C H A P T E R - N

tJg&g RXM VARMAN - A HISTORICAL FIGURE.

PERSONAL DETAIIS a

~ a h s r i i j s SIri Rgma Varman, who is

famous a s the O ~ i i j a ~ s i O was tM King of Cochin

1 from 1895 to 1914. when he renounced t h e t h r o n s ~

' R & j a r s i O was t h e r e s p e c t f u l t i t le g i v e n by

h l s s u b j e c t s ? In f u l l , he i s known a s

@~j; i inavid~abhi i sanam S i r 6s; ~ G m a Varmn . . la CSM.p.3141 MSMD,1937,p.587tGCRF.p.19;

CRC.p.823;KC.p.414;KH.p.431tGJS.p.15;

SRvR.p. 43 CK3L.p. 261;KSC~V:p2211KS3C.Y.~1841

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ . 3 1 ; ~ ~ . ~ . 0 3 1 t R ~ j a ~ ~ i ( ~ . ~ . ) ~ . 14;

~ z i i j a r s i ( r l e r i o d i c n l ) PP. 36-37885 labodhonap,

I n t r o d u c t i o n . p. v.

1 1 ~~s~.p.261;R~jarsi(~.~.)p.l;~~jarsi(~eriodical)

p. 34rB8labodhansm, introduction.^.^. 1MsS6.g. 831 rSRVR. 1 n t r o d u c t i o n ; ~ ~ ~ ~ k 2 2 0 r ~ ~ t h r u b h ~ m 1

Dai ly ,Augus t 11,19968

3 ' K.S.S. I., G.c.S. I.. G.C. I.E., ~ i s t o x y d e s i g n -

4 a t e s him a s t h e f a t h e r o f Modern Cochin.

H e was b o r n o n meember 27,1852, i n

t h e Malayalam Month o f Dhanu 1 4 , 1028 under

t h e Punar t am s t a r ? H i s mother was Amba

of t h o 313nlor t 6 n i ( V n l t n n r m n ~ n r n ~ u r z n ) who - 3 1 CSM.p. 314tMljMl~, 1337,p.5U7;C;CT(E'.p. 19;KSSCvp

166tKSC\'r.222rSRVI<.pp. 5 1 - 5 3 ; ~ e j a r s i (B.B.)

p.23;Eiiilabodhanam I n t r o d u c t i o n . p . v ; * ~ \ ~ q .

V . * L . P . ' ~ S , V . S L , P . ~ I ~ , V . ~ S , p-C4b.

K.C.S. I, - Kn5ght Commander O f The S t a r Of

I n d i a .

G.C.S.I. - Great Commander O f The S t a r O f

I n d i a .

G.C.I .E. - G r e a t Commander'Of The I n d i a n

Empire.

4: GJS.p.12t~i i labodhanarn 1n t roduc t ion .p .v .

was t h e n i e c e o f i a k t a n Tampuran and t h e c o m o n

a n c e s t o r o f t h e p r e s e n t r o y a l fami ly o f Coch in

She was a women endowed w i t h r a r e q u a l i t i e s who

had g r e a t i n t e r e s t and t a l e n t i n music and

l i t e r a t u r e . H i s f a t h e r was the famous V e d i c

Scholar K G ~ l i i t tupuram ~ h z s k a r a n Anujan . . ~ a m p u t i r i ~ ~ z d u , who belonged t o one ef t h e

weal thy a r i s t o c r a t i c Brzhmin f a m i l i e s i n t h e 7 s t a t e .

Lord ~ g m a , a f t e r whom t h e p r i n c e was

8 named was a l s o ho rn under t h e Punartnm s t a r .

- - ~- ~~ - - - - - -~ --

7 r KSC.V.f 220tKSSCV.p.l83:GJS.p.12rSRVR.p.23; RBja r s i ( t 3 . B . ) p. 2;BZlabodhanam I n t r o d u c t i o n ,

B o t h o f them b e l o n g e d to t h e ~ i i ryavam6a . Peo- I -

ple compared S r i l l ama Varanan t o Lord ilana.

r ~ n r n a Vilrrnan had f o u r l i s t e r s a n d t h r e e

b r o t h e r s ? His s i s t e r s were K o c c i k k ~ v u Amma

~ a m ~ u r g n who was o l d e r t h a n him, and Ammu

Tampuran, Manku TarnpurZn a n d n m m i n i Tampur>n.

H i s b r g t h e r s were Koccu?nl Tampur<n, ~ u ; i j u n n i . . Tampurzn and Koccamrn3van ~ a m p u r ~ n ? ' I n t h e

C o c h i n r o y a l f a m i l y , women a s w e l l a s men were

11 q l v e n t h e t i t l e Tampursn.

H i s Vidyarambham ceremoney was p e r -

fnrmod whon ha was five!2 I n a c c o r d a n c e w i t h

t h e p r e s c r i b e d r i t u a l , the c h i l d was made to

i n s c r i b e S a n s k r i t l e t te rs on s a n d w i t h h i s z i n g -. ~

f i n g e r . A f t e r t h a t he was s e n t t o t h e P a l a c e

S c h o o l , which was e x c l u s i v e l y f o r t h e c h i l d r e n

of t h e r o y a l f a m i l y t 3 H i s f i r s t t e a c h e r was

~ G z h i k k u ! a t t u ~ u c j u n n i . . ~ a m b i a r , a n a b l e s c h o l a r

who was especially p r e f t c l e n t i n grammart* tiis

~ 1 s t - r r were i n school-metes. H e W A S R p l a y f u l

c h i l d and 11tA no t g i v e much a t t e n t i o n to h i s

s t u d i e s . H i s mother c o n s t a n t l y s c o l d e d him

f o r t h l ~ . i;vc.n a t t h ~ age of t w e l v e , he hnd

learned o n l y t h e alphabet!5 But ha was sur-

p r i u i n r ~ l y c l e v e r i n d e b a t e , and t h i s impresned

e v e r y o n e . The p r i n c e was under t h e s p a c i a l c a r e

1 6 o f ~ a m u p a t a t a r e a n o ld a n d d e v o t e d s e r v a n t .

The boy c a l l e d him 'Amu' . He t a u g h t him

Malayalam t w o h o u r s a day . and saw t h a t h e d i d

17 n o t u e t i n t o bad company.

Many e m i n e n t s c h o l d r s g a v e him spacial

q u i d a n c e i n E n g l i s h a n d S a n s k r i t . A t t h e d i r e c -

t i o n o f h i s u n c l e , MahZrgja R a v i Varman, he

j o i n e d t h e P a l a c e E n g l i s h S c h o o l i n 1061(M.E.

1037) ?' H i s b r o t h e r s a n d c o u s i n s too were

s t u d e n t s t h e r e . R o b e r t w h i t e a n E n g l i s h man,

a n d t h e BrZhmin c a l l e d IbNarayana Aiyer were

19 h i s t s q c h e r s i n E n g l i s h .

182 KSCV p 221;GJS.p. 12;SRVR.p. 28 ;RKja r s i (B.D.)p.I.

19: KBC V p2201GJS.p. 12;3RVB1..p.28;HXjar~l (B.B.) p. 4.

H i s mo the r p a r t i c u l a r l y wanted him

to become p r o f i c i e n t i n S a n s k r i t . The n a h g r e j a

was o f t h e same o p i n i o n . So, i n 1865(M.E.1041),

a l o n g w i t h h i s o l d e r sister and h i s b r o t h e r

who l a t e r s u c c e e d e d him a s King , he s t a r t e d

l e a r n i n g S a n s k r i t unde r PZ l a p u r a t t u Govindan

~ a m b i ~ r ? ' H e was t h e best S a n s k r i t t e a c h e r i n

K e r a l a , w i t h t h i s , t h e r e was a change i n t h e

b o y ' s h ~ b i t s of s t u d y . ~ n m b i a r would t e a c h h i m

from sever1 t o n i n e i n t h e morning. When he went

t o have b r e a k f a s . t , h i s s o n would r e m a i n t o h e a r

t h e boy r e p e n t l e s s o n . H e had t o r e p e a t e a r l i e r

l e s s o n s t i l l twe lve . From t h r e e t o f i v e , N a m b i ~ r

would t e a c h him a g a i n . But a f t e r a y e a r , t h e

21 t e a c h e r d i e d of small-pox.

From t h e n o n h i s t e a c h e r s were h i s

uncle K e r a l a Varman, who Latex became Kiw, and

ParamekkXvu Raman Nam b l a r t 2 They t a u q h t him

for f o u r y n a r s dnd w i t h t h i s he 12ot a good

command of S a n s k r i t .

A f t e r h i s Upanayanam, he l e a r n e d

Vedic M a n t r a s from ~ Z d y a n Namput i r i and d5d a

2 3 y e a r @ s Bhajanam a t t h e T r p p u n i t t u r a temple.

Then h e beyan h i s s t u d i e s i n tha t r . H e

, s r ~ i d l e d Tarka and Vygkarana under Sea%cTiryar,

2 4 o n e o f t h e p a l a c e s c h o l a r s . H i s r e v e r e n c e

t c ~ w a r d s t h i s t e a c h e r was unique .

