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| Chepauk palace,Chennai,en.wikpedia.org |
Above image: This big impressive palace was the residence of Muhammad Ali Walajah, whose capital was Arcot. near Vellore, TN. He wanted to reside closer to the East India company's settlement - Ft. St. George on the beach road under their protection because of threats from Tipu Sultan and his own relatives.
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| Residence of Arcot prince Amir Mahal, Triplicane,Chennai |
Above image: In the palace descendants of Nawab of Arcot are living here, including the present Prince of Arcot. Amir Mahal with a plot of its 14-acre grounds is on the Pycrofts Road, Triplicane,Chennai city............
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| Nawab of Arcot,India,en.wikipedia.org |
Above image: Muhammad Ali Khan Wallajah, or Muhammed Ali, Wallajah (1717- 1795), was the Nawab of the Carnatic from 1749 until his death in 1795.With help from the English company, he officially declaring Wallajah as Nawab on 26 August 1765. A hereditary title 'Prince of Arcot' was granted by Queen Victoria in 1801..............
Once the official residence of the Nawab of Arcot from 1768 to 1855, it is now restored back to old glory in 2022 by the heritage engineers, typically using old construction techniques and structural design. The cost was more than Rs. 30 crore for restoration along. For a long time it was in a state of neglect, reflecting the usual apathy of both the state and central governments toward heritage conservation.
Historians emphasize that historical monuments must be preserved so that future generations are not left in the dark about their cultural legacy. A few years ago, a fire gutted Khalsa Mahal, and part of the ceiling of Humayun Mahal caved in, marking the beginning of steady deterioration. Though a portion of the building is still used by the government, there has been no significant effort to restore it.
The palace, once facing the sea, stood on a 117-acre site and was built for Nawab Muhammad Ali Walajah, who wished to live near the British settlement at Fort St. George. Paul Benfield, an engineer with the East India Company, oversaw the construction. The palace comprised two sections: Humayun Mahal, which had a Durbar Hall, and Khalsa Mahal, the private quarters.
To maintain royal prestige, the Nawab spent beyond his means, incurring a debt of 10 million pounds mostly borrowed from the British financiers. After the Carnatic Wars, like many Indian Maharajahs, the kingdom of the Carnatic had virtually become a protectorate of the British East India Company trough the Subsidiary Alliance initiated by one Lord Dalhousie. It was a subtle way to hoodwink the Indian rulers Like many rich rulers of India, the Nawab got himself caught in he trap.
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| Arcot kingdom youtube. |
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| Dalhousie's ' Subsidiary Allianceyoutube.com |
After his death, his son Umdat-ul-Umrah inherited the debt. Suspecting ties with Tipu Sultan, the British East India Company using unsubstantiated pretext instigated the financiers to pressured him and finally seized the palace in 1801, evicted the family, and annexed the Carnatic kingdom. The English company purposely increased the annual subsidiary alliance fees which was additional burden to the new Nawab.
Later, the family relocated to Amir Mahal in Triplicane, a busy suburb of Chennai close to the sea. The palace was auctioned in 1855 but found no buyers and eventually came under government control. The iconic tower connecting the two mahals was designed by Robert Chisholm. The adjacent MA Chidambaram Stadium was built on part of the palace grounds, where major cricket test and other matches have been played since 1842.
https://www.thehindu.com/arts/New-glitter-to-the-old/article12572688.ece
