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

 

LOVE IN THE TIME OF TIPU: DHARMA RAJA AND MANORAMA

She was in love with the King's nephew too

No empire will survive the test of time,except the creative empire.Any upheaval,or destruction,has its creative side,a sinister beauty.Love in the time of Cholera,is a wonderful expression,for the chaotic love, from Gabriel Garcia Marquez.Dharma Raja,Karthika Thirunal Rama Varma,of Travancore,loved Manorama from the Zamorin family of Kozhikode,at the time of the upheaval by Tipu Sultan.He was old enough to be her father,a young woman who had sought asylum in the soil of Travancore.

Hyder Ali annexed Kolathunad in Malabar in February,1766,and the royal family members  moved to Thalassery English Factory,and the Thekkilamkur,to Thiruvangad temple,near Thalassery.They were sent by the English to Travancore,in a ship and Raja Rama Varma,settled them at Paravur.In April,Hyder laid siege to Kozhikode and the Zamorin committed suicide,setting fire to his palace,on 27 April,1766.The Eralpadu or the crown prince,and family too moved to Paravur.When there was a challenge from the Marathas,Hyder went back,and before his journey back,called the Eralpadu to Kozhikode and ordained him as a vassal.

When Hyder,died in 1782,Tipu was in Ponnani,and he rushed back to Srirangapattana.The princes and chieftains were up in arms again,and Tipu came back in 1789,to crush the local rebellions.He killed a Kolathunad prince and his dead body was dragged by an elephant through his camp,and then hung up,on a tree.17 of his loyalists were also hanged publicly.

Dharma Raja Rama Varma

Between these upheavals,several royal branches from Malabar settled in various parts of Travancore.Even after the return of Tipu in 1790,the Zamorin stayed back.The prominent royal families,who have migrated from Malabar and settled in Travancore are 16:Neerazhi Kovilakam(Changanacherry),Ennakkad Gramathil Kovilakam(from where Communist leader George Chadayammuri found his life partner),Paliyakkara(Tiruvalla),Nedumparampu,Chempara Madom,Ananthapuram Kottaram(Haripad),Ezhumattur Palace,Aranmula Kottaram,Varanad Kovilakam,Mavelikara,Murikoyikkal Palace,Mariapilly(Kottayam),Koratti Swarupam,Kaipuzha Kovilakam,Lakshmipuram Palace,Changanacherry(of LPR Varma) and Kottapuram.

Rama Varma himself,was the son of a Kolathiri princess,Karthika Thirunal Parvathi Bai,who was adopted to Attingal royal family,and she was the queen when he reigned.His father,Kerala Varma from Kilimanur,was killed in 1728 November.Rama Varma did his best to bring succor to the Malabar royal family branches:he wrote a letter to the Bombay Governor,in 1766 ,alleging Hyder had Dutch support.In the letter,Rama Varma guaranteed pepper from the whole of Malabar at the rate of Rs 70/Candy.When the threat from Tipu came,the crown prince of Cochin,Sakthan Thampuran,met Tipu at Palakkad Fort,on May 26,1788,and Rama Varma and the Cochin King met at Annamanada,on June 4.Then Rama Varma requested the English for a few battalions and two came,under Captain Knox and Powney,garrisoned at Paravur,and Powney became the first Resident,laying the foundation for residency administration.

Paliam Nalukettu

The Zamorin family has three branches:Kizhakke Kovilakam at Kottakkal,Puthiya Kovilakam at Thiruvannur and Padinjare Kovilakam at Mankavu.Manorama was from the Kizhakke Kovilakam.Following tradition,she learn t Sanskrit from childhood,became very proficient,wrote in Sanskrit.She was a scholar-poet,and even a Guru for the upcoming scholars.The Paliam family records say that one Kochu Sankaran Moothath of Vadakkedam,Thriprayar stayed at Paliam in Chendamangalam,and was a student of Manorama Thampuratty.Since Chendamangalam is very close to Paravur,it has to be assumed,Manorama had stayed at Paravur,maybe in the Paliam Kovilakam itself,but not always,because I have read,she stayed with Rama Varma at Krishnapuram palace, Kayamkulam,and watched ,Thiruvathira kali,with the King.She played Veena.The palace was built by Rama Varma's predecessor,Marthanda Varma,after annexing Kayamkulam,in 1746.I have read that the well in the compound could be seen from the master bed room,for the King to spy if someone was throwing poison into the well!

Krishnapuram Palace

His love for Manorama became public,when a letter,written to her by him,was leaked in 1786.He was 62,then,with four consorts:Kali Amma Nagamani Amma of Vadasseri and three  Thiruvattar,Arumana and Nagarcoil ammachi s.He built four houses for each in the West Fort,and shifted the capital from Padmanabhapuram to Thiruvananthapuram.

Though,Rama Varma was weak in administration,leaving everything to Raja Kesavadas,the Dewan,who also had a love interest in Arumana,he was  extremely creative,and in turbulence,the only solace is sex.He is the author of 150 compositions,among them,7 prominent Kathakali plays:Rajasooyam,Subdraharanam,Gandarva Vijayam,Panchali Swayamvaram,Bakavadham,Kalyanasougandikam and Narakasuravadham. He gave priority to Sringara padams, and made it compulsory for each character to enter with Sringara pada.