An i n c i d e n t t h a t happened a t t h e

b e q i n n i n a o f 1861 c o n s i d e r a b l y i n f l u e n c e d h i s

l i f e a n d a c t i o n s Z 5 H e s t a r t e d l e a r n i n g

S a n s k r i t under a s c h o l a r c a l l e d ! ?ahgappzcgr i a r ,

d i t h h i s f r i e n d Koccunni ~ i r u p p % d , who wae . . exceptions 1 ly i n t e l l i g e n t ? 6 T i r i i ppsd s t u d i e d

hard a n d was e x c e s s i v e l y a m b i t i o u s qnc1 proud.

J - k h a v i o u r made a r i Ranta Varrnan g i v e s 1 ) e c i a l

~ t t e n t i o n t o his s t u d i e s . H e became e v e n beMc:r

2 4 1 KSCV p221;KSSCV.(>183;GJS.p. ld;SttVi,.p. 33;

i { B j ~ i ~ s i (B.13.) p . 6 ; ~ ~ L a b o d h a n a r n I n t r o d u c t i o n

P. v.

t h a n ~ i r ~ p ~ ~ d . H e s o o n l e a r n e d Dinakarmn,,

~ ~ k t a v a l i etc. a n d became s o p r o f i c i e n t t h a t

he c o u l d d e f e a t a n y o m i n d e b a t e s i n t h e

b s t r a s . ~ i i z h i i r k o v i l a k a t t u ~ o c c u r y t i ~ a m ~ u r i i n ,

P Z t l v n t t e t t u . , Ngr&yys?on Nampii t i r i qnd o t h e r s

were h i s f e l 1 . 0 ~ - S t u d e n t s a t t h i s t i m e ? 7 ~e

t o o k s p e c i a 1 i n t e r e s t i n l e a r n i n g V u l p a t t i -

vXda rn.

From h i s c h i l d h o o d h i s h ~ a l t h had been

d e l i c a t e . Even w i t h s p e c i a l c a r e , he o f t e n

f e l l ill, I n ~ i h h a m 1876, he had a s e v e r e

i l l r ~ s s ? ~ H e managed t o f i n i s h V u l p p a t t i

Vsdam, b u t a f t e r t h a t , t a k i n g t h e a d v i c e o f

Ta ikkXctu I t t y e r i . . Miisatu, he t m p o r a r l y gave up

h i s s t u d i e s . H e was under t h e t r e a t m e n t of

29 ~ a i k k a t t u . . I t t y e r i M ~ i s a t u t ill Vrscikarn 1877. . .

There was no improvement. s o he went to

~ f ? > k u l a m fo r t h e t r e a t m e n t of D.Gandar t h e

f a t h e r of Robert ~ a n d a r ? ' Oradua l ly he repa in-

ed h i s h e a l t h . A t t h i s t ime h i s o l d e r s ister

~ o c c i k k Z v u f e l l s e r i o u s l y i l l , and h e r e t u r n e d

t o Trppi ini t tura . She d i e d on Makaram 14,M.E.

1 0 5 3 ( ~ 8 7 7 ) This caused him i n g r e a t g r i e f .

H e now had t h e r e s p o n s i b i l i t y of looking a f t e r

h e r f i v e c h i l d r e n . H e a g a i n became i l l and

had t rea tment . H e r ecovered by t h e e n d of

1972: H e s t a r t e d s t u d y i n g Gadzdhari.

From his chi ldhood , ho was v e r y fun-

loving, fond o f mar-bal s p o r t s l i k e horse-

r i d i n g and hunting, and s c h o l a r l y p a s t t imes

l i k e debates!3 H e was v e r y s k i l l e d i n a l l t he se .

ey t h e t i m e he a t t a i n e d youth he was e x c e p t i o n a l l y

t a l e n t e d and l ea rned . From head t o f o o t he had

a l l t h e t r a d i t i o n a l marks of m n l y I n

p a r t i c u l a r , h i s handsome face w i t h r h i g h nose

was t h e i n d i c a t i o n o f a g r e a t s o u l . Hi:; beauty

c a p t i v a t e d a l l maidens. But woman was a b l e tD

charm t h i s brave young p r i n a h i s words were

l i k e n e c t a r t o t h e e a r s o f t h e people , and h i s

3 5 t ~ o d u t y a feast t o t h e i r e y o s .

I n 1017 (M.E. 1055 Vrscikam) , 5r i ~ i i n r a

Varrnan marr ied ~ g r u k u t t ~ Amma, the 6 n l y daugh- . . ter of I t t u t r a Var i e r , t h e younger b ro the r of . .

3 3 s R a j a r s i ( p e r i o d i c a l ) p.34.

3 4 s . .

I A e i q a ~ q i d , ~ = G -

C$+ .-- . -

I 4 ~ ~ S r j , - ~ n q , ~ ~ , % i : ~ ~ - ...ff-'

7 c 4 ~ . ~ J . + ~ ~ J I & ~ c ) ~ $ . J I 1 1 * @ ' ~ * . ~ . ~ ' . f " ' ~ . ..

~ i v a n S a n k n r a Vtirier, a n d K o m r a t t u ~ u ; j i k k i i l i

~ rn rna?~ ~ i i r u k u t t ~ . . Amma w a s a q e d 16 a t t h a t

t i m , a n d was v i r t u o u s a n d b e a u t i f u ~ ? ~ She

was a l s o p r o f i c i e n t i n ~ u s i c . f-iis l o v e f o r

this exce l l en t womclrl wa:; s t r o n g and d e e p , a n d

s h e had r a r e d e v o t i o n t o w a r d s him. I n Metam

1055 M.E. (1880) f o l l o w i n g t h e d e a t h o f h i s

c o u s i n h e becam t h e s e c o n d i n t h e l i n e o f

3 8 s t ~ c c e s c t i o n . I i io c o ~ l r ~ i n ' s d ~ n t h c l i s t r e s s n d him

v1.y much, a n d he f e l t t h a t t h e r e w a s nobody

t o guide him i n m o m n t s o f c r i s i s . Another

shock fohlowed s o o n a f t e r t h i s , when

~ a r u k u t t y . . Amma d i e d of T y p h o i d i n ~ u l & t h a t

yea!? H e had no c h i l d r e n f rom t h i s m a r r i a g e .

361 KSC.v.p22lrSRVR.p. 37 t~ i i j a r a r i<B.B . ) p . 3

~ S j a r q i ( p e r i o d i c a l ) p. 35.

For the n e x t t w e l v e y e a r s , h e l i v e d a s o l i t a r y

~ i f e ? ~ H i s f a t h e r , t o whom he was d e e p l y a t t a -

4 1 ched , d i e d i n 1801.

A l l t h e s e d e a t h s , coming i n q u i c k

s u c c e s s i o n , c a u s e d h im groat agony. But h e

g r a d u a l l y found conso l a t i o n i n h i s b o u n d l e s s

e n t h u s l a s m f o r S a n s k r i t . It was a t t h d s s t a g e

t h a t he rea ly m a s t e r e d S a n s k r i t grammar. He

l e a r n e d Manoranla f rom ~ i i d a l l E r ~ u G j junni . . ~ a m p i i t i r i ~ p 7 i d d ! ~ H i s s i n g l e - m i n d e d n e s s made

up f o r h i s l a z i n e s s i n c h i l d h o o d . H e became

one o f t h e g r e a t e s t S a n s k r i t s c h o l a r s i n

I n d i a .

H e wanted t h e younq6.r morntmrs of

t h e r o y a l family t o q n i n proppr knowlodqe o f

S a n s k r i t . A f t e r d i s c u s s i o n s w i t h h i s b r o t h e r s

h e e s t a b l i s h e d a s c h o o l f o r t h e c h i l d r e n oE t b e

r o y a l f a m i l y on K a r k k i t a k a m 3, M.E. 1 0 6 0 ( J u l y

4 3 1885). ~ t s a d m i n i s t r a t i o n was i n t h e hands

became King. AZma Varman was t h o manager of

t h e s c h o o l . I n memory o f t h e p r a c e p t o r he

named i t 51; 6 e s ~ c ~ r y a ~ ~ : h a & ~ l a f ~ It became

a col lec~e i n 1914, a n d i s now t h e Government

J5 S a n s k r i t C o l l n g e , T r p p G n i t t u r a . .

H e wrote a S a n s k r i t primez i n

Malaya lam, c a l l e d '86labodhanam' so t h a t t h e

c h i l d r e n of t h o s c h o o l would "have thng r minds

46 £1 lied w i t h o u t t h e i r ayes F i l l i n g ( w i t h t e a r s ) .

The i n t r o d u c t o r y verse p a y s homage t o h i s

4 3 s KSClp222;KSSCV 1,1048GJS.p. 151SlcVI(.[,. 421

~ g j a r s i ( ~ . 0 . ) p . 111R~jnrqi(~erioAical)p.35.

