paved the way for the next generation of poets, writers and intellectual giants to appear on the scene — the likes of Kuvempu, Ti Nam Sri, S. Srikanta Sastri, G.P. Rajarathnam, T.S. Venkannayya and so on. Here is a small tribute to this visionary genius. —Ed
By Dr. Bhagirath S. Naganath
N.S. Subba Rao was born on 14th March 1885 at Srirangapatnam. His father Nanjanagud Subba Raya was a lawyer by profession. N.S. Subba Rao’s elder brother N. Narasimha Murthy (M. A., B. L.) was also well-versed in law and worked in the British Resident Mr. Fraser’s office at Mysore. Subba Rao also had a younger sister by the name of Kaveramma.
Early years and education
He had his schooling at Sri-rangapatnam. Completing his matriculation exam in 1897, Subba Rao joined Central College, Bangalore for his F.A. course where he was nurtured well by Prof. J.C. Tate, who is believed to have counted him one among his favourite students ! N.S. Subba Rao with a letter of recommendation from J.C. Tate proceeded to Madras Christian College to pursue his B.A. degree. Here, he came under the influence of Rev. William Skinner and Rev. Earle Monteith MacPhail, who were senior members of the faculty.
He was conferred a Gold Medal in 1904 for securing highest marks in the B.A. exam, the award being Benjamin Jowett’s “Dialogues of Plato” volume, something which he treasured till the end. Following his commendable performance in the B.A. exam, he was able to secure from the Mysore Government the prestigious ‘Damodar Das Educational Scholarship’ which helped him on his way to England for further studies.
Education in England
Armed with a scholarship, he was able to gain admission into St. John’s College, Cambridge, to pursue a M.A. degree in Economics. Here, he additionally learnt Latin and French. At Cambridge, Subba Rao came under the tutelage of Alfred Marshall and came in contact with Maynard Keynes. At the end of four years, Subba Rao completed his Tripos exam (M. A. Cantab.) in addition to securing a Bar at Law qualification. His essay titled “Political and Economic Conditions of Ancient India, as described in the Jatakas” earned him the prestigious ‘Le Bas’ award in 1909.
During his Cambridge years (1905-09), Subba Rao travelled to France, Germany and few other countries on the continent. The lasting impression that Subba Rao left behind at Cambridge would win him lifelong friends — the most prominent among these being Maynard Keynes, the great economist of his time! Keynes went so far as to recommend to the India Office at Calcutta, that a senior position be afforded to this fine gentleman in Her Majesty’s Government in India, an offer which Subba Rao kindly declined. His refusal was not so much a decision arising out of an inability to execute the new-found responsibility in governance, but more so an apprehension that his desertion of his obligation to the University of Mysore (UoM) would not go down well with the Maharaja, whose generosity had made his westward sojourn possible in the first place!
N.S. Subba Rao would write many a letter of introduction to successive students who wanted to study in England in the years to come. Many of them later expressed their surprise and amazement at the warmth and affection a simple letter from Subba Rao would elicit in the educational fraternity in England.
An eminent linguist A.N. Narasimaiah after experiencing such goodwill remarked thus: “I came to London through Germany and joined the Ph.D class at London University with the help of N.S. Subba Rao’s letter of introduction. He is so much loved and respected here by all the educationists.” Incidentally, upon his return to India, when the Diwan of Mysore assembled all the newly returned students from England and enquired as to what each wished to become in the years to come, Subba Rao’s answer was one that caught the Diwan’s undivided attention. He said, “I want to be the next Diwan of Mysore!”
Return to India
N.S. Subba Rao returned to India on 28th October 1909. The next year, that is 1910 at the age of 25 years, he was appointed as a lecturer in Economics at Maharaja College, Mysore, which was then under Madras University. Here, he taught Economics, Political Science, European History and English literature. Among his foremost students during these years was V. Seetharamaiah.
The University of Mysore would formally come into existence on 25th July,1916. By 24th September of the succeeding year (1917), Subba Rao took charge of Principalship from C.R. Reddy and held the post till 1928. In 1919, he was invited to foresee the establishment of the State University in Ceylon — a task which won him much gratitude from the local Sinhalese intelligentsia. In July 1927, Subba Rao attended the Educational Conference as representative of the Mysore Government. His presentations and lectures won him considerable praise in Forewords written subsequently by K. Myathen and E. G. McAlpine.
In his years immediately after returning from Cambridge, Subba Rao maintained a close correspondence with Maynard Keynes and Arthur Cecil Pigou. In one such letter, Subba Rao laments thus:
“…My dearest Keynes,
I found that a good many officers in the Secretariat (in the Mysore State Government Offices) had read your papers in the ‘Economic Journal’ and in the ‘Madras Mail’— which surprised me, as we do not pretend to be up to date here! I miss Cambridge itself. I did not think I had become so fond of the place… You will not believe me if I tell you how often I am back at Cambridge in my waking thoughts and dreams.
