Fw: Travancore

[Kasturi Rangan]

Dear All,

 

I know that generally, Engineers are not students of history. Still I think in the context of the new found interest in Travancore, many of us would like to know a short bit of Trav. history - here it is

 

AKR

Subject: A brief history of Travancore

 

Travancore

Travancore Kingdom of Travancore തിരുവിതാംകൂര്‍ 1729–1949
Flag Coat of arms
Anthem Vancheesamangalam (Hail the Lord of Vanchi)
Capital	Padmanabhapuram Thiruvananthapuram
Language(s)	Malayalam, Tamil, English
Religion	Hindu, Malayalee Christianity, Islam
Government	Absolute monarchy Princely state (1858-1949)
Maharaja
- 1729–1758 (first)-	Marthanda Varma
- 1829–1846 (peak)-	Swathi Thirunal
- 1931–1949 (last)	Chithra Thirunal
History
- Established	1729
- Disestablished	1949

Princely states of India
Salute state Chamber of Princes Doctrine of lapse Privy Purse Instrument of Accession
Individual residencies
Hyderabad Jammu & Kashmir Travancore Sikkim
Agencies
Baluchistan Deccan States Gwalior North-West Frontier Punjab States Rajputana Central India Eastern States
Lists
List of states (regional) List of states (alphabetical) List of current pretenders

Kingdom of Travancore
Part of History of Kerala
Travancore Kings
Marthanda Varma	1729-1758
Dharma Raja	1758-1798
Balarama Varma	1798-1810
Gowri Lakshmi Bayi‡	1810-1815
Gowri Parvati Bayi‡	1815-1829
Swathi Thirunal	1829-1846
Uthram Thirunal	1846-1860
Ayilyam Thirunal	1860-1880
Visakham Thirunal	1880-1885
Moolam Thirunal	1885-1924
Sethu Lakshmi Bayi‡	1924-1931
Chithira Thirunal	1931-1949
‡ Regent Queens
Capitals
Padmanabhapuram	1729-1795
Thiruvananthapuram	1795-1949
Palaces
Padmanabhapuram Palace
Kilimanoor palace
Kuthira Malika
Kowdiar Palace

Kingdom of Travancore Malayalam: തിരുവിതാംകൂര്‍, tiruvitāṁkūr [t̪iɾuʋit̪aːɱkuːr]) was a former Hindu feudal kingdom (1729-1858) and Indian Princely State (1858-1949) with its capital at Trivandrum ruled by the Travancore Royal Family. The Kingdom of Travancore comprised most of modern day southern Kerala, Kanyakumari district, and the southernmost parts of Tamil Nadu. The state's flag was red with a silver, dextrally-coiled, sacred conch shell (Turbinella pyrum). Its ruler was accorded a 19-gun salute by the British Empire.

King Marthanda Varma (1729-1758) is usually credited as the "founder of Kingdom of Travancore" from the feudal kingdom of Venad. The rulers of Venad trace their relations back to the Ay kingdom and the Later Chera kingdom. Marthanda Varma crowned in his twenties, successfully suppressed the feudal lords, defeated the local kingdoms of Attingal, Kollam (Desinganad), Kayamkulam, Kottarakara (Ilayidathu Swaroopam), Pandalam, Ambalapuzha, Kottayam, Changanassery, Meenachil, Karappuram, and Alangad and fought numerous battles against the Dutch and the kingdom of Cochin with the help of the British East India Company. In the famous Battle of Colachel (1741), Marthanda Varma's Nair army defeated the Dutch East India Company, resulting in the complete eclipse of Dutch power in Malabar. In this battle, Marthanda Varma captured the Flemish admiral of the VOC Eustachius De Lannoy who would later modernize the Travancore army by introducing better firearms and artillery. This battle in the Travancore-Dutch War (1739–1753) is considered the earliest example of an organized Asian power overcoming European military technology and tactics; and it signaled the decline of Dutch power in India. He was also successful in defeating the Zamorin of Calicut in a battle at Purakkad. Ramayyan Dalawa, the Prime Minister (1737-1756) of Marthanda Varma, also played an important role in this consolidation and expansion. During the reign of Dharma Raja, Marthanda Varma's successor, Tipu Sultan, the de facto ruler of Kingdom of Mysore and the son of Hyder Ali attacked Travancore as a part of Mysore invasion of Kerala. This attack was the event lead to the famous Third Anglo-Mysore War. In the time of king Balarama Varma, Velu Thampi Dalawa, the Prime Minister of Travancore, started an armed rebellion, but failed to succeed. With the next few decades Travancore became a Princely state- a nominally sovereign entity of the Empire of India which was not administered by the British, but rather by an Indian ruler, while the British Crown had suzerainty or paramountcy, completely controlled the state's external relations and exercised a degree of indirect rule over its internal affairs