4 4 a K S C \ I ! 221;KSSC.V.p.l84!GJS. 15tShVtc.p. 42.

R X j a r ? i (H.H.) p.l11B;i1;9bodh~9n~afn I n t r o d u c t i o n .

p r e c e p t o r :-

" & f;;u,,2..4 As- 47a ~ ~ i ; I 4T

A f t e r t h i s h e d e a l s w i t h i m p o r t a n t

t o p i c 3 l i k e word, s e n t e n c e , t r a n s i t i v e and

i n t r a n s i t i v e , a n d i n f l e c t i o n s , q i v i n g s e v e r a l

examples f o r e a c h .

The s y s t a m a t i c s t u d y o f ~ Z i n i n J y a

vyaka rana w i l l be d i f f i c u l t f o r b e g i n n e r s .

~ g l a h o d h a n a m p r o v i d c s e a s y e n t r y i n t o the

S a n s k r i t l anguaye making h i s p e c i a l f e a t u r e s

c k a r w i t h a b u n d a n t examples . A l though i t was - ,

w r i t t e n w i t h t h e s t w d e n t s of sr i S e s 5 c b r y a

~ 5 t h a ; S l a i n mind i t was the p r i m e r for a l l 48 S a n s k r i t s t u d e n t s u n t i l r e c e n t l y . I t w i ) s

p u ~ , 1 ished t n Septombor 1990 by t h e riover ~ ~ n t 4 3 S a n s k r i t College, ~ r ~ p < ? l t t u r a .

RZma Varman h a s w r i t t e n o n l y t w o

hooks - e;ilabodhanam and ~ e d F i n t a ~ a r i b h ^ a s z -

~a r ig raha rn? H e t a u g h t many princes S a n s k r i t ,

and c o n t i n u e t o do so even a f t e r he became King.

Both t h e s e books c o n t a i n t h e f r u i t s o f h i s

e x p e r i e n c e as a t e a c h e r .

~ e d s n t a p a r i b h 5 s Z i Sarigraham i s d e d i -

c a t e d t o h i s f a t h e r , who was a renowned V e d i c

S c h o l a r . A t t h e b e g i n n i n g he pays homage

t o h i s p r e c e p t o r and h i s mothorr -

prf;fq-q- qg T T ~ T X ~ -=T 52

T h j s book shows t h a t he had sound

knowledqo o f VedZnta ?ibstra and T w k a . T h i s

hook i s an a b r i d g e d form of VedZntaparibh'dsii ,

a famous and i n f l u e n t i a l book. The e m i n e n t

s c h o l a r A n a n t a k g s t z i s a y s i n t h e i n t r o d u -

c t i o n .

I % * iF -9 - t ull

&zi.n4avii~L%~ d d t l ~ ~ ~ h r c i r 144 - m 1 m 2 ' T h i s shows t h e s t y l e o f t r e a t m e n t .

The p r i n c i p l e s a r e p r e s e n t e d s y s t e m a t i c a l l y ,

and t h e p r o s e i s e R S y t o u n d e r s t a n d .

It c o n t a i n s a criticism o f e i g h t sub-

- jects. Pra tyaksam, Anurnznarni-UpamZnam, Agamam,

A K t n a p o t t i , Anupo l a h d h l , ~ r ? i ~ n y a v % d n m 'and

Vis .~yam. Both t m c h R S S and studantti o f

~ e d Z n t a s a s t r a , w h i c h is extremely v a s t a n d

d i f f i c u l t will f i n d this book u s e f u l . I t was

p u b l i s h ~ d hy t h e S a n s k r i t College i n 1937.

The 6e s~c2 r y* p a t h a s s l a h a s p roduced

many q r n a t s c h o l a r s . N.V. Krsna V a r i e r is ... 53

one o f them.

H a m d Varman d e c i d e d t o become a s

p r i ~ l i c l e r r t t r ~ Lnll l l s l ~ .In i n Sdrl! ikr i t .

C. ~ c y u t d Menon, who was a well-known w r i t e r ,

t h r - , i r i thor of Cochin S t a t e Manuill, t h e E d i t o r

o f v i d y a v i n o d i n i a n d l a t e r D ivzn S e c r e t a r y ,

~ l s r d t o t e a c h t h e p r i n c e s 8 n c ~ l i s h ? ~ A s h i s

s t u d e n t s , ~ a m a Varrnan b e c a w p r o f i c e ' n t i n

E n g l i s h l i t e r a t u r e t o o .

, - Whl-n ~ n h i r q . 7 ,SrS 12Krna Varman d l n d i n

5 5 I , h~ hncarnr? t.ho h n l r - a p p a r e n t . D u r i n g

t h i s , ~ n r i o i l , h~ v i s i t e d t h e f o r e s t r e g i o n i n

Coch in : j t .+tn, .an,! 1 , u i l t a h e a u t l f u l pe l ace a t 56

i :gTj i raPr : - , i l l J , nea r c z l a k k u d i i n lf331. A more . .

h e a u t i f r i l b u i l d i n g was n o t t o be s e e n i n t h e

s t a t e . Mer ry lodge , which i s now t h e K e r a l a

,, - V a r m Co1le:jc * t T z s s u r was b u i l t a c c o r d i n g

t o h i s i n ~ t r u c t i o n s ? ~ T h i s was h i s hr..me i n

t h e l a s t years of h i s l i f e . A l l t h i s p r o o f s

t h a t he also had knowledge o f a r c h i t e c t u r e .

Twelve y e a r s a f t e r t h e d e a t h o f h i s

f i r s t w i f e , i n O c t o b e r 1032 (&lam M.E. 1 0 6 8 ) .

h e i n 3 r r i e d aga in?* H i s b r i d e w a s ~ Z r u k u t t y

Amma who be lonqnd t o I t y z n a t t u , t h e famous

,,- 59 f a n i l 1 y o f T r s s u r . S h e was t h e d a u y h t e r o f

K u n n a t t u K i t t u n n i air!' She was a g r e a t a n d .. .. v i r t u o u s wgman, and t hey had a happy m a r r i e d

l i f e l ; i , i t i n g f o r t y years!1 They had a son,

L.N. Menon, and a d a u g h t e r ~a lygr ' ! iku t ty , . . a l s o

c a l l e d Ammini Ammaf2 1.N.Menon has h e l d o f f i c e

as D i r e c t o r o f E d u c a t i o n f i r s t i n Cochin and

t h e n ~ r s v a n c o r e - ~ o c h i n ! ~ Hi:; w i f e was

rankdm N. Menon. Ammini Amma m a r r i e d i a n k a r a

~ S j a . ~ S r u k u t t y Amma had a d a u g h t e r b y a n . . e a r l i e r m a r r i a g e , ca llod ~ i S d h a v i . ~ z m a Var man

t r - ~ t t e d h i s s t e p - d a u g h t e r a s h i s own d a u g h t r r .

She m a r r i e d h i s g rea t -nephew, ~ a r i k s i t RTma

Varma TampurSn, who l a t e r become King. 6 4

Whl le s t i l l the h e i r - appa ren t ,

ltama Vnrman hnd o p p o r t u n i t y t o v i p l l t v a r i o u s

p a r t s o f t h e s t a t e a n d u n d e r s t a n d matters

, -oncornin( , tho w n l f 3 r e ot t h e p r o p l o t 5 He

took o v ~ r the- n d n i i n l s t r a t l o n o f i n t e r n a l --- b 2 i SRVR.p. 43IGkJS.p. 15tSHVM.V. 2l.p. 182.

6 3 1 SlcVli.p.47a

a f f a i r s , b r o u g h t a b o u t s u i t a b l e r e f o r m s and

66 became well-known f o r h i s ef f l c l e n c y .

A s t i m e p a s s e d ~ a h g r a j a Kera la

Varman became a c h r o n i c d i a b e t i c p a t i e n t . I n

Augus t 1895, he was t a k e n s e r i o u s l y i l l a n d

t o w a r d s t h e end of t h a t month h i s c o n d i t i o n

became c r i t i c a l $ 7 $rx RZma Varman was always

a t t h e u a h a r g j a 8 s b e d s i d e , and when t h e r u l e r

hecame comatose t h e u r i t i s h R e s i d e n t r e q u e s -

t e d him t o t a k e c h a r g e o f t h e a d m i n i s t r a t i o n

t i l l t h e ~ a h g r z j a ' s r e c o v e r y . But t h a t day

n s v e r c.smc, and on Oeptember 11, 1035, ttre

Mnharnjn pa-9-d nwsyf8 I t f n l l t o : i r i i<nmn

Varman Eo c o n t i n u e t o t h e a d m i n i s t ~ a t i o n .

