PREFACE.
This life of Raja Bahadur Venkata Rama Reddy forms one of the most interesting and instructive biographies published in Telugu. It is a lucid exposition written in attractive style, of one of the worthiest citizens of Hyderabad, who is also held in high esteem throughout the entire Andhra Country and more especially by the extensive and important community of Reddies. There is no need to review this excellent narrative presented by an accomplished writer of Telugu prose. On the contrary, the only work that I should undertake is to supplement it by a brief account of my personal relations with the distinguished Raja Bahadur and the impression he made on me.
It is however, a quarter of a century since I first met him at Hyderabad. He was then holding a very important post in the Police Department, a post which gave him frequent access to His Exalted Highness the Nizam and for which the utmost delicacy of thought and feeling and the coolest judgment were indispensable qualifications. The Raja Bahadur, a strongman, silent but observant, modest in manner and moderate in speech, cool, calm, unruffled and sympathetic and charitable in his constructions and inferences, was. I was proud to note, regarded by Muslims as well as Hindus as an ideal officer. No wonder he
