The History Of Bangalore The Rise of the Dalavais
What happens to a meticulously built state when the "good hand at the wheel" is gone? Ramjee Chandran explores the three decades following the death of Chikka Devaraja Wadiyar, a period where the Mysore throne was occupied by "Shadow Kings" while real authority migrated to the military commanders. This episode chronicles the reign of Kanteerava Narasaraja II (the "Mooka Arasu"), who ruled through sign language, and the ruthless Dalavai brothers, Devaraja and Nanjaraja, who finally extinguished the founding Kempe Gowda dynasty. We witness the end of an era as the city's creators perish in a Srirangapatna prison, leaving behind a power vacuum that a young soldier named Hyder Ali is perfectly positioned to fill.
Key Details from the Script:
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The "Mooka Arasu": Chikka Devaraja’s successor, Kanteerava Narasaraja II (1704–1714), was born deaf and dumb. He governed through sign language and intermediaries, making his military commanders—the Dalavais—indispensable.
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The Dalavai Ascendancy: Power shifted from the palace to the descendants of the Kalale family, who held the hereditary offices of Dalavai (Commander-in-Chief) and Chief Minister. By the 1730s, the brothers Devaraja and Nanjaraja acted as de facto dictators.
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The Fall of Magadi: In 1728, Dalavai Devaraja led a secretive campaign against the last of the Bengaluru founders, Kempe Gowda III. Through betrayal and a surprise assault on the fortress of Nelapattana, the Mysore army broke the 191-year-old dynasty.
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The Final Letter: Incarcerated in Srirangapatna, Kempe Gowda III wrote a final palm-leaf letter to his cousin, surrendering his royal arms and head ornaments, signaling the end of his line. He died in confinement, ending the direct link to the city's birth.
- The Stage for Hyder Ali: By absorbing all local powers and weakening royal authority, the Dalavais unintentionally prepared the state for the rise of a career soldier of merit: Hyder Ali.
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The theme music for the show was composed by German-Indian Koln based percussionist, Ramesh Shotham. Ramjee Chandran's photos by Asha Thadani.
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