His magnum opus,is,Balaramabharatam,a treatise on dramaturgy,which he is supposed to have completed with the help of Manorama.The period of completion,is that of the invasion of Tipu.

Rama Varma has said that it was written after a careful study of Lasya Tantra.It gives details of hastas(hand gestures),angas(major limbs),Upangas(minor limbs)and Pratyangas(neck,wrists,knees,thighs).It is considered by most of the Mohiniyattam scholars as an important treatise on technicalities of Mohiniyattam,because,one of the earliest references to Mohiniyattam,is in Balaramabharatam.The popular danseuse and scholar,Methil Devika,differs in this,saying the treatise refers,not to Mohiniyattam,but Mohininatanam;it means only the stance that Mohini takes.But Devika too acknowledges the role of Manorama,saying,her correspondence with Rama Varma is historical.The fact remains,no Mohiniyattam thesis is there,without mentioning the Rama Varma-Manorama Jugalbandi.Palace records show expenditure on Mohiniyattam,as early as 1801,hinting at the efforts of Rama Varma,much before Swati Thirunal.

Hand gestures in Mohiniyattam/Haritha Haridas

Except for few slokas,nothing much written by Manorama,is available.But a few years ago,16 palm leaves manuscripts at Kottakkal Kovilakam,were verified by experts,and among them,a commentary on Paniniyam, written by Manorama,on the primary Sanskrit grammatical text by sage Panini,was found,and it was titled,Manorama.
That the commentary,has the title,Manorama,reveals,her real name was,something else.T M Chummar,in his Padya Sahithya Charitram(History of Poetry),has recorded that she was well versed in Bhattoji Dikshita's complex 17th century grammatical work,Praudamanorama,and so she came to be called Manorama.Her family tree,though with lot of vacuums,reveals, she had in fact a sister,with the name Manorama.They were eight children,born to Krishna Bhattathiri and Ambika Thampuratti.Manorama had seven children.According to C Rajendran,who was Head of the Dept of Sanskrit,Calicut University,her lament at the plight of having been forced to be the life partner of an illiterate Nambudiri,was matched by her romantic epistles addressed to,Prince Aswathi Thirunal of Travancore.If true,she had another affair.  Aswathi Thirunal Rama Varma was Dharma Raja Rama Varma's nephew,who was an art lover, co-ordinating the visits of,scholars,such as,Kunchan Nambiar,Puthiyikal Thampan,Mandavapally Ittirarissa Menon,Sadasiva Deekshithar,Kalyana Subramanya kavi,Pandalam Subramania Sastri, Marar who wrote Rameswaram Yathra Thullal,Nambudiri who wrote,Chathaka Sandesam,Idavettikattu Nambudiri,Neelakanta Deekshitar and records show,Kozhikode Manorama Thampuratti!Aswathi Thirunal himself was a scholar. 
Rameswaram Yathra Thullal,was written by a Marar of Ettumanur, Kottayam,based on Rama Varma's Rameswaram pilgrimage in November,1784,to immerse his mother's ashes there.She had died in May,1782 .There is a mention of Aswathi Thirunal,in it;the King says:
Nammude Marumakanunni
Nammude koode Porattippol
(Let my young nephew accompany me,now) 

Malabar Lady with Veena/Ravivarma

Aswathi Thirunal was the son of Queen of Attingal,Uthradam Thirunal,who was adopted from Kolathunad,in 1747.She married Kochu Koyikkal Thampuran of Thattarath Koil.She had another son,Prince Anizham Thirunal Bala Rama Varma,and both the sons were born in Sripadam Palace,Fort.Aswathi Thirunal became Elaya Raja or crown prince,in 1786.
As the first graduate among the princes in Travancore, as an eminent Sanskrit poet,play wright and writer of Kathakali plays,the young Aswathi Thirunal(1756-1794),was a better match to Manorama.Apart from completing Narakasura Vadham Kathakali play,of his uncle,he wrote four:Poothanamoksham,Rukmini Swayamavaram,Ambareesha Charitham and Poundraka Vadham.Among Kathakali play writers,he was known as,Vancheeswara Sreshtan.He wrote,Vancheesa Sthavam,Kartha Veerya Vijayam and Santhana Gopalam in the form of Prabandhas and one drama,Rukmini Parinayam.
It is also said that,Rama Varma used to live with Manorama at Mavelikara.Records show that Rama Varma,conducted a Yaga at Aluva in 1788,on a large scale,before Tipu's advent,maybe to block him.After the Yaga,he retreated to Mavelikara,for the adoption of two daughters,Parvathi and Uma,of Mahaprabha Amma Thampuran(1755-1832),of Chenga Kovilakam,Chirakkal,who had migrated during Tipu's aggression.She had five daughters,and the adoption was on October 26,1788.He celebrated Navarathri,there.The Dalawa,Krishnan Chempaka Raman, died in Thiruvananthapuram,and the King appointed Kesavadas as new Dewan,issuing order from Mavelikara.
The Travancore rulers during,1829-1924,had the lineage of the adopted daughter,Parvathi,who died on October 15,1893.Mahaprabha had three more daughters,Bhageerathi,Mahaprabha and Arya,and later,Sree Moolam Thirunal adopted,daughter of Mahaprabha,Sethulakshmi and daughter of Bhageerathi,Sethu Parvathi,on 30 August,19oo,leading ultimately to great friction,between the two.The last Maharaja,Chithira Thirunal,was the son of Sethu Parvathi,but Sethulakshmi was the Regent when he was a minor.At the time of Rama Varma,Mahaprabha and her daughters,stayed in the Koyikkal Palace,Arattukadavu,Prayikkara;later they shifted to the newly built Vadakke Kottaram/Valiyakottaram and stayed there,till,1837.
I spoke about the leak of Rama Varma's love letter in 1786-any guess,who was behind it?My answer is,you guessed right,Aswathi Thirunal.
Manorama was well versed in the annotation of Siddhantakaumudi.She was the first to write a commentary on Melpathur Narayana Bhattathiri's very complex,Prakriyasarvasvam,along with,Thrikkandiyur Govinda Pisharoti.Kerala Varma Valiya Koyil Thampuran did a second commentary,and paid glowing tribute to Manorama:

