A GREAT POET AS HOSTAGE IN TRAVANCORE

A victim of palace Intrigues and his own folly

Kerala Varma Valiyakoil Thampuran (1845-1914), was a colossal renaissance figure in 19th-century Kerala, who advocated the resuscitation of Malayalam literature, absorbing selected western influences, combined with Sanskrit elements. Known as Kerala Kalidasa, he began taking literary activity seriously, during an imprisonment of five years, ordered by his own brother-in-law, the King of Travancore, the highly immoral, Ayilyam Thirunal Rama Varma (1860-1880).

Kerala Varma belonged to the Parappanad royal family of Malabar, which had fled during the invasion of Tipu, and settled in the Lakshmipuram Palace, Changanacherry. The family stayed back even after Tipu's death, agreeing to a pension from the British.He was the son of Devi Amba and Cheriyoor Mullapally Narayanan Nambudiri,of,Perinchellur,Taliparamba.The family shifted to the Anantapuram Palace, Haripad, later.

Kerala Varma Valiya Koyil Thampuran

At 14, he married the adopted niece of Uthram Thirunal Marthanda Varma, the Maharaja of Travancore, and the marriage brought him in close proximity with the royal family, as well as the King's nephews, Ayilyam Thirunal and Visakham Thirunal Rama Varma (1880-1885), which eventually, made him the victim.

The three males and five females, who fled from Parappanad, which was a small principality, around the present Parappanangadi railway station, in Malappuram, were rehabilitated by the then Dharmaraja Rama Varma of Travancore, in the Neerazhi Kottaram, Changanacherry. When Gowri Lakshmi Bayi, who ruled Travancore, after Balarama Varma, married, Valiya Cherunni Achan Koyi Thampuran from the newly settled Parappanad family at Neerazhi, the males in the family became, Koyi Thampurans, meaning, the males eligible to marry girls from the royal family. Swati Thirunal, her son, built her a new palace in Changanacherry and called it, Lakshmipuram Palace. She stayed there till 1865.

Kerala Varma's mother, Devi Amba, was the sister of the father of King Sreemoolam Thirunal, Raja Raja Varma. His father, Mullapally Nambudiri, a scholar, belonged to the family of Pathinettara Kavis. His mother used to write small poems, and recite them to her child, which Kerala Varma has referred to in the preface to his Kathakali play, Hanumadulbavam. They were six brothers, and a sister, Kochu Lakshmikutty.

Thiruvarpu Rama Warrier was his Guru for four years, from age five, and though Kiratharjuniyam was Kerala Varma's favourite, he could recite the whole of Raghu Vamsam of Kalidasa, by heart.

Lakshmi, wife of Kerala Varma

He was taken to Thiruvananthapuram by his uncle, Raja Raja Varma, in 1855, and he studied, Ashtanga Hridyam, from Vaikam Pachu Moothath, who was the first Historian of Travancore. Dr Wearing, Durbar Physician, and Annaji Rao, nephew of Dewan Madhava Rao, taught him English. Visakham Thirunal gave him, books and magazines, in English.

Lakshmi Bayi, the wife of Raja Raja Varma, was the only female, then in the royal family. So, Uthram Thirunal adopted two princesses from Mavelikara. Raja Raja Varma, conveyed his death wish, to his brother-in-law, the King, to get married, Kerala Varma, to the eldest princess, Lakshmi Bayi. Though Ayilyam Thirunal was against it, Visakham wholly supported the proposal.

Uthram Thirunal

After the marriage, Mullapally Nambudiri, as a contented person, went on a pilgrimage, to Kasi, and died in 1861. It was a jolt to Devi Amba, who was already fed up with internal bickering in the Lakshmipuram Palace, and she left it in 1865, with family members. Ayilyam Thirunal, who had become King, at the request of Kerala Varma, arranged for their temporary stay at Karthikapally Palace, and then built the Ananthapuram Palace, near Subramanya Temple, at Haripad, for them. It was there, Kerala Varma, was made a hostage, later. The Regent Sethu Lakshmi Bayi, was, married to Rama Varma, of Ananthapuram Palace, years later.

