T. R. A. Thumboo Chetty
Sir T. R. A. Thumboo Chetty (Trichinopoly Rayalu Arakiaswamy Thumboo Chetty; April 1837 – 19 June 1907) was an Indian lawyer, administrator, and acting Diwan of Mysore who served the first Indian chief judge of the Chief Court of Mysore.
Rajadharma Pravina Sir T. R. A. Thumboo Chetty | |
|---|---|
 Mr. Thumboo Chetty as District and Sessions Judge, Nundidroog Division | |
| District and Sessions Judge Nandidroog Division | |
| In office 1879–1884 | |
| Governors-General | Sir Arthur Havelock, Lord Oliver Russell |
| Senior Member of the Council of His Highness the Maharaja of Mysore | |
| In office 1881–1895 | |
| Monarchs | Chamarajendra Wadiyar X, Krishnaraja Wadiyar IV |
| Judge Chief Court of Mysore | |
| In office 1884–1890 | |
| Monarch | Chamarajendra Wadiyar X |
| Chief Judge of the Chief Court of Mysore | |
| In office 1890–1895 | |
| Monarchs | Chamarajendra Wadiyar X, Krishnaraja Wadiyar IV |
| Senior Member of the Regency Council of Mysore of Her Highness the Regent Maharani. | |
| In office 1895–1901 | |
| Monarchs | Maharani Kempa Nanjammani Devi, Krishnaraja Wadiyar IV |
| Acting Diwan of Mysore | |
| In office 11 August 1900 – 18 March 1901 | |
| Monarch | Krishnaraja Wadiyar IV |
| Preceded by | Sir K. Seshadri Iyer |
| Succeeded by | Sir P. N. Krishnamurti |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Trichinopoly Rayalu Arakiaswamy Thumboo Chetty April 1837 Trichinopoly, Madras Presidency |
| Died | 19 June 1907 Bengaluru, Kingdom of Mysore |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Spouse | Rajamma Thumboo Chetty (1848-1934) |
| Alma mater | Madras Christian College Presidency College, Chennai |
| Occupation | Public Servant, First Indian Chief Judge of the Chief Court of Mysore, Offg. Dewan of Mysore |
| Profession | Diwan of Mysore, Justice |
Early life
Thumboo Chetty was born in April 1837, to a Catholic family, apparently in Trichinopoly. His father, Desayi Royalu Chetty Garu filled the responsible post of Chief Book-keeper in a Mercantile Firm, Griffith's and Co., and was highly respected in the native Christian community in Madras. His mother was Catherine Ummah, a woman of piety, mildness, courtesy and serenity. He spent his early life in the Black Town, later called George Town, Madras.
He was the sixth child in his family; he had three elder sisters and one younger brother and a sister, all of whom lived long enough to see his progress and advancement. It is said that his mother prophesied at his birth, "The sixth, being male, will rise to be a great man and rule over people". He had, however, the misfortune to lose both his parents at the early age of twelve. He was brought up, however, with great care and attention, by no less than five executors, to whom the probate of his mother's will was granted by the Madras High Court, the principal of whom, afterwards, became his father-in-law.
Thumboo Chetty married Rajamma, daughter of Ponnoo Chettiar and Sinnammalle, Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Refuge, Pophan’s Broadway, Madras. The couple had four sons: T. Rayaloo Chetty, T. Dharma Raj Chetty, T. Sathya Raj Chetty, and T. Thumboo Chetty; and four daughters: Amarapatty Amma, Sathiavathy Amma, Dhanavathy Amma, and Baghavathy Amma.
His granddaughter (daughter of Sir T. Thumboo Chetty) was the world-renowned violinist Philomena Thumboochetty.[1]
Public office in Mysore Kingdom
Sir K. Seshadri Iyer was the diwan of Maharaja Chamaraja Wadiyar. During his ministry, Thumboo Chetty officiated for him on three occasions, in 1890, later in 1892, and 1893.
References
- "Philomena Thumboochetty: Portrait of an Artiste". 11 June 2019.
- Royaloo Chetty, T. (1909). A Brief Sketch of the Life of T. R. A. Thumboo Chetty, C.I.E, Formerly Chief Judge and Officiating Dewan of Mysore. Hoe & Co.Madras.
- Duraisami, K.C. (1904). Raja Dharma Pravina T.R.A. Thumboo Chettiar, C.I.E. : A Short Sketch of His Life and his Career, in Tamil. Madras Literary Bureau.