13 Facts About Purnaiah

Krishnacharya Purnaiah, popularly known as Dewan Purnaiah, was an Indian administrator, statesman, and military strategist who served as the first dewan of Mysore from 1782 to 1811.

Purnaiah was instrumental in the restoration of the rule of the Kingdom of Mysore to the Wadiyar dynasty.

Purnaiah was known for his accounting skills, prodigious memory, and proficiency in several languages.

Purnaiah was a wartime military commander while serving under Tipu.

Purnaiah understood English but could not read or write the language.

At the age of eleven, Purnaiah lost his father and had to seek employment to support his family.

Purnaiah soon became a member of Tipu's inner cabinet, eventually being labelled Dewan for the first time.

Purnaiah continued to advise the new maharaja for a brief period before retiring that year.

Purnaiah was honoured with handsome grants and a large pension for his services.

Under Maharaja Krishnaraja Wodeyar III, Purnaiah started releasing cash allowances to mathas, temples, and dargahs, which had stopped under the Company rule after Tippu's death.

Purnaiah's family were devout followers of the Uttaradi Matha and the Dvaita philosophy of Madhvacharya.

Purnaiah was a contemporary and disciple of Satyadharma Tirtha of the Uttaradi Matha.

In 2013, a museum to map Purnaiah's achievements was opened at his former residence in Yelandur by the Department of Archaeology, Museums and Heritage.