Vidyavidagdhar vanitajana vallikalkko-
rudyanami ruchirakerala bhuvibhagam
hridya manorama naresvari thante suktir
adhyapi kovidamanassu kavarnnidunnu
( To the vines of feminine geniuses excelling in scholarship
A garden this lovely land of Kerala here been!
Endearing Manorama-the human goddess-
Robs the hearts of wise men,with her fascinating verses)

Thus,Manorama was the first woman writer from Kerala,though not in Malayalam.

Valiyakoyil Thampuran

 

Tipu left Kerala in 1790,and Rama Varma,died eight years later,when he was 74.It is definite that Manorama went back to Kottakkal,because the 250 members of the family claim descendance from Manorama and her brothers,and they refer to her as, K C Manorama Thampuratti.It is believed,Manorama resettled there,after the death of Tipu,in 1799.She had to,because Aswathi Thirunal died,four years before Rama Varma,when he was just 38.

Two other prominent members from the Kottakkal family,were,K C Manavedan Raja,the Collector,who built Rajas' School,and M K Vellodi,diplomat.

Reference:

1.Martanda Varma Muthal Munro Vare/K Sivasankaran Nair

2.Padyasahithya Charithram/T M Chummar
3.A Primer of Malayalam Literature/T K Krishna Menon
4.From Veneration to Virulence:A Case for a Women's Literary History in Malayalam/Dr Jancy James/Social Scientist/Oct-Dec,1995
5.C Rajendran's speech in Kozhikode,The Hindu,June 3,2012
6.Mohiniyattam Missteps-A few Observations/ Methil Devika
7.Mohiniyattam:Charithram,Sidantham,Prayogam/Kalamandalam Sathyabhama
Courtesy: Sasidhara Varma of Mannurmadom Palace,Mavelikara,for Mavelikara genealogy.

See my Post,KOZHIKODE,COCHIN AND NAIRS IN LUSIAD

KOZHIKODE, COCHIN AND NAIRS IN PORTUGAL

The Epic speaks of casteism in Malabar too

It was in Francis Day's very mediocre history of Cochin,The Land of Perumals,I first read about the great Portuguese poet,Luis Vaz de Camoes(rendered in English as,Camoens),singing praises of Cochin,in his epic,Lusiad.As time went by,I found the final three cantos of the epic,with a total of 10 cantos,were devoted entirely to Kozhikode,and there was only a fleeting remark on Cochin,and it sang paeans about the fighting community of Nairs.

Listen to what the epic has to say on Nairs:

By the proud Nayres the noble rank claimed;

The toils of culture and of art they scorn,

The warrior's plumes their haughty brows adorn;

The shining faulchion brandished in the right

Their left arm wields the target with tight;

Of danger scornful,ever armed they stand

Around the King,a stern barbarian band.

The epic was published in 1572,and I am sure,within the next four centuries,the barbarian band has steadily progressed into a cultured band.

Camoes/Portrait by Fernao Gomez,C.1577

Camoes,not only wrote about Kozhikode,Cochin,Kannur,Kodungallur and Kollam,but,lived in the Malabar Coast and battled for the Portuguese;from the Malabar Coast he went up the trade route to Egypt and returned to Goa.He was deported to Goa,after a fracas with a palace official,with a punishment to serve three years, in Indies.His father,Simao Vaz de Camoes,had left for India,at an early age,seeking fortune,and had died in Goa.Camoes was the only son of Simao and wife,Ana de Sa de Macedo.Condemned to serve three years,Francis Day records,he served 16 years in India.When the promises of his bosses didn't materialize,he decided to return to Portugal,but the Governor who wanted to retain him,Day says,imprisoned him,to a debt of 200 ducats.His friends paid it,Camoes was free and wrote,Lusiad.

The facts are slightly different.

First edition cover of Lusiad

Camoes was born in 1524,and educated by Dominicans and Jesuits and he was fortunate in having his uncle,Bento de Camoes as Prior at the Manastery of Santa Cruz and Chancellor of the University of Coimbra.Camoes enrolled in the University,and it is believed,he fell in love with Catherine of Ataide,the Lady-in- Waiting to the Portugal Queen,and also,Princess Maria,sister of King John III of Portugal.These affairs and the discreet allusion to the King,in his play,El Rei Seleuco,may have played a part in his exile of 1548.After staying with friends in Ribatejo for six months,he enlisted in overseas militia,to Teuta,in 1549.In the battle with Moors,he lost sight of the right eye,returned to Lisbon in 1551,led a bohemian life,and during the religious festival of Corpus Christi,in the Largo do Rossio,had a fracas with Gonzalo Borges,member of Royal Stables,attacked and injured him.Camoes was imprisoned,but freed on the pleading of his mother to the King and the Borges family,for a fine of 4000 reis and three years compulsory militia service in the Orient.He reached Goa in 1553,on board,Sao Bento,commanded by Fernao Aloes Cabral.

