A remarkable discovery in the Palani region of Dindigul district, Tamil Nadu, has brought to light a rare historical artifact – a stamp paper issued by the East India Company in 1818. This document, signed by a woman zamindar named Chinnobalamma, offers a fascinating glimpse into the administrative practices and social dynamics of the era.
The document, measuring 10.5cm x 16.5cm and comprising 31 lines, was brought to the attention of archaeologist V Narayanamoorthy by V Meena of Palani, who sought his expertise in deciphering its contents. The stamp paper, valued at two annas, is noteworthy for its thickness and its remarkable preservation over time.
The mention of two annas is inscribed in Tamil, English, Urdu, and Telugu in Intaglio print, appearing on the left corner of the paper. The right side displays the circular treasury stamp of the East India Company, featuring the name ‘pokkisham’ in Tamil, ‘treasury’ in English, ‘gajana’ in Urdu, and ‘pokkishamu’ in Telugu.
The document lists 23 managers who administered Chinnobalamma’s property, revealing a diverse range of social backgrounds among them. The names include Kattaya Goundar, Saaibu, Samban, Kudumban, Devan, Rawuthan, Chetty, Nayakkan, Pillai, and Ayyan, signifying a departure from the hierarchical caste order prevalent in contemporary society.
Narayanamoorthy explains that Chinnobalamma assumed the head of the zameen (landholding) after her husband, Velayudha Chinnoba Nayakar, passed away. However, her control over the zameen was largely symbolic, with the East India Company exercising actual administrative power. The East India Company provided Chinnobalamma with 30 gold coins as administrative cost, which may have been the reason for her to formally document the names of her managers.
Following Chinnobalamma’s death, the land was acquired by the East India Company under the doctrine of lapse policy, as she had no children. The single-sheet document is threaded, suggesting it was part of a larger collection of papers.
While bonds issued on stamp papers by the British government are commonly found, those from the East India Company period are rare. This discovery provides a valuable insight into the administrative practices and social composition of the era, highlighting the complexities of the East India Company’s rule and the lives of individuals caught within its system.