Tho corond t t o n ceremony was on October 2 3 ,

1035:' 1l;im;l Vnrrnnn was t h e n dor ty- two

y e a r s of il~qc.. H e pfllti hnmncjo t o his prnc*ptnr6

a n d proceeded t o M a t t i n c e r i , t h e abode of h i s . . f a m i l y d e i t y ~ a z h a y a n n i r ~ h a g a v a t i ? ' It was

t r a d i t i o n a l f o r t h e Kings of Cochin t o ascend

t h e th rone a t t h e M a t t z n c e r i Pa lace , 0 t h e r w i S ~ . . c a l l e d t h e Uutch ~ a l a c e ? ' I t was b ~ i l t i n

1555 by t h e Po r tugese and p re sen ted t o t h e

King o f cochin12 It i s c a l l e d t h e Dutch P a l a c e

because many r e n o v a t i o n s were made t h e r e dur i m 7 3

Dutcn occupa t ion .

A l l t h e r u l e r s o f t h e I n d i a n s t a t e s

7 4 had made c e r t a i n agreements w i t h t h e B r i t i s h .

Accordingly t h e lqovernment o f Ind ia had dec ided

t h a t t h e i n v o ~ t i t l ~ r n of a new r u l o r s h o r ~ l d hs

performnd b y a nr l t l s h ~ f l . i c e r / ~ Thus t h e

app rova l of t h n f l r i t l s h wns e i s e n t i a l fo r t h e

r u l e r . The f i r s t a g r e e m e n t be tween t h e Cochin

r o y a l f a m i l y and t h e B r i t i s h Government was - 76 made i n 1791 d u r l n g t h e r u l e o f d a k t a n Tampuan.

7 7 1t was renewed 1809 and t h e n i n 1880. ~ c c o r d -

i n g t o t h i s Cochin was under t h e B r i t i s h Crown.

The new King, a t t r a c t i n g a l l e y e s

by t h e b e a u t y o f h i s p e r s o n and h i s a t t i r e ,

t r a v e l l e d i n a r o y a l v e h i c l e t h r o u g h t h e

d e c o r a t e d r o a d s ? The s i g h t o f t h e p e o p l e o n

t h e e i t h e r side l o o k i n g a t him d e v o t i o n filled 79

w i t h him happ iness . A s h e e n t e r e d t h e Assembly,

cannons boomed m j e s t i c a l l y a n d e v e r y o n e s h o u l d

0 0 up r e s p e c t f u l l y . A f t e r p a y i n g due r e s p e c t s

t o t h e B r i t i s h R e s i d e n t Thomson, h e went t o t h e

throne!' Than t h e R e s i d e n t on b e h a l f o f t h e

B r i t i s h Government, r e a d o u t a d e c l n r a t i n n

s t a t i n g t h a t t h e B r i t i s h Government r e c o g n i - , -

zed S r i R%a Varman a s the ~ a h a r a j a o f Cochin

and t h a t a l l t h e p e o p l e and t h e armed f o r c e s

s h o u l d a c t according t o h i s orders!2 When

he had f i n i s h e d r e a d i n g , t h e cannons sounded

a g a i n . . ? o l d i ~ r ! . % : i tnndin : l i n row3 wlshed

v i c t o r y t o t h e Ww King. P w p l e f rom a l l

p a r t s of' t h e Cochin s t a t e had q n t h n r e d a t t h e

~ a t t i i n c e r i . . P a l a c e . or t h e i r b e n e f i t ~ i v a n

Sul>rahmanie3 P i l l a i r e a d o u t t h e Mslaya lam

t r a n s l a t i o n o f t h e d e c l ~ r a t i o n t / ~ Wlth t h i s ,

3 r l ~ s m a Varmanes r u l e r s h i p was e s t a h l i s h o d .

' l ' t~~.n t hr! K i n<j Y pnke thr~.: C n the

..t.,>::erni>ly .iL>out h l u :,Ian:? lo r h i 3 ~ , ~ o p l n ' s w n l -

Fc3re, U 4 "I have f a i t h t h a t my c o m p a s s i o n a t e

p r e c e p t o r s , my f a m i l y d e i t y and Lord

~ ~ r ~ a t r a y i 6 a w i l l r e s i d e i n my h e a r t a n d i n -

s p i r e m e t o a c t a c c o r d i n g t o t h e w i s h e s o f

v i r t u o u s pcoplk?. i l n t l l rrow, e a c h r u l e r has

a d n l i n l s t e r e d j u s t i c e a c c o r d i n g t o h i s p e r s o n a 1

conven ience . I n t h e c a s e o f good r u l e r s t h i s

h a s h r o u q h t a b o u t good r e s u l t s , b u t o t h e r s

h a v e misused t h e i r power. I w i l l abandon this

p o l i c y and a c t a c c o r d i n g t o a n i n d e p e n d e n t

e x a m i n a t i o n o f t h e S m r t i s . I w i l l . a c t f o r t h e

w e l f a r e o f a l l and w i l l make no caste d i s t i n -

c t t o n s ? ' T h i s sp-ach makes i t c l - a r t h a t t h e

K i r w j tiad n progressive o1.R look. T h i s 3 p n ~ c h

wa- p r a i s e d hy a1.1. A f t e r t h i s , t h e : I r i t i s h

o f t i c l a l s were d u l y honoured w i t h f l o w e r s a n d

gar l a n d s ? 6 The a s s e m h l y r e sounded w i t h cr ies

of v i c t o r y . Cannons sounded o u t s i d e , a s thout jh

f o r e t e l l . i n q a q l o r i o u s f u t u r e f o r t h e King. I n

s h o r t , t l l c . coretnony was l i k c a q r o a t E o l t i v a I.

A f t e r t h e o f f i c i a l s a n d o t h e r s p r e s e n t had

t a k e n t h e i r l e a v e , t h e Kinq r e t u r n e d t o h i s

U 7 c C l r ) i t a l .

The ~ i v g n w a s o f advanced age, b u t

t h e King had r e s p e c t for t h e p r e v i o u s King,

who had a p p o i n t e d him, and d i d n o t remove him

from o£tl<:e?' A s t h e K i m 1 ( l i d n o t neeti much

tlclk, i n m*k in j dcclsionu the yood i l ivgn hnd

5 9 o n o u ~ l > o p p o r t u n i t y f o r rest.

ADMINISTRATION:

When he s u c c o e d e d t o the t h r o n e i n

1595, Coch in was a t i n y s t a t e . The c o u n t r y

was economics lly undeve loped, and t h e p e o ? l e

were w m t l y unednca ted . I n less t h a n t w e n t y

y.... t r:: I 1 r 3 .,I 1 t f ? r o , l t t i l :: !r t:fltr* of a P t n l r r : nn hnr~ciod

o v e r t o h i s succe: ;sor a f l o u r i s h i n g s t a t e w i t h

a n up t o d a t e a d m i n i s t r a t i v e 'machinery and

9 0 t h o r o u g h l y p r o s p e r o u s economy.

> r i ~ 5 r n a Varrnarhac t ions were d i f f -

e r e n t f rom t h o s e of a l l o a x l i e r k ings? ' They

se ldom t r a v e l l e d f a r , e x c e p t t o g o on p i l g r i -

mages. But ~grna Varman t r a v e l l e d a l l o v e r

India a n d became a c q u a i n t e d w i t h many k i n d s

o f p e o p l ~ . Thcse t r a v e l s were no j u s t a n

e n t e r t a i n m n t . H e a l s o wan ted t o g e t d i r e c t

knowledge o f t h e c h a r a c t ~ ? r s and n e t h o d s of

r ~ ~ l e o f a l l the k i n g s o f I n d i a and t o i n -

c o r p o r a t e wha teve r was good i n t h e s e i n t o 9 2

h i s own re forms .

These t r a v e l s h e l p e d v e r y much

i n improv in f j t h e q u a l i t y o f h i s mind and h i s

r u l e . He got marly OppOXtun i t i e s f o r c o n t a c t

w - l t t l v + l r i o u ~ I n d i a n r u l c r a and H r i t i s h adminl -

: ; t r ~ t o r s . He was a s e v o r e c r i t i c o f ~ r i t i s h

t lorn ln .~ t lor t but t h e B r i t i s h had g r e n t r e s p e c t

for h i m . Many B r i t i s h ddrnin iStZdtoru v i s i t e d

7 2 s 1bid.p. SO;

him. Lord Curzon, Lord A p t i l and m n y o t h e r s

9 3 were h i s c l o s e f r i e n d s .

~ i v s n V. Subrahrnania ~ i l l a i r e t i r e d

i n December, 1 0 9 6 1 ~ P. ~ a j a ~ o ~ a l s c a l i who

had s e r v e d under t h e B r i t i s h Gbvernment, was

appo in t ed a s ~ i v a n ? ' H e was a n a b l e odmini-

s t n t o r and c a r r i e d o u t t h e King's o r d e r s to

t h e l e t t e r . H e s t u d i e d t h e exist.inT cqndib ions

we11 and t r i e d t o b r i n g abou t reforms a l l

over t h e s t a t e . H e imposed f i n e s on c o r r u p t

o f f i c i a l s , and d i smis sed some o f them from

s e r v ~ c e ? ~ H e v i s i t e d v a r i o u s p a r t s of the

s t a t e , and widened roads by removiw ru ined

b u i l d i n g s and trees. H e t h u s ea rned t h e p r a i s e

of t h e people and t h e King, and proved worthy

- . - - -- 93 r KSSC.V.~~~O;SRVR.~. SO.

