Page:The Aristocracy of Southern India.djvu/214

170 Kamayamma Garu, the adoptive mother of Krishna Rao, was universally known for her virtue and charity. Her charity was not of the old and orthodox style, but quite in keeping with modern requirements, for she educated a number of men, most of whom are now graduates holding decent posts. What she gave away was such as to extend its usefulness to every portion of the District. Choultries and various other useful institutions established by her are the living monuments of her philanthropy and noble-mindedness.

Mr. Krishna Rao was born on the 11th November 1871, at Polavaram, in the Godavari District. While a boy of five years, he was as we have said, adopted by his mother's sister, Kamayamma Garu. He received the rudimentary portion of his education in Telugu and Sanskrit at home. The Government of Madras found that the estate was very efficiently managed by Kamayamma Garu, but the only thing that called for their remark was that the minor Zemindar was not properly educated. As she was very fond of her son it was with a pang that she sent him to Rajahmundry in 1884 for education. Soon after he joined a public school there, his intelligence shone forth with so much lustre that he gained a great reputation among the boys and teachers. With surprising rapidity he passed the Matriculation Examination in ]887. He had the capacity and inclination to learn everything that came in his way, nor was there any branch of knowledge that he despised; yet he was most inclined to mathematics and literature. In process of time when he began the study of literature and history with greater application he was looked upon as a coming man in the literary field. He joined the F. A. class of the