The Travancore State Manual was a publication of the erstwhile Travancore kingdom, written and published under the statutory command of the king of Travancore. The Travancore kingdom was located at the southernmost tip of the Indian subcontinent, on its western side. The Travancore State Manual was written by V. Nagam Aiya, who was then working as the Dewan Peishcar in Travancore government service.
The section on the Fauna of Travancore was contributed by Harold S. Ferguson, Esq. (F. L. N., F. Z. S), who Nagam Aiya describes as "an authority" in the subject, "having spent nearly the whole of his life in the country, first as a Planter for several years on the Travancore Hills, then as the Guardian of the Princes, then as Commandant of one of the battalions in the Travancore army (Nayar Brigade), and lastly as the Director of the Government Museum and the Public Gardens at Trivandrum."
The writing
Nagam Aiya mentions that he was commanded by His Highness, the Maharajah of Travancore, to write the Travancore State Manual with the simple instruction that it should follow the model of the district manuals of the Madras Presidency, which was under English rule. However, he also mentions that the idea had been "broached" to him by Dewan T. Rama Row, C.I.E., about fourteen years earlier. At that time, Nagam Aiya had been working as the Dewan Peishcar and District Magistrate of Quilon. Even though the Dewan did obtain the Maharajah sanction for the project, the Dewan himself retired within a few months, and the matter was dropped.
However, the matter was revived by Dewan Mr. K. Krishnaswamy Row, C.I.E., in 1901. Nagam Aiya did a lot of pioneering, original research and work to obtain a majority of the information of this book. What came out was a book of an "encyclopaedic nature spread over a space of more than 1820 pages of letter-press".
Nagam Aiya may have had this project in his mind and collected information much before he started on this work. He started his work on this project as a full-time officer from December 1904.
Contents
The Travancore State Manual is a huge book not only on the antiquity of Travancore, but also of various other features of the place. A detailed study and examination of the physical features, geology, climate, rainfall, meteorology, flora, fauna, and archaeology of the place is also present.
Detailed writings are included on the following: geographical location, boundaries, shape and area of the landscape, mountains, plateaus, mountain passes, rivers, canals, backwaters, coastline, ports, shipping facilities, economic geology, climate, rainfall, meteorology, trees, medicinal plants, flowering and ornamental plants, birds, animals, architecture, sculpture, coins, inscriptions, forts and military works, archaeology, fauna, census and population, language, economic condition and various other topics. There are a number of photographs, including pictures of the stone inscriptions collected from various parts of the kingdom. The latter part of the book details the history of the localities that were later to be joined together to form Travancore kingdom. The delineation of history starts from the Parasurama legend, which is also mentioned in great detail. Then it moves to the times of the Perumals.
Mentions about the Malabar and Travancore coasts in the ancient maritime trade records are seen. Then the history part deals with the ancient kings. There is mention of a Kurava king, who seems to have been assassinated in a premeditated conspiracy.
There is either detailed mention or detailed write-up on items such as early missionaries, neighbouring kingdoms, accounts of travellers, Portuguese presence in Malabar and Travancore, Ettuvittial Pillamaar, Marthanda Varma, Zamorin, small kings and kingdoms north of Travancore, small-time rulers of Malabar, the attacks and occupation attempts by Sultan Tipu etc.
Velu Thampi Dalawa’s rebellion is dealt with in details. Even though there is sympathy, in a profound analysis, Nagam Aiya does not find Velu Thampi's cause correct or praiseworthy. The proclamation made by Velu Thampi from Kundara is quoted in an elaborate manner. However, a full reading of the same would not find it to be in sync with modern Indian aspirations.
Velu Tampi was a daring and clever though unscrupulous man. Rebellion was his forte.[1] His favourite modes of punishment were: imprisonment, confiscation of property, public flogging, cutting off the palm of the hand, the ears or the nose, impalement or crucifying people by driving down nails on their chests to trees, and such like, too abhorrent to record here.[1]
All rulers of Travancore since the reign of Marthanda Varma are dealt in reasonable detail. Swathi Thirunal Rama Varma's tragic life is mentioned.