After his marriage to Lakshmi, Kerala Varma continued his studies, under Elathur Ramaswamy Sasthrikal, who presided over the Scholars Assembly in the palace. He became the disciple of Kumbakonam Seenu Iyengar and Kadayam Subba Dikshitar. He was taught Veena by his elder brother, Makam Thirunal, and his own wife, Lakshmi. The Veena exponents, Venkitadri Bhagavatar and Manjapra Kalyanakrishna Bhagavathar became gurus of the couple.Kalyana Krishna Bhagavathar was the friend of O Chandu Menon,the first Novelist in Malayalam.

Ayilyam Thirunal

We get the complete story of Kerala Varma's love-hate relationship with the King Ayilyam Thirunal from Kerala Varma's work, Visakha Vijayam, extolling the virtues of the later Maharaja, who was the brother of Ayilyam Thirunal, and Outline of Autobiography by Visakham Thirunal, himself.

They were more than cordial, competing in writing instant poetry. The King made Kerala Varma a member of the textbook committee in 1867, with the Dewan's nephew, Annaji Rao as Chairman, an important decision, which modernized the curriculum; he became its Chairman a year later. Even if Kerala Varma was absent in the King's palace, for a cultural event, a messenger was sure to be there, at Thevarathu Koyikkal Palace, in the Fort, where he resided. There are palace records, showing instances of the King Playing Piano, and Kerala Varma, on Veena. Kerala Varma wrote, Thirunal Prabandham (1861), his first Sanskrit work, celebrating, the King's birthday, and Thulabara Sathakam (1870), in praise of Ayilyam Thirunal, and was gifted a diamond.in 1869, when Ayilyam Thirunal, went to Madras to visit the Duke of Edinburgh, Kerala Varma, was asked to accompany him. Kerala Varma joined the King's caravan, at Shornur, after getting down midway at Karthikapally and supervising, the construction of the Ananthapuram Palace. From Shornur, they had a special train. From Madras, Kerala Varma bought, watercolours and canvasses for the use of the great painter, Raja Ravi Varma.

Kerala Varma, joined Ayilyam Thirunal in his Kasi trip, in 1872, from Shornur; Sir T Madhava Rao met Kerala Varma at Bombay, the team attended the coronation of the Bhopal Begum and Kerala Varma met, John Strachey, who was acting Viceroy then, after the assassination of Lord Mayo. Kerala Varma visited the Elephanta caves, and after the rituals in Kasi, he met the Sanskrit scholar, Bodhayanacharya at Pune.

Now, the tragedy.

Visakham, Ayilyam & Madhava Rao

Though he had a little stammer, Ayilyam Thirunal, sang very well.T Lakshmanan Pillai, has recorded that the King often got down from the throne, and sat among the audience, during the Navarathri kutcheri s. His voice was mellifluous. His prose translation of Sakuntalam inspired Kerala Varma for the verse translation. He wrote, Meenakethana Charitham, based on a story, in the Arabian Nights. He was a strict administrator, and two renowned administrators in India, T Madhava Rao and Seshaiah Sastri were Dewans during his 20-year tenure, surrendering to his will. Women and wine were his banal passions.

In Visakha Vijayam, Kerala Varma, wrote:

Vijnanasagarathalam Sprisathapi Rajna

Nanjayathaganayena Dhanarjasya

Vedanta thathvamakilam Vidushopysaki

Nadanta Kamamamuna hridayam niyanthum  V/17

(The King who went to the depths of the knowledge sea

Ignored the sin of amassing illegal wealth 

Though he knew the essence of Vedanta

Never could control his lustful heart).

His brother was totally different in character, and wrote about Ayilyam Thirunal, in his autobiography, that, he had begun to sow wild oats long ago.

Visakham Thirunal

When Ayilyam and Visakham drifted apart, Kerala Varma, saw himself between the two, and finally, stood by the side of Visakham, which infuriated Ayilyam, with fire from the palace intriguers. Ayilyam was five years elder, and Madhava Rao had come to Travancore initially, as the tutor of the brothers. Ayilyam was 18 then, and Rao was more of a friend to him, and it is while referring to this period, Visakham brings in the imagery of wild oats. I had mentioned earlier that Ayilyam didn't like Kerala Varma marrying his adopted sister Lakshmi-he preferred another person from Kerala Varma's own family, Parappanattu Rama Varma. 

