A Family History of Venkatagiri Rajas/29th Generation
Twenty-ninth Generation.
Lieut. Sir RAJA V. GOVINDA KRISHNA
YACHENDRA BAHADUR, k.c.i.e., a.-d.-c.,
PANCHAHAZAR AND MUNSABDAR.
(Born 15th October, 1879 and installed 1st February, 1917.)
The present Rajah of Venkatagiri expressed it as his displeasure that any long account of his short public career should be included in his Family History. So the following list has been compiled with a view to help future reference, omitting at the same time all suits of the Samastanam, Wills of the deceased, and matters of a more or less private nature.
The Installation ceremony took place in 1st February, 1917, with due splendour, when he received from the Government the usual Khillat. It was attended by several distinguished guests, some among them being the chief of Ceylon, the Padikura Mudahyar, N. D. A. Sibra, Wijaya Singh, J. P. U. P. M. and Lama Etanis Wijaya Singhe, the late Honourable Rajah of Bobbili, the Rajah of Bhadrachalam, the Rajah of Kalahasti and leading European officials of the district.
On the 26th of the same month His Excellency Lord Pentland, the then Governor of Madras paid a visit to Venkatagfiri at the Rajah's request, and laid the Foundation Stone of the Gosha Hospital proposed to be built in the name of Her Imperial Majesty Queen Mary to supply a long-felt need and remove the suffering of women.
The next year the Rajah was honoured in February with the Second Lieutenancy in the Indian Land Force, and underwent training for more than a year under the Madras Guards. He is the first Indian Rajah who has been enlisted in British Regiment. In 1919 he was transferred to the Prince of Wales Leinster Regiment which he had subsequently left owing to its disbandment after 
Queen Empress Mary Gosha Hospital at Venkatagiri. Foundation-stone laid by H.E. Lord Pentland, p.c., g.c.i.e., on 26th June 1917.
Building opened by H.E. Lady Willingdon, c.i., d.b.e., on 20th November, 1922.
On the 19th March, 1920, the Rajah was raised to the rank of Honorary Aide-de-Camp to His Excellency the Governor of Madras. In 1921 he was nominated as a member of the Council of State (which he has subsequently resigned) newly opened after the Reform Act of 1920, and on 1st January, 1922, honoured with the rare distinction of K.C.I.E.
He extended the size of the Estate by purchasing several villages, Arthamala, Putheri, Kotambedu and others, formerly belonging to the Kalahasti Estate, at a cost of nearly a lakh-and-a-half rupees.
He made the following liberal donations during the period of the Great War. Besides Rs. 25,000 contributed to the War Fund, and Rs. 30,000 subscribed for the purchase of four Ambulance Motor Cars — two in the name of himself to be used in Europe and two in the name of the Rani for the use of the sick and the wounded in the North-West Frontier Province.
At the time of his Installation, the Rajah gave in November, 1917, another sum of Rs. 50,000 for the War Fund. He had also continued to subscribe for the maintenance of the Hospital-ship, like his father, at the same time raising the monthly subscription in the name of himself and his family to Rs. 1,500. He also bore all costs of recruiting persons to the Indian Defence Force. He himself underwent Military Training, as also his eldest son.
He recruited and sent up persons for Training in the Territorials at Trichinopoly this year, among whom was included his eldest son.
In the interests of higher education in the district, he raised the Venkatagiri Rajah's High School at Nellore into a Second Grade College.
In 1920 he gave a donation of Rs. 50,000 to the construction of a nice pavilion in the Race-course at Guindy with all necessary arrangements for Zenana ladies.
He visited Madras with family on both occasions of the arrivals of Their Royal Highnesses the Duke of Connaught and the Prince of Wales.
In 1917, close on his Installation, he improved the Palace with Electrc-fittings throughout at a cost of one lakh of rupees. He also made the present magnificent extension to the Palace in the West, at a great cost.
In 1921, the marriage of his eldest son, Sarwagna Kumara Krishna Yachendra, was celebrated with due pomp. The Government Khillat was also received. The Kumara Rajah with his diligence and application takes good interest not only in the affairs of his Estate, but has been the President of the Venkatagiri Taluk Board since 1921.
The Rajah paid a visit to Jatprole in 1916 to attend the marriage of the second daughter of his uncle and two visits to Bobbili, to attend the weddings of the first daughter in 1917 and of the first son in 1921, of the late Rajah of Bobbili.
Among the pilgrimages made are those to Benares, Gaya and Tirupati, when rich presents were made in the name of the Deity and all religious ceremonies observed. It was on the occasion of the pilgrimage to Benares that a part of Gollapalli village bought for Rs. 1,500 was given in charity to his Purohits. He also spent about a thousand rupees in effecting certain improvements in the Venkatagiri Club.
The following buildings have been purchased at a great cost and added to the Estate, (1) the Raja Gopal Bagh in Bangalore, (2) the Osborne House at Royapettah, Madras, and (3) a bungalow in St. Thomas' Mount.
Bronze Statue of the late Maharaja Sir V. Rajagopala Krishna Yachendra Bahadur, g.c.i.e. Unveiled by H.E. the Right Honourable Sir Freeman-Freeman Thomas, Baron Willingdon of Ratton, g.c.s.i., g.c.i.e., g.b.e. A literary production in Telugu Poetry styled Sree Govinda Krishna Yachendra Vijayam was got composed in his name dealing with the subject of his Installation, and written by the poet Ratnakara Subbaraju.
On the 20th of November, 1922, Their Excellencies Lord and Lady Willingdon were invited to Venkatagiri, when the Governor unveiled the bronze statue of the late Maharajah Sir V. Rajagopalakrishna Yachendra Bahadur, G.C.I.E., prepared at a cost of Rs. 20,000 raised by general subscription, and Her Excellency Lady Willingdon opened the Gosha Hospital built at a cost of Rs. 80,000.
The Rajah is blessed with a loving family of four sons and a daughter, and is known for his kindness of heart, great charity, love of subjects and unalloyed loyalty to the British Flag.