Problems with the content
From the perspective of modern Indian history and sociology writings, this book has many issues which can make it a disturbance. The main problem is that it is written in an impartial and non-jingoistic manner with regard to caste and social issues.
Even though Nagam Aiya is a Brahmin, there has been no attempt to portray any group or castes as above blame. In fact, the detailing is so honest that many modern Travancorians would be unlikely to recommend this book for a detailed reading. The various false aspirations and claims of the various castes and the tragic sides of their lives have been portrayed with rare honesty.
The general culture of official corruption rampant in Travancore bureaucracy, which was more or less hereditary caste-based, is mentioned in raw words. The lower castes are also not mentioned in a praiseworthy manner.
The next item of jingoistic reproach would be the very obvious support to the English colonial rule. This feature can be felt in many pages dealing with the colonial times in the subcontinent. In the introduction of the book, Nagam Aiya mentions the following:
ultimate success of the English East India Company, our early friendships with them and the staunch support which they in return uniformly gave us through all vicissitudes of fortune, ultimately resulting in a strong bond of political alliance and reciprocal trust and confidence, which assured to us internal security and immunity from external aggression, thus enabling us to achieve the triumphs of peace and good government, until step by step we reached the enviable height of being known as the Model Native State’ of India. [1]
Additionally, King Marthanda Varma’s words on his deathbed are cited as follows:
That, above all, the friendship existing between the English East India Company and Travancore should be maintained at any risk, and that full confidence should always be placed in the support and aid of that honourable association.[1]
These kind of writings found in various parts of the book lends support to the supposition that Nagam Aiya was supportive of the English rulers in the neighbouring Madras Presidency.
Another item that can disturb modern readers in south Kerala would be the details given about the social revolts by the lower castes, such as the Ezhava, Shanars and Pulayar as pariahs for social and political freedom. More historical incidents are mentioned that point to the fact that this social upheaval was the handiwork of the English Missionaries from the London Missionary Society. Beyond that, it is mentioned that each time such social problems happened, the English officials from Madras exerted pressure on the raja family to give the freedom that was demanded by the lower castes.
However, Nagam Aiya does hint that the English rulers did not understand the present social issues. Even when the lower castes were given some freedom that had not been traditionally given to them, they used the occasion to go beyond what was allowed, which created social problems and rioting. The history of such incidents could potentially deprive the claims of some lower caste leaders that they were the persons who had spearheaded the social revolution in Travancore.
Another item that can be actively disliked is the statement that Malayalam, the former language of Travancore kingdom and currently the state language of Kerala, is of very recent origin.
Another fact disclosed by the statements already given is that the language of most of the inscriptions is Tamil. The reason here is equally simple. Malayalam as a national language is not very old. Its resemblance to old Tamil is so patent that one could hardly help concluding that Malayalam is nothing more than old Tamil with a good admixture of Sanskrit words. [1]
In fact, there is a strong hint that the actual antiquity of Travancore is Tamil. Almost all the stone inscriptions mentioned in the book are in Tamil, with a few in Sanskrit.
Sultan Tipu, who is revered by some as a great freedom fighter, is not mentioned in the superlative.
The Kingdom of Travancore, also known as the Kingdom of Thiruvithamkoor or later as Travancore State, was kingdom that lasted from c. 1729 until 1949. It was ruled by the Travancore Royal Family from Padmanabhapuram, and later Thiruvananthapuram. At its zenith, the kingdom covered most of the south of modern-day Kerala and the southernmost part of modern-day Tamil Nadu with the Thachudaya Kaimal's enclave of Irinjalakuda Koodalmanikyam temple in the neighbouring Kingdom of Cochin. However Tangasseri area of Kollam city and Anchuthengu near Attingal in Thiruvananthapuram were parts of British India.
