Chikka Vira Rajendra

With the death of Linga Raja, affairs in Coorg did not improve. The unfortunate people had only changed masters. As soon as the young Vira Raja, who was about 20 years old, had taken possession of his father's throne and treasure, he destroyed the people who had displeased or thwarted him during the life of his father. Many members of the family of the Coorg Rajas seem to have fallen at that time. One Channa Vira escaped with his family across the Mysore frontier. But to no purpose; his relative knew how to turn to account his connection with the British Government. Letters and messages were despatched to Mr. Cole, the Resident in Mysore, requesting him to order the seizure of a refractory farmer who had made his escape from Coorg after having committed a crime, and the delivery of the criminal to the servants of the Raja. Mr. Cole had the man apprehended near Periyapatna, and sent him back to Coorg with a letter to the Raja, requesting information as to the guilt of and the punishment awarded to the refugee. No answer was given to the Resident. Channa Vira was carried to Kantamurnad, where he was massacred with his whole family, twenty two souls on one day. After this inaugural bloodshed, the new Raja seems to have shown less cruelty than his father or uncle.

Though less cruel, Vira Raja, young as he was at his accession to the government of Coorg, became a monster of sensuality. He kept the youngest of his father's wives for his use and increased his establishment of concubines to about one hundred. A number of other women, of the best families, were summoned to Mercara after accouchements, and kept in a house near the palace during the period when they gave milk to their babes. Part of their milk was daily taken for the Raja, to be used as a medicinal ingredient of his food, which according to some superstitious notion became thereby more wholesome and nourishing.

To refuse compliance with the demands of the master of Coorg was certain death, not to the recusant party only, but probably to the whole family. The wretch was free to riot as he pleased. He actually demanded to have the choice of all unmarried girls in the country. When hearing of this outrageous resolution, the Coorgs at once—it is said in one night—married all their grown up daughters. The Raja was furious. Many of the unfortunate parents who thus saved the honour of their children were dreadfully flogged or had their ears cropped, or were thrown into prison.

On the 17th September 1832, Mr. Casamaijor, Mysore Resident, reported to the Chief Secretary to the Government of Fort St. George, that a Coorg of the name of Channa Basava and his wife Devammaji, sister to the Raja of Coorg, had taken refuge at the Residency. They had fled their country to save their honor and their lives, and implored the protection of the British Government. Devammaji had long been kept from her husband. After an engagement of eight years she had been permitted to join him. Of late the Raja had made incestuous proposals to her through an old woman-servant, and had threatened to kill her husband, if she refused compliance, on the following Sivaratri festival. In this extremity they had drugged the guard of honor who watched them, and set off from Appagalla, their residence, at nightfall. During the night they reached Beppunad, passed Amadnad in the morning, and were drawing near the Mysore frontier when they were stopped by the Coorg frontier guard. Being fired at, their party returned fire. Channa Basava placed his wife behind him on his horse, and made his escape into Mysore, followed by a few of his attendants. The rest fell into the hands of the Coorgs and were carried to Mercara. Also the child of Channa Basava, a boy of a year and a half, was seized and delivered to the Raja his uncle. This is the substance of the reports of the Resident.

These cruelties of Vira Raja accelerated his downfall. On the 18th January 1833, Sir F. Adam, Governor of Madras, addressed a long letter to the Raja of

Coorg, giving him a sound lecture on the principles of good government, warning him most earnestly, and positively demanding compliance in future with the order of Government communicated to the Raja in 1827, to report all capital punishments taking place in Coorg. But the personal conference of Mr. Casamaijor with the Raja in the beginning of 1833 proved fruitless. The accounts from Coorg continued as bad as ever.

The patience of the most peace-loving Governor General was thus exhausted, and a British force was organized to march into Coorg and depose the Raja. As it drew near his frontiers, the Raja published a proclamation which can be found here - http://thetaleofkodagu.blogspot.in/2012/07/chikka-vira-rajendra-proclamations.html

The invading force numbered six thousand men, and was placed under Brigadier Lindsay, in whom was vested the supreme command of the expedition, whilst Col. Fraser was to accompany him in the capacity of Political Agent of the Governor General for Coorg affairs. On the 5th April, 1834, Devan Apparanda Bopu, with a party of 400 Coorgs, went to meet Col. Fraser, surrendered to him, and offered to conduct the Company's troops to the capital. At 4 p. m. on the 6th April they entered the Fort of Mercara ; the Raja's flag, which was flying on one of the bastions, was lowered and the British colours hoisted in its stead under a salute of twenty-one guns.

Source: Mysore and Coorg, Vol. III by Lewis Rice

Linga Raja - The Coup

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