Portugal stamp of Gama meeting Zamorin

Francis Day's account of the Governor,punishing Camoes,for retaining him in India,seems to be exaggerated,because,Camoes was punished initially after six months of his arrival,and imprisoned for debt.But he enjoyed Goa and famously said later,Goa is a step mother to all honest people.He battled first on the Malabar Coast,then along the Egyptian trade route to suppress pirates,and returned to Goa,in,1554.

At the end of the term of three years,he was made Chief Warrant Officer,in Macau,but was charged with managing the properties of missing and deceased soldiers in the Orient.He began writing,Lusiad,during this time of upheaval,in a grotto.Accused of misappropriation,he traveled to Goa to appear before the Tribunal.On return,he got shipwrecked,in the Mekong river,along the Cambodian coast,and the legend has it that he succeeded in swimming ashore,holding the manuscript,afloat.He saved the manuscript,but lost his Chinese lover,Dinamene.He reached Lisbon in 1570,and the manuscript saw light of the day two years later.It became a sensation and the ill fated, young King Dom Sebastian(1557-1558),granted him a small pension of 15000 reis.The King was killed a year later,in the battle of Akacer Quibir.

The day of Camoes' death,June 10(1580)is Portugal's national day.He was interred near Vasco da Gama,in the Jeranimos Monastery in the parish of Belem.He was born in the year,Vasco da Gama died.

King Sebastian

Lusiad,translated by Sir Richard Fanshaw(1608-1666) into English,is Portugal's historical poem,celebrating the nation's conquests in the East.10 Cantos of the poem has 1102 stanzas and Kozhikode/ Calicut appears in Canto VII.At the penultimate port,a friendly Moor,Moncaide, told the narrator of the epic,Lusiads,son of Lusus,or Portugal,or Vasco da Gama,that at Calicut,the Queen of India,lived the Zamorin,Lord of India,to whom all subject kings paid their tribute.And,then Gama sees,Calicut.

CANTO VI,STANZA 92:

Now splendid Morning tipt the hills with red

Whence rolls the Gange his sacred sounding tide,

When sea men percht upon the topmast head

High lands far rising o'er the prows descried

Now,'scaped the tempest and the first sea-dread

fled from each bosom terrors vain,and cried,

the Melindanian Pilot in Delight,

"Calecut-land,if aught I see aright!"

"The prows descried ",is explained in a foot note,as Mount Delli,near Kannur.

CANTO VII,STANZA 22

The Country-people call this range the Ghaut,

and from its foot-hills scanty breadth there be

whose sea ward-sloping coast-plain long hath fought

'gainst Ocean's natural ferocity:

Here o'er her neighbor Cities,sans a doubt,

Calecut claimeth highest dignity,

Crown of the kingdom fair and flourishing:

Here he entitled "Samorim" is King

 

Now,the encounter of Gama with Zamorin,translated into prose:

CANTO VII

 

Gama,adorned in his most splendid garments and accompanied by his train,also in bright array,entered the gilded barges and rowed to the shore,where stood the Catual,the Zamorin's minister.Moncaide acted as interpreter.The company passed through a temple on their way to the palace,in which the Christians were horrified at the graven images there worshiped.On the palace walls were the most splendid pictures,relating to the history of India.One wall,however bore no sculptures;the Brahmins had foretold that a foreign foe would at some time conquer India,and that space was reserved for scenes from those wars.

Into the splendid hall adorned with tapestries of clothes of gold and carpets of velvet,Gama passed and stood before the couch on which sat the mighty Monarch.The room blazed with gems of gold;the Monarch's mantle was of clothes of gold and his turban shone with gems.His manner was majestic and dignified;he received Gama in silence,only nodding to him to tell his story.

So,the Zamorin was not having a crown,but a turban!

In Richard Burton's translation(1880),Moncaide,the interpreter,is corrected to,Mon Sayeed.Maybe,Mon stands for Monsignor,but is has been clarified in the text that,he was a Muslim.Catual,the Zamorin's minister,has been explained by Burton,as Kot-wal,Captain of Fort.

After the meeting,Catual asks Sayeed to learn more about the new arrivals.Catual then goes to Portuguese ships.

 

Comoes with manuscript of Lusiad /Charles Le Grand

CANTO VIII

Catual sees the paintings.Bacchus appears to him in a vision as a Muslim priest,in Zamorin's court and convinces him that the explorers are a threat.The priest spreads the story,and the Zamorin confronts Gama.Catual,corrupted by Muslim traders,refuses to lend Gama a boat to reach his ship,and holds Gama a prisoner.Finally,Gama is released only after agreeing to offload all the cargo.

CANTO IX

Sayeed  reveals to Gama,a plot by Muslim traders to attack and kill him,and Gama's ship leaves Kozhikode.

CANTO X

The future is revealed by Tethys:Duarto Pacheco Pereira will defend Cochin,in battle of Cochin.Here,the martyrdom of St Thomas at Mylapore,is recounted.

