XIII. Throne

In view of HH JCW being well built, he felt it uncomfortable to sit on the old throne for one hour during Navarathri. As such orders were issued for extending the throne by 1 foot wide. This work was to be completed in nine months well before dashahara. As our department had a gold smith sonakhane attached the work was entrusted to the contractor Chaluvaachar, who was also the owner of Prasanna talkies. He deputed five goldsmiths for the work and my head of department JGD had entrusted supervision of the work with clear instructions for completion of the work in time.

My officer Doreswamy Iyer deputed me for supervising the work of extending the gold throne by 1 foot. The work took eight months. I kept gold account day to day and contractor requested me to keep his accounts also connected with this work on a remunaration of Rs 25 per month . In consideration of this extension work being completed well within the period prescribed, and that too to the satisfaction of HH JCW, the contractor was honored by being conferred the title Raja Shilpa Visharada. As the contractor expressed loss in gold during execution of work, on my recommendation extra gold was sanctioned for entire work as wastage by palace. In consideration of this help from me the contractor sent his sons with two silver plates weighing 40 tolas each.

After ten years of service, when my boss was made the head of the department, I was being deputed to all travels undertaken by Royal ladies, Her Highness Maharani Tripurasundarammanni, Her Highness Princess Sujayakanthammanni. I was deputed as camp clerk to udakamandala during stay of Royal zanana ladies. Twice I was deputed as camp clerk to accompany Her Highness maharani SatyaPremakumari to Delhi, chalkeri and Jaipur for three months. I was deputed as the camp clerk to leave behind the first HH maharani Satya Premakumari at Jaipur once and for all. There I stayed in Bombay with Royal zannaa ladies at Tajmahal Hotel and Gwalior house since the mansion of HH at Bombay beside tajmahal Hotel was disposed off.

With yuvarani of Sanand, Sujayakanthammanni, I have gone as camp clerk five times to Sanand beyond Ahmedabad , and stayed in their palace for a week once with HHM and I went to Jaipur along with Yuvarani Sahiba of Sanand five time I went to Bombay with Yuvarani , twice to stay at Bombay (Mysore palace mansion) one day at tajmahal hotel and twice at bombay inthe place of Rajasevasaktha BM srinivasaiah founder of several institutions at bangalore.

I was solely in charge of palace Silver articles which was stored in a Chubbs strong room 10 feet square. I dont think such a strong room exists in State bank of Mysore. There were three locks for the strong room two for use to lock the strong room and one for use while inside the strong room. It was provided with a fan.The strong room was provided with several show cases inside. I had an opportunity to be in charge of work connected with lengthening 1 foot by 1 foot the golden throne which was completed in 8 months. In recognition of my work I was given special treatment.

The maternal uncle of his highness sardar D Devaraje urs and his younger brother Lakshmikanatha Raje Urs, were kind to me. I was at their disposal whenever called for at their bungalow (near Theresa college at siddhartha layout) and one in Dalvoy's garden and one in NaZarbad behind Chamundivihar. For one hour in the afternoon while I was on duty at zanana samukha I use to keep company with Sardar DD who liked me very much and hence was kind enough to suggest me as the camp clerk whenver royal ladies went on tours.

Palace Office

For two years I worked as Revenue accountant/ Caseworker in-charge of Royal gardens and Palace Estates during 1956 to 1958.

Munib at Palace Motikhaana

It so happenned that major Mahadevaiah who was HH personal secretary was kind enough to offer the post of Mokhtesar of zananasamukha , where I spent 23 years, but subsequently transferred for too long a service in one department which I refused with sincere thanks, since I felt that my 23 years of service at Zanana samukha department was not appreciated by the royal ladies. This was because the office of L Mahadevaiah was more preoccupied with His Highness than his mother and wife.

Hence I was transferred to Motikhane department as head, muneeb, I served there only for two years (1958-60). There were five Brahmin cooks under my charge, every morning I used to be given a sample of eatables sent to HH Puja room. There were 12 contractors for the entire supplies to palace, which included fuel, butter, milk. I used to send certified bills each month for sanction to PS. I was in charge of the stock of paddy received from palace estates which was being stored in five big rooms in the down stairs of my office. There was one rice mill, which was being used to for converting paddy to rice. I was the only head of department to allow 5% damage on storage of palace paddy. I was the last head of the department to conduct pujas on the day of chamundi hill rathotsavam. About 5-6000 people were being fed at the teppotsava tank

Palace Treasurer:(1960-1963)

I was the palace treasurer for 3 years till my retirement in 1963. This post was then abolished. My function was to do pays and pensions, and I used to submit monies as and when required for HH through Bank of Mysore through Major Mahadevaiah.

After retirement

After retirement in 1963, I continued to work and served in the following places.

1. Navaratna Jewellary Mart, Mysore for Rs 100/- for two years (1963-65)

2. Gayathri talkies accountant on Rs 100 for one year. I used to take all my relations with permission to accommodate them in the balcony and see the show.

3. I worked for Rajasevasakta L Mahadeviah as a clerk on Rs 150 and looked after two tea estates near Udakamandal. A car was being sent to my house to pick me up and then follow M in his car to visit two estates a day each every month. I used to bring one pound of tea every visit.(1964-66)

4. Palace trusts- 4 years at Rs 150/-. After 4 years I resigned my job and was given Rs 500/-. This was at Jaganmohan Palace buildings. (1966-1970).

At this time my dear wife passed away in 1970 and I closed my Mysore chapter and moved in with my eldest son Appi at Rajajinagar. During 1970 till 1979 I stayed in Rajajinagar and then moved to Mysore again with My son when he was transferred to Mysore Press. Then by 1987 he moved to Administrative training Institute near Chamundi hills and lived in Quarters. I moved there. In 1991, my son Balu built a house in Saraswatipuram for me and Srinath to stay. Appi took over this new house and we have been living there. My son Srinath passed away in 1996 November 13, Kartika Shukla tritiya, after he suffered a great deal. My son Appi looked after him very well till his death.