During the first 10 years of Ayilyam's reign, the relationship with Viskham was, on an even keel. While Ayilyam was suave and diplomatic, Visakham, as the crown prince, was outspoken, and criticized his brother, vehemently in private talks. Visakham had married, Lakshmi of Arumana, who was the first woman to study English at Zanana Mission, of his own choice, against the wishes of Uthram Thirunal, who wanted him to marry a girl, from Thiruvattar, his wife's family. During the years of his detachment, he spent most of his time in the Arumana house at Nagercoil, especially on the steps that lead to the Kaleeswaram Siva temple. Lakshmi, his wife, was from Arumana, and daughter of King Balarama Varma.

Lakshmi, wife of Visakham

Visakham, to a large extent, succeeded in turning Lakshmi, Kerala Varma's wife against Ayilyam. Madhava Rao was more attached to the young disciple, and with his influence and otherwise, the British considered Visakham exemplary, and was well received by them in Madras in 1861 (Governor William Denisen met him) and 1866, much to the chagrin of Ayilyam. Ayilyam turned against Madhava Rao, exploited a theft case in the treasury against Rao, and choked him out. After bidding goodbye to the King, when Rao descended to the thekke theru (south street), there was no official car, Peshkar Sankunni Menon, came to his help, taking him to Shornur, to board the train, in his car.

Karthikappally Palace

Rao's farewell was a shock to, both Visakham and Kerala Varma, and soon, an article, A Native Statesman, extolling the virtues of Madhava Rao, appeared in the Calcutta Review. Though there was no by-line, Ayilyam Thirunal could easily guess that the author was Visakham, who thought he won't get much help from the new Dewan, Seshaiah Sastri. The article fetched Rao a new job as the Regent, at Baroda-he had left Travancore at 45, with a lavish monthly pension of Rs 1000.

 

Kerala Varma, tried to keep away from Visakham at this time, referring to him by codes in his diary notes. When Aylilyam decided in 1872, to go to Kasi, and attend the coronation of Bhopal Begum, the wish of Kerala Varma to accompany him, was first rejected but was accepted in the second pleading. On return, Kerala Varma witnessed the enactment of the last scenes between, Ayilyam and Visakham. Ayilyam got information that the two Ranis, in Ayilyam's absence, had visited Visakham and planned a revolt. Ayilyam went to the Thevarathukoyikkal Palace and confronted his sister, Rani Lakshmi, wife of Kerala Varma, and she divulged that she went to Visakham after receiving a letter of Kerala Varma from Kasi, giving his consent. Ayilyam forced her to show him, the letter. Ayilyam had already sent a letter to Kerala Varma, criticizing the action of his wife.

Ananthapuram Palace

These facts are recorded in the diary entry of February 9,1873, by Kerala Varma.

 Ayilyam immediately ordered Kerala Varma, to stay away from the vicinity of the palace. His diary entry of February 11 records that he was informed of his willingness to stay in the Pujappura Palace or Mudavanmugal Palace, by a messenger. It was rejected, and the King blocked Kerala Varma, from his regular visits. Kerala Varma even suspected his wife of yielding to the wild strategies of the King. His friendship with Visakham became stronger, and the Sangumukham Palace, where Ayilyam used to hold drunken melees, was set ablaze at midnight. Ayilyam suspected the hands of Visakham and Kerala Varma and considered it an attempt to assassinate him. A lot of people, loyal to either Visakham or Kerala Varma, were flogged, publicly at Thekke Theru. Several people fled, and returned only after the death of Ayilyam Thirunal.

Kerala Varma, ignoring the entreaties of his wife, committed a grave folly by sending an anonymous letter to the Dewan, Seshaiah Sastri, revealing a plot by the King to kill the Dewan. In the letter, he was instructed either to resign or to employ loyal cooks. It also revealed the King's move, to appoint Peshkar Nanu Pillai, as Dewan. Though there were several rumours as to the author of the letter, Kerala Varma has admitted in Visakha Vijayam, that he wrote it. The Dewan first showed it to Visakham, who contemplated for a few seconds, on the handwriting. The Dewan then gave it to the King. The King had in fact, in an inebriated state, made a lot of negative comments on the Dewan, a few days before. The King had referred to the incident in which the Cochin King's loyal courtier, Sivarama Bhagavathar, poisoned the unwanted Dewan Sankara Warrier, and lamented the absence of such loyal s in his stable.

