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| Nawab of Arcot Muhammad Ali Khan Wallajah. wikipedia |
Above image: Residence of Prince of Arcot. In the late 1920s, Kline & Peyerl's picture (Courtesy: Vintage Vignettes) of Chepauk Palace in the first decade of the 20th Century. ......................
Chepauk Palace, Chennai, a part of it became the first structure to have been built in the Indo-Saracenic style of architecture introduced by British architect Robert Chisholm, It is one a few oldest buildings in India constructed in 1760s. Once the official residence of the Nawab of Arcot from 1768 to 1855, this heritage building - Khalsa Mahal was recently restored back to old glory. Thus its history of this building and its association with the English company is now preserved.
Chepauk Palace, Chennai, a part of it became the first structure to have been built in the Indo-Saracenic style of architecture introduced by British architect Robert Chisholm, It is one a few oldest buildings in India constructed in 1760s. Once the official residence of the Nawab of Arcot from 1768 to 1855, this heritage building - Khalsa Mahal was recently restored back to old glory. Thus its history of this building and its association with the English company is now preserved.
That the past historical events associated with great monuments or historical sites are relevant to the posterity who should not grope for the historical facts of immense value is the dictum of historians. A few years ago, the Khalsa Mahal, was gutted and a part of the ceiling in Humayun Mahal caved in, since then the building and the surrounding areas have been in a state of neglect. Part of the building is being used by the state government and only recently steps were taken to preserve the heritage values. This old palace in Chennai is a vestige of colonial grandeur and legacy of the Arcot Nawab rulers.
On a visit to this place one will hardly realize that this was once a royal enclave. - residence of the royal family of Nawab of Arcot, who presumably in 1777 gifted Arcot diamonds (a 38.6-carat oval-shaped highly valuable diamonds) to Queen Charlotte, wife of King George III (1760-1820) as a token of his loyalty and allegiance. Now this palace is hidden behind government office buildings - PWD building and Ezhilagam. Until 1860s, it was a sea-front building, and one could see this building in full glory at a distance from the sea. This palace, on a site of roughly 117 acre, was built for the Nawob of Arcot Muhammad Ali Walajah, whose capital was Arcot near Vellore, TN. The ruler wanted to reside closer to the East India company's settlement - Ft. St. George on the beach road under their protection as he was facing threats from HydeAli, marathas and the Nizam .
On a visit to this place one will hardly realize that this was once a royal enclave. - residence of the royal family of Nawab of Arcot, who presumably in 1777 gifted Arcot diamonds (a 38.6-carat oval-shaped highly valuable diamonds) to Queen Charlotte, wife of King George III (1760-1820) as a token of his loyalty and allegiance. Now this palace is hidden behind government office buildings - PWD building and Ezhilagam. Until 1860s, it was a sea-front building, and one could see this building in full glory at a distance from the sea. This palace, on a site of roughly 117 acre, was built for the Nawob of Arcot Muhammad Ali Walajah, whose capital was Arcot near Vellore, TN. The ruler wanted to reside closer to the East India company's settlement - Ft. St. George on the beach road under their protection as he was facing threats from HydeAli, marathas and the Nizam .
Muhammad Ali Khan Wallajah. became great friend with the British in the 1750s, after they helped him acquire larger territories by defeating his rivals during the Siege of Arcot in 1751. After the Carnatic Wars, the kingdom of the Carnatic had virtually become a protectorate of the British East India Company. Like many rich rulers of India, the Nawab got himself caught in the debt trap - a sort of ''a half Nelson'' devised by the British called ''subsidiary alliance'' initiated by none other than Lord Dalhousie. It was a subtle way to hoodwink the Indian rulers and the annual fees to be given to the British could be hiked at random. The defaulters will lose their land and the crown and be content with a fancy title granted by Queen Victoria. Now, the Nawab for his security relied entirely on the troops supplied by the British East India company.
