Ramiengar
Encyclopedia
Vembaukum Ramiengar CSI
(c. 1826 - May 10, 1887) was an Indian civil servant and administrator who served as the Diwan of Travancore
from 1880 to 1887.
Ramiengar was born in 1826 at Vembakkam
in Chingleput district and had his education at Madras University. On completion of his education, he was employed as a translator in the Maratha Cutcherry and gradually rose to become Naib Sheristadar and then, Head Sheristadar. He was eventually appointed Sub-Collector in 1861 and then, promoted to Deputy Collector. In 1867, Ramiengar was nominated to the Madras Legislative Council
and served from 1867 to 1879. In 1880, he was appointed Diwan of Travancore and served until 1887. Ramiengar returned to Madras in 1887 and died on May 10, 1887.
Ramiengar is remembered for his administrative acumen as a civil servant in the Madras Presidency and later, Diwan of Travancore. He was appreciated for his methodical ways. At the same time, Ramiengar was also criticised for favoring Tamil Brahmins in government appointments in Travancore.
family of Vembaukum in the then Chingleput district, Madras Presidency
. He was the youngest of three sons. Ramiengar's father was a clerk and record-keeper in the service of the British East India Company
.
Ramiengar was one of the six students who joined Government High School, Madras, when it was founded in April 1841. During his schooling, Ramiengar developed keen interest in physical science and astronomy and won a scholarship instituted by the Pachaiyappa
Charities
. Raiengar served in Nellore till the beginning of 1854, when he was made Deputy Registrar of the Department of Public Works. From 1855 to 1857, Ramiengar served as the Naib Sheristadar of Nellore. In March 1857, he was appointed Head Sheristadar of Tanjore and served from 1857 to 1859, when he was made Assistant Imam Commissioner. As Assistant Imam Commissioner, he was instrumental in the Revenue Settlement of the olungu areas of the Cauvery Delta.
In June 1860, he was appointed to inquire into the outstanding advances of the mirasidars and contractors who had borrowed money from the Madras government as flood relief funds. Rameingar performed this task satisfactorily well that he was entrusted with the revenue settlemt of the village of Nallatadi in Tanjore district.
Ramiengar was appointed Sub-Collector of Namakkal in the beginning of 1861 and promoted to a First-grade Deputy Collector in May 1861. Ramiengar served in Namakkal from May 1861 to the end of 1864, when hew was appointed Assistant Commissioner of Paper Currency. Ramiengar served for a year as the Assistant Commissioner of Paper Currency and was appointed First Assistant to the Chief Secretary of the Madras Presidency
in 1866. In the beginning of 1867, Ramiengar was appointed Superintendent of Stamps at a monthly salary of Rs.1,000. The next year, the Government Lord Napier nominated him to the Madras Legislative Council
.
Ramiengar served as the Municipal Commissioner of Madras city for about eight years. He was offered the Acting Presidentship by the then Governor of Madras, Sir William Robinson but he declined the offer. He was appointed Inspector-General of Registration in 1875 and participated in the Delhi durbar of January 1, 1877. In 1873, Ramiengar was chosen to go to England to provide evidence before the Parliamentary Finance Committee but he declined. Ramiengar was also appointed at the instance of John Bruce Norton
and served as one of the trustees of the Pachaiyappa Charities. It was during Ramiengar's tenure as a trustee that Pachaiyappa's was raised to a Second-Grade College.
in 1880 on his retirement from the Madras Civil Service and served in the princely state for a period of seven years. During his tenure, Ramiengar introduced the Indian Penal Code in Travancore and re-organised the police force of the state. He also increased the power and jurisdiction of the Munsiff Corts in order to reduce the burden on the High Court. He reorganised the revenue system in Travancore by reducing the strength of the employees while increasing their salaries at the same time. Rameingar's most important act is believed to be the revenue survey and settlement of Travancore.
Ramiengar also introduced intramural labour in jails and remitted several taxes which were a burden on the people. He encouraged indigenous sugar industries and paper and cotton mills and introduced a stamp act in the state. Ramiengar also took steps to improve the irrigation works of Travancore.
On the eve of Ramiengar's retirement, the Maharaja acknowledged Ramiengar's contributions in his speech : "He had, in fact, during the past six years, imparted an impetus to national prosperity, the full force of which remains to be felt"
Ramiengar was fond of reading and he frequently imported books from England and thus, amassed a huge collection which was donated by his wife to the Pachaiyappa College library on his death. Ramiengar was methodical and ordered and was one of the founders of the Madras Cosmopolitan Club of which he served as the first Secretary.
Sir Alexander Arbuthnot
, prominent British businessman, administrator and a former Acting-Governor of Madras, was a close friend of Ramiengar and often spoke highly of him. He even said once that he always relied on the integrity and sound principles of the latter.
.
