Dewan Purnaiah

Dewan Purnaiah’s Bungalow, Yalanduru

Chapter 2
Dewan Purnaiah

Purnaiah (1746–1812), who was appointed as the

Dewan of Mysore in 1799, earlier had served under
Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan; and later under the British
and Mummadi Krishnaraja Wodeyar. He was well
known for his skill with accounts, prodigious memory, proficiency in several
languages and sheer hard work. His story is a classic example of a rags-to-
riches story, achieved through hard work, honesty and his in-born genius.
Purnaiah was born in 1746 in a Marathi speaking family of Tirukambur
village in Kulitalai taluk of the former Coimbatore District, Tamilnadu State.
His father who was the village priest, was a Sanskrit scholar, well-versed in
Vedanta and Madhava philosophy. He taught Purnaiah and his younger brother
Venkata Rao to read, write and the basics of Mathematics. Unfortunately
his father passed away when Purnaiah was only 11 years old. His mother,
Lakshmibai, took care of her two sons by doing domestic chores in Brahmin
households. Some relatives offered help but it was still a struggle to make both
ends meet.
In 1760, Purnaiah’s mother decided to shift the residence to Sathyamangalam,
which had developed into a commercial town, having commercial connections
with the capital towns viz., Srirangapatna and Mysore. This move proved to be
a boon for Purnaiah. When he was just 15 years old, Ranga Setty, a wholesale
grain merchant, recognized Purnaiah’s ability and appointed him as an
accountant. Purnaiah quickly grasped the intricacies of business transactions,
and his employer, noticing his acumen, gave him independent charge of many
transactions.
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 Jewels of Administration

Ranga Setty, who used to visit Srirangapatna frequently,

often took Purnaiah with him, as most of his transactions
were with a local merchant, Annadana Setty. On one
occasion there was some confusion about the finances, and
Purnaiah managed to clear the matter. Annadana Setty
was so impressed by the boy’s capability that he requested
Ranga Setty to allow Purnaiah to assist and help him in
his business. As a result, at the tender age of 18, Purnaiah
was employed by Annadana Setty in Srirangapatna. This
was the seat of power at that time and Sultan Hyder Ali’s
Hyder Ali
base. Annadana Setty had huge transactions with Hyder
Ali’s durbar and executed large orders required by the Sultan’s army.
As Purnaiah was married, his wife, mother and other members of the
family shifted to Srirangapatna. Very often, Purnaiah was required to go to
the Toshikhana1 of the palace to settle accounts. On one occasion, there was
a problem in balancing the accounts. Since it was a large order, Hyder Ali
personally sought an explanation for the discrepancy. Purnaiah had blank
sheets in his hand, but pretended to read and turn them over to give his
explanation. He did so with such conviction that Hyder Ali immediately
appointed him as assistant to Venkataramiah, clerk in the Toshikhana. On
the later’s death, Purnaiah was appointed in his place and in due course,
Hyder made him additional Head (Sheristedar) of the Toshikhana with the
same powers discharged by the other head, Krishna Rao. Since it was a
‘double daftar’, Purnaiah kept the accounts in Kannada, whereas Krishna Rao
managed it in Marathi. Purnaiah was also given the responsibility to place
orders for merchandize required in the royal godown. The manner in which
he handled administrative and political affairs was so impressive that he was
soon elevated to the status of close advisor of the king along with minister
ship. Hyder Ali also granted him a Jagir of Maralahalli, a village in Mysore
taluk. From then on many of the Sultan’s decisions including political ones
were influenced by Purnaiah’s opinions.

As Commissariat and Minister

Purnaiah secured full knowledge of Hyder’s kingdom, army, number of
forts, the size of the contingent in each fort and revenue matters. He learnt
the art of warfare and planning war strategies and was put in charge of the
Commissariat. Purnaiah’s role in the Second Anglo-Mysore War (1780-84)
and his loyal service to both Hyder and Tipu is unique in history.
With a force of 90,000 men “unequalled in strength and efficiency by any
native army that had ever been assembled in South India, Hyder descended
the Eastern Ghats in July 1780, with a view to reach Chennai and humiliate
the British at Fort St. George. The able French officers guided the operations
1. Treasury.
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 Dewan Purnaiah

