Vintage Vignettes

… from a Princely State

By R.G. Singh, Secretary, Ramsons Kala Pratishtana

H.H. Chamarajendra Wadiyar Bahadur (CRW) was officially adopted by H.H. Krishnaraja Wadiyar III on 18.6.1865. His adoption was ratified by the British overlords on 16.4.1867 and it was during the silver jubilee of the ratification of his adoption that he instituted the Order of Gandabherunda in 1892 to recognise his eminent subjects. Figure 1 depicts the Order of the Gandabherunda, chain and pendant, conferred on acting Dewan M.N. Krishna Rao in 1941. (Image courtesy: M.R. Narendra, grandson)

But an Order or Title could not be instituted without the permission and approval of the design from the Viceroy’s office. The Order was seen as a threat to the supremacy of the King Emperor. The British had made it clear that any Order or Title could not be placed in a superior position on the chest to any award given by and on behalf of the King Emperor. It marks the ingenuity of the Mysore courtiers that the Order of the Gandabherunda was designed to be worn with a chain around the neck on the chest. The jewel fit snugly at the base of the throat making it quite clear what was superior! Thus cock a snook at the King Emperor’s diktats!

Sri Kumarapuram Sheshadri Iyer (Figure 2) served as the 15th Dewan of Mysore from 1883 to 1901. He is regarded as the maker of modern Bangalore. A qualified lawyer, he was instrumental in starting the Mysore Civil Service examinations in 1891. He is one among the early recipients of the Order of the Gandabherunda. In this oil on canvas portrait by artist Felix Wicksler on display at the banquet hall of the Vidhana Soudha, Bangalore, he is shown wearing the Order above the blue ribboned British honour.

Later when H.H. Krishnaraja Wadiyar IV wanted to continue giving of the Gandabherunda Order, the Resident wanted to know why there was any necessity at all. H.H. Maharaja‘s caustic riposte: “They are merely the continuance of the ancient custom of conferring Birudus and Mana Mariyadas (titles, decoration, souvenirs, khillats etc.) on persons who by their learning, benevolence or services to the public, the State or the Sovereign, have deserved recognition at his hands.” (Dewan of Mysore’s letter to the Resident, September 7th 1920/ Residency records of Mysore/India Office /IOLRR2/ (37/354).

Dewan Sri Nyapathi Madhava Rau (Figure 3) was an Administrator and Statesman who served as the 23rd Dewan of Mysore from 1941-45. He was later a member of the Drafting Committee of the Constituent Assembly which drafted the Indian Constitution. In this full body portrait (oil on canvas by K. Keshavayya) on display at the banquet hall of Vidhana Soudha, Bangalore, he is shown wearing the Order close to the neck.