Chithira Thirunal, the last king of Travancore, made the Temple Entry Proclamation in 1936 abolishing the ban on low-caste people from entering Hindu Temples. For this won him praise from across India, most notably from Mohandas Gandhi. However, at the same time, C. P. Ramaswami Iyer, Chithira Thirunal's Prime Minister, is remembered for the ruthless suppression of the Communist-organized Punnapra-Vayalar uprising in reaction to his speeches for the creation of an "American model" of executive in Travancore, and his controversial stand in favour of an independent Travancore within India. Historians like A Sreedhara Menon estimates that over a thousand people were killed during the Punnapra-Vayalar uprising. When United Kingdom accepted demands for a partition and announced its intention to quit India within a short period, the king of Travancore desired to declare himself independent.Supported by C. P. Ramaswami Iyer, Chithira Thirunal issued a declaration of independence on June 18, 1947. As Travancore's declaration of independence was unacceptable to India, negotiations were started with the Diwan by the Government of India. Family sources indicate that C. P. Ramaswami Iyer, himself, was not in favour of independence but only greater autonomy and that a favourable agreement had been reached between C. P. Ramaswami Iyer and the Indian representatives by July 23, 1947 and accession to the Indian Union could not be carried out only because it was pending approval by Chitira Thirunal. Nevertheless, an assassination attempt was made on C. P. on the July 25, 1947 by the Communists. He survived with multiple stab wounds and hastened the accession of Travancore state to the Indian Union soon after his recovery.Travancore and the princely state of Cochin merged on 1 July 1949 to form the Indian state of Travancore-Cochin. Later Travancore-Cochin joined with the Malabar district of the Madras State (modern day Tamil Nadu), on 1 November 1956, to form the Indian state of Kerala. The last Maharajah was Chithira Thirunal and the last Prime Minister was PGN Unnithan.

Geography

Map of Travancore in 1871

Travancore (and Venad) was located on the Malabar Coast, South India in present day southern districts Kerala state and Tamil Nadu. The rulers of Travancore were named Sri Padmanabha-dasan - servant of Padmanabha (Padmanabha is an aspect of Vishnu). The former Kingdom's geography is defined by three natural terrains - a coastal area to the west(Arabian Sea), a midland in the centre and mountain peaks (Western Ghats) as high as 9,000 feet on the east.

History of Travancore

Venad Swaroopam

Main article: Venad

Kerala in 15th century

Venad was a former state at the tip of the Indian Subcontinent, traditionally ruled by Venattadis. The rulers of Venad trace their relations back to Ay kingdom of the Tamil Sangam period and the Later Chera kingdoms. Venad included most of modern day Kollam, Thiruvananthapuram districts of Kerala state, and the Kanyakumari district of Tamil Nadu. In the Sangam period most of the present day Kerala state was ruled by the Chera dynasty, Ezhimala Kingdom and the Ay Kingdom. Venad, ruled by the dynasty of the same name, was in the Ay kingdom. However, the Ays were the vassals of the Pandyas.

By the 9th century, Venad became a part of the Kulasekhara kingdom as the Pandya power diminished. During 12th century, the Venad dynasty merged the remnants of the old Ay Dynasty to them forming the Chirava Moopan (the ruling King) and the Thrippappur Moopan (the Crown Prince). The provincial capital of the local patriarchal dynasty was at Kollam. In same century, the capital of the war-torn Kulasekhara kingdom was relocated to Kollam and the Kulasekhara dynasty was merged with the Venad rulers. The last King of the Kulasekhara dynasty based on Mahodayapuram, Rama Varma Kulasekhara, was the first ruler of an independent Venad.

A number of kings such as Kodai Kerala Varma, Udaya Martanda Varma (1175–1195), Vira Rama Kerala Varma, Ravi Kerala Varma, Ravivarma Kulasekhara (1299–1314), Vira Marthanda Varma ruled over the kingdom. After the 14th century, the Venad rulers gradually intermarried with the Namboothiris, and sometimes with the Nairs, adopting the custom of matrilineal descendency. Later in the 16th century the Chirava Moopan became the ruler of Kollam (Desinganad) and Thrippappur Moopan became the Venad king. During the Madurai Sultanate, Venad paid annual tribute and during the Madurai Naicker period (1550 to 1801), yearly tribute was paid by the Travancore kings to a General of the Nayaks of Madurai, who annually visited the capital Padmanabhapuram (near Nagercoil of Kanyakumari District). The history of Travancore begins with Marthanda Varma who inherited the kingdom of Venad, and expanded it into Travancore during his reign 1729– 1758.

The rulers of Travancore were Malayala Kshatriyas belonging to Samanthan Nair caste. The Samanthan Nairs (Nambiars, Adiyodees, Pillai, Kurups etc.) followed a matrilineal system of inheritance known as "Marumakkathayam".