 

Tomb of Camoes

From what I have abridged,the politics Camoes has weaved into the epic is amazing,but borrowed from Portuguese historian,Joao Barros. Portuguese in battle with the Muslim traders,at the same time,getting help from some lay Muslims like,Sayeed.That Camoes was a total Catholic has also been revealed,in the description of the journey of Gama from the port to the palace,when he records the shock of the accompanying Christians,seeing the Hindu idols.If we examine the work of missionaries in Kerala,from then on,the focus of their attack was on the many idols,while preaching monotheism.

Camoes,one eyed,with pen and sword

The surprising element in the vision of Catual,is the Muslim priest in the Zamorin's court,where by Camoes hints at the influence Muslims wielded with Zamorin.Though written 350 years after the visit of Gama,Francis Day,a Christian missionary,records in his book,The Land of the Perumals(1863),that the Zamorin never granted an audience,to a Muslim,which in turn,made Hyder Ali furious,culminating in the suicide of the Zamorin.Day has once again played the Christian/Muslim politics,which still exists in Kerala.According to Day,it was the custom of Zamorin to maintain 1500 Brahmins in his palace and while they were fed,he fasted.No Muslim ever had an audience with him.Hyder requested an interview,but the Zamorin declined and said,he will meet the Head Brahmin of Hyder.Hyder,imagining that a little fasting would bring the zamorin to a knowledge of his helpless position,sent rice the following day for only 500 Brahmins,on the second day only for 300,third,100,after which he stopped sending rice.Zamorin fasted for three days,then set fire to his palace,and perished in flames.Some women in his family and three Brahmins were also killed.

Of Course,the Zamorin committed suicide.But,Day's account,you will agree,is not secular.It was the Portuguese who brutally killed the erstwhile Muslim naval commander of Zamorin,Kunhali Marakkar,and hanged his dead body,in Goa.

Barros

Like many,I had also thought,the description of kozhikode by Camoes,was first hand.But,Thomas Moore Musgrave,in his translation of Lusiad(1826),has pointed out that much of the history has been borrowed from ,Joao de Barros'(1496-1570),Decades of Asia.Barros was one of the first great historians of Portugal, and Treasurer at the India House.The first three volumes of his book were published during,1552-1570.

I conclude by quoting two gems from Luciad, on casteism in Kerala.

CANTO VII,STANZAS 37/38:

Two modes of men are known;the nobles know

the name of Nayrs,who call the lower caste

Poleas,whom their haughty laws contain

from intermingling with the higher strain

..............

These Nayrs as sin and shame,forsooth,despise

the touch of outcasts and they fain believe

that,paradventure,if the touch occur,

a thousand rites must wash their bodies pure.

Four centuries have passed,and if Camoes were to reach Kozhikode today,would you ask him to delete these lines,or make it stronger?

Reference:

1.Translations of Lusiad by Sir Richard Fanshaw(1655) , Sir Richard Burton(1880),Thomas Moore Musgrave(1826) and William Julius Mickle(1778)
2.National Epics:The Story of Lusiad/Kate Milner Rabb
3.The Land of Perumals/Francis Day

 

See my Post, A CHRISTIAN IN MALABAR ROYAL FAMILY

 

 

LIFE AND LOVES OF CATHERINE COOKE IN KERALA

Thrice Married, and still adventurous

When Catherine Cooke set foot at Anchuthengu,after the monsoon,in 1717,with her third husband,William Gyfford, who was just appointed Chief of the East India Company's Factory there,she was determined to make a fortune.She had been once the wife of the Chief of the Company's trading Fort at Karwar,John Harvey,when she was hardly 14.The elderly,deformed Harvey was a spring board for her,brought up in abject poverty.

She had touched the Indian shore,on 7 October,1709,in Karwar,a west coast city in  North Karnataka,on a ship,Loyal Bliss,a slow ship,which was bound for Bengal,but strayed away,west ward.At Karwar,John Harvey,Chief of the East India Factory,received Captain Hudson and the passengers,Captain Gerarrd Cooke,his wife a son and two daughters among them.Captain Cooke,a poor man,had left two daughters in England.He had earlier served the Company as Gunner at Fort William,Calcutta,doing several incongruous duties.He went back,now to return as Engineer with the rank Captain.Captain Cooke's daughter,Catherine aroused interest in Harvey immediately.
The English Courteen Association had established a Factory at Kadwad village,six kilometres east of Karwar,in 1638,and traded with the Arabs and Africans.It merged with the Company in 1649,and fighting ships were built on the harbor.When Catherine arrived,Karwar was part of the Maratha Empire.

Karwar Fort

Harvey,enamored by Catherine,forgot to report to Bombay,the arrival of Loyal Bliss,and was reprimanded,in due course.Captain Cooke was in a hurry to get back to Bengal,and on Octoberr 22, the ship started off to Bengal,leaving Catherine at Karwar.Harvey,who  had made little money in private trade, decided to resign by the end of 1710 and return to England.Robert Mence replaced him at Karwar.
Harvey and Catherine reached Bombay in April,1711,and as usual with the employees of the Company,found their accounts mixed up with that of the Company,and cannot leave India,unless a settlement was made.The employees of he Company were not paid well,and they were doing private trade using the Company's money.Harvey had leased out his vessel,Salamander to the Company,and the Company found that he had taken twice the amount from the Company's chest,and he was asked to pay back,402 pagodas,17 Jett and 4 paise.He replied in August that he has a chest of pillar dollars at Thalassery weighing 289 lbs,3 ozs and 10 darts.He requested the Company to credit it at Thalassery and pay him in Bombay.
With Harvey,old enough to be her grandpa,Catherine made two important acquaintances in Bombay,which were destined to have considerable influence in her future life.They were Thomas Chown and William Gyfford.After trading 21 days in the Yemeni port of Mocha,the ship,Godolphin ,arrived in Bombay,on August 5,and anchored outside,taking a risk,considering the bad weather.It wrecked in the night,at the foot of Malabar Hill,and Thomas Chown,Second Supercargo of the ship,was among the survivors.He lost all possessions.Gyfford had joined the Company six years before,at age,17.

