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THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY
[May, 1917
THE HISTORY OF THE NAIK KINGDOM OF MADURA,
BY V. RANGACHARI, M.A., L.T., MADRAS.
(Continued from p. 78.)
The usurpation of Rustam Khan. In the midst of all this danger and distress, Chokkanatha behaved like a fool and a weakling. He employed his time in the reading of the Ramayana, the Mahabharata and other sacred books. He ignored the duties and responsibilities of royalty and became for all intents and purposes, a recluse. Either his recklessness and incapacity or the discontent10 of his ministers led to the entrusting of the administration in the hands of his brother Muttu Aļakadri. Alakádri, however, was an incompetent man. He had at the same time a fatal proneness to the company of doubtful persons and dangerous favourites. He raised to power and prominence a Muhammadan, Rustam Khan'l by name, who had entered his service under vircumstances of dire poverty. Entrusting all the affairs of admi. nistration in his hands, Muttu Aļakâdri, like his brother, spent his time in culpable indolence or active oppression; and Rustam paid his master's generosity with treachery. A sudden access to power, instead of gratifying his desires, increased his ambition, and aimed at the mastery and possession of the kingdom. He first strengthened himself by inviting and engaging a number of Muhammadans, on whose faith he could thoroughly rely, in the service of the State. The fort of Trichinopoly came in this way to be guarded by his men. He then boldly demanded the withdrawal of his benefactor from his kingdom or his death. The timidity of Muttu Alakadri yielded to the Musalman's threat, and he became an exile at Negapatam. Rustam Khan then confined the king within the palace, treated him with indignity, and for two years exercised the full duties of royalty,-not sparing even the honour of the harem ladies, many of whom preferred death to shame.
The downfall of Rustam. Thus it was that, while Trichinopoly was at the mercy of exultant foreigners at its gates, its internal condition was most miserable and deplorable. The king was a prisoner, his brother an exile, and the city the property of Rustam Khan. At a moment when union and efficiency was needed, it was distracted and weakened by internal broils and jealousies. Affairs would have become still worse, but for the loyalty of the Dalavâi. Govindappaiya, the Polygars, and Kilavan Setupati. The Dalavai organised a strong Hindu party for the restoration of the king. The means he adopted were ingenious. He sent a secret message to Chinna Kadir Naik, the chief of Kannivadi,12 and the Setupati
10 The Telugu Mackenzie MS. Record of the affairs of Carn. Gours., says that Chokkanatha directed his brother to manage affairs, himself being employed in religious pursuits. Nelson, however, says that the deplorable weakness of Chokkanatha led to the discontent of the ministers, his deposition, and the entrusting of the administration in the hands of Muttu Aļakâdri. The one version thus makes Aļakadri the friend of his brother, while the other his rival and opponent. For an inscription of Muttu Alakadri see ante. Unfortunately it sheds no light on the relation between the brothers, but from the fact that, it does not mention Chokkanatha, while it mentions Sri Ranga Raya as his suzerain, it can perhaps be inferred that he was a rebel and not regent.
11 According to the Hist. of the Oamn. Dyn., which does not mention the name of Aļakadri at all. it was Chokkanatha that raised him to position and wealth.
12 See the genealogy of Appaiya Naik of Kanniv&di.