Formation of Travancore

Marthanda Varma

Marthanda Varma was a powerful ruler who expanded Venad from Kanyakumari in the south to Idappally in the north during his 29 year rule. He signed a treaty with the British East India Company and with their help destroyed the power of the eight feudal land lords called Ettuveetil Pillamar and "Ettara Yogam" who supported the Thampi sons of the previous king of Venad, Rajah Rama Varma.

In successive battles, Marthanda Varma defeated and absorbed the kingdoms right up to Cochin kingdom including Attingal, Kollam, Kayamkulam, Kottarakara, Kottayam, Pandalam, Poonjar and Chempakassery. He succeeded in defeating the Dutch East India Company during the Travancore-Dutch War (1739–1753), the most decisive engagement of which was the Battle of Colachel (10 August, 1741) in which the Dutch Admiral Eustachius De Lannoy was captured.

On January 3, 1750, (5 Makaram, 925 Kollavarsham), Marthanda Varma virtually "dedicated" Travancore to his tutelary deity Padmanabha of Padmanabhaswamy Temple (the Trippadidaanam) and from then on the rulers of Travancore ruled as the "servants of Padmanabha" (the Padmnabha-dasans).

In 1753, the Dutch signed a peace treaty with Marthanda Varma. With Battle of Ambalapuzha (3 January, 1754) in which he defeated the union of the deposed Kings and the king of Cochin kingdom, Marthanda Varma crushed all opposition to his rule. In 1757, after the Cochin Travancore War (1755–1756), a treaty was concluded between Travancore and Cochin kingdom, ensuring stability on the northern border.

Marthanda Varma organised the tax system and constructed many irrigation works in his kingdom. Admiral Eustachius De Lannoy, who was captured as a prisoner of war in the famous Battle of Colachel was appointed as the Senior Admiral ("Valiya kappittan") and he modernised the Travancore army by introducing firearms and artillery. Ayyappan Marthanda Pillai served as the "Sarvadi Karykar" (Head of the Army). Marthanda Varma introduced titles such as Chempaka Raman and honours such as Ettarayum Koppum to honour the lords and his relatives who had remained faithful to him during his internal problems with the Ettuveetil Pillamar. His able Prime Minister during his entire military career was Ramayyan Dalawa.

The Mysore invasion

Main article: Mysore invasion of Kerala

Marthanda Varma's successor Karthika Thirunal Rama Varma (1758-1798) who was popularly known as Dharma Raja, shifted the capital in 1795 from Padmanabhapuram to Thiruvananthapuram. Dharma Raja's period is considered as a Golden Age in the history of Travancore. He not only retained the territorial gains of his predecessor Marthanda Varma, but also improved and encouraged social developments. He was greatly assisted by a very efficient administrator, Raja Kesavadas, who was the Diwan of Travancore.

Maharajah Karthika Thirunal Dharma Raja

During Dharma Raja's reign, Tipu Sultan, the de facto ruler of Mysore and the son of Hyder Ali attacked Travancore in 1789 as a part of Mysore invasion of Kerala. Dharma Raja had earlier refused to hand over the Hindu political refugees from the Mysore occupation of Malabar, who had been given asylum in Travancore. The Mysore army entered Cochin kingdom from Coimbatore in November 1789 and reached Trichur in December. On December 20, 1789 Tipu Sultan attacked the Nedunkotta from north, starting the army movement called Battle of the Nedumkotta (1789). But, before completing the battle Tipu was forced to retreat due simultaneous attacks of English at Mysore and the damp weather. Virtually, Battle of the Nedumkotta (1789) was the event lead to the Third Anglo-Mysore War.

Velu Thampi Dalawa's rebellion

On Dharma Raja's death in 1798, Balarama Varma (1798-1810) took over crown at the age of sixteen. The Prime Ministers (Dalawas or Dewans) started taking control of the kingdom beginning with Velu Thampi Dalawa (1799-1809) who was appointed as the divan following the dismissal of Jayanthan Sankaran Nampoothiri (1798-1799). Initially, Velayudhan Chempakaraman Thampi and the English East India Company got along very well. A section of the Travancore army mutinied in 1805 against Velu Thampi Dalawa and he sought refuge with the British Resident and later used English East India Company troops to crush the mutiny. Velu Thampi also played a key role in renegotiating a new treaty between Travancore and the English East India Company. However, the demands by the East India Company for the payment of compensation for their involvement in the Travancore-Mysore War (1791) on behalf of Travancore, led to tension between the Diwan and the East India Company Resident. Velu Thampi Dalawa and the diwan of Cochin kingdom, Paliath Achan Govindan Menon, declared "war" on the East India Company.

