Ram Singh Malam

Last updated

Ram Singh Malam [lower-alpha 1] was a navigator, architect and craftsman from 18th century Kutch region (now Kutch district, Gujarat) of India. When his ship got wrecked on a voyage, he was rescued by a Dutch ship which brought him to Holland. He learned several European craft skills there, which were introduced to Kutch upon his return. Despite being patronised by the ruler of Kutch for whom he built palaces including Aina Mahal and memorials, he is celebrated as a maritime folk hero whose artistic influence is still found in the region.

Contents

Early life

Ram Singh Malam was probably born in Okhamandal [lower-alpha 2] region at the beginning of 18th century in a Wagher caste and started seafaring from an early age. [1] [2] [3] [4]

At a young age, he lost his ship in a storm during a voyage to Africa and was rescued by a Dutch ship on the way to Holland (now Netherlands). [2] [3] [5] On the way, they were attacked by pirates but survived. He reached Holland with them and stayed for around 18 years. [3] There, he learned several European craft skills including glassblowing, architecture, stone carving, clock making, tile work, enamel work, gun-casting and foundry work. [1] [4] [6] [7]

Return to India

He returned to India when he was in his thirties [2] [3] and met several princes, but none were interested in his skills. He went to Mandvi in Kutch where his skills were appreciated by the locals. There, he met the Jadeja ruler of Kutch, Maharao Lakhpatji, in Bhuj who took him into service. He established a workshop of enamel work at his palace and the craftsmen in gold and silver all over the state were invited to learn from him. [2] [6] [8] [9] When Lakhpatji sent an army against Sumraji Thakore of Tera Fort to subdue the revolt, he used the artillery set up by Ram Singh Malam. It was the first recorded use of the artillery power in the history of Kutch. [10]

With the help of the Maharao, he visited Europe twice to hone his skills. Along with some apprentices, he is said to have visited Venice and Austria. When he returned, he established a cannon foundry as well as tiles and glass factories near Mandvi where the sand suitable for production is found. There, he made clocks and minutely copied patterns of European models and figures. [8] [6] [9] [4] He also established a handicraft school in Bhuj. [6] He was granted an estate of Kalyanpur village near Mundra by the Maharao for his service. He died of old age. [2] [6] [11] [12]

Architecture and legacy

Ram Singh Malam is celebrated as a maritime folk hero and songs written on him are still sung in coastal regions of Gujarat. [6] His influence on the architecture and decoration of Kutch can be still found. [1] His technique of enamel work is now known as 'Kutch work'. The pieces created in his workshop are now housed in various museums. [3]

He designed and decorated Aina Mahal (lit. 'Palace of Mirrors') in Bhuj for the Maharao Lakhpatji which cost eight million koris. It was built in Indo-European style and decorated with glasses, mirrors and China tiles and also had a pleasure hall; the palace is now converted into a museum storing a "europeanerie" [lower-alpha 3] collection including clocks, wares, mechanical toys, paintings and pictures. [13] [14] [4] He also designed the Old Palace built in Mandvi and the memorial cenotaphs of Deshalji and Lakhpatji in Bhuj. [2] These constructions demonstrate European influence in design and decoration. His characteristic sign in the architecture was merrymaking dutch boys with wine bottles and cups from whom he learned his skills. These buildings were damaged in the subsequent earthquakes. [2] [6] [7] [11]

Notes

  1. ↑ Alternative names include Ramsinh and Ramsang Malam. Malam literally means navigator.
  2. ↑ Now part of Devbhoomi Dwarka district, Gujarat
  3. ↑ An 18th century obsession of European things among the Indian nobles is called "europeanerie".

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kutch district</span> District of Gujarat in India

Kutch district, officially spelled Kachchh, is a district of Gujarat state in western India, with its headquarters (capital) at Bhuj. Covering an area of 45,674 km2, it is the largest district of India. The area of Kutch District is larger than the entire area of states like Haryana (44,212 km2) and Kerala (38,863 km2). The population of Kutch is about 2,092,371. It has 10 talukas, 939 villages and 6 municipalities. The Kutch district is home to the Kutchi people who speak the Kutchi language.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2001 Gujarat earthquake</span> Earthquake in India

