Bobbili (Zamindari)

Information

DynastyVelama Doras
Area588 km2 (1901)
Villages202 (1893)
LocationVizianagaram (A.P.)
Population17,387 (1901)
Revenue₹ 49,000
ReligionHinduism
Hindi Nameबोब्बिली

Present Head/Ruler

Raja Sri Rao Venkata SUJAY KRISHNA Ranga Rao Ravu Bahadur, 15th and present Raja of Bobbili since 2008 (The Palace, Bobbili – 535558, Vizianagram Dist., India) B.A. (Corp.), born 14th September 1969, M.L.A. (Andhra Pradesh) 2004/2009; interests and pastimes are cricket and sport and spending time with the family; married Sri Rani Venkata Anupama Rangarao, and has issue, one daughter and one son.

Short History

For services rendered, Nirvana Rayappa, the Raja of Venkatagiri, who had accompanied Sher Muhammad Khan, the Nawab of Chicacole, on his march against Vizagapatam, obtained from him the Rajam estate, where he built a fort which he designated Bebbooly (the royal tiger), in honour of his patron, Sher (the tiger). The name has since been corrupted into Bobbili.

Predecessors

  • Raja PEDDA RAYADU, 1st Raja of Bobbili, married and had issue.
    • Raja Lingappa Ranga Rao Bahadur Garu (qv)
  • Raja LINGAPPA Ranga Rao Bahadur Garu, 2nd Raja of Bobbili, he was granted the title of Ranga Rao (victor in battle) and twelve villages in perpetuity by the Emperor of Delhi, constructed a fort and town, originally called Pedda puli, married and having no male issue adopted Venkgal Rao, the third son of Madhava Rao, a member of the Venkatagiri family.
    • (A) Raja Venkgal Ranga Rao (qv)
  • Raja VENKGAL Ranga Rao, 3rd Raja of Bobbili, he was a child when his adoptive father died, during his minority estate was managed by Madhava Rao, Padma Rao and Narappa Rao; on attaining majority he managed estate remarkably well, formed some Agraharams for Brahmins, and also dug tanks.
  • Raja RANGAPATHI Ranga Rao, 4th Raja of Bobbili, he was of a charitable disposition and was very religious, married and had issue.
    • Sri Narappa Rao
      • (A) Raja Rayadappa Ranga Rao (qv)
  • Raja RAYADAPPA Ranga Rao, 5th Raja of Bobbili, married and had issue.
    • Raja Gopala Krishna Ranga Rao Bahadur (qv)
  • Raja GOPALAKRISHNA Ranga Rao Bahadur Garu, 6th Raja of Bobbili -/1794, married Rani Mallamma Devi, died in January 1757, and had issue. He died 1794.
    • Rani Chinnamma Garu, she adopted one of the sons of Rao Venkata Surya Rao Garu of Pithapuram, who succeded as Raja Venkata Ranga Rao Bahadur Garu (qv)
      • (A) Raja Venkata Ranga Rao Bahadur Garu (qv)
  • Raja VENKATA Ranga Rao Bahadur Garu, 7th Raja of Bobbili 1794/1802, born 6th April 1751, married and had adoptive issue. He died 7th March 1802.
    • (A) Raja Rayadappa Ranga Rao Bahadur Garu (qv)

COURT OF WARDS 1802/1808

  • Raja RAYADAPPA Ranga Rao Bahadur Garu, 8th Raja of Bobbili 1802/1830, born 4th January 1790, married, and had issue. He died 17th January 1830.
    • Raja Swetha Chalapati Ranga Rao Bahadur Garu (qv)
  • Raja SWETHA CHALAPATI Ranga Rao Bahadur Garu, 9th Raja of Bobbili 1830/1862, born 15th August 1810, during this reign the chattrams and other religious and charitable institutions established by his father were much improved, whilst the property was excellently managed; married, Rani (name unknown), born 1809, died in May 1899, and had adoptive issue. He died sp on 18th August 1862.
    • (A) Raja Sitarama Krishna Rayadappa Ranga Rao Bahadur Garu (qv)
  • Raja SITARAMA KRISHNA RAYADAPPA Ranga Rao Bahadur Garu, 10th Raja of Bobbili 1862/1867, born 15th September 1845, he succeeded by adoption, he founded the Anglo-Vernacular School at Bobbili in 1864, married Rani Lakshmi Chellayamma Garu (qv), and had adoptive issue. He died 17th May 1868.
    • (A) The Honourable Maharaja Sri Sir Venkata Sweta Chalapati Ranga Rao Bahadur Garu (qv)

Rani Lakshmi Chellayamma Garu, Rani of Bobbili 1868/1887, she adopted Kumar Venkata Ranga Rao, the third son of Sri Raja Velugoti Sarvagna Kumara Yachendra Naidu Bahadur Garu, C.S.I., 27th Raja of Venkatagiri, as her successor in 1871; she was granted the title of Rani as a personal distinction in February 1876; married Raja Sitarama Krishna Rayadappa Ranga Rao Bahadur Garu (see above), and had adoptive issue. She died sp on 7th May 1887.

