Eminent Aristocrates of Southern India in Set of 2 Volumes (An Old and Rare Book)

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The map of British India, before the advent of Indian independence, was of a different complexion. One-third of it was depicted as princely India where native rulers wielded undisputed authority in their States under the over all might of British paramountcy.

The native princes, the scions of ancient ruling houses, presented a most colourful and aristocratic segment of society. Their magnificent palaces, the grandeour of their courts and their nobility, their bejewelled elephants, their quaint but costly costumes, their munificence and the rich paraphernalis, with which they always moved, presented a contrast to the gruelling poverty of their subjects. And yet they commanded a respect and obedience of their people which had no parallel elsewhere.

The author, an eminent journalist and writer of his times, was greatly encouraged by the reception according to the First volume on the Aristocracy of Southern India. He therefore took up the venture of writing the second volume of the series. The fruits of his labour are embodied in the resent volume. It contains a highly interesting and informative account of fifteen aristocratic ruling families of Southern India which had been in existence at the dawn of the twentieth century. It is a gripping and authoritative record of the landed aristocracy whose exploits were sung in ballads and received much lime-light in the pages of contemporary history. As was the case when he undertook the project of first volume, he (to quote his own words) "made a long tour, visited most of the noblemen figuring in this book, and hadthe privilege of obtaining access to the papers in their record. With a large mass of evidence before me, I have endeavoured to divest myself of party and local prejudices and have given the result of a laborious investigation by presenting a true picture of the times...."

It is not that all the representatives of aristocracy, mentioned in this volume, are exclusively males. There are also two shrewd but talented ladies-the Zamidarni of Gollaprolu Muttah and the Zamidarni of Gutalah Muttah - who managed their affairs and administered their estates with as much courage, enterprise and acumen as their male counterparts in the other States.

Such a remarkable book, which is being published after a long lapse of eighty years, and which serves as a window on the aristocracy of the Southern India of nearly a century ago, must be the proud possession of all students and research scholars, public and private libraries, libraries of all Schools and all the Institutes of higher learning. This will also serve as an eye-opener for people of North India and will help promote national integration.

During my connection with journalism for a number of years, I keenly felt the absence of any authentic record of the ancestry of the landed Aristocracy of Southern India, of whom so much is talked about as well as sung in ballads. The idea of collecting the necessary materials for a book of the kind struck me a few years ago, and I tried to carry out such a work without prejudice to my duties as a journalist, but could not succeed in my attempt. I therefore severed my connection with the journal, and set out on my enterprise with the object of personally collecting facts for the book. I interviewed almost all the noblemen who figure in this book, ransacked their records, and culled out as much information as I thought would be useful to me. I admit that this is by no means a complete record of all the representatives of the Aristocracy of Southern India, but hope, if all goes well, to bring out another volume, before long, of complete accounts cf those who have already figured, and also of those who have not found a place in this book. The District Manuals and Hunter's Gazetteer of India helped me a great deal.

I should like to point out that the titles of His Highness and Rajah have been prefixed to some of the noblemen who figure in the book, out of courtesy.

H. R. H. The Duke of Connaught is now in India, and I present this book to His Royal Highness, as a gift expressive of the loyal welcome from Southern India, and trust that he would accept it in the spirit in which it is sent to His Royal Highness.

Book's Contents and Sample Pages