3
"You have mentioned only two instances" I said, "in which Hindus have come into prominence. But, I could mention several instances of noble and time-honoured Hindu families reduced to a pitiable state under the present regime. The Chandu Lal family is nowhere in the State now—the living representative of it, Rajah Kishen Pershad, has not even the wherewithal to live up to his social position. The Rajah of Anagondy is only a Rajah in name. Rajah Rai Rayan is a beggar now compared with what he was."
"Raja Kishen Pershad" the Nawab Intesar Jung replied, "could have no reasonable complaints to prefer against those in power. The Peishkarship has been a sinecure for the last 35 years—ever since Secretaryships were created by the first Salar Jung. And if Sir Asmanjah tries to reduce the emolumeuts of the sinecure, is he to be blamed? Is it not the object, nay the bounden duty, of all enlightened Governments to reduce useless expenditure as far as possible? Had the reins of Government been in the hands of a modern graduate or a man like Sir T. Madhava Rao instead of in the hands of a noblemen of Sir Asmaujah's stamp, the Peishkarship would have gone clean out of existence long since. Sir Asmaujah is blamed for doing what anybody else in his position would consider an act of extreme kindness or consideration."
"What has the Minister to do with the Peishkar? The Peishkar has ever been independent of, and not inferior to, the minister—is it not ?"
"No" replied the Nawab; "the office of Peishkar has always been subordinate to that of minister."
"I have read somewhere that the way in which Nasir-ud- Dowlah, the grandfather of the present Nizam. installed Rajah Narender Pershad and Sir Salar Jung I in the offices of Peishkar and Minister, at the Durbar held on the 31st May 1353, attests to the equality of the two positions. Nasir-ud-Dowlah, it is said, took the turban and jewels pertaining to either of the