Kanhoji Angre

Mence died at Karwar in October,and it was found he owed the Company,1700 pagodas,which he had pumped into private trade.Harvey and Catherine traveled to Karwar,to settle some pending individual accounts, with Miles Fleetwood,who was appointed  the new Chief.Four months later,Harvey died at Karwar,leaving a girl widow.Catherine remained there,asserting her claims on Harvey's estate,since he had not made a will.Chown was sent to Karawar as a Factor,two months later and he married Catherine,soon after.After selling Harvey's properties,Catherine was paid by the Company,13146 rupees,1 panam and 12 budgerooks.She and Chown decided to settle in Bombay and boarded the ketch,Anne,on November 3,1712,which had carried pepper and wax as cargo.It was accompanied by Governor William Aislabie's yacht and small frigate,Defiance,for protection from pirates.In the same night,the Maratha Admiral,Kanhoji Angre(Konajee Angria/Sarkhel Angre)and his force swooped in,and the British vessels surrendered.In the heavy action,Chown had his arm torn off by cannon shots and he died in Catherine's arms.Catherine,who was 18,and expecting a child,was taken as prisoner to Colaba,with 17 others.In the absence of the Governor,who was in Surat,the Company wrote a letter to Angre,requesting the release of the prisoners.After a month,the British paid a ransom of Rs 30,000 and the prisoners were released to Lieutenant  Mackintosh,on February 22,1713.Mackintosh had to wrap his clothes around Catherine,to cover her nakedness.The Company paid her an installment of Rs 1000 from Harvey's estate and 100 xeraphims as monthly allowance.The English had called Angre,a pirate,while for Indians,he is the father of Indian Navy,who remained undefeated,till his death,in 1729.The descendants of Angre continued his fight,and Francis Day's The Land of the Perumals ,records ,Angre's 'piratorial fleet' consisting of 7 grabs and 6 galleys appeared in Cochin in 1749,but sailed away.In 1754,they attacked,three Dutch vessels:the Wemmenum with 50 guns,Vreede with 30 guns and the barque,Jaccatra,with 18.The first two took fire and blew up,the third surrendered.

Angre Samadhi

William Gyfford married Catherine,within a short while,with the Governor's approval.Alexander Hamilton has recorded that,his friend and East India Company representative,Captain Solomon Lloyd had married without the Governor's approval-Governor Sir John Gayer dissolved it and then his son married the bride(after that,he married the daughter of Dr Alexander Orme,Chief at Anchuthengu).Catherine bombarded the Company with letters of claims,and she was paid Rs 7492 in October,from Harvey's estate.Gyfford,who was a favorite of the Governor,was made in charge of the Bombay market,and 18 months after his marriage,was made Supercargo of Catherine,trading to Mocha.After two years,he was appointed Chief at Anchuthengu.
When Catherine and Gyfford arrived at Anchuthengu,the Factory was totally corrupt.When Nicholas Waite took over as the Governor in 1704,John Brabourne had left Anchuthengu,for Madras,because,he didn't get money or instructions from Waite,leaving the Fort to,Simon Cowse,a private trader.Cowse fought with the Merchant Second,John Kyffin.Gyfford was sent when the Company caught Kyffin in charges of private trade and corruption.Gyfford followed the same corrupt practices,joined the Linguist at the Factory, Ignatio Malheiro in spreading communal friction.Gyfford did private trade with the brigantine,Thomas,commanded by Catherine's brother,Thomas Cooke.Though 1720 was quiet,the situation got charged when a strumpet of Malheiro,smeared powder on a Muslim trader,on an Ash Wednesday.Gyfford and his team of 132 were massacred on 14 April,1721,in the premises of the Attingal palace.
Only four males were left at the Factory,apart from the women,children and pensioners:The store keeper,Robert Sewell,Lt Peter Lapthorne,Ensign Thomas Davis and the Gunner,Samuel Ince.Only Ince was loyal to the Company,while others were plundering.Malheiro looted 1 lakh and sent it to Kollam.

On April 15 itself,Ince sent Catherine(no information on her child),Mrs Cowse and four children,Mrs Burton and two children,in a ship,Prosperous,bound for Ceylone.Catherine carried off all the records and the money,she could lay her hands on.She even tried to carry,Lapthorne,which was prevented by Sewell.So,the rumor,Gyfford was using her for his private trade has some substance.She gave hasty directions to Lapthorne to act as her Agent,and Lapthorne sent a letter to her,after she reached Madras,that what remained in the ware house was,two wiggs and a bolster and some ophium.
On April 25,two ships from Cochin,arrived at Anchuthengu,and on 1 May,Adams sent 52 soldiers from Thalassery.There was vigorous attack on the Fort on June 24.Midford,the new Chief arrived from Madras on 17 October,with 300 men.Sewell and Lapthorne were arrested.Dr Alexander Orme,who replaced Midford,reported that Gyfford owed the Company,559421 panams,and during Midford,140260 gold panams disappeared.Midford had drawn pay for 20 soldiers,who didn't exist.