The 2001 Gujarat earthquake, also known as the Bhuj earthquake, occurred on 26 January at 08:46 am IST. The epicentre was about 9 km south-southwest of the village of Chobari in Bhachau Taluka of Kutch (Kachchh) District of Gujarat, India.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anjar, Gujarat</span> Town in Gujarat, India

Anjar is a town, township and municipality of the Kachchh district (Kutch)in the state of Gujarat, India. Founded in 650 AD, Anjar is a culturally diverse town of historic importance in the region. It is home to several historic religious temples, including the Jesal-Toral Shrines built in honour of a fourteenth century couple, whose lives inspired works of art and cinema. The town was devastated by several earthquakes, including the 1819 Rann of Kutch earthquake and 2001 Gujarat earthquake. In recent years, Anjar has become a hub of manufacturing activity.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mandvi</span> Town in Gujarat, India

Mandvi is a Beach town with municipality in the Kachchh district (Kutch) in the Indian state of Gujarat. It was once a major port of the region and summer retreat for Maharao (king) of the Cutch State. The old city was enclosed in the fort wall and remains of the fort wall can still be seen. The city has a four-hundred-year-old ship building industry which is still functional and dhows, a type of wooden ship, are still made. Mandvi Municipality's 36 Seat Of 9 Ward.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Khengarji III</span> Ruler of Kutch from 1875–1942

Maharajadhiraj Mirza Maharao Sir Khengarji III Sawai Bahadur was a progressive and one of the longest ruling monarchs and also the longest ruling king of the Princely State of Kutch from 1875 to 1942.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Prag Mahal</span> 19th-century palace in Gujarat, India

The Prag Mahal is a 19th-century palace located next to the Aina Mahal in Bhuj, Kutch, Gujarat, India.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aina Mahal</span> Palace in Gujarat, India

The Aina Mahal is an 18th-century palace that is located next to the Prag Mahal in Darbargadh, Bhuj, Kutch, Gujarat, India. The palace was built by Rao Lakhpatji of Kutch State around 1750. Lakhpatji's master craftsman Ram Singh Malam designed the palace in the local style and decorated it in the European style with glass, mirrors and tiles. The palace had two floors; the first floor has the Audience Hall, the Pleasure Hall, the Hall of Mirrors and the State Apartments, and the second floor has the ante-chamber, Darbar (Court) Hall and Marriage Hall. The building has been converted into a museum which includes a "europeanerie" collection that includes clocks, wares, mechanical toys, paintings and pictures.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wagher</span>

Wagher, Vagher or Waghir is a jāti from the Saurashtra and Kutch regions of Gujarat in India. Some Waghers are Hindu and others are Muslim. They speak Kutchi as a mother tongue.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pragmalji II</span> Ruler of Kutch from 1860–1875

Maharao Pragmalji II, (1839−1875) was the Rao of Cutch, a ruler of Jadeja dynasty who ascended the throne upon death of his father & king Rao Deshalji II on 26 July 1860 and ruled till his death on 19 December 1875.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dabeli</span> Indian snack food

Dabeli, kutchi dabeli or double roti, is a popular snack food of India, originating in the Gujarat region. It is a sweet snack made by mixing boiled potatoes with a special dabeli masala, putting the mixture in a ladi pav, and serving it with chutneys made from tamarind, date, garlic, red chilies and other ingredients. It is garnished with pomegranate and roasted peanuts.

Maharajadhiraj Mirza Maharao Sri Madansinhji Vijayaraji Sawai Bahadur was the last official ruler of the Princely State of Cutch, from 26 February 1948 to 1 June 1948.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kutch Museum</span> Local museum, History museum, Art Museum in Gujarat, India

Kutch Museum is located in Bhuj, Kutch (Kachchh) district of Gujarat, India. It is the oldest museum of Gujarat which was founded in 1877. It is located opposite Hamirsar Lake. The museum was earlier known as Fergusson Museum.

Tera Fort is one of the many forts of Kutch, Gujarat, India. It is situated in southwestern Kutch near the village of Tera in Abdasa Taluka.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vijaya Vilas Palace</span> Princely palace

Vijaya Vilas Palace is a summer palace of ADITYA GELOT Maharao of Kutch located on the beach of Mandvi in Kutch, Gujarat, India.

