Salary and other woes

Salary and other woes
The Hindu

In the early 20th century Bangalore, meals came at two annas in a hotel. But it was also a time when a teacher took home two rupees a month

According to noted Kannada scholar D.V. Gundappa, hotels in Bangalore were opened to cater to the officials who had sent their families to other places when the plague struck the city in 1898. Avani Narasinga Raya started the first hotel in the city near the Dodpet-Chikpet junction. Later Venkanna started another hotel in A.S. Char Street. In Venkanna's hotel, one had to reserve the seats by paying 25 to 50 annas as an advance!

This hotel had three compartments, one meant for orthodox Brahmins, another for non-traditional Brahmins and the third for non-Brahmins. The customers were served dosas on plantain leaves, and after washing their hands with soap-nut power, they were served hot coffee. They poured it into their mouths, without touching the tumbler with their lips.

Around the same time one Appanna set up a hotel where meals were served for two annas. In the evenings, bondas were sold for two pice. During the diwanship of M. Visvesvaraya, the Government took steps to promote the hotel industry. Many incentives were offered — an interest-free advance of Rs. 2,000, building rent at the rate of Rs. 100 per month for two years as a subsidy, a further advance of Rs. 1,000 at a 6.5 per cent rate of interest repayable after two years. This was for "high class" Indian hotels to be opened in Bangalore. But even then, people who frequented hotels were looked down upon.

In Cantonment, the West End hotel was started by Mrs. Bronson way back in 1887. Over time, the hotel was expanded and a dairy, bakery and stables were added. Guests were provided with carriages and horses at reasonable rates. It was much later that the hotel opted for electricity connection.

During the 1880s, while the necessities of life were cheap, salaries were quite nominal too. Schoolteachers prior to the 1860s used to get a monthly salary of two rupees! It doubled after 10 to 15 years. After 20 years of service they finally would get five rupees. During 1914-1915, teachers in Anglo-Vernacular schools were paid Rs. 20.

In the Police Department the story was no different. Around 1921, a constable's salary ranged between Rs. 12 and Rs. 16, while that of a police inspector, Rs. 68 to Rs. 150. The salary of W.C. Rose, Manager of Mysore Bank, was Rs. 800 per month in 1913. In 1945, the allowance fixed for the advocate representing Bangalore Municipality was Rs. 200 while salaries for sweepers in Bangalore Municipality varied from Rs. 12 to Rs. 15 a month. Glaring differences in pay scale between people working in various sectors existed at that time.

Bangalore recovered quickly from the effects of plague as evidenced by the steady growth of the population after 1901. The introduction of amenities such as water supply in 1896, electricity in 1905, the development of trade and industries and so on contributed to the rapid increase in population and to the growth of extensions.

The population of the city, which was 69,447 in 1901, increased to 88,651 in 1911 and to 1,18,556 in 1921. In 1921, out of the total population, 99,191 were Hindus, 13,112 were Muslims and 4,945 were Christians. Among the Hindus, 23,047 were Brahmins, 9,707 belonged to Neygi caste, 8,702 were Vokkaligas, 8,467 were Banajigas and 4,395 were Lingayats. As the most literate community, the Brahmins were the majority workforce in government offices and educational institutions.

Here's a pricelist of various edible goods during the 1890s:

1. Cartload of ragi — Rs. 51

2. Rice, one palla (around 125 kg) — Rs. 15<18>

3. Dharwad wheat, one palla — Rs. 16<18>

4. Groundnut oil, one mana (around 50 kg)— Rs. 8<18>

5. Jowar, one palla — Rs. 10<18>

6. Greengram dhal, one palla — Rs. 12<18>

7. Blackgram dhal, one palla — Rs. 9<18>

8. Ghee, one mana — Rs. 14