Inside Anchuthengu Fort

Catherine landed at Madras on 17 May and she rejected the allowance offered by the Company.She joined her family at Calcutta,and the Bengal government extracted Rs 7312 from her.Rescue came to her in the form of Commodore Matthews.In November 1721,the English East India Company,with the Portuguese,planned a joint operation against Kanhoji Angre and to seize from him,the island and Fort of Colaba.For this, a Squadron of the Royal Navy was brought in under the command of Matthews,and thereafter,no non military Company servants led military expeditions.The campaign,from the Portuguese side was led by Viceroy at Goa,Don Antonio De Castro.There was no co ordination between the Viceroy and Matthews.The 25000 strong Maratha force sent by King Shahu to assist Angria,defeated the joint force.In the night of the defeat, an angry Matthews thrust his cane into the mouth of the General of the North of the Portuguese,and treated the Viceroy in the same manner,forcing them to ditch the English,and seek peace with the Marathas.                                                                                        
So,with no military job left,Matthews challenged the Company,with his private trade.
When  Matthews reached Hooghly in September,1722,Catherine met him.He told the Bengal Council that Catherine was under the protection of the Throne.When the Company attached the brigantine,Thomas,Matthews produced papers showing,he had bought Catherine's shares in it much before the attachment.Matthews took Catherine to Bombay,put her in the ship,Lyon,lest the Company would arrest her.In 1723,she began living with him.The Company claimed she owed 9000 pounds.At the end of the year,Matthews visited Thalassery and Anchthengu,probing her claims,and in July 1724,Lyon reached Portsmouth,carrying Catherine.The Company ignored her for some time,concentrating on Matthews.When the Company moved against her after two years,she claimed 10,000 pounds from the Company as the amount spent for the presents,Gyfford had taken to the Attingal palace,on the fateful day of 14 April,1721.
Her cases continued,including one with her Agent at Anchthengu,Lapthorne.
She definitely deserves a bust,if not a monument,at Anchthengu!Unfortunately,no image of her is available.
Reference:
1.The Pirates of Malabar and an English Woman in India/John Biddulph
2.A New Account of the East Indies/Alexander Hamilton 
3.The Pirate and the Colonial Project:Kanhoji Angria/Derek L Elliot 
4.The Land of the Perumals /Francis Day

See my Post,MASSACRE OF THE BRITISH AT ATTINGAL

 

A BRITISH HISTORIAN FROM KERALA

Robert Orme was an authority on India

 Robert Orme was a historian admired in his time,inspiring Thomas Macaulay,Walter Scott and William Makepeace Thackeray and the like,but later displaced by historians from James Mill onwards.His work,History of the Military Transactions of the British Nation in Indostan from 1745,laid the foundation for all the future history works on India.For a person like me, born and brought up in the Southern state of India,Kerala,it was exciting to learn that he was born in Kerala,at Anchuthengu or Anjengo.He was born on  Christmas day,in 1728,as the second son of the Chief of the English East India Company Factory there,Dr Alexander Orme,and Lady Gill.Alexander had replaced the notorious Chief,William Gyfford,who was killed by the Attingal Pillai Brigade along with 132 Britishers,in 1721,on the premises of the Attingal palace,and the corrupt Midford,who followed,Gyfford.

Dr Alexander was a surgeon in the service of the Company,at Anchuthengu Factory,in 1707,later Chief,and the brother in law of the Chief of the Company's Thalassery Factory,Robert Adams.Robert Orme was there at Anchuthengu,only for two years,after which he was sent to London,only to come back to India in later years.

Robert was sent to his aunt,Mrs Robert Adams,when he was two, and he studied at Harrow School during 1734-1741,under Dr James Cox.He spent a year at the Accountant General's office of the Royal African Company,before joining the mercantile house of Jackson and Wedderburn at Calcutta in 1742 and entering the East India Company's service as a Writer,in 1743.His elder brother,William was  already a Writer at the Company's Calcutta office.Robert Orme gained a deep knowledge in Indian customs.
 When he reached India,he was a minor of 14,and found deeply involved in a family dispute.Captain Simon Lloyd,Orme's sister's husband,and representative of the Company, died in India in 1746.Mrs Lloyd had gone back to England by then.The will of Captain Lloyd bequeathed equal shares of his estate to his wife and daughter,leaving nothing to his young son,who was left behind in India.Orme,though minor,was the boy's local guardian,and fought the claims of his nephew,even bribing the Mayor of Calcutta,Captain Massey,and involving Jackson of Jackson and Wedderburn.Finally,Mrs Lloyd charged Orme,for misappropriating her money,and he admitted taking 5% as commission.

He considered Indians generally and Bengali's specially,effeminate, and attributed the climatic conditions for the character.In the 1761 article,The Effeminacy of the Inhabitants of Indostan,he wrote:Breathing in the softness of the climates,having few real wants;and receiving even the luxuries of other nations with little labor,from the fertility of their own soil,the Indian must become the most effeminate inhabitant of the globe,and this is the very point at which we now see him.