Avittom Thirunal Bala Rama Varma was a ruler of the Indian princely state of Travancore from 1798 to 1810, succeeding his uncle Maharajah Dharma Raja on 12February 1798. His reign was a time of disturbances and internal and external problems. The revolt of Velu Thampi occurred during his rule. His great-granddaughter was the wife of Visakham Thirunal. Two ranis were adopted during the reign of Dharma Raja. They were Bharani Thirunal Parvathi Bayi and Uthram Thirunal Umayamma Bayi as the sisters of Avittom Thirunal. These princesses were the daughters of Chathayam Nal Mahaprabha Amma.
Venad was a medieval kingdom between the Western Ghat mountains of India with its capital at city of Quilon. It was one of the major principalities of Kerala, along with kingdoms of Kolathunadu, Zamorin, and Kochi in medieval and early modern period.
The Battle of Colachel was fought on 10 August 1741 [O.S. 31 July 1741] between the Indian kingdom of Travancore and the Dutch East India Company. During the Travancore-Dutch War, King Marthanda Varma's (1729–1758) forces defeated the Dutch East India Company's forces led by Admiral Eustachius De Lannoy on 10 August 1741. The Dutch never recovered from the defeat and no longer posed a large colonial threat to India. Travancore triumphed in the war thanks to the exceptional military efforts of the Travancore Nair Brigade at sea, along with the leadership of three Nair commanders—Arumukhan Pilla, Nanu Pilla, and Chembaka Raman Pilla—on land. Though in the war with Kayamkulam a regiment of Maravar from Tinnevelly under Ponnan Pandya Tevar also co-operated. It was the same army that defeated the Dutch at Colachel, where also the military genius of Ramayyan, not to speak of that of the Maharaja, was in conspicuous evidence.
Kilimanoor is a panchayat and a town in the Chirayinkeezhu taluk of Thiruvananthapuram district in Kerala, India. It is located on MC/SH 1 Road, 33 kilometres (21 mi) North-west of the city of Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum), 14 km (8.7 mi) east of Attingal and 20 km (12 mi) east of Varkala.
Rama Varma I often referred to as Dharma Raja, was the Maharajah of Travancore from 1758 until his death in 1798. He succeeded his uncle Marthanda Varma, who is credited with the title of "maker of modern Travancore". During his reign Dharma Raja not only retained all the territories his predecessor had gained but administered the kingdom with success. He was addressed as Dharma Raja on account of his strict adherence to Dharma Sastra, the Hindu principles of justice by providing asylum to thousands of Hindus and Christians fleeing Malabar during the Mysorean conquest of Malabar.
Velayudhan Chempakaraman Thampi ofThalakulam (1765–1809) was the Dalawa or Prime Minister of the Indian kingdom of Travancore between 1802 and 1809 during the reign of Bala Rama Varma Kulasekhara Perumal. He is best known for being one of the earliest individuals to rebel against the British East India Company's authority in India.
)Ramayyan Dalawa was the Dalawa of Travancore state, India, during 1737 and 1756 and was responsible for the consolidation and expansion of that kingdom after the defeat of the Dutch at the 1741 Battle of Colachel during the reign of Maharajah Marthanda Varma, the creator of modern Travancore.
Sri Padmanabha DasaSir Sri Visakham Thirunal Rama Varma VFRAS, also known as Rama Varma the Learned, was the Maharaja of Travancore from 1880 to 1885 AD, succeeding his elder brother Ayilyam Thirunal on the musnud, or throne. He was a noted scholar of Sanskrit and literary composer in Malayalam, who reversed his brother's policy, liberally patronizing poet Kerala Varma, while hostile to painter Raja Ravi Varma.
Odiery Jayanthan Sankaran Nampoothiri was an 18th-century Dalawa of the Travancore, a former Indian kingdom.
