M. R. Ry. Ananda Ranga Pillai (; 30 March 1709 – 16 January 1761) (often pronounced as Ānañtarañkam Pillai) was a dubash in the service of the French East India Company.
He is mainly famous for his set of private diaries from the years 1736 to 1761 which portray life in 18th century India. He is also remembered for developing the Tiruvengadam courtage strategy, a new method of courtage in India that is popularly described in several Indian economic books. As described in his journals, it consists in developing a strategy of making new fraud coins in a parallel economy.
Ananda Ranga Pillai was born in Madras in a well-to-do family. At a very early age, Ananda Ranga Pillai emigrated with his father to Pondicherry where the family pursued their business interests. On his father's death in 1726, Ananda Ranga was made dubash and served in his capacity until his removal on grounds of ill-health and deteriorating performance. Ananda Ranga died in 1761 at the age of 51. Ananda Ranga was especially known for his proximity to the French Governor Joseph François Dupleix, who favored him in various appointments.
Ananda Ranga Pillai's diaries were translated in the early 20th century and bring to light life in the mid-18th century and the Anglo-French Carnatic wars. His mansion in Pondicherry has been recognized as a heritage monument. C. S. Srinivasachari, a prominent Indian historian, described Ananda Ranga Pillai as the "Samuel Pepys of French India".
Early life Ananda Ranga Pillai was born to a famous Yadava Merchant Tiruvengada Pillai on 30 March 1709 in the village of Perambur on the outskirts of Madras, then, the center of Tiruvengada Pillai's business activities. In 1716, at the behest of Nainiya Pillai, brother-in-law of Tiruvengada Pillai, who then functioned as the chief Indian agent of French Pondicherry, Guillaume André d'Hébert, the territory's French Governor invited Tiruvengada Pillai and other important Indian merchants of Madras, to his city.The Private Diary of Ananda Ranga Pillai 1904, Volume I, Introduction, p. vii Relying on Nainiya Pillai's advice, Tiruvengada moved with his family and businesses to Pondicherry and settled there. Soon afterwards, Nainiya Pillai fell out of favor with the Governor and was imprisoned and later died. In contrast, Tiruvengada rapidly rose in favor with the French rulers and attained a respectable position in the city.
On the arrest of Nainiya Pillai, Tiruvengada Pillai had fled to Madras fearing arrest and ill-treatment.The Private Diary of Ananda Ranga Pillai 1904, Volume I, Introduction, p. viii However, La Prévostière who succeeded d’Hébert induced Tiruvengada to return. Meanwhile, Nainiya Pillai's son Guruva Pillai escaped to France via Madras. His charges against d’Hébert before the Duke of Orléans were responsible for the removal and replacement of Governor d’Hébert. Guruva Pillai later adopted Christianity and settled down in France, where he was admitted to the Order of Saint Michael as a chevalier. Guruva Pillai died in 1724 followed by Tiruvengada Pillai in June 1726. His name is mentioned in the history of 8th class.
Early career
Pierre Christophe Le Noir who succeeded La Prévostière had great regard for Tiruvengada Pillai and his family. Hence on Tiruvengada Pillai's death in 1726, he gave employment to his son Ananda Ranga Pillai in the French East India Company and made him the chief of the Indian employees at the company's factory at Porto Novo. Soon, Ananda Ranga proved his worth. Large quantities of blue cloth were manufactured at Porto Novo. This was made possible mainly due to the efforts of Ananda Ranga Pillai who also established trading posts at Lalapettai and Arcot for trading Indian merchandise for European manufactures. Ananda's fortune reached greater heights during the tenure of Le Noir's successor Pierre Benoît Dumas who, too, seemed to have had a favorable opinion of him.The Private Diary of Ananda Ranga Pillai 1904, Volume I, Introduction, p. ix
Until his death, Guruva Pillai had functioned as the chief dubash of Pondicherry. A dubash was a merchant in service of the company who roughly performed the task of a translator and intermediary between Indian and European merchants. On Guruva's death, the chief dubash position passed into the hands of another family as Guruva Pillai's children had been raised as Hindus and the Chief Ecclesiastes of the Colony strongly desired that the holders of the particular office needed to be a Christian. When Dupleix became the Governor, the chief dubash was one Kanakaraya Mudali with whom Ananda Ranga Pillai had a bitter rivalry.The Private Diary of Ananda Ranga Pillai 1904, Volume I, Introduction, p. x However, Kanakaraya Mudali died in the year 1746 and in 1747, after many consultations and decision-making, Ananda Ranga Pillai was made chief dubash.
