History of Aurangzib, Based on Original Sources v4.c67: Appendix
History of Aurangzib, Based on Original Sources v4.c67
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Appendix
v4.c67.1
Madanna, prime minister of Golkonda.
v4.c67.2
M.A. 272, records, "On 16th March 1686, Zain-ul-abidin, a kinsman of Abul Hasan had audience with the Emperor. Abul Hasan had cut off and sent to Shah Alam the head of Madanna Brahman as a proof of his own submission, and the Prince sent it on to the Emperor with Bahadur Ali Khan." Ishwardas, 91b, agrees, adding that Madanna, at the time of his death, cried out, "O thoughtless fool! as you are slaying me at the interested accusation of my enemies without investigating the truth of the charge,—I know that the term of your kingship has neared its end. You will not sit on your throne for more than six months after this." Khafi Khan, who was particularly well informed about Haidarabad affairs, writes (ii. 308) that the murder was done without Abul Hasan's knowledge or consent. Bhimsen, who was present in Shah Alam's camp at this time, agrees with Khafi Khan, (Dil. 191.)
v4.c67.3
As for the date of the murder, it was early in March, 1686, (M.A. 272.) B.S. 534 states that on 16th Nov. 1685, news reached the king of Bijapur that Abul Hasan had thrown Madanna into prison. This was unlikely to have been a fact, and looks rather like a distorted account of what Abul Hasan had merely promised to do. Khafi Khan distinctly says that Abul Hasan put off arresting the two brothers till his army lost patience and rose against them.
v4.c67.4
The best account of the fall of this Brahman wazir is given by the contemporary Dutch writer D. Havart in his *Op en Ondergang van Cormandel* (published in 1693):—
v4.c67.5
Akkanna and Madanna were two brothers born of a very poor family, who entered service as shroffs in A. D. 1666 on a pay of 10 gilders per mensem under Sayyid Mustafa, a nobleman of Golkonda. Madanna, *alias* Surya-Prakash Rao, was an intelligent man, while Akkanna was a man of cunning and roguery with very little of understanding. The brothers rose in rank by an apparent act of treachery which cost Mustafa Khan his high office under the Nawabs of Golkonda. Madanna became a very prominent figure in the administration of the kingdom so much so that the Sultan left every thing to his care and was satisfied with receiving 75 000 dollars for his personal use Madanna was well versed in Persian Hindustani and the vernaculars of the country and lived in a kingly style As the golden palanquin in which he went out passed in the streets people showed their respect by stopping on the way He was very kind to the Dutch and Havart had the honour of seeing Madanna often [When Shah Alam took possession of Haidarabad ] the people were in a state of panic and accused Madanna of high treason Under orders from the Sultan they murdered the two brothers in a most ignominious way Akkanna and Madanna were dragged along the streets in the presence of the people The head of Madanna was severed from the body and sent to Aurang-zib while that of Akkanna was trampled under the feet of an elephant (Quoted from Madras Annual Report on Archaeology 1914-15 page 118)
v4.c67.6
The two brothers were Vaishnavas We learn from a Madras record dated 17th May 1682 that Muhammad Ibrahim had been removed from the supreme command (sar i lashkar ship) of Golkonda and Akkanna appointed in his place shortly before (Ancient Record No 1687) Their nephew Gopanna surnamed Ramdas Swami was appointed revenue collector at Bhadrachalam but he fearlessly spent six lakhs of pagodas of Government money in building halls shrines and corridors for the god Ram and passed his days joyously rendering numerous other services to Ram He was arrested in consequence and put to torture by royal order but was released through the miraculous interposition of Ram and Lakshman who appeared in the guise of men and paid up the deficit to the Sultan on behalf of their devotee who is now worshipped as a saint (Information supplied by Prof K V Rangaswami Aiyangar also in Indian Antiquary)
v4.c67.7
It is surprising that though Madanna had held the supreme place in the State for years not a hand was raised to defend his family or punish his assassins He had never realized that the ultimate basis of Government is force and that a minister might bask in the sun shine of royal favour and trust but if he has no army behind him his position is precarious and his power a hollow show Evidently the long political degradation of the Hindu population in Golkonda had robbed them of the power of self-defence As Fryer wrote in 1674 Over the Gentoos (the Qutb-Shahi Government) keeps a strict hand, entrusting them with no place of concern, using them as mechanics and servitors." (i. 86.) Madanna had done nothing during his fifteen years of absolute power to raise the people, and so the great minister fell undefended, unavenged and unhonoured.