In facilitating trade and communication between native merchants and British traders they played a great role. They were educated people who could read write and speak in both languages and were influential with the native Indians. Being shrewd they became the middlemen in …show more content…
George, Madras, in earlier records mentions Dubashes as servants, and in later references as commission agents or brokers. Madras Presidency had in its payroll Dubashes. Later as their activities, geographical spread and control expanded they appointed a Head of the Dubashes and employed more people to carry on activities relating to relationship with native’s management in addition to the commercial mediator role. It has been recorded that during the Famine in Madras of 1686-87, the Company entrusted the responsibility of giving cooked food to the residents of Madras with the …show more content…
During his visit to the Thyagaraja temple in Tiruvarur, a temple town, he heard Ramaswami Deekshitar sing hymns at the temple. He was so impressed with his singing, he invited Ramaswami Deekshitar and his family to Chennai. Deekshitar agreed and came to Chennai along with his wife, 3 sons and daughter around 1790. In Chennai Mudaliar gave the family a house in Chennai and all the necessities. Ramaswami Deekshitar as his daily routine used to visit temples under the patronage of Mudaliars, and render hymns, he used to teach his children the nuances of music, astrology and theology. He was so moved by the hospitality of Mudaliar, in his praise Deekshitar composed a garland of kritis in 108 ragas (melody) and talas (beats). It was a very complex composition. Mudaliar was very happy with it and offered him 108 Gold