Rajah Rama Varma was the ruler of the Indian kingdom of Venad, later known as Travancore, in the modern day state of Kerala, India between 1724 and 1729, having succeeded his brother Unni Kerala Varma. He is better known as the uncle of Maharajah Padmanabha Dasa Vanchi Pala Marthanda Varma Kulasekhara Perumal, the "maker of modern Travancore". He was born into the Royal Family of Kolathunadu, as the second son of Rajah Ittamar of Thattari Kovilakam. It was princes from the Parappanadu family who customarily married Kolathunadu princesses. Rama Varma's entire family, including himself, two sisters and his elder brother Unni Kerala Varma, were adopted into the Venad house as members of the Travancore Royal Family by Rajah Ravi Varma, nephew of Umayamma Rani due to the failure of heirs there. Ittammar Raja's sister and her sons, Rama Varma and Raghava Varma, settled in Kilimanoor and married the now adopted sisters. Of the adopted sisters, one died soon after her adoption while the other was the mother of the Maharajah Marthanda Varma.
The Travancore royal family was the ruling house of the Kingdom of Travancore. The Travancore royal family signed a treaty with the British in 1788, thereby adopting British dominance. Later, in 1805, they revised the treaty, leading to a diminution of royal authority and the loss of political independence for Travancore. They had to give up their ruling rights over the common people in 1949 when Travancore were forced to merge with Independent India and their political pension privileges were abolished in 1971.
Diwan Bahadur Sir Veeraraghavapuram Nagam Aiya was an Indian pioneer, historian, civil servant, and chronicler who served as the Dewan in the erstwhile princely state of Travancore.
Pillai, meaning Prince, is a title of nobility which can either refer to a ruling chief, members of the nobility, or junior princes of the royal family and was mostly used by the upper-caste Nair feudal lords who were historically ranked as or immediately below the king. The oldest lineages of Pillais include not only Kshatriyas but also brahmins who took up the sword. From the early modern period, the title also came to be bestowed upon Savarna subjects by the Kings for services military or political, most of whom were of Nair origin. The Nair Pillai caste is unrelated to other Pillais. It is important not to confuse them with the Vellala Pillai, Chetti Pillai, illathu Pillai, etc. Some of them also use 'Pillai' surname in some parts of Kerala, they have distinct identities and no relation with Kerala title "Pillai".
The Battle of Nedumkotta took place between December 1789 and May 1790, and was a reason for the opening of hostilities in the Third Anglo-Mysore War. This battle was fought between Tipu Sultan of the Kingdom of Mysore and Dharma Raja, Maharaja of Travancore. Mysore army attacked the fortified line in Thrissur district at the Travancore border known as the Nedumkotta. The Mysore army was successfully repulsed by the Travancore army under the leadership of Raja Kesavadas, Dewan of Travancore.
Parappanad was a former feudal city-state in Malabar, India. The headquarters of Parappanad Royal family was at the town Parappanangadi in present-day Malappuram district. In 1425, the country divided into Northern Parappanad and Southern Parappanad. Southern Parappanad included parts of Tirurangadi Taluk and the town Parappanangadi. Northern Parappanad included Panniyankara, Beypore, and Cheruvannur of Kozhikkode Taluk. Parappanad royal family is a cousin dynasty of the Travancore royal family.
The Battle of Quilon was fought on 15January 1809 at Cantonment Maidan in Quilon, an important port city and business hub on the southwest coast of India. The conflict involved troops of the Indian kingdom of Travancore, led by the then Dewan of Travancore, Velu Thampi Dalawa, and a detachment of the British East India Company under Colonel Chalmers. The battle lasted for only six hours and is closely associated with the social and political history of Kerala.
The Battle of Changanacherry was a battle between the kingdoms of Thekkumkur and Travancore in September 1749. Defeat in this decisive battle led to Thekkumkur losing its dominance and expanding the Tranvancore empire to the southern border of the river Meenachilar.
Neerazhi Palace was the royal palace of the Thekkumkur kingdom. Palace is located at Puzhavathu in Changanassery. The palace was used by the Thekkumkur dynasty until 1750 and later by the Parappanad dynasty who settled in Changanassery from North Malabar. It was here that the last king of Thekkumkur, Aditya Varman Manikandan escaped to Nattassery of Kottayam in the Travancore invasion of 1790. The Neerazhi palace was earlier known as Neerazhikettu.
References
1 2 3 4 5 TRAVANCORE STATE MANUAL with foreword by VED from VICTORIA INSTITUTIONS
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