97 o f t h e name RS jagopslan.

I n t h e same year t h e King v i s i t e d

t h e Governor of Madras Lord Arthur Hav Lock

and o t h e r impor t an t o f f i c i a l s ? ' H e v i s i t e d

many p l a c e s i n Madras. I n 1897, Lard and

Lady Hav Lock s t a y e d i n Ern3kulam a s t h e . . 9 9 King 's g u e s t s . It was the t i m e o f Queen

V i c t o r i a ' s Diamond J u b i l e e . It w a s d e c i a e d

t h a t a P*lic L i b r a r y and a Town H a l l should

be e s t a b l i s h e d a t Ernakulam and a H o s p i t a l and

a School f o r women a t ~ f g k u r , i n commemoration

of t h e juhi~r!e~OO This shows tho Kincj's magns-

nimlty. I n tho same year , t h e t l s i t i s h Govern-

m e n t , ~ . rvn h i m tho title 'Knight Commander of

I n D e c e m b e r . 1300, t h ~ V i c e r o y Lord

C u r z o n v t s i t e d Coch in w i t h h i s w i f e . lo2 it 103 war the F l r s t v i s i t nf a V i c e r o y t o K e r a l a .

~ o r d Curzon s a i d t h a t he h3d no were s e e n

Kiny nkma \ ra rmanes e q u a l i n i n t e l l i g e n c e ,

s t r e n g t h or q e n o r i s i t y and t h e d u r i r q h i s

c d r e f u l o b s e r v a t i o n of t h o c o n d j t i o n s i n v a t i -

o u s I n d i a n s t a t e s , h e had no were s e e n a

more i n t e l l i g e n t a n d p r o g r e s s 3 v ~ a d m i n i s t r a t i o n

104 tht3n i n Cochin.

L a t e r i n t h e D i v g n s h i p o f RZjagopii-

l z c a r i , c l a s h e s t o o k p l a c e be tween Hindus and

Musl ims , and t h e King s e n t t h e army unde r t h e

1 0 5 Uivzn t o t h e a i d of t h e Hindus.

The BivAn was s e n s i t i v e t o a l l i s s u e s

a n d a l w a y s r emained a l e r t . H e followed t h e

K i n q ' s p a t h i n s k i l f u l a d m i n i s t r a t i o n , and

went he so t h e t the K i n g ' s o p i n i o n s were

d i f f e r e n t f rom h i s own, he wi thdrew h i s own

o p i n i o n s . T h i s shows t h a t t h e ~ i v s n was f u l l y

106 under t h e c o n t r o l o f t h e King.

A f t e r ~ i v a n R Z j a g o p ~ l ~ c ~ r i ( l O 3 6

December t o 1301 Augus t ) who had b e e n C h i e f 107

L'C)IJI t J I I ~ , J O , ~ o r v o d 03 Uiviin f o r comt . tmc . Lator N. p a t t a b h i ISma kgo, who had a l s o been . . i n B r i t i s h s e r v i c e , was a p p o i n t e d a s DivZn i n

100 1302 September to 1907 March.

Lord Curzon h e l d a Durbsr q t Dalhi

I n r:onnactinn w i t h t tu, c o r o n a t i o n nf. Edwnrd VXX

a s Emprbror ol I n d i a . ~ i n g ~c?ima arma an went

t o p a r t i c i p a t e i n t h i s Durba r a c c ~ m p a n i e d b y

Divgn P a t t a b h i RZma R s o and o t h e r i m p p r t a n t . . o f f i c i a l s . Dur ing t h i s j o u r n e y , he v i s i t e d

110 Puma, &exbay. A l l a h a b a d , B a n a r a s and Calcuf$a .

A f t e r t h e Durba r , t h e Mahsrsja r e c e i v e d the

t i t l e ' G r e a t Commander o f t h e S t a r o f I n d i a '

11 1 (G.C.5 . I . ) f rom t h e b r i t i s h G o v e r n m n t .

When ~ a t t s b h i . . ~ s m a Rco went o n a jou rnoy ,

T.C. Krsnd Menon, who a l s o had beon C h i e f . . . C o u r t Judge, s e r v e d a s Divzn. 1t was i n

t h i s y e a r t h a t f o r d A p t i l , t h e Govennor of

113 Madras, v t s t t o d Cochin w i t h h i s wi fe .

I n 1304, t h e King set o u t w i t h h i s

g r e a t - nephew R2ma Varma p a r h i t on a tour

H e v i s i t e d p l a c e s l i k e o f S o u t h I n d i a .

T a n 7 5 v ~ r . T f s i n s p i , i l l i , . . Cidamb~~rarn and

P o n d i c c e r y ?nd f i n a l l v r e a c h e d Madras. . . He

was bonoured Lord A p t i l . A t t h e i n v i t a t i o n , -

of S r i ~clarn T i r u n z l , t h e Mahara ja o f ~ r z v a n -

1 1 6 c n r a , hn s t - + y r d f o r sorn~t imn as h i s q u e s t .

Dur in , j this poz lqd Kera 13 ~ s l i d n ~ a K P K ~ ~ . ¶

Varma V a l l y a oil Tampur5n and K e r a l a P S q i n i

~ . k . 1c3 j a r g j a V8rrna v l n i t o d him f n r d i s p l n y s

o: i b t e r , ~ r y t a l l w i t . T ~ P King% TrAvnncore

v i s i t s t r e n g t h e n e d t h e f r i e n d s h i p be tween t h e

t w o r o y a l f a m i l i e s . I n 1 9 0 5 , t h e ~ a h a r s j a of

T r s v a n c o r e and t h e Mahgrbja o f % c h i n were

118 h i s g u e s t s a t Cochin.

When the P r i n c e o f Wales came to

Madras i n 1905, w i th h i s w i f e , King RZma Varman I

It was a t t h i s t i m e t h a t C o c h i n v i s i t e d him. 120

was h u i l t a t Madras.

I n 1306, t h e t e n u r e of DivSn ~ a t t z h h i . . RSma !?So came t o a n end. 12' A.R. Banerjea I.C.S.

was appo in t ed a s DivZn. 122 I n 1907, h i s most

impor tan t guest: was Lord C i t chne r , t h e Commander-

in-Chief of t h e Ind i an Army. I n 1903 KLng

Rsma Varman w e n t t o Madrils to sen t h e Viceroy.

I n t h e cause of the journey he s t a y e d a t p l a c e s 124

l i k e Vijayanagaram and BSlasiir.

The V i c e r o y i n v i t e d t h e King t o

p a r t i c i p a t e i n t h e c o r o n a t i o n o f George V

125 A S Emperor on Dec-mber 12, 1311 a t D e l h i .

He l e f t Ernakulam o n October 27 w i t h ~ i v > n . . B a n e r j e a and o t h e r o f f i c i a l s . HP saw many

p l a c e s , l i k e Madras, Tungabhadra , piina,

Baroda , ~ j m x r , and J a i p i i r . 126 A t a l l t h e s e

p l a c e s he was t h e g u e s t o f t h e n t

Boroda h e was r e c e i v e d a t t h e Ra i lway s t a t i o n

by t h e King of t h a t p l a c e , t h e B r i t i s h Resi-

d e n t , and t h e o t h e r o f f i c i a l s . T h i s shows

t h e g r e a t r e s p e c t t h e y had f o r him. 128 The

p e o p l e and t h e k i n g s e v e r y w h e r e i m p r e s s e d b y

his d r ? n ~ ) e r t d i t l on , welcorni nlj nunnor and

f r i e n d l y b e h a v i o u r . H e r e a c h e d D e l h i on

November 26. He met the Emperor o n December 8

and t a l k e d t o him. A f t e r a Durba r , t h e Emperor

honorlrod him w i t h t h e t i t l a ' G r e a t Commanrlnr

o f t h e I n d t a n Empire* (G.C.I.E.) and u gold

Medal . 12' DivBn B e n e r j e a o f g i v e n t h e t i t l e

13' Tho gun s a l u t e f o r King RZma Varman C. I.E.

was r a i s e d f rom 1 7 t o 19:~' H e l e f t D e l h i o n

December 10 and r e a c h e d E r n i k u l a m o n December . . 132 The c i t i z e n s r e c e i v e d him w i t h great 1 3 .

cerpmony. They showed t h e Jr b o u n d l e s s . d e v o t i o n

t o w a r d s t h e King by making h i s r e t u r n a

f e s t i v e o c c a s i o n .

S i r A.H. B a n c r j e q and l i r t e r h i s

.Tosoptl i jhore wore him fa1 t h f u l l ~ i v ~ n s ! 33 There

w d s g r e a t i n t i m a c y be tween t h e King and h i s

~ i v 3 n s . B o t h t h e DivZns had b e e n b o r n i n England

and had cow from t h e I n d i a n C i v i l S e r v i c e .