Residence of the Maharaja of Travancore at Thevalli in Quilon

The kingdoms of both kingdoms, Travancore and Cochin kingdom, did not support the Prime Ministers openly. Initially, the rebel forces of Velu Thampi Dalawa and Paliath Achan Govindan Menon were successful and on December 18, 1808, they stormed the Residents house in Cochin. The situation changed when an assault on Cochin itself by the rebels on January 19, 1809 was forced back with heavy losses. Col. Leger led an army of the East India Company's soldiers through the Aramboli Ghat and occupied the forts of Udayagiri and Padmanabhapuram on February 19, 1809. Following this development, the king of Travancore who till then had refused to take any open part in the civil war, turned against his Prime Minister.

Adoption Durbar, Trivandrum

The East India Company forces defeated Paliath Achan in Cochin on February 27, 1809. Paliath Achan surrendered to the East India Company and was exiled to Madras and later to Benaras. The Company defeated forces under Velu Thampi Dalawa at battles near Nagercoil and Kollam and inflicted heavy casualties on the rebels, following which many of his supporters deserted and went back to their homes. The allied East India Company army and the Travancore soldiers camped in Pappanamcode, just outside Trivandrum. Velu Thampi Dalawa now organised a guerilla struggle against the Company, but committed suicide to avoid capture by the Travancore army. After the mutiny of 1805 against Velu Thampi Dalawa, most of the Nair battalions of Travancore had been disbanded, and after Velu Thampi Dalawa's uprising, almost all of the remaining Travancore forces were also disbanded, with the East India Company undertaking to serve the king in cases of external and internal aggression.

19th and early 20th centuries

Balarama Varma was succeeded by Rani Gowri Lakshmi Bayi in 1810–1815 with the help of the British. When a boy was born to her in 1813, the infant was declared the King, but the Rani continued to rule as the regent. The British Colonel Munro served as her Diwan. On Rani Gowri Lakshmi Bayi's death in 1815, Maharani Gowri Parvati Bayi followed her as regent. Both of the regencies saw great progresses in social issues and in education. Swathi Thirunal Rama Varma assumed the throne in 1829. He was a famous exponent of Carnatic and Hindustani music. He abolished many unnecessary taxes, and started an English school and a charity hospital in Trivandrum in 1834.

Maharajah Swathi Thirunal Rama Varma

Maharajah Visakham Thirunal Rama Varma of Travancore

The next ruler Maharajah Uthram Thirunal Marthanda Varma AD 1847–1860 , following the recommendations of the Protestant clergy of C.M.S. and L.M.S. associations abolished slavery in the Kingdom in 1855, and restrictions on the dress codes of certain castes in 1859. His acts on these social issues won him praise and was copied by the neighbouring State of Cochin. The maharajah started the postal system in 1857 and a school for girls in 1859. He was succeeded by Ayilyam Thirunal 1860–1880, during whose rule, agriculture, irrigation works and road ways were promoted. Humane codes of law were enforced in 1861 and a college was established in 1866. He also built many charity hospitals including a lunatic asylum. The first systematic Census of Travancore was taken on May 18, 1875. he also introduced vaccination in the country. Rama Varma Visakham Thirunal ruled from 1880–1885. He became the first Indian Prince to be offered a seat in the Viceroy's Executive Council and also authored a number of books and essays. He reorganised the police force, and abolished many oppressive taxes.

The reign of Sri Moolam Thirunal Sir Rama Varma 1885–1924 saw the establishment of many colleges and schools. When Jawaharlal Nehru visited the area in the 1920s, he remarked that the education was superior to British India. The medical system was reorganised and Legislative Council, the first of its kind in an Indian state, was established in 1888. The principle of election was established and women too were allowed to vote.

Maharani Sethu Lakshmi Bayi, Regent of Travancore (1924-1931)

Sethu Lakshmi Bayi ruled as the regent from 1924–1931. She abolished animal sacrifice and replaced the matrilineal system of inheritance with the patrilineal one. She ended the Devdasi system in Temples and was commended by Mahatma Gandhi for spending a fifth of the state revenue on education.

Maharajah Ayilyam Thirunal of Travancore (center) with the first prince (left) and Dewan Sit T. Madhava Rao (right)

