Rama Kamath

Rama Kamath, a Shenvi (Pancha-Goud Brahmin) by caste, was an Indian businessman with close concoctions to the English East India Company and the company’s governor in Bombay. His connections with the Company brought him immense wealth, and unfortunately a very tragic end.

Rama Kamath was a man of great wealth and influence, and enjoyed a very high reputation in Bombay, not only for his wealth, but also for his philanthropy, benefactions and public spirit. His reputation with the Company’s officials was such that he was the only Indian citizen of Bombay invited to attend the inauguration of the St. Thomas's Cathedral. In a letter from 1690, addressed by the Surat Factory to Bombay, he was described as "a very able shroff and inhabitant of very good repute"; and further: "on the island (Bombay) is honest Ramagee Comagee, an old trusty servant of the Right Hon. Company, one that has stood by them in all the wars and has been very assisting on call occasions, not only in procuring men but in encouraging them to fight the enemy".

In 1720, Rama Kamath became a target of unscrupulous conspirators. He was accused of secret correspondence with Kanhoji Angre, a buccaneer that presented threat to Bombay and its trade. The letters seized (attributed to Rama Kamath) were plans of Rama and Kanhji to seize the person of the then Governor of Bombay, Charles Boone, and deliver him, along with the town and Island of Bombay, to Kanhoji. Governor Charles Boone presided over the tribunal, and no matter for the former services of Rama Kamath to the English he was convicted and sentenced to imprisonment for life with confiscation of all his property.

Rama Kamath died in prison in 1728. After Rama's death, it was discovered that the incriminating letters were all forgeries, that the seal was fictitious and fabricated by an expert forger. The succeeding Government of Bombay tried to make reparation for the wrongs done to a loyal and innocent man in a form of a monetary compensation to Rama's son.