Page:The Aristocracy of Southern India.djvu/93

Rh Sri Vikrama Deo Maharajah, the son of Sri Ramachandra Deo Maharajah, came to the throne in 1825. His administrative capacity was so great that immediately after he assumed the reins of Government he instituted such wholesome measures that he found it a light task to change the chaos into order and to infuse a new spirit into the personnel of the State. Several futuridars whose heads turned and who always troubled the former Maharajahs were arrested and brought to book. He was very pious and orthodox. Up to this time the administration of Criminal and Civil justice was practically in the hands of the Maharajahs of this family.

Sri Ramachandra Deo Maharajah who was born in 1843 assumed the reins of administration in 1860. He rendered valuable aid to the British Government in quelling the Savra rising in the Gunupur taluq and the well-known Rampa rebellion in the Godavery District. The authorities, while, placing on record their high appreciation of the attachment of the Maharajah, went to the extent of presenting him with a sword, a military uniform, a diamond ring, a rifle, a watch and a pearl necklace. When H. E. H. the Prince of Wales, now King Edward VII, visited Madras, the Maharajah was one of those that were introduced to his Royal Highness, who presented him with a medal. Several educated men, Brahmins and Muhammadans, who hailed from distant places, found in him a great patron. It would appear that in 1860 the Maharajah voluntarily resigned the administration of Civil and Criminal justice in favour of the British.

The present Maharajah, Sri Sri Sri Vikrama Deo, was born in 1875, and as he was a minor of 14 years at the time of his father's death, the management of the