History of Aurangzib, Based on Original Sources v4.c67.5

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)