and the Commissariat was under the management of Purnaiah, one of the
ministers of finance.”2
Purnaiah’s leadership and advice made him one of the closest persons to
Hyder. However, in the course of the war, Hyder fell sick, having developed
cancer on his back3. War was being fought on the West Coast in the Canara
and Malabar area. The British in the North had made peace with the Marathas
between October 1781 and May 1782. News came that the Marathas and
the English would join hands and take all the territories to the north of the
Tungabhadra. “Hyder now faced a critical situation. He was beaten at all
points by Sir Eyre Coote; he had not received adequate assistance from the
French; the West Coast was lost, Malabar, Coorg and Balam were in rebellion.
The defeat of Colonel Braithwaite at this time, had no permanent effect in
improving his prospects”4.
Meanwhile, Purnaiah had become a close confident of Hyder. Col. Wilks
quotes a statement of Purnaiah, where Hyder Ali told Purnaiah in confidence.
“I have committed a great error. I have purchased a draught of sendi5 at a price
of a lakh of Pagodas. I shall pay dearly for my arrogance; between me and the
English there were mutual grounds of dissatisfaction, but not sufficient cause
of war, and I might have made them my friends inspite of Muhammad Ali (of
Arcot), the most treacherous of men. The defeat of Bailies and Braithwaites
will not destroy them. I can ruin their resources by land, but I cannot dry up
the sea. I must be the first to be weary of a war, in which I can do nothing
by fighting.” This indicates the extent of Hyder’s confidence that Purnaiah
enjoyed because Hyder unfolded his defeatist thoughts to him, at a time when
war was progressing. Hyder camped in June1782 at Timri (12 miles from
Amri), for the rainy season , but war continued in other fronts, when Tipu was
busy in Malabar.

Hyder’s Death
By November, Hyder’s health deteriorated and
the abscess on the back i.e., that is the ‘royal
boil’, became worse. “The united efforts of Hindu,
Muhammadan and French physicians did no good
and on 7 December 1782, Hyder Ali breathed his
last at Narasingarayapet near Chittoor at the age of
60.”
Purnaiah sagaciously planned that the news of Hyder Ali & Family Members Tomb
Hyder’s death should be concealed until the arrival Srirangapattana
of Tipu. “It is a high testimony to the order and discipline of the army and

2. Rice pg 393.
3. This is described as bennuphani in Kannada.
4. Ibid.
5. Spirit.
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 Jewels of Administration

influence and ability of Purnaiah that this was successfully carried out.”6
Hyder’s body, placed in a large chest filled with aromatic material, was sent to
Kolar under heavy escort, creating an impression that it was highly valuable
plundered goods. Business at the camp went on as usual and Purnaiah even
called all army commanders and told them that Hyder was better, but was
very weak.
Meanwhile, plans
to imprison all the
ministers, the treasury
and power in the name
of Hyder’s son Abdul
Karim were boiling. The
concerned officer had
a command of 4,000
horses. When the plot
was discovered, Purnaiah
had him captured and
sent away in chains.
Purnaiah sent a
messenger with the news
of Hyder’s death to Tipu.
Travelling at a speed
of 100 miles a day, the
news was conveyed to
Tipu on the afternoon
of 11th December
1792 at Paniani. Tipu
immediately ordered
the army to march
eastward, reached Kolar,
performed the final rites,
and joined the army at Arni and Vellore on 2 January
nd

1793. “The most ample acknowledgements were made

to all public affairs during the critical period, and Tipu
Sultan took peaceful possession of an army of 88,000
men and a treasury containing three crores of rupees
in cash, besides an immense amount of jewels and
valuables.”7
The Second Anglo-Mysore War ended in 1784 and
the Treaty of Mangalore was signed in 1785. The role
of Purnaiah at the most critical moment of Hyder’s
death, his loyalty, his ready wit, and perseverant
6. Hayavadana Rao. CH p. 2345. Tipu Sultan
7. Hayavadana Rao. Ibid.,
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 Dewan Purnaiah

effort with tact to transfer power to Tipu were unique examples of his strategic
insights in times of crisis. The immense treasure was also carefully guarded
and handed over to its true master with utmost allegiance and care.

