When Vira Rajendra died, there seemed to be a good prospect of peace and prosperity for Coorg. A short time before his decease, Vira Raja had permitted the Sode Raja to act for him as principal Devan, and expressed a desire that his son-in-law should have the regency of Coorg during the minority of Devammaji, in conjunction with an Agent of the East India Company, to be appointed by the Governor General.
As soon as the Raja had expired, his daughter Devammaji was acknowledged as Rani of Coorg by the assembled chiefs. The Sode Raja continued to perform the duties of principal Devan, and all people seemed to be happy and contented.
The first serious disturbance was occasioned by a rumour that the Sode Raja had forged the last will of the Raja. Dr. Ingledew inquired into the charge, and found that the copy of the will produced by the Sode Raja had a signature not attached to it by Vira Raja himself, but by a farrier who had been in his favour. However, the alterations in the will itself were of no great consequence, and were in perfect harmony with Vira Rajendra's wishes shortly before his death. Yet, to quiet the minds of the Coorg chiefs, the spurious though honest document was cancelled. The Sode Raja retained his position. But soon affairs began to take a new turn.
Linga Raja, then 34 years old, appears to have had many interviews with Dr. Ingledew, the Coorg resident, and impressed him with a strong conviction of his honesty, simplicity and humility. Linga Raja confessed, indeed, that he was somewhat disappointed at being entirely superseded. But his elder brother, he said, having recovered the country by force of arms, had a perfect right to dispose of the succession. He had therefore no cause, nor any inclination, to complain. He would ever cheerfully submit to whatever arrangements were sanctioned by the Governor General. Dr.Ingledew was quite charmed with the man, and recommended him strongly to the favour of Government, as he had well deserved of the country.
The peaceable Linga Raja, however, was not quite as unworldly minded as he appeared to the honest Doctor. He was much at the palace, and was busy among the principal Coorgs. They certainly did not much approve of the rule of a foreigner like the Sode Raja, but they seem to have had no particular predilection for the late Raja's brother either.
One day there had been a large gathering of the chiefs at the palace, of which Dr. Ingledew knew nothing. It was proposed to displace the Sode Raja by Linga Raja but the proposition was thrown out. Linga Raja mounted his horse and rode away in the direction of Haleri, his own residence. As he rode through the market street of Mercara, actually weeping like a child, Kshauryakere Appanna, one of the Devans, on his way to the palace, met him. Appanna asked Linga Raja about what had happened and upon finding out, took Linga Raja back to the palace claiming that he can get Linga Raja the throne. Being a man of known integrity and considerable influence, he prevailed. The Coorgs changed their minds, and Linga Raja was preferred to the Raja of Sode.
On the 9th of July, five weeks after Vira Raja's death, Devammaji sent for Dr. Ingledew and told him that she had reason to be dissatisfied with the conduct of the Raja of Sode, and wished to have Linga Raja her uncle for her guardian. Immediately afterwards, the Sode Raja came to him and asked his leave to return to his own country, as he had convinced himself that he had to deal with a formidable opposition, and considered it prudent to withdraw from a situation of imminent danger. Dr. Ingledew objected strongly to so hasty a step. He was waiting for orders from Government, and before the Governor General had signified his will, he wished that no change should be made in the arrangements which had been in operation before Vira Rajendra's death. But the Sode Raja informed him that Linga Raja had already taken possession of the government of the principality. A similar announcement was made by Linga Raja himself. Dr. Ingledew now saw that he had been duped by the usurper.
contd.
Source: Mysore and Coorg, Vol. III by Lewis Rice
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