XI. Mysore palace

My appointment order was issued by Ramarao, a Mulakanaadu gentlemen. My father-in- law spoke to the Senior maharani and got me the job of a jewelery clerk in 1932.
The Palace had 25 departments like Chamundi totti, Motikhane, race course, bogadi milk dairy, zana samukha, treasury, etc. I was in the Zanana samukha which was for the royal ladies personal activities and services.

Mysore State Government Official communications requiring the sanction of His Highness the maharaja were being received through a special message daily from the Dewan of mysore to the private secretary. The private secretary was in charge of these official communications being submitted to His Highness for conveying gracious order on government files. The Palace offices were being looked after nu Huzur secretary being deputed from Government. There were in all 23 departments in palace, each department being looked after by an officer, under whom were other assistants like Gurikar, Shirestedar, clark, darof etc. Each department had its own menial staff.

Zanana samuka, the department where I started my palace service on 31 March 1930 had an officer called Mokhtesar, an assistant called Assistant Mokhtesar, and in order Gurikar, Shirestedar and clerks. The department had its own menial staff numbering 40 including menials, a tailer, pattegar (a bangle woman who used to supply bangles to Royal ladies once a year during Gowri festival). There were as many as 60 maid servents to look after the convenience of Royal ladies in the palace. They were being paid Rs 24/- per year once a year apart from rations being supplied for their use from motikhana. The department atttended to to the other comforts of royal ladies such as pujas by royal ladies during festivals and other religious functions that they participated in... Gowri festival was the most important of all these. There were as many as 45 katle's for her highness the maharani HH yuvarani and three princesses.

This was in addition to another department mainly intended for maharani Lakshmi Vilas Sannidhi, a daughter from Gondal maharaja in Kathewar state. As there was no good understanding between husband and wife the husband that is maharaja kept her separately with a department to look after all the comforts that could be given to a maharani of Mysore.

I joined palace service in April 1930 as a jewellary clerk in Palace Zanana samukha department on Rs 25/ pm. There were 20 other palace departments. The department was meant for Royal Ladies that is HH Maharani, HH Yuvarani etc.

When I was promoted as Shirastedar, I was kept in charge of the entire stock, excepting gold, jewelry and silver. When I was promoted as Gurikar (next to head of department). I was given charge of silver articles, which were kept in strong room by Chubbs (foreign made). This strong room of 15 feet by 15 feet with ... provided all round, ... flooring, iron door with three locks one to be used while in strong room and other two when closed. I am doubtful whether such a strong room is in existence in any of the government banks.

My promotion in Palace service:

Clerk (1932-38) Rs 25
Shirestedar (1938-44) Rs 30-5-40-4-60-3-75
Gurikar (1944-56) Rs 75-5-100
Revenue accountant (1956-58) Rs 75
Muneeb (1958-59) Rs 100-10-150
Palace treasurer (1960-63) Rs 150-10-200

I retired at pay of Rs 180 in 1963. I got personal allowance of Rs 5 per annum for 25 years till my retirement

I was the first person who wrote three volumes of Jewlry Register, one volume for gold ornaments and one for Silver ornaments. I was given the responsibility of keeping all palace service utensils in my custody. A Strong room (Chubbs) 20 feet square strong room with chains and three keys for the door was used. Fan allowed one key for being used in side.

While I was in palace Zanana samuka, though my pay was only Rs 25, we used to be helped whenever the occasion arose. I used to be given each year a Gowri bagina during Gowri festival, a big 'marada bagina' two feet square in which grains, coconuts, fruits which were being delivered to our doors in a cart meant for the purpose. In addition to this I was given a gold (chinnada muginattu) and 5 tolas weight silver, they being belli-mara, belli-coconut, belli-banana(balehannu), belli bella, and one muginattu.

On two occassions, with the influence I had with Sardar Devaraje Urs, I got twice belli bagina which consisted of 1 tolas worth gold articles and 5 tolas worth silver articles.

On one occasion, I was given gold bagina in which all articles gold marada jote, gold coconut, gold olay, gold banana, gold bella which weighed one tola gold.

In addition I got ones 'laadu lavaajame’ for 25 persons during navarathri. On the whole my stay at palace was worth remembering and I can not forget how happy I was whenever I thinks of 23 years in zanana samukha, 2 years palace office and 4 years palace treasurer. I happened to be the last palace treasurer.