With kindest regards,
Yours sincerely,
N. S. Subba Rao”
The University Years
N.S. Subba Rao served the University of Mysore for close to 32 years as Lecturer, Professor, Principal and eventually as its Vice-Chancellor from 1937 – 42. His contributions as an administrator while at the University are far too many to elaborate here. His encouragement for Scouts and Guides movement is well-remembered. The establishment of University Co-operative Society in 1923 was a positive step in the direction of looking after the financial travails of a poorly remunerated academic fraternity. Subba Rao unfailingly espoused the cause of Kannada language while championing the idea of imparting western scientific education in the native vernacular. In this direction, by July 1935 he introduced Kannada medium of instruction in High Schools across the State.
Ti. Nam. Shri
During his years as Vice- Chancellor of the University of Mysore, N.S. Subba Rao is remembered to have remarked thus to Ti. Nam. Sri: “Lectures and speeches, however well- delivered, last only for a brief period in the hearts and minds of people. If one were to create a lasting legacy, then one has to ‘publish’ these in print and hence a dedicated publishing division was required.” This longing resulted in Subba Rao foreseeing the establishment of a dedicated publishing and cataloguing wing, which would later come to be known as ‘Prasaranga’!
[To be continued]
Hello author,
Cambridge and Oxford universities then and now only offer BA degree which would be upgraded to MA after a time. The only other higher degree option is MPhil/ PhD. It has been for centuries. This is because the British secondary school A levels, the final secondary school certificates, have been very rigorous, for centuries, and if you like, cover the first 2 year materials of US undergraduate courses.
Until very recently, masters degrees were not offered in these 2 universities. But the demand for conversion from one subject to another means certain areas offer a limited masters degree options in these 2 universities. .
In those days, under British Raj, it was easier to go to England and study. Many did .Even A.N. Narasimaiah a high school head master did , but worked under a famous linguist professor at the School of Oriental Studies in London University, but looking at ancient Kannada script. Not strictly a linguist. After returning to India, he was not active in any form of linguistics research but opted for government positions.
It is all very well about nostalgia, But look at the status of UOM- a corrupt edifice.
, Cambridge and Oxford universities consider BA degrees as the final taught degrees for centuries as mentioned above. The MA degree is then the upgrade without any more examinations, after obtaining the BA degree. This is so, in most hard subjects in these universities . in Modern times, the exception of masters degrees as taught degrees are explained by the poster above.
Interesting that this NS Subba Rao did not offer a permanent teaching position in Maharaja’s College, to A N Narasimiah, who obtained his Ph D under the supervision of a famous linguistics professor in London University. It was his disappointment all his life. He hence sought other government administrative positions. His talents were wasted.
It should be noted that Nalwadi Wadiyar had a hands-on- interest in this university, and hence was able to persuade professors like Radhakrishnan and Rollo to join Maharajas’s College.
Bombay and Poona the were the centres of learning those days, with Poona Engineering College offering excelling civil engineering degrees, and producing alumnus like Sir MV. Poona had the Ferguson College founded by Tilak where Gokhale taught, and it is still an excellent institution. Ferguson College which emerged at abut the same time as Maharaj’s College was often cited as the model to emulate.
, Cambridge and Oxford universities consider BA degrees as the final taught degrees for centuries as mentioned above. The MA degree is then the upgrade without any more examinations, after obtaining the BA degree. This is so, in most hard subjects in these universities . in Modern times, the exception of masters degrees as taught degrees are explained by the poster above.
Interesting that this NS Subba Rao did not offer a permanent teaching position in Maharaja’s College, to A N Narasimiah, who obtained his Ph D under the supervision of a famous linguistics professor in London University. It was his disappointment all his life. He hence sought other government administrative positions. His talents were wasted.
It should be noted that Nalwadi Wadiyar had a hands-on- interest in this university, and hence was able to persuade professors like Radhakrishnan and Rollo to join Maharajas’s College.
Bombay and Poona the were the centres of learning those days, with Poona Engineering College offering excelling civil engineering degrees, and producing alumnus like Sir MV. Poona had the Ferguson College founded by Tilak where Gokhale taught, and it is still an excellent institution. Ferguson College which emerged at abut the same time as Maharaj’s College was often cited as the model to emulate.
, Cambridge and Oxford universities consider BA degrees as the final taught degrees for centuries as mentioned above. The MA degree is then the upgrade without any more examinations, after obtaining the BA degree. This is so, in most hard subjects in these universities . in Modern times, the exception of masters degrees as taught degrees are explained by the poster above.
Interesting that this NS Subba Rao did not offer a permanent teaching position in Maharaja’s College, to A N Narasimiah, who obtained his Ph D under the supervision of a famous linguistics professor in London University. It was his disappointment all his life. He hence sought other government administrative positions. His talents were wasted.
It should be noted that Nalwadi Wadiyar had a hands-on- interest in this university, and hence was able to persuade professors like Radhakrishnan and Rollo to join Maharajas’s College.
Bombay and Poona the were the centres of learning those days, with Poona Engineering College offering excelling civil engineering degrees, and producing alumnus like Sir MV. Poona had the Ferguson College founded by Tilak where Gokhale taught, and it is still an excellent institution. Ferguson College which emerged at abut the same time as Maharaj’s College was often cited as the model to emulate.