The last ruler of Travancore was Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma AD 1931–1949. He made the temple entry proclamation on 12 November 1936, which opened all the Kshetrams (Hindu temples in Kerala) in Travancore to all Hindus, a privilege reserved to only upper caste Hindus till then. This act won him praise from across India, most notably from Mahatma Gandhi. The first public transport system (Trivandrum - Mavelikkara)and telecommunication system (Trivandrum Palace - Mavelikkara Palace) were launched at the reign of Sri. Chithira Thirunal. He also started the industrialisation of the state. However, his prime minister Sir C. P. Ramaswami Iyer was unpopular among the general public of Travancore. When the British decided to grant independence to India, the minister declared that Travancore would remain as an independent country, based on an "American model." The tension between the local people, led by the Indian National Congress and the Communists, and Sir. C.P. Ramaswami Iyer led to revolts in various places of the country. In one such revolt in Punnapra-Vayalar in 1946, the Communists established their own government in the area. This was crushed by the Travancore army and navy leading to hundreds of deaths. These events led to further disturbances in the State, leading to more killings. The minister issued a statement in June 1947 that Travancore would remain as an independent country instead of joining the Indian Union, and subsequently, an attempt was made on the life of Sir C.P. Ramaswamy Iyer following which he resigned and fled to Madras, to be succeeded by Sri PGN Unnithan. After these events, Sardar Patel threatened military action against Travancore should she not agree to join India, and the Maharajah, facing both internal agitation and external pressure, complied.

Cessation of the practice of mahādanams

The Maharajas of Travancore had been conditionally promoted to Kshatryahood with periodic performance of 16 mahādānams (great gifts in charity) such as Hiranya-garbhā, Hiranya-Kāmdhenu, Hiranyāswaratā, and Tulāpurushadānam in which each of which thousands of Brahmins had been given costly gifts apart from each getting a minimum of 1 kazhanch (78.65 gms) of gold.

Map of Kerala showing regional Nadus

The Nambudiri Brahmins had stipulated that Rajas of Travancore could retain their dignity of Sāmantan Nair permanently but the Kshatriyhood conferred on them by the yāgās and mahādanams would be valid only for 6 years and thus latter purchased kshatriyhood at a heavy recurring cost. During 1848, Lord Dalhousie the then Governor general of British India who was also an eager annexationist was appraised that the depressed condition of the finances in Tranavcore was owing to mal-administration and practices of treasury by the ruling elite.Lord Dalhousie, who was indignant at the colossal wasteful expenditure of Travancore state treasury through mahādanams among others, instructed Lord Harris Governor of Madras, warn the Rāja under the ninth article of the treaty of 1805. On 21 November 1855, Lord Harris dispatched a strongly worded communication to the then Rāja of Travancore alias Martanda varma (Uttram Tirunal 1847–1860 AD) that if he did not put a stop to his periodic re-incarnation as Kshatriya by squandering away huge sums of taxpayer´s money, among others, his state administration would be taken over by the Madras government. This led to the cessation of the practice of mahādanams and the Rājas of Travancore were unable to purchase their Kshatriyahood further.

Travancore after 1947

Travancore in the Madras Presidency in 1859

The movement for the unification of the lands where Malayalam was spoken as the mother tongue took concrete shape at the State People's Conference held in Ernakulam in April 1928, and a resolution was passed therein calling for Aikya Kerala ("United Kerala"). On July 1, 1949, the State of Travancore-Cochin was established, with the Maharajah of Travancore as the Rajapramukh of the new State. A number of popular ministries were elected and fell and in 1954, the Travancore Tamil Nadu Congress launched a campaign for the merger of the Tamil speaking regions of Southern Travancore with the neighbouring area of Madras. The agitation took a violent turn and some police and many local people were killed at Marthandam and Puthukkada, irreparably alienating the entire Tamil speaking population from merger into Kerala. Under the State Reorganisation Act of 1956, the four southern taluks of Travancore, namely Thovalai, Agasteeswaram, Kalkulam and Vilavancode and a part of the Chencotta Taluk was merged with Madras state. The State of Kerala came into existence on November 1, 1956 with a Governor, appointed by the President of India, as the head of the State instead of the Maharajah.

The Maharajah was stripped of all his ranks and privileges according to the twenty-sixth amendment of the Indian constitution act of July 31, 1971He died on July 19, 1991.

Travancore Maharaja's State Carriage

Rulers of Travancore

Main article: Maharaja of Travancore

1. Anizham Tirunal Marthanda Varma 1729–1758
2. Karthika Thirunal Rama Varma (Dharma Raja) 1758–1798
3. Balarama Varma 1798–1810
4. Gowri Lakshmi Bayi 1810–1815 (Queen from 1810–1813 and Regent Queen from 1813–1815)
5. Gowri Parvati Bayi (Regent) 1815–1829
6. Swathi Thirunal Rama Varma 1829–1846
7. Uthradom Thirunal Marthanda Varma 1846–1860
8. Ayilyam Thirunal Rama Varma 1860–1880
9. Visakham Thirunal Rama Varma 1880–1885
10. Sree Moolam Thirunal Rama Varma 1885–1924
11. Sethu Lakshmi Bayi (Regent) 1924–1931
12. Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma 1931–1949