Order of the Star of India
The Most Exalted Order of the Star of India is an order of chivalry founded by Queen Victoria in 1861. The Order includes members of three classes:# Knight Grand Commander # Knight Commander # Companion...
(c. 1826 - May 10, 1887) was an Indian civil servant and administrator who served as the Diwan of Travancore
Travancore
Kingdom of Travancore was a former Hindu feudal kingdom and Indian Princely State with its capital at Padmanabhapuram or Trivandrum ruled by the Travancore Royal Family. The Kingdom of Travancore comprised most of modern day southern Kerala, Kanyakumari district, and the southernmost parts of...
from 1880 to 1887.
Ramiengar was born in 1826 at Vembakkam
Vembakkam
Vembakkam is a village situated in the Thiruvannamalai district of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is located about 20 kilometres from the town of Kanchipuram.It contains a BDO office for many villages around it...
in Chingleput district and had his education at Madras University. On completion of his education, he was employed as a translator in the Maratha Cutcherry and gradually rose to become Naib Sheristadar and then, Head Sheristadar. He was eventually appointed Sub-Collector in 1861 and then, promoted to Deputy Collector. In 1867, Ramiengar was nominated to the Madras Legislative Council
Madras Legislative Council
Tamil Nadu Legislative Council is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It began its existence as Madras Legislative Council, the first provincial legislature for Madras Presidency. It was initially created as an advisory body in 1861, by the British...
and served from 1867 to 1879. In 1880, he was appointed Diwan of Travancore and served until 1887. Ramiengar returned to Madras in 1887 and died on May 10, 1887.
Ramiengar is remembered for his administrative acumen as a civil servant in the Madras Presidency and later, Diwan of Travancore. He was appreciated for his methodical ways. At the same time, Ramiengar was also criticised for favoring Tamil Brahmins in government appointments in Travancore.
Early life
Ramiengar was born in a traditional Vaishnavite BrahminIyengar
Iyengar or Ayyangar is a caste given to Hindu Brahmins of Tamil origin who follow the Visishtadvaita philosophy propounded by Sri Ramanujacharya. They are found mostly in Tamil Nadu as they are generally native to the Tamil Nadu state of the Republic of India...
family of Vembaukum in the then Chingleput district, Madras Presidency
Madras Presidency
The Madras Presidency , officially the Presidency of Fort St. George and also known as Madras Province, was an administrative subdivision of British India...
. He was the youngest of three sons. Ramiengar's father was a clerk and record-keeper in the service of the British East India Company
British East India Company
The East India Company was an early English joint-stock company that was formed initially for pursuing trade with the East Indies, but that ended up trading mainly with the Indian subcontinent and China...
.
Ramiengar was one of the six students who joined Government High School, Madras, when it was founded in April 1841. During his schooling, Ramiengar developed keen interest in physical science and astronomy and won a scholarship instituted by the Pachaiyappa
Pachaiyappa Mudaliar
Pachaiyappa Mudaliar was a Madras merchant, philanthropist and dubash of the 18th century.- Early life :Pachaiyappa Mudaliar was born in a poor family in Periyapalaiyam in Thiruvallur district...
Charities
Early career
On conclusion of his education, Ramiengar was appointed as a translator in the Maratha Cutcherry. In September 1850, Ramiengar was made Head Munshi of NelloreNellore
Nellore , is a city and headquarters of Potti Sri Ramulu Nellore District, formerly Nellore district.And in the state of Andhra Pradesh. Ancient name of Nellore was "Vikrama Simhapuri"....
. Raiengar served in Nellore till the beginning of 1854, when he was made Deputy Registrar of the Department of Public Works. From 1855 to 1857, Ramiengar served as the Naib Sheristadar of Nellore. In March 1857, he was appointed Head Sheristadar of Tanjore and served from 1857 to 1859, when he was made Assistant Imam Commissioner. As Assistant Imam Commissioner, he was instrumental in the Revenue Settlement of the olungu areas of the Cauvery Delta.
In June 1860, he was appointed to inquire into the outstanding advances of the mirasidars and contractors who had borrowed money from the Madras government as flood relief funds. Rameingar performed this task satisfactorily well that he was entrusted with the revenue settlemt of the village of Nallatadi in Tanjore district.
Ramiengar was appointed Sub-Collector of Namakkal in the beginning of 1861 and promoted to a First-grade Deputy Collector in May 1861. Ramiengar served in Namakkal from May 1861 to the end of 1864, when hew was appointed Assistant Commissioner of Paper Currency. Ramiengar served for a year as the Assistant Commissioner of Paper Currency and was appointed First Assistant to the Chief Secretary of the Madras Presidency
Madras Presidency
The Madras Presidency , officially the Presidency of Fort St. George and also known as Madras Province, was an administrative subdivision of British India...
in 1866. In the beginning of 1867, Ramiengar was appointed Superintendent of Stamps at a monthly salary of Rs.1,000. The next year, the Government Lord Napier nominated him to the Madras Legislative Council
Madras Legislative Council
Tamil Nadu Legislative Council is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It began its existence as Madras Legislative Council, the first provincial legislature for Madras Presidency. It was initially created as an advisory body in 1861, by the British...