Madhava Rao

The effect of that letter was far-reaching. It had accused a reigning King of plotting a murder. Ayilyam wrote a long letter to the Madras Governor, William Rise Robinson, who was there for only seven months, describing the machinations of Visakham and Kerala Varma, and asked the Governor to grant permission to imprison Kerala Varma, without trial. Visakham Thirunal had a foreboding of the dark days ahead, called Kerala Varma, and explained the situation to him. He and Lakshmi advised him to be courteous to the King. When rumour spread that the King has decided to separate Kerala Varma, from Lakshmi, Visakham Thirunal met the King, and requested a pardon, only to be told the decision now rests with Madras. Elathur Rama Sastri met both the King and Kerala Varma. Agreeing with Sastri's suggestion, Kerala Varma wrote a letter of apology to the King, but with words, not befitting an apology, showing scant regard, for the King. The letter gave another reason to the King to move ahead.

The King pressurized the Resident and got permission to arrest Kerala Varma. It was Lakshmi, his wife, who got the information first that the order to arrest him has been sent to the Dewan and the Dewan has entrusted the job to Peshkar Nanu Pillai. She blamed the indiscretion of her husband, and asked him: If a King decides to kill his Dewan, is it our duty alone, to prevent it?

Peshkar Nanu Pillai

It was early morning, Malayalam year,1050, Karkadakam 21 (1875 July). Police barricades were seen on the eastern door of Thevarathu Koyikkal Palace and in several parts of the road. A Phoeten car with two horses was parked in front of the palace, on the Anakottil. The Magistrate, Thrivikraman Thampi, with two policemen, arrived at the palace by 7 AM, by the front entrance. He showed the warrant to the Rani, and told Kerala Varma, that he has been arrested on charges of sedition, and will be shifted to another town.

Seshaiah

The Rani was furious at Thrivikraman Thampi, a regular at the Palace, helping Kerala Varma in physical exercises, addressing Kerala Varma, in official terms. She asked him to get out, or else, he will be thrashed with a broom by her maid. Thampi went away, shocked.

Rani Lakshmi then sent a letter, requesting, pardon. The King said he was helpless since everything has been decided by Madras. She then sent another letter, requesting his permission to accompany Kerala Varma, wherever he was taken. The King rejected it. She took Kerala Varma inside, saying she wouldn't release him if she was not allowed to go with him. The King asked the Peshkar to directly go and arrest Kerala Varma. While Peshkar Nanu Pillai was trying to coerce them, the Rani held Kerala Varma's hand and ran out. The Peshkar gave necessary instructions to Thampi and his officials and waited in silence. They physically held the Rani, detached her, took Kerala Varma by force, and the Phoeten moved towards Vallakkadavu. From the southern gate of the palace, the Rani ran after the vehicle. The police blocked her.

When the vehicle left the gate of the West Fort, there was gunfire, signalling the success of the operation to the King. The King, for the first time, had delayed breakfast. When he went inside to have it, it was 10.30.

Kerala Varma was imprisoned in the Alapuzha palace first, and then in the Ananthapuram Palace, ceding to his request. From there, he wrote Kshamapana Sahasram and Kshamapanashtakam, two works of apology, and sent them to the King. and when the King ignored them, he wrote, Yamapranama Sathakam, praying for the death of the King. He was freed in 1880 when Visakham Thirunal became King. 

Kerala Varma wrote the epic, Mayura Sandesam, in the form of addressing his wife, from imprisonment, in 1894,14 years after his freedom. He died in a car accident in 1914. His wife had predeceased him. Visakham Thirunal died very early, in 1885. He knew he would die early, and his son, Sree Narayanan Thampi, would die a pauper. Both happened-Thampi, who began the first bus service in Travancore, in 1910, died in penury, but his father had issued an order to give him food, wherever he was seen.

Reference:

1.Kerala Varma Valiya Koyi Thampuran/P K Parameswaran Nair

2. Outline of Autobiography/Rama Varma

3. Modern Travancore/A Padmanabha Iyer

4. Travancore State Manual/T K Velu Pillai
5.Sarvadikaryakkar P Govinda Pilla/P Damodaran Nair

Note: The portrait of Visakham Thirunal was painted by K Padmanabhan Thampi.

See my Post,MURDER OF KOTTAYAM KERALA VARMA