  • The Hon’ble Maharaja Sri Sir VENKATA SVETA CHALAPATI Ranga Rao Bahadur Garu, G.C.I.E., C.B.E., 11th Raja of Bobbili 1887/1921, born 28th August 1862 at Venkatagiri, third son of Sri Raja Velugoti Sarvagna Kumara Yachendra Naidu Bahadur Garu of Venkatagiri, educated by English and Indian tutors in history, economy and Sanskrit; installed on the gaddi on 30th November 1881; Member of the Legislative Council 1898/-; he constructed the Raj Mahal palace in Bobbili in 1888; during his reign he brought about a number of reforms, he raised the Middle School of Bobbili to a high school and also established schools for the poor and for the physically and mentally handicapped; he toured Europe in 1893, with his youngest brother, Venugopala Ranga Rao, and was granted audiences with the Duke of York, the Prince of Wales and HM Queen Victoria, in whose honour, he constructed the Victoria Town Hall (1894) in Bobbili; title of Raja recognized as hereditary in 1888, Maharaja [cr.1899]; married 1stly in 1878, Rani Laxmi Venkata Ramanamma, died 1880, married 2ndly, 1881, Rani (name unknown), sister of the first wife, died in childbirth 1883, married 3rdly, 1888, Rani (name unknown), and had issue, abdicated in favour of his eldest son on 6th November 1916. He died in the midnight of 27th May 1927 at his Ooty residence Race View.
    • Sri Raja Venkata Kumara Krishna Ranga Rao Bahadur Garu (by 1st wife) (qv)
    • Rajkumar (name unknown) (by 2nd wife), born 1883, died 1887.
    • Sri Raja Rao Sri Rama Krishna Ranga Rao Bahadur (by 3rd wife), Zamindar of Kirlampudi, born 29th August 1892, married and had issue. He died after 1938.
      • [?Sri Raja Rao Rangamannar Krishna Ranga Rao, Zamindar of Kirlampudi? fl.1992]
  • Raja Sri VENKATA KUMARA KRISHNA Ranga Rao Bahadur Garu, 12th Raja of Bobbili 1916/19201He was not enthroned on the throne of Bobbili as his father was then alive., born 1880, educated by an English Tutor Mr. Paine and an Indian tutor Pati Suryanarayana, married April 1898, Rani Laxmi Venkayamma, died December 1943, and had issue. He died 11th September 1920.
    • Sri Victoria Venkata Ramanamma, born 22nd October 1899.
    • Raja Sir Sri Varu Ramakrishna Swetha Chalapati Ranga Rao Bahadur (qv)
  • Raja Sir Sri RAMAKRISHNA SVETA CHALAPATI Ranga Rao Bahadur Garu, K.C.I.E., 13th Raja of Bobbili 1920/19782When he succeeded his father as ruler of Bobbili in 1920, he wasn’t enthroned as his grandfather was then alive. His installation to the throne of Bobbili took place on 2nd February 1928, a year after his grandfather’s demise., born 20th February 1901 in Bobbili, Madras Presidency, K.C.I.E., privately educated by English and Indian tutors including H.C. Leclare, D. Gordon, F.H.J. Wilkinson and Ramalingaswamy; Member of Council of State 1925/1927, Member of Madras Legislative Council 1930; served as Chancellor of Andhra University in 1931, he attended the second Round Table Conference held in London in 1931 as a representative of the Indian landholders; President of the South Indian Liberal Federation 1932/1938, 5th and 7th Chief Minister of Tamil Naidu (Madras) [5.11.1932] – [4.4.1936] and [24.8.1936] – [1.4.1937]; Member of the Constituent Assembly of India 1946/1951; M.L.A. (Andhra Pradesh) for Bobbili 1967/1972; his interests were horse racing (winning a number of cups) and polo; he married 1921, Rani Laxmi Subadrayamma of the Tellaprole Zamindari family, and had issue. He died 10th March 1978 in Bobbili, Madras.
    • Raja Sri Rao Venkata Gopal Krishna Ranga Rao Ravu Bahadur (qv)
  • Raja Sri Rao Venkata GOPAL KRISHNA Ranga Rao Ravu Bahadur, 14th Raja of Bobbili 1978/2008, married Rani Sri Mangatayaru, and had issue, three sons. He died 2008.
    • Raja Sri Rao Venkata Sujay Krishna Ranga Rao Ravu Bahadur (qv)
    • Sri Rao Venkata S. Kumara Krishna Ranga Rao (Babu Nayana), elected to the post of Chairperson in Bobbili municipality.
    • Sri Rao Venkata Ramu Krishna Ranga Rao, a businessman residing in Chennai, married Sri Rani Rami Venkata Leela Rangarao
  • Raja Sri Rao Venkata SUJAY KRISHNA Ranga Rao Ravu Bahadur, 15th Raja of Bobbili (see above)

Note(s)

  • 1
    He was not enthroned on the throne of Bobbili as his father was then alive.
  • 2
    When he succeeded his father as ruler of Bobbili in 1920, he wasn’t enthroned as his grandfather was then alive. His installation to the throne of Bobbili took place on 2nd February 1928, a year after his grandfather’s demise.