Nawab Wallajah wanted to have a big palace worthy of him close to Ftt. St. George, Madras. To meet additional expenses he decided to take loans from the British financiers. Many British financiers associated with the EIC were ready to offer him loans. What is called the Carnatic Debts, or the Arcot Debts, were created by private servants of the East India Company. By charging high interest they enriched themselves by lending money to the ruler of the Carnatic, Nawab Muhammad Ali Khan Wallajah (1717–1795).
When the palace construction was on Paul Benfield (1742–1810), financier and trader who had close contact with the Nawab, was in charge of construction of the palace. He was the former engineer of East India company.
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| a 38.6-carat oval-shaped stonefamousdiamonds.tripod.com |
The building had two parts: Humayun Mahal, the ruler's quarter two-story Durbar hall, the Diwan-e-Khas. The other being private quarters called Khalas Mahal. In order to maintain his royal status, the Nawab had spent more money on the place than he could afford and consequently his debt snowballed into whooping 10 million pounds, pretty huge amount in those days. The Arcot ruler's debts that soared above the Himalayan height were far beyond redemption and this debt trap pushed the ruler below the abysmal depth.
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| Nawab Umdat ul-Umaraen.wikipedia.org |
Soon after the death of Nawab Wallajah , the onus of clearing the debt fell on Nawab's son Umdat-ul-Umrah. The clever company officials and the crown had been waiting for the right opportunity to gobble up the Arcot kingdom. Further, the company suspected that Umdat had contact with Tipu Sultan, the company's arch enemy. Using default of loan as an excuse, East India company wanted to annex the palace and the administration. Umdat ul-Umara openly resisted the demands of the East India Company. But soon he died and it is believed that he was, perhaps poisoned by the Company. Betrying or cheating trusted friends is the forte of the English company officials.
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| Nawab of Arcot Azim-ud-Daula en.wikipedia.org |
Umara's nephew Azim-ud-Daula ascended the throne, but on 31 July 1801, the EIC under duress had him sign a Carnatic Treaty handing over the civil and municipal administration of the Carnatic to the British East India Company. This document provided that Azim-ud-Daula ceded all his lands to British rule, including the territory of the Polygars. Soon the EIC ceremoniously evicted the once a rich royal family and an alley of the British.
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| Carnatic treaty 1801. en.wikipedia.org |
Above image: Nawab Azim-ud-Daula and Major-General Arthur Wellesley sign the Carnatic Treaty at Chepauk Palace. 28 July. 1801..............
The kingdom, having been taken over by the company in 1801, now the Nabob became a titular ruler, with a hereditary title 'Prince of Arcot' granted by Queen Victoria. The Nawab was granted a paltry sum as pension plus some protocol benefits so that his line of generation could carry on the royal family' s legacy. Amir Mahal with a plot of its 14-acre grounds, on the Pycrofts road,Triplicane had become the residence of ex -Arcot ruler's descendants since 1870.
Soon after take over by the British company, the royal family moved into a new residence, Shadi Mahal, on Triplicane Road. About the vast plot and the Nawab's palace attached by the British, there was no taker when put up for auction in 1855 and finally it came under the control of the government. Presently being under the TN government.
The beautiful tower between Humayun and Khalsa Mahal was built in 1768 by Robert Fellowes Chisholm, popular architect well-known for Indo- Saracenic style of buildings in India.
The MA Chidambaram Stadium (also known as Chepauk ground) itself was built on part of the palace grounds. An interesting fact is, it is believed, that Cricket has been played here since 1842, when the Madras Cricket Club was founded.
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| 18th CE The Chepauk Palace.Chennai, TN thehindu.com |
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| The Chepauk Palace.Chennai, TN thehindu.com |
Above image: The Chepauk Palace. on Wallajah roar, Chennai with the Humayun Mahal and portions of the Khalas Mahal in sight. ‘the name is derived from Che baag’ meaning six gardens in Hindi. The palace once had 6 gardens.........
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| Renovated Kalas mahal, Chepauk palace, Chennai. .indiatimes.com |
Above image ; The Kalas Mahal is almost 274 years old and the Nawab built the palace with loans from the EIC officials...................
In the palace descendants of Nawab of Arcot are living including the present Prince of Arcot.
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