B u t t h c y g a v e the King f u l l c o - o p e r a t i o n , a n d

w e r e e v e n r e a d y t o d i s a g r e e w i t h t h e B r i t i s h

Government when n e c e s s a r y . 134 Most o f t h e k i n g s -

b e f o r e R3ma Varman had b e e n p u p p e t s i n t h e

hands o f t h e i r D ivgns a n d s u b m i t t e d t o t h e

dorrrina t i n n o f t h e B r i t i s h Gover n w n t . But

Rama Varman was f u l l y c o n s c i o u s o f h i s a u t h o -

r i t y a n d a l l o w e d nobady t o i n t e r f e r e w i t h h i s

d e c i s i o n s . H i s D iv5ns a p p r e c i a t e d h l s a b i l i t y

and were a l w a y s r e a d y t o obey h i s o r d e r s .

I f t h e B r i t i s h Governnlent had con-

f e r r e d numerous honours o n t h e King, i t was

o n l y i n r e c o g n i t i o n o f h i s merit!35 ~e was

known to have q u c s t l o n e d B r i t i s h sup remacy

when r1ncn:::inry. Onco, h a d e n t n 1 r l : t s r dire-

c t l y t o t h e U r i t i s h V i c e r o y , a d d r w s i n g him

a s "Honoured Fr l e n d ". 136 The B r i t i s h R e s i d e n t

w r o t e t o him rjgying t h a t i t was W o n g t o have

w r i t t e n d i r e c t l y t o t h e V i c e r o y and t o have

a d d r e s s e d him a s " f r i e n d " . 137 There was much

c o r r e s p o n d e n c e a b o u t t h i s s e r i o u s m a t t e r .

The ~ a h s r s j a a r g u e d t h a t it would be a

s a d s t a t e o f a f f a i r s i f t h e I n d i a n r u l e r s

c o u l d n o t c o r r e s p o n d d i r e c t l y w i t h t h e

V i c e r o y i n e m e r g e n c i e s , and s i n c e t h e V i c e r o y

h i m s e l f had approved of t h e fo rm of a d d r e s s

h e nad u s e d , t h o l o c a l Government had no rea-

s o n t o i n t e r f e r e i n t h e rnat tez. 13' F i n a l l y

t h e R e s i d e n t had t o wi thdraw h i s s t i p u l a t i o n s

one a f t e r t h e o t h e r . The l a s t le t ter f rom

the R e s i d e n t above t h i s m a t t e r ends w i t h t h e

s l a tomen t t h a t h a R lso wi thd taws t h n s econd

p a r t of hi:i l o t t n r o f October 2 4 , trntl i s s o r r y

for a n y d i s t r e s s i t may have c a u s e d t h e

~ a h s r a j a . 139

I t was d u r i n q King Rgma Varman's

r u l e t h d t t h o B r i t i s h f u l l y r e c o q n i z e d t h e

a r l t h o r l t y of the King. His s o n Dr.l.N.Menon

w r i t e s : t h e ag reemen t o f 1809 l e f t t h e M a h c r s j a

with 7-19 powers w o r t h t h e name, t h e n i n t h c l a u s e

t h a t a q r o e m n t c o n s e n t e d t o qtve s e r i o u s

a t t e n t i o n t o t h e i n s t r u c t i o n s o f t h e B r i t i s h

Government i n economic matters, law and o r d e r ,

i n d u s t r y , colnmerce, and a g r i c u l t u r e t a k i n g i n t o

c o n s i d e r a t i o n t h e w e l f a r e o f t h e King and h i s

s u b j e c t s , a n d t h e s t a b i l i t y of b o t h n a t i o n s .

T h i s was n o t merely a f o r m a l ag reemen t . Many

s u c c e s s i v e B r i t i s h R e s i d e n t s a c t e d a c c o r d i n g

to it. The R e s i d e n t c o u l d i n t e r f e r e i n a n y

m a t t e r i f I-ie t h o u g h t i t : n e c e s s a r y f o r the

w e l t . ~ r o o t the King, t h e pooplr, o r t h o s t a b i l i t y

o f e i t h e r n a t i o n . The a n n u a l b u d g e t s had t o be

submi t t e d t o t h e R e s i d e n t . A l l e x p e n d i t u r e

had t o be a p p r o v e d by him. The a d m i n i s t r a t i o n

r e p o r t were s u b j e c t e d t o h i s criticism. Al though

h i :j : q ~ ( ~ ~ l ~ - s $ i o n s were i n f o r m a l , t h e y had t h e

oCfnct of n f o r r n y ~ l w a r n i r v ~ . Impor t an t UWS

c o ~ l d be b r o u g h t i n t o e f f e c t o n l y w i t h t h e

~ ) e r n i i s s i o n o f the R e s i d e n t . ,1140

It was a t s u c h a t i m e t h a t K ing

R?3,1-3 Varman came t o t h e t h r o n e . From t h e n o n

a now o u t Look r e g a r d i n g t h o K i r q s f reedom a n d

a u t h o r i t y began t o e v o l v e . ThanKs t o t h p

p e r s o n a l f r i e n d s h i p between t h e Kim and t h e

U r L t l s h o f f i c i a l s i n I n d i a , he wos a b l e t o

b r i n g a b o u t some f a r - r e a c h i n g c h a n g e s w i t h o u t

harminq f r i e n d l y r e l a t i o n s w i t h t h e B ~ i t i s h

The t t a s i d e n t was g r a d u a l l y compe l l ed Empi r e .

t o g i v e up h i s r i g h t t o i n t e r f e r e i n i n t e r n a l

t i . 13udQets and a d m i n i ~ t r a t i o n r e n o r t s

b e i a n tn be t r e a t e d a s m a t t e r s c o n c e r n i n g

t h 6 : : I t a t e a l o n e , a l t h o u g h c o p i e s were s t i l l

s e n t t o t h e B r d t i s h Government. Appointments .:

t o s t a t e s e r v i c e were l e f t e n t i r e l y t o the K i n +

d i s c r e t i q n . H e e x e r c i s e d a b s o l u t e power e v e n

i n t h e f o r m u l a t i o n a£ t h e i m p o r t a n t laws.

The p e r i o d from 1095 t o 1 9 1 4 was a

i n t e r n a i a f f a i r s . 142 The Sta te o f Coch in was

141: YRVk-c.p.86.

1 4 % : Ibld.p.56

a t f i r s t under t h o G o v e r n m n t o f Madras . If

t h e r e wan a n y r e a l o r imag ined d e v i a t i o n f rom

c o n v e n t i o n a l p r o c e d u r e , t h e Government of

Madrfis c o u l d a t o n c e q u e s t i o n i t , and o f t e n

d i d so. But King Rzma Varman's r u l e b r o u g h t

a b o u t a new o r d e r . The B r i t i s h a u t h o r i t i e s

were w i s e enough t o a c c e p t t h e change . Thanks

t o h i s c o u r a g e o u s s t y l e o f f u n c t i o n i n g , h i s

s u c c e s s o r s d i d not have t o e x p e r i e n c e much

r e s t r i c t i o n o n t h e i r i ndependence . King RZma

Varman w r o t e i n h i s D i a r y i n 1911 t h a t he was

sti 11. n o t f r e e t o f o l l o w t h e d i c h i e s o f h i s

con:sc lcnce and t h a t h e hopc'd t h a t some d a y

hi:; r ; u c c e s s n r s would g a i n t h i s freedom.

I t was t h i s K i n g ' s a i n c e r o e f f o r t s

to lnr:ra<>se t h e p r o s p e r i t y o f t h e p f ? n p l e , p r o v i d e

e d u c a t i o n and h r i n g a b o u t j u s t i c e t h a t prompted

a famous s t a t e s m a n l i k e Lord Curzon t o say t b a t

I ~ a ( i no w r e seen a morn i n t e l l i qen t and pro-

143 ~ q r - ~ s i v - rule.

ADMIiIISTRATIVE REFORMS : -

Cochin was a s m a l l , u n d ~ r d e v ~ E o p e d

s t a t e when Kin$] Rsma Varn~an came t o power.

The Kinq ,nss . l s t ed by h i s many d l s t i n q u l s h e d

arxl ~ X I I C ~ f enced UivSns , i n t r cd ucnd rna ny

r e f o r m s i n t h e s t a t e and i o c h i n s o o n came t o

be r e c o g n i z e d a s one of t h e best g g v e r n e d and

1 4 4 mcs t p r o g r e s s i v e I n d i a n S t a t e s .

Dus ing t h e t i m e o f Divgn P. Ra'jago-

p 5 1 5 ~ a - r i , he p a i d a t t e n t i o n t o t h e f i n a n c i a l

p r o g r e s s of h i s kingdom. For t h a t p u r p c s e ,

tax r u l e s were r e v i s e d a n d payment was r e g u l a r i -

zed. C o n s e q u e n t l y t h e r e was a g r a d u a l i n c r e a s e

i n t h e r evenue . T h e S e c r e t a r i a t was t h o r o u g h l y

r e - o r g n i s e d and s e p a r a t e a c c o u n t s d e p a r t m n t

was c o n s t i t u t e d . The a c c o u n t s y s t e m was r e -

14 5 or, ln l : icd o n the, U r l t l s h I n d i a n model..