Purnaiah as Minister
Under Tipu, Purnaiah continued as the Minister of Finance and was one of
the strongest advisors, despite being the only Hindu in the Advisory Council.
There were orders from Tipu advising his officers not to allow any non-Muslims
in their secret consultations, with the exception of Purnaiah.

Daria Daulat Palace - 1860 photo Daria Daulat Palace at Present

During the Third Anglo-Mysore War (1789-1792), Tipu with 40,000 men
proceeded to Gejjalahatti near Satyamangalam. Purnaiah accompanied him
more as a supplier of materials rather than as commander. On 9th September
1790, Tipu handed over some valuable and costly items to Purnaiah who took
them to the capital. Purnaiah also advised Tipu not to rely on Frenchman
Ripaud, and reminded him of Hyder’s advice not to rely on the French.
On 6th February 1782, Captain Lindsay attacked the
Bangalore region. Purnaiah was en route taking a huge amount
of supplies to Tipu who was surrounded by the English. He
realised that it was not possible
to reach Tipu and took all the
material and supplies back
to Srirangapatna with great
courage and ingenuity, despite
the attack of the English army.
Wilks has praised Purnaiah
for his exigency plans and
manoeuvres. During the Fourth
Anglo-Mysore War (1799), when
Gen. Harris was trying to reach
Srirangapatna, Purnaiah was
deputed by Tipu together with Tipu’s Death Spot, Srirangapattana
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 Jewels of Administration

Syed Saheb to check Gen. Harris in case he crossed the Cauvery by marching
via Kanakapura (Kanakanahalli). Due to lack of proper intelligence support,
Purnaiah could not land near Karighatta to prevent the British from entering
the capital from the South. The British entered Srirangapatna and defeated
and killed Tipu on 4 May 1799.

As Dewan
Purnaiah as Dewan, was not without rivals. “But it was the unanimous
opinion of all those who weighed that no better selection could be made for
Dewanship, especially when the Dewan had to combine in himself, on account
of the minority of the Raja Mummadi Krishnaraja Wodeyar, more or less the
functions of the Regent also.”8
Purnaiah, in fact proved himself highly useful not only to Mysore, but to
the East India Company as well, especially in times of their wars and military
confrontation. “A remarkable instance of Purnaiah’s perfect calm of mind
even in the midst of extreme danger was during the campaign of Cornwallis
in 1780, when the British army marched from French Rocks (Pandavapura)
to attack Srirangapatna. In the midst of the campaign, Purnaiah stealthily
managed to send out several camels laden with cash from the north bank of
the river to the south part through a small ford. This money was required to
be paid to the troops as salary. Purnaiah, at that time, had been wounded by
a canon shot and was bleeding.9
During his period as the Dewan, Purnaiah worked closely with five Residents
– Barry Close, Joisah Webb, John Malcolm, Mark Wilks10 and A.H. Cole and had
very cordial relations. Col. Arthur Wellesley, the Civil and Military Governor of
Srirangapatna was his another close British Officer during this period.
Though the Resident functioned as an appellate authority over the Dewan,
Purnaiah was very watchful on all the moves of Resident A.H. Cole. He
ensured that the subsidy was regularly received as well as kept a watch on
the expenses of the palace. He tried to inculcate the habit of economy to
the palace managers. Even on the issue of alienation of land for religious
institutions or religious professionals, the Resident was advised to be
careful and not to create embarrassment to the royal household. Through
this, Purnaiah maintained constant and friendly contact with the Resident.
Whenever there were complaints, mostly deliberate, against the Dewan with
the Resident, Purnaiah was ready with his explanation without taking offence.
Wilks has recorded Purnaiah’s readiness to redress such grievances without
any excuses or lame explanations , in his letter addressed to the Governor-
General. “Beyond advice from the Resident, little interference was called for
during the administration of Purnaiah which continued till 1811.”11
8. Shama Rao, Modern Mysore II, p.327.
9. Ibid.
10. Both Malcolm and Wilks were famous historians of the period.
11. Rice, p 420.
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 Dewan Purnaiah