Robert Orme

Robert Orme left for London in 1753,but even before he set foot in his native soil,he was appointed member of the Council of Fort St George at Madras,during 1754-1758.During that period,he took part in the Council deliberations on the Carnatic operations,and was instrumental in sending the Young Robert Clive,as Head of punitive expedition,against Siraj-ud-Dowlah,in 1757,to Calcutta,on the aftermath of the infamous Black Hole incident of Calcutta in 1756.The Black Hole was a small dungeon in the Old Fort William at Calcutta,where the troops of the Nawab of Bengal,Siraj-ud-Dowlah,is said to have held British prisoners of war,after the capture of the Fort on 20 June,1756.One of the prisoners,John Zephaniah Holwell claimed that,after the fall of the Fort,British and Anglo-Indian soldiers and civilians were held over night under cramped conditions,that 123 out of 146 died from suffocation.Though,Holwell's claim was believed to be true then,now it is termed,Holwell's Hoax.
In Madras,he was appointed as Export Ware House Keeper and Commissioner for the Nawab's account.An anecdote told of Orme of this period,is recorded in A Vindication of General Richard Smith,published in 1783:
When Mr Orme held the office of Export ware House Keeper to the East India Company at Madras,he was remarkable for keeping the young men in the service at a distance.It happened that one Mr Davison acted under him in his office,in whose blunt John Bull manners there appeared something odd and diverting.The former had condescended to invite the latter to breakfast with him,in the course of which he asked Mr Davison,of what profession his father was."A Sadler Sir",replied the other."A Sadler!",repeated the Historian with some degree of surprise;"Why he did not breed you up a Sadler?","Why Sir,"says Davison,"I was always a whimsical boy,and rather chose to try my fortune as you have done in the East India Company's service."But pray Sir", continued he,"What profession was your father of?"."My father Sir",Mr Orme answered sharply,"was a gentleman"."A gentleman!-humph-Pray Sir,be as good to inform me why he did not breed you up a gentleman?".

Black Hole site

Robert Orme's long term friendship with Clive broke off about 1769,for unknown reasons.

He was the Accountant General during 1757-58,made a small fortune and returned to England in 1759.The ship,Grantham,in which he sailed,was captured by the French on January 1,1759 and taken to Mauritius.He reached Nantes,France a year later.He bought a house in Harley Street,London,spent  his time writing.History of the Military Transactions was published in three volumes in 1763-78 and,Historical Fragments of the Mogul Empire,the Morattoes and English Concerns in Industan from 1659,was published in 1782.From 1769,till his death,he was the paid Historiographer of the East India Company.It was on the strength of his Military History,he was appointed the Historiographer,and the military encounters of the British came through the writings of Robert Orme.It formed the foundation for many other works on India.Walter Scott had read the book in his youth and he relied heavily upon Robert for his novels,including,The Surgeon's Daughter,based in India.The Newcomes of Thackeray,invokes Orme frequently.

Fort William

While in India,Orme fulfilled the role of the Antiquarian,collecting documents and private correspondence,that upon his death,his collection consisted of 51 volumes of printed matter and 231 volumes of manuscripts.

Orme was familiar with the machinations,intrigues and corruption that infected policy making in India.He deliberately chose to write military history than political.Orme's History opens with a description of Indian society in what he thinks that Hindus,have from time immemorial been as addicted to commerce,as they are averse to war.They have,therefore,always been immensely rich and have always remained incapable of defending their wealth.

I have deliberately quoted this line,for the benefit of the politicians and others,who shout India is a poor country.If you doubt again,you should read Jeffrey Mo0rehouse'  India Britannica,to understand,India was 15 times richer than Britain,at the end of world war II.Who on earth wants to colonize a poor,devastated country?

Orme criticizes the lack of military order and discipline in India.I quote:The rudeness of the military art in Industan can scarcely be imagined but by those who have seen it.The infantry consists in a multitude of people assembled together without regard to rank and file.Some with swords and targets,who can never stand the shock of a body of a horse:some bearing matchlocks,which in he best of order can produce but a very uncertain fire:some armed with lances too long or too weak to be of any service even if ranged with the utmost regularity of discipline.

Macaulay said:Orme,inferior to no English historian in style and power of painting,is minute even to tediouness.In one volume he allots,on an average a closely printed quarto page to the events of every forty eight hours.The consequence in that his narrative,though one of the most authentic and one of the finely written in our language,has never been very popular,and is now scarcely ever read. 

Few passages in Macaulay's own,Essay on Clive,are borrowed from Orme.

Even his close friends didn't know Orme was married-it came to light only when the Company decided to give an annuity to his widow.He died in Great Ealing, Middlesex,where he had shifted after disposing off the house in Harley Street,on 13 January,1801.

Note:

Some of the Chiefs at Anchuthengu:

Thomas Mitchell 1685

John Brabourne 1685,1707

Simon Cowse 1707-1712

John Kyffin 1712-1717

William Gyfford 1717-1721

Midford 1721-1723

Dr Alexander Orme 1723

J Whitehall 1759-1769

P E Wrench 1769-1772

James Forbes 1772

Reference:

Romantic Representation of British India/Ed.Michael J Franklin
2.Vestiges of Old Madras,Vol 1/H O Love

See my Post,MASSACRE OF THE BRITISH AT ATTINGAL,1721