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Trichinopoly Rayalu Arakiaswamy Thumboo Chetty, in his uniform as Dewan of Mysore. Image source : T. Royaloo Chetty.
Trichinopoly Rayalu Arakiaswamy Thumboo ChettyRaja Dharma Pravina, Sir T. R. A. Thumboo Chetty, C.I.E. , First Indian Chief Judge of the Chief Court of Mysore, Offg. Dewan of Mysore B --/04/1837 Trichinopoly Dist? - D 19/06/1907 Bangalore
Married to Rajamma Thumboo Chetty B-1848 - D-1934 Eight Children :T. Royaloo Chetty, Amarapathy, T. Dharma Raj, T. Sathya Raj, Sathiavathy, Dhanavathy, T. Thumboo Chetty, Baghavathy.
Sir T. R. A. Thumboo Chetty
Trichinopoly Rayalu Arakiaswamy Thumboo Chetty known as Mr. T. R. A. Thumboo Chetty lived his early years of his life in the Black Town, later called George Town Madras. After the pial school where Thumboo Chetty was taught the vernacular languages, he received his education in English, in that celebrated school known as 'The Free Church Mission Institution' and which was later familiar as the 'Madras Christian College'.
After leaving school, Thumboo Chetty first apprenticed himself to a Mercantile Firm, Griffith's and Co., where his revered father, Desai Royaloo Chettiar, filled the responsible post of Chief Book-keeper, and in December 1855 he entered the Public Service as a Clerk, then Cash-keeper, and Indexer, in the office of the Quarter Master General of the Madras Army.
In 1862 Thumboo Chetty soon became the Manager of the first Madras Legislative Council, of which Mr. John Dawson Mayne was the Legislative Secretary. While this eminent Barrister was Professor of Law in the Presidency College, Thumboo Chetty was induced to study and pass in law. He joined Law Classes and in the final examination held in 1866 Thumboo Chetty obtained the first prize for the proficiency in law.
Mr. T. R. A. Thumboo Chetty before he joined the Mysore Service was the Judge of the Court of District Munsiff of Purghi in the Bellary district appointed in 1866 by the High Court of Madras.
Mr. T. R. A. Thumboo Chetty was soon afterwards appointed Sheristadar of the Judicial Commissioner's Court at Bangalore in 1867, at that time the Princely State of Mysore was under the British rule.
In the year 1879, Mr. Thumboo Chetty was the first native appointed to the important post of District and Sessions Judge of the Nandidroog Division. He discharged this duty with commendable ability for about five years.
After the Rendition of Mysore which took place in 1881, Mr. Thumboo Chetty was nominated ex-officio Senior Member of the Council of His Highness the Maharaja of Mysore Chamarajendra Wodayar Bahadur.
In 1884 when the Chief Court of Mysore was constituted, this Court being the highest Court of appeal, Mr. Thumboo Chetty was appointed as one of the three Judges, and subsequently the Chief Judge in july 1890. Mr. T. R. A. Thumboo Chetty thus became the First Indian Chief Judge of the Chief Court of Mysore.
Mr. Thumboo Chetty was made Companion of the Most Eminent Order of the Indian Empire in 1895.
During the period of His Highness reign, the following held the office of Dewan : Mr. C. Rangacharlu and Sir K. Seshadri Iyer, Mr. T. R. A. Thumboo Chetty officiating for the latter on three different occasions during the years 1890, 1892 and 1893.
Maharaja of Mysore, His Highness Sri Chamarajendra Wadiar, G.C.S.I. B 1863 Mysore - D 1894 CalcuttaReign 1881 - 1894Image source : H.R.H. the Duke of Clarence and Avondale in Southern India By J. D. Rees, 1891.
The sudden demise of the Maharaja Chamarajendra Wodayar and since his eldest son His Highness the Maharajah Krishnaraja Wadeyar Bahadur was a minor at that time, Sir T. R. A. Thumboo Chetty was nominated in 1895, Senior Member of the Regency Council of Mysore of Her Highness the Regent Maharani Vanivilas Sannidhana.
Mr. Thumboo Chetty at his request was relieved of the Chief Judgeship on the 4th November 1895 and continued to serve as a full-time Councillor.
Sir K. Seshadri Iyer continued to be the Dewan during the period of the Regency, Sir T. R. A. Thumboo Chetty officiated again twice, once in 1897 and again in 1900. Of these, Sir K. Seshadri Iyer, who had served the State since 1 January 1883, resigned the office of Dewan and President of the State Council, owing to ill-health, on 18th March 1901. On the same date, Sir T. R. A. Thumboo Chetty, Member of Council, who was officiating for him since 11th August 1900, was granted leave preparatory to retirement.
Thus happily ended the official career of one who, from humble situations, from a clerk he gradually rose to be the First Indian Chief Judge of the Chief Court of Mysore and the Dewan of one of the principal Native States in British India.
Formal group portrait taken on the occasion of Krishnaraja Wadiyar's accession. Mysore, 1895.The Earl of Elgin, H.H. Krishna Raja Wodeyar, and officers of the State Mysore. Source : http://www.bl.ukT. R. A. Thumboo chetty could be seen standing next to the Dewan K. Seshadri Iyer.
The Book about T. R. A. Thumboo Chetty :
During my childhood I often heard members of the family mention about Mr. Thumboo Chetty but I only knew vaguely that he was an important person and held a senior post in The Princely State of Mysore.
To my great surprise, 175 years after his birth, I found a book about Mr. T. R. A. Thumboo Chetty in the British Library of London, written by his first son Mr. T. Royaloo Chetty, published hundred years back.
This book is not only a complete Biography of Mr. Thumboo Chetty, but also gives many interesting facts and details related to the administration of the State of Mysore by wise Ministers and experienced Councillors, and also in the field of education, judiciary...
Mr. Thumboo Chetty who lived the early years of his life in Madras, who started from humble situations, obtained his first appointment as a clerk in the Madras Public Service and gradually rose to be the first Indian Chief Judge of the Chief Court of Mysore and ended his career as the acting Dewan of one of the principal Native States in British India.
I would like to dedicate this entire site to Mr. T. R. A. Thumboo Chetty and thank his first son Mr. T. Royaloo Chetty for writing this wonderful Biography about his Eminent Father.
PS : Later not less than 10 books would be Found concerning Mr. T. R. A. Thumboo Chetty and his Family.
Mark Rajarathnam. 2012
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