The Warya are a Hindu and Muslim Rajput clan found predominantly in the Punjab and Sindh provinces of Pakistan and in the state of Gujarat in India.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pragmulji III</span> Titular head of Jadeja dynasty (1936–2021)

Maharao Pragmulji III of Kutch was the ruler of Kutch from Jadeja dynasty.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cutch State</span> Monarchy in India (1147–1947)

Cutch, also spelled Kutch or Kachchh and also historically known as the Kingdom of Kutch, was a kingdom in the Kutch region from 1147 to 1819 and a princely state under British rule from 1819 to 1947. Its territories covered the present day Kutch region of Gujarat north of the Gulf of Kutch. Bordered by Sindh in the north, Cutch State was one of the few princely states with a coastline.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lakhpatji</span> Ruler of Kutch from 1752–1760

Rao Lakhpatji, also known as Lakhaji, was the Rao of Cutch belonging to Jadeja Rajput dynasty, who ruled Princely State of Cutch as a regent from 1741 to 1752. Later succeeded his father Deshalji I in 1752 and ruled until his death in 1760.

Rao Deshalji I was the Rao of Cutch belonging to Jadeja Rajput dynasty, who ruled Princely State of Cutch as a regent from 1718 1752. His son Lakhpatji confined him in 1741 and ruled as a regent until death of Deshalji in 1752.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jayant Khatri</span> Gujarati author

Jayant Heerji Khatri (1909-1968) was a Gujarati short story writer.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Rushbrook Williams 1958, p. 138.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Sastri, K. A. Nilakanta (1959). "Ram Singh Malam of Mandvi". Journal of the Assam Research Society. Kamarupa Anusandhan Samiti (The Assam Research Society). XIII: 19–21. OCLC   565646864.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Parikh, Pravinchandra (January 2002). Thaker, Dhirubhai (ed.). ગુજરાતી વિશ્વકોશ[Gujarati Encyclopedia] (in Gujarati). Vol. XV. Ahmedabad: Gujarati Vishwakosh Trust. p. 806. OCLC   248968453.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Jethi, Pramod; London, Christopher W. (2000). "A Glorious Heritage: Maharao Lakhpatji and the Aina Mahal". In London, Christopher W. (ed.). The Arts of Kutch. Mumbai: Marg Publications and National Centre for the Performing Arts. pp. 48–61. ISBN   8185026483. OCLC   44835875. Archived from the original on 26 March 2019 – via EBSCOHost.
  5. ↑ Mehta, Makrand (3 October 2018). "આજથી અઢીસો વર્ષ પહેલાં યુરોપની ટેકનોલોજી ભારતમાં લઈ આવનાર કચ્છ-માંડવીનો વહાણવટી અને યંત્રશાસ્ત્રી રામસિંહ માલમ". Gujarat Samachar (in Gujarati). Retrieved 11 August 2023.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Vashi, Ashish; Mehta, Harit (20 February 2010). "Gujarati Sindbad built Aina Mahal". The Times of India . Retrieved 7 February 2019.
  7. 1 2 Mehta, Makrand (2009). "Ports and Maritime Trade of Kutch". History of International Trade and Customs Duties in Gujarat. Vadodara: Darshak Itihas Nidhi. p. 55. OCLC   439922062.
  8. 1 2 Rushbrook Williams 1958, pp. 138–139.
  9. 1 2 Gazetteer of the Bombay Presidency: Cutch, Palanpur, and Mahi Kantha. Printed at the Government Central Press. 1880. pp. 116, 143.PD-icon.svg This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain .
  10. ↑ Lethbridge, Roper (1893). The Golden Book of India: A Genealogical and Biographical Dictionary of the Ruling Princes, Chiefs, Nobles, and Other Personages, Titled Or Decorated, of the Indian Empire. London: Macmillan. p.  274. OCLC   3104377.
  11. 1 2 Rushbrook Williams 1958, p. 140.
  12. ↑ "કચ્છમાં છેક અઢારમી સદીમાં ઉદ્યોગ સ્થાપવાનું સપનું માલમે જોયું હતું" [A Malam had dreamed an establishment of the industry in Kutch in 18th century]. NavGujarat Samay (in Gujarati). 22 August 2018.
  13. ↑ Rushbrook Williams 1958, pp. 140–142.
  14. ↑ Watson, Paul (11 February 2001). "Treasures of India's Royal Past Among Quake Losses". Los Angeles Times. ISSN   0458-3035 . Retrieved 26 March 2019.

Bibliography

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.