STYLES & TITLES: The ruling prince: Maharaja Raja Ramaraja Sri Patmanabha Dasa Vanchi Pala (personal name) Varma, Kulasekhara Kiritapati Manney Sultan Bahadur, Shamsher Jang, Maharaja of Travancore, with the style of His Highness. The Heir Apparent: Maharajkumar (personal name) Varma, Eliya Raja of Travancore. The Heiress: Sri Patmanabha Sevini Vanchi Dharma Vardhini Raja Rajeshwari Maharani (personal name) Bai, Senior Maharani of Travancore, with the style of Her Highness. The Second Heiress, if mother of the ruling prince: Sri Patmanabha Sevini Vanchipala Dyumani Raj Rajeshwari Maharani Maharani (personal name) Bai, Junior Maharani of Travancore, with the style of Her Highness. The consort of the ruling prince: (mother's house name) Ammachi Panapilla Amma Srimathi (personal name) Pilla Kochamma. The sons of the ruling prince: Sri (mother's house name) (personal name) Tampi. The daughters of the ruling prince: (mother's house name) Ammaveetil Srimathi (personal name) Pilla Kochamma.

NB: all members of the ruling family receive two names, an official personal name and a name associated with the star under which they are born. The latter usually end with the suffix Tirunal.

Unique features

This section does not cite any references or sources.

Aswathi Thirunal Rama Varma of the Travancore Royal Family

When one looks at the recorded history of Travancore since its formation, and that of the geographical territory that comprised it before that, one is struck by some of its unique features. Religious and social tolerance was one of its notable features. The Jewish community considers this to be the only place on earth where they were not persecuted in one way or other.Christianity reached here before it reached many of the leading European 'Christian' territories, and that too brought here by one of the disciples of Jesus Christ - St. Thomas - who is believed to have reached here in 52 AD. Muslims consider this land to be one of the very few places where their messenger - Malik Dinar - met with no resistance. Not only that, the reigning King (the last emperor of the first Chera Dynasty) is said to have adopted the faith and left the land to live in Mecca. Unlike the situation in many parts of India, religious and caste based violence was very rare in Travancore, apart from a few incidents in 1821, 1829, 1858 and 1921, which themselves, when compared to similar riots elsewhere, were very mild. The Travancore royal family not only proved themselves as very devout and sincere Hindus, but also donated land and material to the construction of churches and mosques. This genuine concern for the welfare of all the subjects was reciprocated by the devotion of the people, and the example of the local Christians, who, during the Tranvancore-Dutch War, actively supported Maharajah Marthanda Varma against the Dutch East India Company, will suffice to highlight this point. This tolerance of different faiths was equally applicable when it came to social and ideological matters too. Every political ideology and social reform was welcomed here. The universality of education and the now historic temple entry permission for those considered as 'untouchable' throughout India, were unique to this part of the sub-continent. Unlike in the rest of Medieval India or almost all of medieval world, in Travancore (and in Malabar and Kochi), the social status and freedom of women were high. In many communities, the daughters (not the sons) inherited the property right up to 1925, were educated, and had the right to divorce and remarry.

Kowdiar Palace, Trivandrum

Travancore was also characterized by the popularity of its rulers. When the Kings of Travancore 'declared themselves as servants of Lord Vishnu and ruled His State according to His wishes' it was not a mere lip service. The Kings of Travancore, unlike their counter-parts in the other Princely States of India, utilized only a small portion of their State's resources for their personal use. This was in sharp contrast with some of the North Indian Rajas. When contrasted with the examples of Rajas in the north-west of India who utilized more than half of their State's revenues for their own uses, the simplicity and frugality of the Rajas of Travancore, and their sincere devotion to their subjects, are highlighted. Since they spent most of the State's revenue for the benefit of the public, they were naturally much loved by their subjects. This was so even in the context of the high-handedness of some of their Dewans.

Raja of Tranvancore's elephants

Dewans (Prime Ministers) of Travancore

Main article: List of Diwans of Travancore

• Arumukham Pillai 1729-1736
• Thanu Pillai 1736-1737
• Ramayyan Dalawa 1737-1756
• Martanda Pillai 1756-1763
• Warkala Subbayyan 1763-1768
• Krishna Gopalayyan 1768-1776
• Vadiswaran Subbrahmanya Iyer 1776-1780
• Mullen Chempakaraman Pillai 1780-1782
• Nagercoil Ramayyan 1782-1788
• Krishnan Chempakaraman 1788-1789
• Raja Kesavadas 1789-1798
• Odiery Jayanthan Sankaran Nampoothiri 1798-1799
• Velu Thampi Dalawa 1799-1809
• Oommini Thampi 1809-1811
• Col. John Munro 1811-1814
• Devan Padmanabhan Menon 1814-1814
• Bappu Rao (Acting) 1814-1815
• Sanku Annavi Pillai 1815-1815
• Raman Menon 1815-1817
• Reddy Rao 1817-1821
  
