Sir A. Seshayya Sastri
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Sir Amaravati Seshayya Sastri |
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Portrait of Sir A. Seshayya Sastri
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| Diwan of Pudukkottai | |
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In office 1878–1894 |
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| Monarch | Ramachandra Tondaiman (1878-1886), Marthanda Bhairava Tondaiman (1886-1894) |
| Succeeded by | R. Vedantacharlu |
| Diwan of Travancore | |
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In office May 1872 – 1877 |
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| Monarch | Ayilyam Thirunal of Travancore |
| Preceded by | T. Madhava Rao |
| Succeeded by | Nanoo Pillai |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
22 March 1828 Tanjore, Madras Presidency, India |
| Died | 29 October 1903 (aged 75) Madras Presidency, India |
| Nationality | British Indian |
| Spouse(s) | Sundari |
| Alma mater | Madras University |
| Occupation | lawyer, Administrator |
| Profession | Statesman |
| Religion | Hindu |
| Signature |  |
Sir Amaravati Seshayya Sastri KCSI (22 March 1828 – 29 October 1903), or Sashiah Sastri, was an Indian administrator who served as the Diwan of Travancore from May 1872 to 4 May 1877 and as the Diwan of Pudukkottai from 1878 to 1894. He is credited with having modernized the city of Pudukkottai.
Seshayya Sastri was born in the village of Amaravati in Tanjore district, Madras Presidency in 1828 in a poor Hindu family. At the age of nine, Seshayya Sastri moved to Madras city with his uncle Gopala Aiyer. Seshayya Sastri had his schooling and higher education in Madras and graduated in 1848 in first class.
In 1848, Seshayya Sastri was employed as a clerk in the Revenue Office and rose to become Tahsildar, Naib Sheristadar and later, Head Sheristadar. In 1872, Seshayya Sastri was appointed Diwan of Travancore and served from 1872 to 1877, when palace intrigues forced him to quit. Seshayya Sastri served as Diwan of Pudukkottai from 1878 to 1886 and Diwan-Regent from 1886 to 1894. He rebuilt the town of Pudukkottai and created the Pudukulam Lake. Seshayya Sastri retired from service in 1894. He died on 29 October 1903 at the age of 75.
Seshayya Sastri was made a Knight Commander of the Order of the Star of India in 1902.
Seshayya Sastri was born on 22 March 1828 in the village of Amaravati in Tanjore district He was the youngest of six children and his father was a Vaidika priest. Sastri's parents were poor and Seshayyah Sastri had a troubled upbringing. At a very early age, he moved with his uncle Gopala Aiyer, to Madras. In Madras, he learnt Tamil from a private tuition master and had his first English lessons at a school run by a Portuguese named Francis Rodriques. In 1837, Seshayya Sastri joined Anderson's school. As a child, Seshayya Sastri mastered verses from the Bible and became a favorite with the Rev. Mr. Anderson. In 1840, as a result of violent protests and accusations of proselytization against Anderson, an Education Board was set up by the Madras Government and a preparatory and a high school established by the board. Seshayya Sastri joined the preparatory school in 1841. The school was later upgraded to a high school and Seshayya Sastri studied in the school till 1848 when financial difficulties forced him to quit. The headmaster of the school was the legendary E. B. Powell who took a special liking for the boy. Sastri's classmates at the school were the illustrious Ramiengar and T. Madhava Rao. In 1848, he joined Pachaiyappa's school and studied with the aid of a regular stipend from the Government.
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