Page:Dictionary of Indian Biography.djvu/326

 MYSORE, MAHARAJA SIR CHAMA RAJENDRA WODYAR, OF (1863–1894)

Born in a branch of the ruling family of Mysore : his adoption by Maharaja Kristna Raj Wodyar (deposed 1831) in June, 1865, was eventually recognized by Government : and, on Kristna Raj's death on March 27, 1868, Chama Rajendra succeeded, was installed Sep. 23, 1868, and was invested with power at the age of 18 : he was carefully educated under a British officer as guardian and became an enlightened ruler, during whose reign the resources of the State were greatly developed : G.C.S.I. : died of diphtheria during his visit to Calcutta, Dec. 27, 1894.

MYSORE, KRISTNA RAJ WADIAR, MAHARAJA OF (1896–1868)

A descendant of the old Hindu reigning family of Mysore, who was restored to the throne when a child, after the death of Tippoo at the fall of Seringapatam, May 4, 1799 : in 1811 he dismissed his Diwan, the famous Purnia (q.v.), and assumed charge of the Government, which continually grew worse, until the people rebelled in 1830 and the British Government interposed and took over the administration on Oct. 3, 1831. The Maharaja's applications to be reinstated were never accepted : after adopting an heir, he died in 1868.

NABA KISHEN, MAHARAJA BAHADUR (1732?–1797)

Son of a Kayasth, Ram Charan : born about 1732 in the village of Gobindpur : while he was still young his father died : at 18 he was Persian munshi to Warren Hastings : he early entered the service of Lucki Kanta (alias Naku Dhur), banian of Lord Clive : subsequently became a munshi to Clive : in 1765 Clive procured from Shah Alam the title of Raja Bahadur for him, besides appointing him Political Diwan to the Company : in 1766 he was made Maharaja Bahadur and began to preside over Caste Tribunals : his appointments were continued under Warren Hastings, who, in 1780, appointed him manager of the Burdwan zamindari : died Nov. 22, 1797.

NABHA, RAJA SIR HIRA SINGH, MALWINDAR BAHADUR OF (1843–)

Succeeded his father, 1871 : served in Afghan war, 1878–80 : Hon. Colonel in British Army : G.C.I.E., 1903 : G.C.S.I.

NAIRNE, SIR CHARLES EDWARD (1836–1899)

Born June 30, 1836 : son of Capt. Alexander Nairne : educated at Addiscombe : entered the Bengal Artillery, 1855 : was in the Indian mutiny : in the Yusafzai expedition, 1863 : commanded a battery in the Afghan war : in the Peshawar Field Force, 1879–80 : in Egypt in 1882, commanded the Horse Artillery at Kassassin and Tel-el-Kebir : C.B., 1882 : Commandant at Shoeburyness, 1884 : Inspr-General of Ordnance in India, 1887–92, and effected a remarkable improvement in Artillery shooting : Maj-General, 1890 : C. in C., Bombay, 1893 : Lt-General, 1895 : K.C.B., 1899 : acted as C. in C. in India, March to Nov. 1898 : died Feb. 19, 1899.

NANA, FARNAVIS (1741–1800)

The famous Mahratta Brahman minister : his real name was Balaji Janadhan : he was present at, and fled from, the battle of Panipat, 1761. When Madho Rao I became Peshwa in 1761, his uncle, the Regent, Raghunath Rao, gave Nana Farnavis the office of Fardnavisi (record-writing). He became the intimate friend of his sovereign, Madho Rao, who died in 1772, and was succeeded by his brother, Narayan Rao. Nana Farnavis became head of the Civil Department, and chief director of all Poona political movements until Madho Rao II died. Narayan Rao was murdered in 1773 by his uncle Raghunath, who usurped the Peshwaship, until Narayan's widow, Gunga Bai, had a child named Madho Rao Narayan. A Regency, consisting of Nana Farnavis Sakaram Bapu, and the widow, ruled the State until Nana Farnavis became virtually supreme ruler of Poona. In March, 1776, the treaty of Purandhar was concluded between the Mahrattas and the English : this treaty Nana Farnavis obstructed, and he was believed to have made a secret engagement with the French. He and Sakaram quarrelled : the latter, striving for the restoration of