Mysuru: The enormous sums that the princely state of Mysore had to pay the British after the Wadiyars signed Lord Wellesley’s Subsidiary Alliance , was the biggest obstacle to development of the region, observed noted historian Prof Sebastian Joseph here on Friday. “After Mysore came under British rule in 1799, it had to pay a hefty sum of at least Rs 24.5 lakh to the Colonial Masters, which hindered developmental activities,” said Joseph, during his keynote address at the inauguration of the international conference on ‘Princely Mysore and Contemporary Princely States of India’ organised by the department of history, University of Mysore.The sheer area that the Mysore state encompassed meant that, of the 198 princely states in the country during colonial rule, it had to pay a significant portion of the fee the British collected to maintain their regiment in the kingdom. “At the beginning of the 19th century, the British collected a sum of Rs 72 lakh, a huge sum in those days, collectively from all the princely states. Of this, Mysore state alone had to cough up Rs 31 lakh. This royalty that kings had to pay the British meant they could not afford to initiate developmental activities, which could usher in progress. It was on the farmers that the burden of royalty trickled down to. They were forced to pay more taxes to the state,” Prof Joseph said.The historian sought to highlight the unique situation Mysore state found itself in by juxtaposing the travails it endured during Colonial Rule with the relative ease with which the Travancore Province met its financial obligations to the British Crown. “Travacore state had to pay a sum of Rs 8 lakh in royalty. But, most of this was paid for owing to the popularity of pepper and other spices cultivated in vast areas in the state. Consequently, the Travancore Province was not hamstrung by the same financial difficulties that plagued Mysore State. In South India, Mysore State alone persisted in its endeavour to challenge the might of the British, fighting four wars. It was defeated in the end, but during the reign of Haider Ali and Tipu Sultan, the Mysore Kingdom extended up to the Malabar Coast,” said Prof Joseph.Former UoM vice-chancellor Prof M Madaiah spoke of a friendly race among the princely states of Mysore, Baroda and Hyderabad to establish a university in their respective kingdoms. “Nalwadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar took the initiative and set up UoM in 1916. He had a vision to ensure all youngsters, and even women received education. But, the state of his treasury was such that many of his ideas remained just that. All princely states were equally benevolent. We have to remember that BR Ambedkar could go to the United Kingdom for education,” said Prof Madaiah.UoM registrar Prof R Rajanna, and Prof YH Nayakwadi were among those present at the inauguration of the conference.

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