Rise to power
"On considering this transaction, it appears to me that our lordly Governor was bereft of sense; and it was in this wise". – Ananda Ranga Pillai on Governor Dupleix, regarding Dupleix's decision over a minor local dispute.|The Private Diary of Ananda Ranga Pillai 1904, Volume I, p. 392
In November 1738, the bitter rivalry that had existed between Ananda Ranga Pillai and the chief dubash Kanakaraya Mudali flared up into a conflagration. Observing that Ananda Ranga Pillai had not remitted the interest for the loan he had borrowed to pay coral merchants, Kanakaraya Mudali reported the same to the Governor.The Private Diary of Ananda Ranga Pillai 1904, Volume I, p. 66 Initially, the Governor Dumas insisted upon the dubash paying the interest but later, on learning of the heavy losses that had befallen the dubash that year, he concededThe Private Diary of Ananda Ranga Pillai 1904, Volume I, p. 69 and even offered to pay off Ananda Ranga Pillai's debts.The Private Diary of Ananda Ranga Pillai 1904, Volume I, p. 71 But Ananda Ranga Pillai refused. The matter was raised before the Council where Ananda Ranga had to answer for the charges brought out against him.The Private Diary of Ananda Ranga Pillai 1904, Volume I, p. 75 Ananda Ranga pleaded with Mr. Golard a member of the Council explaining that he had never paid interest before.The Private Diary of Ananda Ranga Pillai 1904, Volume I, p. 76 At length, the Council decided in favor of Ananda Ranga Pillai and his debt was waived.The Private Diary of Ananda Ranga Pillai 1904, Volume I, p. 77
On 22 October 1739, Kanakaraya Mudali's son, Velvendra Mudali died at the age of 21.The Private Diary of Ananda Ranga Pillai 1904, Volume I, p. 102 Velvendra's mother committed suicide on hearing the news.The Private Diary of Ananda Ranga Pillai 1904, Volume I, p. 103
On 19 October 1741, Dumas left Pondicherry leaving charge to the Deputy GovernorThe Private Diary of Ananda Ranga Pillai 1904, Volume I, p. 182. who ruled Pondicherry until 14 January 1742 when Joseph François Dupleix arrived from Chandannagar.The Private Diary of Ananda Ranga Pillai 1904, Volume I, p. 184 During Dupleix's tenure, Ananda Ranga rose to the zenith of power and prominence in French India and exercised firm control over the internal affairs of the territory.
From 1743 onwards, Ananda Ranga won the confidence of the Governor of Pondicherry and rose up the ranks. when the suburban villages of Pondicherry were leased for five years to Kumara Pillai, Vira Nayakkan, Chandramadi Pillai, and Ella Pillai, Ananda Ranga Pillai was able to offer surety for the renters for a period of five years.The Private Diary of Ananda Ranga Pillai 1904, Volume I, p. 227 Nevertheless, when Kesava Aiyan died, Ananda Ranga was not able to prevent Kanakaraya Mudali from nominating his brother-in-law Gavinivasa Mudali as dubash in Kesava Aiyan's place.The Private Diary of Ananda Ranga Pillai 1904, Volume I, p. 251The Private Diary of Ananda Ranga Pillai 1904, Volume I, p. 252 Kanakaraya Mudali secured his objective despite the vehement protests of Ananda Ranga Pillai. On 29 June 1744, the marriage of Ananda Ranga Pillai's daughter Papal was conducted in regal splendor.The Private Diary of Ananda Ranga Pillai 1904, Volume I, p. 256 Ananda Ranga further solidified his position by mediating in disputes such as those between Prakasa Mudali and Tiruvengada Pillai,The Private Diary of Ananda Ranga Pillai 1904, Volume I, p. 284 etc. Not to be left behind, on 30 November 1745, Ananda Ranga's great rival Kanakaraya Mudali constructed a church at Ozhukkarai and celebrated its consecration by providing a great feast.The Private Diary of Ananda Ranga Pillai 1904, Volume I, p. 293 Ananda Ranga Pillai, however, reported heavy criticism from guests for inviting people of non-Christian faiths for the feast celebrating the consecration of a church.
On 12 February 1746, Kanakaraya Mudali diedThe Private Diary of Ananda Ranga Pillai 1904, Volume I, p. 311 and on his death, there was an inheritance dispute between his heirs.The Private Diary of Ananda Ranga Pillai 1904, Volume I, p. 314 A Committee of 20 officials were appointed to arbitrate and Ananda Ranga Pillai led the committee.The Private Diary of Ananda Ranga Pillai 1904, Volume I, p. 315 The Committee decided that Chinna Mudali, the brother of the deceased Kanakaraya Mudali was the rightful heir to his estate.The Private Diary of Ananda Ranga Pillai 1904, Volume I, p. 320 However, Chinna Mudali was not satisfiedThe Private Diary of Ananda Ranga Pillai 1904, Volume I, p. 346The Private Diary of Ananda Ranga Pillai 1904, Volume I, p. 363 and the matter dragged on until April 1746, when Ananda Ranga's diplomacy finally sealed the matter.The Private Diary of Ananda Ranga Pillai 1904, Volume I, p. 380
Apart from pleasing the Governor through his service, Ananda Ranga Pillai also incurred the Governor's wrath on certain occasions. There was at least one occasion during the period when Ananda Ranga was questioned by Dupleix regarding payment of the large sum of money he owed to the company.The Private Diary of Ananda Ranga Pillai 1904, Volume I, p. 326 Ananda Ranga Pillai, however, soon cleared off his debts by paying one Suga Singh the money the Company owed him.The Private Diary of Ananda Ranga Pillai 1907, Volume II, p. 79 However, still, Dupleix demanded 1,000 pagodas that Ananda Ranga Pillai owed the company.The Private Diary of Ananda Ranga Pillai 1907, Volume II, p. 86 It was evident that much more than the service Ananda Ranga Pillai had rendered to the company, it was Ananda Ranga Pillai's position as Dupleix's favorite that had helped him scale the ladder.
Ananda Ranga Pillai was questioned by the Governor regarding the ill-treatment of a prisoner called Mari Chetti.The Private Diary of Ananda Ranga Pillai 1904, Volume I, p. 396The Private Diary of Ananda Ranga Pillai 1904, Volume I, p. 398 Chinna Mudali was deputed to interrogate two eyewitnesses Tandavarayan and Rangan and they swore that Ananda Ranga's conduct towards Mari Chetty was, in no way, objectionable. Based on this evidence, Ananda Ranga was acquitted.The Private Diary of Ananda Ranga Pillai 1904, Volume I, p. 399