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RAO, SIR T

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Originally appearing in Volume V22, Page 898 of the 1911 Encyclopedia Britannica.
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RAO, See also:SIR T . MADHAVA (1828–1891), See also:Indian statesman, was See also:born at See also:Combaconum in See also:Madras in 1828. Madhava Rao created a new type of See also:minister adapted to the See also:modern requirements of a progressive native See also:state, and he grafted it upon the old stock. He linked the past with the See also:present, using the advantages of See also:heredity, tradition and conservatism to effect reforms in the public See also:administration and in Indian society. Sprung from a Mahratta Brahmin stock See also:long settled at See also:Tanjore, the son of a See also:dewan of See also:Travancore, he was educated in the strictest tenets of his sacred See also:caste. But he readily imbibed the new spirit of the See also:age. To See also:mathematics, See also:science and See also:astronomy he added a study of See also:English See also:philosophy and See also:international See also:law, and a See also:taste for See also:art II and pictures. Although a devout student of the Shastras, he advocated See also:female See also:education and social reform. Refusing to See also:cross the See also:sea and so break caste by appearing before a See also:parliamentary See also:commission, he yet preached religious See also:toleration. A See also:patron of the Indian See also:Congress, he borrowed from the armoury of See also:British administration every reform which he introduced into the native states. He was respected alike by Europeans and natives, and received titles and honours from the British See also:government. As See also:tutor of the maharaja of Travancore, and then as See also:revenue officer in that state, he showed firmness and ability, and became diwan or See also:prime minister in 1857.

He found the finances disorganized, and See also:

trade cramped by mono-polies and oppressive duties. He co-operated with the Madras government in carrying out reforms, and when his See also:measures led to misunderstandings with the maharaja, he preferred See also:honourable resignation to retention of a lucrative See also:office in which he was powerless for See also:good. In 1872 he was engaged at See also:Indore in laying down a See also:plan of reform and of public See also:works which he bequeathed to his successor, when a See also:grave crisis at See also:Baroda demanded his talents there. The See also:Gaekwar had been deposed for scandalous See also:misrule, and an entire reorganization was needed. Aided by Sir See also:Philip 1\/Ielvill, Madhava Rao swept away the corrupt officials, privileged sirdars and grasping contractors who had long ruined Baroda. He wrote able minutes defending the rights and privileges of the Gaekwar from fancied encroachment, and justifying the See also:internal reforms which he introduced. He resigned office in 1882, and in his retirement devoted his leisure to See also:reading and See also:writing upon See also:political and social questions. He died on the 4th of See also:April 1891.

End of Article: RAO, SIR T

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