  Dewan Rajah Sir T. Madhava Rao
• T. Venkata Rao 1821-1830
• Thanjavur Subha Rao 1830-1837
• Ranga Rao (Acting) 1837-1838
• T. Venkata Rao (Again) 1838-1839
• Thanjavur Subha Rao (Again) 1839-1842
• Krishna Rao (Acting) 1842-1843
• Reddy Rao (Again) 1843-1845
• Srinivasa Rao (Acting) 1845-1846
• Krishna Rao 1846-1858
• T. Madhava Rao 1858-1872
• A. Seshayya Sastri 1872-1877
• Nanoo Pillai 1877-1880
• V. Ramiengar 1880-1887
• T. Rama Rao 1887-1892
• S. Shungrasoobyer 1892-1898
• K. Krishnaswamy Rao 1898-1904
• V. P. Madhava Rao 1904-1906
• S. Gopalachari 1906-1907
• P. Rajagopalachari 1907-1914
• M. Krishnan Nair 1914-1920
• Raghava Aiya 1920-1925
• M. E. Watts 1925-1929
• V. S. Subramanya Iyer 1929-1932
• T. Austin 1932-1934
• Muhammad Habibullah 1934-1936
• C. P. Ramaswami Iyer 1936-1947
• P. G. N. Unnithan 1947-1948

Source - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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[Usha Mohan]

Valuable information...When both History & Geography are mentioned, something comes to my mind...If the history of a girl is very good, her Geography is generally bad & if Geography is good, her history is likely to be bad...P.K.Mohan

---

From: Kasturi Rangan <akastu...@yahoo.com>
To: cetaa67 googlegroups cet <cet...@googlegroups.com>
Sent: Sunday, July 10, 2011 10:49 AM
Subject: Fw: Travancore

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[Suresh Sreenivasan]

Very informative mail

--
Regards
Suresh

[Usha Mohan]

TRAVANCORE or History-Geography?...P.K.Mohan

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From: Suresh Sreenivasan <maj.s...@gmail.com>
To: cet...@googlegroups.com
Sent: Sunday, July 10, 2011 12:04 PM
Subject: Re: Travancore

[BK Palit]

Kasturi very informative/interestin...........palit --- On Sun, 7/10/11, Kasturi Rangan <akastu...@yahoo.com> wrote:

From: Kasturi Rangan <akastu...@yahoo.com> Subject: Fw: Travancore To: "cetaa67 googlegroups cet" <cet...@googlegroups.com>

--

[hariharan Potti]

History and geography good are not enough and are super seeded by chemistry, that is everything ! 

The Venad Charithram was included in our syllabus and I still remember, about Ettu veettil Pillaimar, Ammachi Plavu in Neyyanttinkara, Ramayyar's shrewdness in capturing Ambalppuzha Desham, compiling two Utsavams at Shree Padmanabhaswamy temple, one Bhadra deepam each in 6 months,Murajapam after 12 Bhadradeepams followed by Laksha Deepam ( once in 6 years ), for the shapa moksha for the invasions for making a Venadu State by Marthanda Varma Raja, how Keshavan became Raja Keshvadasan, etc Our family was one of the invitees for Murajapam rituals, POTTI.

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Date: Sat, 9 Jul 2011 23:09:00 -0700
From: mohan_u...@yahoo.com
Subject: Re: Travancore
To: cet...@googlegroups.com

[RaveendranKutty P.G]

The mail by Kasturi on Travancore is really interesting. We studied History &Geography of Travancore in our Primary classes. Most of the informations were available in the form poems. I also remember participating in Chithira Aghosham and singing Vancheesa Mangalam. Changanasseri&Meenachil were never independant kingdoms,but were part of Thekkumcore kingdom with capital at Kottayam Marthanda Varma never invaded Pandalam,but the Pandalam Raja agreed to be subordinate to Travancore and pay annual Kappam. Over the years,this amount accumulated and after the death of Marthanda Varma,the next king annexed Pandalam. Tippu tried to invade Travancore twice.After Hyderali invaded Malabar, Travancore&Cochin states built a strong Earth Fort with a trench in front From Kodungallur on the sea side to the mountains in the east. Tippu was not able to cross the fort (Travancore lines) in his first attempt. In his second attempt after a few years,he destroyed the fort and reached up to Aluva and camped on the banks of Periyar river.There was flash flood in the river in the night and Tippu suffered some losses and had to return PGRK

[hariharan Potti]

Some more items were left :

A well connected water transport system right from Kanyakumai to Aluva. ( It is totally lost now, it would have reduced the present day congestion to a great extent ) 

A coastal, central and hilly road system, connecting TVM to places Kollam, Kayamkulam, Alappuzha ( up to Desham / Aroor ), Kottarakara, Kottayam, Vaikkom, Moovattupuzha, Pembavur, Aluva ( M C Road ), Ayoor, Anjal, Punalur, Pathanamthitta, Ponkunnam, Pala, Moovattupuzha.