Soon a f t e r King Rtima Varman hegan h i s

r u l e , h e d e c i d e d t o c o n d u c t a ].and s u r v e y a 1 1 146

o v e r t h e s t a t e . To s u r v e y t h e moun td in r e g i q n s

h e i n v i t e d a n E n g l i s h man c a l l e d Fox, who was

a n o f f i c e r under t h e G o v e r n r e n t o f Madras. A

s e p a r a t e F o r e s t Depa r tmen t was c o n s t i t i ~ t e d f o r

t h e 3 c i e n t i f . t ~ up keep o f f o r e s t s . The

c o n s t r u c t i ? n o f a Tram way made it more e f f i c i -

e n t . 14' H e w d s t h e f i r s t t o base t m x a t i o n o n

d i r e c t o b s e r v a t i o n . When t a x e s w e r e imposed

a c c o r d i n q t o t h e f e r t i l i t y o f t h e l a n d , t h e 149

r e v e n u e i n c r e a s e d c o n s i d e r a b l y .

A l l pa lm-leaf m a n u s c r i p t s were

150 t r a n s c r t b e d i n t o p a p e r . Today e v e r y o n e

r e c o g n i z e s t h e p r a c t i c a l benef l ts of t h i s

IWJd.5urc. d t a n y p a p e r was i n t r o d u c e d f o r t r a n -

s a c t l o n s . 15' T h i s got b e n s f i t s t o t h e p e o p l e

and q r e a t g a i n t o t h e t r e a s u r v .

I n Best h o u s e s , t h e p r a c t i c e of

p r o v i d i n g mea l s f o r t h e ~ r z h r n i r m of t h e

ne Sghbour hood was s t o p p e d . 152 I n s t e a d , t r a v e l l -

e r s corning t h e ~ e were p r o v i d e d w i t h g o M food.

A r x \ t i 7 n s economir: g rowth deponds

commerce and industries f l o u r i s h . I n r e c o g n i -

t i o n o f t h i s , t h e number o f m a d s and c a n a l s

153 was i n c r e a s e d . A R a i l w a y - l i n e from ~ o r n i i r

to ~ r n z k u l a m was c o n s t r u c t e d . It was com- . . 154 p l e t e d i n 1902.

The K i n g t o o k e v e r y measure f o r t h e

p e r f e c t f u n c t i o n i n g o f v a r i o u s d e p a t tmen t s .

~ b o , ~ t s i x t y r e q u l a t j o n s a n d d e c l n r a t i o n s w e r e

p a s s e d d u r i n y h i s r u l e . H e d i d n o t n e g l e c t

p a l a c e m a t t e r s . H e made a precise a s s e s s m e n t

of p a l a c e e x p e n s e s . T h e m o n t h l y a l l o w a n c e t o

t h e members of t h e r o y a l f a m i l y was r educed . 156

tjut t h e y wore p r o v i d e d w i t h morn e d u c a t i o n a l

f a c i l i t i e s . A s a r e s u l t t hey hecame more

l ca rned and had b r i g h t c a r r i e r s i n v a f ious

sphe re s . I t was du r inq ~ a m a Varman's r u l e 18 _ 157

t h a t Trcls: lr came t o have n Zoo and a Museum.

New schoo l s wi th good t e a c h e r s were

s t a r t e d all over t h e S t a t e . A s t he a c t i o n s

ot some vi l . l ago O f f i c s r s were a g a i n s t p u b l i c

i n t e r e s t , h e s t o p t he p r a c t i c e of making l i f e

l o n y a l ~ p o i n t m c n t s t o t h i s pos t . I'9 Corrup t

Vlllab]e Officers were made t o r e t i r e 1 6 0 Educated

pe r sons were appo in t ed i n t h e i r p l aces . They

were g i v e n good s a l a r i e s s o t h a t t hey would no t

be tempted t o t a k b b r i b e s . The uniforms fo r

--- ? 5 7 s SRVR.p.48;Rhjar?i(B.B.)~.36b

158 a CSM.p.317rMSMD.p. 587~KC.p.4141SRVR.g.481

~ g j a r g i ( ~ . ~ . ) p . 29;RZjaql(~eriodical)p.36;

SRVM-V. SS.p.80.

1591 CSM.p.317;MSMD.p. 587;KC.p.414;SRVR.p.48;

Rhjargi(n.D.)p.29r~6jar?ip~eriodicai)p.36~

SRVM.V.Sd.p.71.

160: CSM.p. 317rMSMD.p. 5 0 7 ; K C . p . 4 1 4 t ~ ~ ~ ~ . p . 4 7 ;

nii ' jdryl (n .u . ) p.25;1Gjar?i ( pe r iod i ~ o l ) ~ . 3 6 ;

; j l<VM.V. 1JY.p.71

161 s o l n i o r s am1 policemen were changed.

Sometimes, t h e K i r q a c t e d a s Judge

i n couz ts of l a w . 162 H e m d e arrancjcments t o

see t h a t judges were not co r rup ted . H e o f t e n

v i s i t e d s c h o o l s and asked the s t u d e n t s ques t -

i o n s i n Engl i sh . Malayalam and S a n s k r i t , t h u s

t e s t i n g a b i l i t y of t h e t e a c h e r . 163 1n o rde r

t o encourage S a n s k r i t l e a rn inp he prov ided

164 more annua 1 s c h o l n r s h i p s f o r S a n s k r i t s t u d e n t s .

H o s p i t a l s were e s t a h l i ~ h e d i n a l l impor t an t

towns. dnd t h i s was a g r e a t h e l p t o t h e )eople.

The King o f t e n v i s i t e d t h e h o s p i t a l s , conso le

165 t h e p n t i a n t s and gave t h e mony and c l o t h e s .

The King was w a l l aware t h a t t h e

j u d i c i a r y is a s i m p o r t a n t a s t h e E x e c u t i v e i f

n o t more, i n t h e p r o g r e s s o f n a t i o n ? 6 6 So

J u d i c i a r y a n d E x e c u t i v e were s e p a r a t e d . He be-

l i e v e d t h a t * a d m i n i s t r a t i o n 9 of j u s t i c e i s the

f i r m e s t p i l l ~ ~ r o f ~ o v e r n m e n t ? ~ ~ H e was v e r y

good a t s p o t t i n g c o r r u p t o f f i c i a l s . H e showed

no l e n i e n c y t o w a r d s s u c h peop le . Some of

t h e m were dismissed. H e renounced h i s r i g h t

as King t o e n t e r t a i n a p p e a l s a g a i n s t t h e deci-

s i o n s o f t h e C h i e f C o u r t . Thus, he endowed

t h e J u a i i c l a r y w i t h Q r e n t e r fr*edom ant1 ppwer.

ue b r o u q h t a b u t p r o g r e s s i v e r o f n r m s i n c t v t l

and c r i m i n a l laws. It was he who g a v e t h e S t a t e

a w e l l - o r d e r e d l e g a l sys t em. The s y s t e m o f

pay inq C o u r t fees i n t h e form of stampa was

168 i n t r o d u c e d .

A s ys tern t i c a n d equi tab1 .e r e v e n u e

: ;e t t lcmi.nt was e f f e c t e d d u r i n q t h e t i m e o f

u i v z n lJ,\ t t a b h l fisma IGo. 'The r e - o r y a n i s a t i o n . .

o f t h e E x c i s e Depar tmen t was a l s o e f f e c t e d a n d

163 t h ~ F o r e s t t r a m way was comple t ed .

S c h o o l s wore o p e n t o a 1 1 i r r e s p e c t i v e

of c a s t o r r e l i g i o n . A r c h e t e c t u r a l b e a u t y

was m a i n t a i n e d i n t h e h ~ ~ i l d i n : ~ o f Government

171 o f f l c e s , Temples and p l a y q r o u n d s were r e n o v a t e d .

Warer was b r o u g h t d a y a n d n i g h t v e h i c l e s t o

v i 1 l a , j e s ~ u r f e r j ng f rom w a t e r s c a r c i t y : 7 2 Corn-

p l p t - i ~ r r a n g ~ m e n t s where made f o r s u p p l y i n g

1 7 3 w.3 t e r Lrom t h r . A l u ~ 5 ' ~ ~ u z h a t h r o u g h p i p e s .

his s y s t e m t h a t s t i l l g i v e s l i f e t o who le o f

- l b 9 r MSM1J.g. 507;KC.p. 415rSRVR.p.40rRii j n r s i ( B . 8 . )

p. r ~ s j a r s i ( p e r i o d i c a l ) p . 3 6 ; ~ ~ ~ ~ . ~ . 8 0 . p . 135.

170: R K j a r s i (13.B.) p. 294

171: C5M.p. 317:SRVM.V. 33tp.165.

172 : MSW.p.507rKC.p.415;SRVM.V. 25.p.103.