.
Madras Legislative Council
Ramiengar served in the Council starting from 1867 till 1879. He was the first Indian to serve as the official member. In 1871, Ramiengar, as the additional member of the Viceroy's Council to introduce legislations, proposed a bill to remove defects in the Religious Endowments Act of 1863, but this bill was rejected by the Government on the pretext that it was "radically incomplete and would certainly fail to attain its object" Ramiengar also exercised his influence over the municipal and local fund taxation laws passed during the period.Ramiengar served as the Municipal Commissioner of Madras city for about eight years. He was offered the Acting Presidentship by the then Governor of Madras, Sir William Robinson but he declined the offer. He was appointed Inspector-General of Registration in 1875 and participated in the Delhi durbar of January 1, 1877. In 1873, Ramiengar was chosen to go to England to provide evidence before the Parliamentary Finance Committee but he declined. Ramiengar was also appointed at the instance of John Bruce Norton
John Bruce Norton
John Bruce Norton was a British lawyer and educationist who served as the Advocate-General of Madras Presidency. He was the father of lawyer and Indian independence activist Eardley Norton.- Early life :...
and served as one of the trustees of the Pachaiyappa Charities. It was during Ramiengar's tenure as a trustee that Pachaiyappa's was raised to a Second-Grade College.
As Diwan of Travancore
Ramiengar was appointed Diwan of Travancore by Maharaja Visakham ThirunalVisakham Thirunal
Visakham Thirunal Rama Varma was the Maharaja of the erstwhile Indian kingdom of Travancore from 1880-1885 AD. He succeeded his elder brother Maharajah Ayilyam Thirunal to the throne of Travancore.-Early life:...
in 1880 on his retirement from the Madras Civil Service and served in the princely state for a period of seven years. During his tenure, Ramiengar introduced the Indian Penal Code in Travancore and re-organised the police force of the state. He also increased the power and jurisdiction of the Munsiff Corts in order to reduce the burden on the High Court. He reorganised the revenue system in Travancore by reducing the strength of the employees while increasing their salaries at the same time. Rameingar's most important act is believed to be the revenue survey and settlement of Travancore.
Ramiengar also introduced intramural labour in jails and remitted several taxes which were a burden on the people. He encouraged indigenous sugar industries and paper and cotton mills and introduced a stamp act in the state. Ramiengar also took steps to improve the irrigation works of Travancore.
On the eve of Ramiengar's retirement, the Maharaja acknowledged Ramiengar's contributions in his speech : "He had, in fact, during the past six years, imparted an impetus to national prosperity, the full force of which remains to be felt"
Later life and death
In 1887, Ramiengar resigned as Diwan and returned to Madras on pension spending his last days in religious study. He suddenly fell ill and died on May 10, 1887.Legacy
Ramiengar is remembered for pioneering educational reforms in Travancore and revamping the educational and judicial system in the state. He is largely credited with the revenue settlement of Travancore. He is also credited with having introduced numerous reforms in Madras Presidency during his tenure as member of the legislative council.Ramiengar was fond of reading and he frequently imported books from England and thus, amassed a huge collection which was donated by his wife to the Pachaiyappa College library on his death. Ramiengar was methodical and ordered and was one of the founders of the Madras Cosmopolitan Club of which he served as the first Secretary.
Sir Alexander Arbuthnot
Alexander John Arbuthnot
Sir Alexander John Arbuthnot KCSI CIE was a British official and writer. Educated at Rugby School.Arbuthnot served in Madras as the director of Public Instruction ; he was a key force in the incorporation of Madras University ; he was the chief secretary to the Madras Government ; he was a...
, prominent British businessman, administrator and a former Acting-Governor of Madras, was a close friend of Ramiengar and often spoke highly of him. He even said once that he always relied on the integrity and sound principles of the latter.
Criticism
Ramiengar was often criticized for his liberal political views and loyalist tendencies. During his tenure as Dewan of Travancore, Paramesvaran Pillai anonymously published articles on the Dewan in which he launched scathing attacks on the latter's policy of favoring non-Malayalee Brahmins in the administration in place of Malayali people.Political inclinations
Ramiengar was a loyalist and Anglophile. Ramiengar is described by Chatterjee and Mukhopadhyaya in the following words:Honours
In May 1871, Ramiengar was made a Companion of the Order of the Star of IndiaOrder of the Star of India
The Most Exalted Order of the Star of India is an order of chivalry founded by Queen Victoria in 1861. The Order includes members of three classes:# Knight Grand Commander # Knight Commander # Companion...
.