As it was never under British Rule, Railway was not developed, as challenge a metre gauge line was laid in between Kollam and Chenkotta through the western ghats with 25 tunnels, later it was extended up to TVM.

Punalur paper mills, a company producing unbleached paper, it was used for writing with pencil because ink would spread, for recording purpose Perumal chetty pencil was used. The hanging bridge at Punalur is still an evidence.

The well irrigated Nanjinad with 2 popular dams by name Pechippara and Perinjani ( not concrete structures ).

The Sakhumugam Aerodram facing ARABIAN SEA, reducing built up runway length.

The WWW ( Willigton Water Works, Trivandrum ) 24 hours drinking water supply, with taps on the sides of roads ( now no taps ) from where one can take / consume directly drinking water, day / night.

The Hazoor Katcheri, an unique building without any Victorian influence, with a great lawn, land scape, garden, etc.

 FACT, Rayons, Rubber Factory, Rare Earths, were some of the pioneer Industries, which were never allowed to grow.   

Most of the Diwans were outsiders, may be that is the reason for such developments. POTTI.

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Date: Mon, 11 Jul 2011 02:13:58 -0700
From: raveendra...@yahoo.com
Subject: Travancore
To: cet...@googlegroups.com

[john s chandy]

Let me add :

Kottayam Cement Factory,

Pallivasal Hydro Electric Project and so on.

For head load men travelling to and fro  the market ,  Athani ( Chumadu Thangi) ( elevated table made of stones)  were provided at frequent intervals on the road . Athani came handy to download the head load for rest and then upload it on the head to proceed.

( Adhvanikkunnorkum, Bharam Chumkunnorkum, 

  Athani Ayullone Karthave Yesu Natha.........)

 Distributed Butter Milk ( Sambharam) for travelers .

Grew trees on both sides of the roads.

Aalthara (Baniyan Tree Platform) were made for every village for Panjayathu sessions, discourses, recreations, and afternoon siesta  normally near a temple or a Nalkavala ( Four point Junction).

Even now, one can find some Aalthara and Athani in central Travancore area.

Above all, for the best  Town Planning, credit goes to Raja Kesava Das. He designed Alleppey town, the Venice of the East.

At our V Subramanian Potti's place , Krishna puram, there was a

Dalava Madam, built by Ramayyan Dalava. My grand parents with

the family stayed there on rent for some time.

jsc

[J. Kayani]

Nobody disputes the honesty and good deeds of Travancore rajas;  they could have done more with the Nidhi.

 

This is like the father of a joint family not dividing his property among his children or leave a will.  It becomes a burden to the children; they may quarrel for the wealth or somebody may steal it.

[BK Palit]

kayani i agree with you....much more could have been done with the wealth/revenue... instead of keeping it sealed for your fut-er security...... see the dilemma.....no one really knows....what to do with it now...... if alleppy was designed as Venice of east.....kerala could have been...a European style state instead of a Marxist state of to day......and mallus running for gulf visas.... manslaio...??? for me its a great opportunity lost..... you can still amend with proper wisdom.... cheers....palit. --- On Tue, 7/12/11, J. Kayani <jtka...@gmail.com> wrote:

From: J. Kayani <jtka...@gmail.com> Subject: Re: Travancore To: cet...@googlegroups.com

[hariharan Potti]

Just for laugh ! Even after making so much good things they were able to keep such wealth in tact so far without any internal dispute, so they deserve more appreciation than negative comments; always Oliver wants more ! POTTI.
 

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Date: Tue, 12 Jul 2011 08:18:32 -0700
From: bk_p...@yahoo.com

[col parasuram]

hi,
We all aware of the Travancore royality well . what they have done
during their period is still in use. Hardly any new additions except
human and veh population.Humble living and high thinking was the motto
of the rulers..I came to understand they took simple food daily and
the same food is served to all in the palace incl servants.They
spend more energy on education and development instead of pomp and
show.
The wealth was saved with the Padmanabha swami so the same canot be
misused.If not the present day Rajas might have swallowed the same
long back. Now the time has come that He has revealed the wwealth .We
can study the background in detail from the Churinees decipher &
understand the purpose for which it is earmarked.and when?
All are bent upon how the wealth can be put to use.we may do it later
some time. In the mean time let us try to understand what is in store
in the scrolls.No hurry to loot

Parasuram

On 7/12/11, hariharan Potti <harik...@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
> Just for laugh ! Even after making so much good things they were able to
> keep such wealth in tact so far without any internal dispute, so they
> deserve more appreciation than negative comments; always Oliver wants more !
> POTTI.
>
>
>
>