Shamaiya Iyengar

Shamaiya Iyengar or Shyama Iyengar(ಶ್ಯಾಮ ಐಯ್ಯಂಗಾರ್) popularly known as Anche Shamaiya(Anche Bakshi Shamaiah), son/descendent of Vasudeva Iyengar, was the minister of the police and the post office (also served as the intelligence department) during the time of Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan. He was originally from Sulikunte in Kolar district of Karnataka

An English Prisoners View of Events Details of the coup from 'Memoirs of the war in Asia, from 1780 to 1784. Including a narrative of the imprisonment and sufferings of our officers and soldiers, by an officer of Colonel Baillie's detachment. 1795':

This is an diary entry from 24 July 1783.

"At five o'clock, P. M. received intelligence of a project - contrived in order to reinstate the King of Mysore. How dangerous however this conspiracy. might appear to be, yet every member at first appeared steady and undaunted. The parties who entered into this plot, were the Inchivalla(Anche Shamaih), head post-master to Tippoo Saib, and keeper of the privy seals; the Prime Minister of the old King of Mysore; two Subadars; and nine other head men. One of the Subadars(Richard Hegan) had the command of one hundred men: the other had been a Subadar in Captain Keating's battalion; and taken prisoner at the fall of Amboor, a garrison in the Carnatic. - The whole of the conspirators assembled several times, and after matters were arranged, they each swore solemn to observe secrecy. Letters were then dispatched to our army, the Marratras, and Corakees(Kodavas), requiring their assistance: Every thing promised success. They then agreed to disperse for the present, and to meet at the general rendezvouz about seven the same evening: but unfortunately for them, and likewise for all the prisoners, the Subadar who had the command of the hundred men instantly went to the Keeladar and informed him of the whole plot. Guards were ordered, and the whole party secured and thrown into dungeons.

The first object of the conspirators was to have made sure of the Keeladar, the head Myar(Mir Amir), and Asoff Cawn(Asad Khan); these three were to have been instantly put to death: their next, to have released all the European and other prisoners, and then to have murdered the whole of Asoff Cawn's battalion, the sepoys of that corps having charge of all the magazines, gates, etc.

Richard Hegan the Betrayer Innes Munro, a contemporary source speaks of the whole event “ as a feasible plan of insurrection, in favour of the right king of Mysore, concerted at Seringapatam”. According’ to Innes Munro, the person who betrayed the whole plot was one Richard Hegan. Richard Hegan was a forcibly converted and circumcised European mohammedan. Innes Munro says “Just as the plan was ripe for execution, one Richard Hegan,” he writes, “who had deserted from the Company’s service, being led into the plot, made a discovery of the whole to the Governor on the very night before it was to take place.” “The fellow’s treachery, however,” he continues, “was the means of saving his life, as two soldiers of the 78rd regiment, suspicions of his fidelity, determined that night to put an end to his existence. He was afterwards made Commandant of the five hundred slaves as a recompense for his attachment to the interests of the Nabob” (lnnes Munro, o.c., 360). Tbe Subadar of one hundred men, referred to in the text above, seems evidently to be identical With the Richard Hegan of Innes Munro.

Death and Torture of the Consiprators Many alleged conspirators of this alleged coup were put to death instantly, it is not known why Shamaiya did not suffer the same fate. Shamaih was with Tipu at Mangalore when Tipu ordered him to be put in heavy iron's and sent to Srirangapattinam. His brother Ranga Iyengar a Bakshi(Head of the Department) in Srirangapattinam was arrested in Srirangapattinam. They were kept in separate iron cages and exposed to all kinds of insults and hardships. They were occasionally fed on a low diet(rice and water). Shamaiah was flogged publicly with chilli powder applied to his back and later blinded. Shamiaya and his brother Rangaiya persisted to their last in denying any involvement in the insurrection. Shamaiya was extremely popular and got along with all communities and all parties so well that Tipu kept him imprisoned instead of putting him to death immediately. Shamaiah's eyes were impaled and he was left blinded due to Tipu's Torture. Shamaiah's family tree suggests he may have been freed and fathered a son in 1821. His family remembers Shamaiah as being blinded by Tipu's torture with no mention of his death.

It is also said that many members of the Jyestimalla (Jetti) clan of Brahmin wrestlers and athletes were also massacred en masse at the same time. This is due to the threat perception that such Hindu athletes and warriors would be dangerous if a rebellion ever broke out. This community was and is still popularly known as the Jetti or the Jetti Pehelvan community in and around Mysore. They can be found in their wrestling establishments known as garadi mane in the Mysore region.

Tipu's Nirup in 1783 addressed to the Chief Temple Administrator in Melukote Tipus Sanad in 1783 mentioning Shamaiah as Anche Shamaiya, indicating Tipu's attempt at provoke divisions between the tenkalai sect mandyam iyengars and vadakalai parakala mutt members after Shamaiah's downfall.

Extract from Sannad of Nawab Tippu Sultan Bahadur of Mysore (15 th September 1783 A.D.).

Shamaih's Treatment in prison Details of Shamaih's treatment in captivity from 'Memoirs of the war in Asia, from 1780 to 1784. Including a narrative of the imprisonment and sufferings of our officers and soldiers, by an officer of Colonel Baillie's detachment. 1795':

Diary entry from 4 November 1783:

"The Inchivalla, who was the ring leader in the conspiracy still remains in heavy irons, and on low diet"

Diary entry from 4 January 1784:

"The Inchivalla was publicly. flogged, near our prison, and his back rubbed with chillies, or Cayenne pepper."

Tipus Sanad in 1793 A Sanad from 1793 survives which shows Tipu handing over authority of Shamaiya's home village to the Parakala Matha. The Sanad of Tipu Sultan in 1793 regarding Sulakunte Agrahara is a document that specifies the grant given to the Parakala Matha of Mysore by the ruler. The contents of the Sanad are as follows:

Shamaiya's elder brother Ranga Iyengar was also a highly placed officer under Tipu. Rangaiah was the head of the department at Srirangapattinam.

He is also referred to as anche shamaiah, inchiwalla, inchivalla, anchewalla, shamia in many records. Rangaiah has been referred to as Bungea, Rungea, Rungeia in many records.

He was such a famous part of Mysore during the time of Hyder and Tipu that many English, Muslim and Mysore Wadiyar commissioned historians have mentioned him in many books. He was in touch with the British, Persians and French. He was a man of great character but ultimately He was a victim of circumstances of his time. Left blinded by Tipus torture and sidelined by the British, he was a victim of the circumstances of his time. He was probably born near the mid-1700s and died somewhere near 1820s. His family tree suggests he fathered a son in 1821. He is survived by many descendants. Although a lot of property was confiscated from Shamaiah, he still had a good amount of property to his name and his descendants were large landowners with one of his descendants of the same name "Sulkunte(Su) Shyama Iyengar" living in the late 1800s and early 1900s was only one of two tax payers to pay more than 1000 rupees in land tax in the entire Kolar district.

Overall Shamaih was a highly intelligent and capable administrator and leader who was able to handle everything from diplomacy to internal affairs to warfare. He was man well respected by all including Hyder and Tipu, the British and even the French. He was a scholar and a master accountant. Despite all this he was a victim of the circumstances of his time in a very exited and chaotic political time.