Administrative Organization
The territorial division of the State, demarcation of departments and
administration of their duties and functions were the Dewan’s primary
tasks. Territorial division was such a hard task, as Rice points out. “On the
establishment of the present government, there were, accordingly few districts
that did not furnish at least one claimant, possessing or pretending to the
hereditary jurisdiction. The mischief was not confined to the revival of former
pretentions; in some cases Patels and in others the police officers, emulating
the Palegar character, and copying their history sought to obtain independent
rule for their respective villages and the privilege of encroaching were generally
successful in procuring a false entry in the books of the District, of the quantity
of land for which they paid a rent.”
Claims and counter claims created several problems in deciding the
jurisdiction and authority of the State and the officials. Purnaiah’s task in
this area was Herculean. His administration proclaimed unqualified remission
of balances of revenue and restoration of the ancient Hindu rate of assessment
on the agricultural lands.
In 1799, Purnaiah divided the State into three divisions, i.e. Patna
Ashtagrama (Srirangapatna), Chitradurga and Nagar (Bidanur) on the issue
of the fixation of the boundaries of the State. The total area of the State
was 29,000 square miles and the population was 22 Lakh. Each division was
looked after by a subedar,12 stationed at Bangalore, Chitradurga and Bidanur
respectively. Under each division, there were 110 to 120 sub-divisions which
were put under an Amildar’s control. There were instances when the local
Palegars, real or pretentious, killed some newly appointed Amildars.

Bengaluru Fort Chitradurga Fort Bidanuru (Nagar) Fort

Purnaiah, with an iron hand suppressed such unruly elements. Unqualified

remission of all balances of revenue and restoration of the ancient Hindu
assessment of lands removed the unnecessary alarm in the minds of the people
to obey the new government. This concession pleased all.
The civil government had three departments – i.e. Finance, Revenue and
Miscellaneous. The Military establishment was placed separately with two
sections-Cavalry and Infantry, while the Police Department had a separate
establishment called Kandachar. It participated in both civil and military
functions and was also connected with the postal service and the army.
12. Governor.
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 Jewels of Administration

The Dewan was the head of each department. Revenue was collected from
four sources – Land revenue, Sayar, toddy and liquour and tobacco. Land
revenue included not only land assessment and house tax, but also plough
tax. The house tax and plough tax were both one Kanthirayi pana13. Gardens
and plantations in Sakleshpur, Bidanur etc. paid an annual fixed rent. In
dry lands, one-third of the yield was levied as tax. The Amildar supervised
the agriculturists’ efforts. As the Amildars had limited territory under their
jurisdiction, they could assess the dues from every land holder by frequent
and regular supervision. Hyder had earlier appointed two Brahmin Waktars
in each taluk to inform him directly about the condition of the crops etc.
Purnaiah continued the system.
The Amildar was also authorised to disburse Takavi loans to the farmers
to improve their holdings and acquire equipment. In rice lands, tax could be
paid in cash. However, if the price fixed for the grain was not accepted by the
farmer, he could pay in kind too. Sayar or transit toll (dari sunka) was levied
on articles of internal trade. Though Resident Close had advised the abolition
of Sayar on grains, loss of revenue was huge, and it was reintroduced. In
some taluks, it was given on contract farming, and in others, it was directly
collected by government agents (amani).
Toddy drawn from wild date (bagani) trees was subject to a tax called
Sendi. Similarly arrack extracted by distillation of byala bark was also taxed.
Tobacco was also subject to tax. Collection on these items was generally given
on contract (gutta). Betel leaf was taxed in Chitradurga area (though it was
an ancient tax) and collected as a part of tobacco tax. Drawing of toddy from
coconut trees was prohibited as it damaged the quality of the coconut.
The gross revenue which was 21.13 lakh Kantirayi Pagodas in 1799-1800
increased steadily and reached 25.47 lakh in 1801-02 and to 25.81 lakh
Kanthirayi Pagodas in 1803-04.
The Finance Department functioned on a simple model. Every taluk had a
Golla who had the key of the treasury in his custody. The Sheristedar14, in
the Amildar’s office maintained accounts. The Shroff or the Assayist examined
the coins and affixed his seal to the bags in which money was deposited.
The treasury was opened and closed in the presence of the three officials -
Golla, Sheristedar and Shroff – when the Amildar had to attest his seal to
the treasury. At the capital, the Huzur Treasury was also operated under a
similar system, and the Dewan had to be present at the time of disbursement
or withdrawal of cash.

vvvvv

13. One pana is equal to 1/10 of the Pagoda.

14. Head clerk.

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