173; KC.p.4141SRVM.Ve37.p.166.

A.R. Baner jea I.C.S. was t h e nex t

DivXn and t h e s e p a r a t i o n o f t h e revenue from

magis t racy was an impor t an t p i e c e o f reform

in t roduced by him. 174 Among e t h e r achievements

were t h e f u r t h e r r e - o r g a n i s a t i o n Df t h e p o l k e

f o r c e , t h e compl t e t i on o f a n i n d u s t r i a l su rvey

o f t h e S t a t e and t h e r e - o r g a n i s a t i o n o f t h e

Educat ion Department under t h e charge o f a spe-

c i a l educahion o f f i c e r . 175 A g r i c u l t u r e was

modernised and a model Government farm was

e s t a b l i s h e d f o r t h e e d u c a t i o n and t h e a s s i s t -

ance o f farmers. P rog res s was made i n t h e

fnvnst l r l 1 t 1 ~ n i n c n n m c t j o n wf t h t h e develop-

m e n t of t h e C o c h i n Harbour, t h e Tenancy Regula-

t i o n was i n a c t e d and Muncipa L a d m i n i s t r a t i o n

176 was i n t r n d ~ l c e d i n t h e major towns of t h e S t a t e .

174: CSM.p.315;MS.D.p.587;KC.p.417 :KSC.Vp224;

SKVK.p.46;~ajarsl(~.~.)p.28;RTjarst(Perl o-

d lca l )p .364

175r CSM.p. 315;MSMD.p.587;KC.~?4153~SC.v ~ 2 2 4 ;

SRVI(.p.48iRBjarsi(B.B.) p. 28;RSjargi(Per io-

d i ca l )p .36 .

1768 CSM.p.315:MSMD.p. 587:KC.p.415:KSC.Vp.224;

s~v~.~.49~~ajargi(~.e.)~. 2 9 ; R g j a r q i ( ~ e r i o -

d i c a l ) p. 35.

The H e a l t h Uepar t m n t Hazur S e c r e t d r l a t e , t h e

Devasvom a n d t h e E x c i s e Uepar tmen t were

177 throughly r e - o r g a n i s e d .

A l though t h e r e was s e p a r a t e p o s t a l

D e p a r t m n t (Ancal.) i n t h e S t a t e n i t d i d n o t

p r o v i d e much a r evenue?78 i t was d u r i n g King

Rawa Varman's r u l e t h a t p o s t a l s t a t i o n e r y

and s t a m p s w i t h t h e M a h s r < j a B s s e a l were i n -

t r o d u c e d . The number of P o s t O f f i c e s and P o s t

boxes WAS i n c r e a s e d . A s t h e s e s t a m p s were

cheapex t h a n B r i t i s h p o s t a l s t a m p s and t h e

S t a t e p o s t a l s y s t e m worked f a s t e r , more p e o p l e

c h o s e t o u s e t h i s sys t em. 17' Thus t h e income

o f t h e eove rnmen t i n c r e a s e d . Ar rangemen t s

were made f o r s w i f t communica t ion of news

amonq a l l p a r t s of t h e S t a t e .

170s t:c .p.415;S1(V1i.p.46;lt%jorsi(D.I) . )p. 171

p b j a r g i ( P e r i o d i c a l ) p. 3719HVM.V. 5.p. 1781

Prepared by BeeHive Digital Concepts for Mahatma Gandhi University

PRINCE MONG SCHOLARS 8 -

King Ram Varmsn*s v e s t l e a r n i n g g i v e s

him a prominent p l a c e i n l i t e r a r y h i s to ry . H e

was e x t r a o r d i n a r l y wel l -versed i n Vyskarana,

Ny'iiys and VedSnta. tie d e f e a t e d g r e a t scho-

l a r s i n C o u r t d e b a t e s and c r e a t e d wonder a n d

d e l i g h t i n t h e i r minds. A l l s c h o l a r s , whether

I n Tarka, vedsnta, ~ i m a m s a o r ~ y a k a r a n a who

c a m i n t o c o n t a c t w i t h h im a t once became h i s

d i s c i p l e s . More over , t h e y s p r e a d t h e i r fame

of h i s l e a r n i n g i n o t h e r lands . He had maste-

red S a n s k r i t , Malayalam and English. 183 He

approached knowledge w i t h a n open and c r i t i c a l

mind, even w h i l e g i v i n g due r e s p e c t t o t r a d i -

t i on . He did a l l t h a t was i n h i s power to

spread l e a rn ing .

ne d i d many t h i n g s for t k a growth of

184 l a ny urrye and t h e encouraqoment of s c h o l s r s .

H e saw t h a t S a n s k r i t , which was honoured by

v i r t u o u s pe r sons and was a b l e s s i n g t o t h e

t h r e e worlds , had f a l l e n i n t o a bad s ta te and

showed s p e c i a l concern towards t h a t language

i n connec t ion w i t h t h e c e l e b r a t i o n o f h i s

b i x t i e t h B i r thday , he set a s i d e 8.30,000/-

f o r t h e s t u d y o f S a n s k r i t , and 8.20,000/-

f o r thr s t u d y of Malayslam. lE5 he c r e d i t

f o r making Trppi ini t tuza a g r e a t c e n t r e o f , - 186 S a n s k r i t l e a r n i n g is due t o Sr i ~ i i m a Varman.

I - S r i ~ a r i k s i t Tampuran, King R h s Varman's

g r e a t nephew and son-in-law, p r a i s e s h i a v e r s a t i l e

l e a r n i n g thus:-

A & i +AII-IAZ-I-WI Q ~ ~ W ~ ~ I , S ? .rtd-rr& ir+tE?raf d?gdi- d - 1 &me @& mls- + wQ&+ 1 s

@uqy s;tB dswaqa T + T * T ~ ~ rn : I J

The n a h Z r 6 j a a s of Cochin had f o s t -

ered S a n s k r i t s c h o l a r s from t h e v e r y beginning

and h i s t o r y r e c o r d s t h a t t h e y used t o hold

a n n u a l a s sembl i e s o f S a n s k r i t s c h o l a r s vell-ver-

sed i n v a r i o u s h s t r a s , t a k e p a r t i n the

vzk+r tha d i s c u s s i o n s and reward t h e P e n d l t s . , 187 w i t h s u i t a b l e p re sen t s .

~ i i j a r a i Rsma Varman w h o was h i m s e l f

a profound scholax i n t h e i i i i s t ras , announced

on December 25 , 1912, h i s d e c i s i o n t o e s t a b l i s h

a s e p a r a t e i n s t i t u t i o n a t h p p u n i t t u r a f o r i m -

p a r t i n g i n s t r u c t i o n i n advanced Giistras i n t h e

188 t r a d i t i o n a l way. The % s t r a s a d a s which he

himself i naugura t ed i n 1926, was a g r e a t annua l

e v e n t and people looked forwaul t o it. leg ~ e p u -

t e d s c h o l a r s from a l l over the c o u n t r y used tn

be i n v i t e d and t h e y e n t h u s i a s t i c a l l y p a r t i c i -

p a t e d i n t h e deba te s . n a h a r c j a ~ & n a Varman

1071 (;JS p. 3 tea lohodhenam I n t r o d u c t i o n p .vi i .

113131 1;J3.p.l4rB&roboBhanam I n t r o d u c t i o n p.vii.

i a71 c;~S.p. 14;BSlabodhenam I n t r o d u c t i o n p.vii .

p r e s i d e d over these as sembl i e s and o f t e n

p laynd t h e r o l e of a modorator. Such e n in -

volvoment WRS a n added e n c o u r a g m e n t 8nd i n s p i -

r a t i o n t o t h e p a r t i c i p a n t s a s t h e y had f i rm

190 f a i t h i n t h e j u s t i c e o f h i s dec i s ion .

A f t e r h i s a c c e s s i o n to t h e th rone ,

t h e & j a r s 1 had ample o p p o r t u n i t i e s o f corning

i n t o c o n t a c t w i t h s c h o l a r s i n d i f f e r e n t p a r t s

of I n d i a d u r i n g h i s extensive t o u r s , and he

won f o r himself a v e r y high p l a c e i n t h e world

o f l e t t e r s i g l "Evan f o r e i g n o r i e n t a l i s t s had

o p p o r t u n i t i e s of knowing h i s g r e a t n e s s a s a

s cho la r . *he l a t e Dr. Mc.Donne1. who was for

many years a f e l l o w o f B a l l i o l Col lege and

Boden P r e f f e s s o r o f S a n s k r i t a t Oxford, was

H i s Highness 's g u e s t i n 1907, when I m e t him

a t ox fo rd i n 1920, he enqu i r ed o f me i f t h e

'Modern Janaka' st ill p re s ided over t h e d e s t i n i e s ,132 o f h i s l l t t l e kingdom .

-

1301 GJS.p.14~Biilabodhanam I n t r o d u c t i o n p .v i i .

1.921 ~ ~ S . p . 1 4 t ~ ~ l a b o d h a n a m I n t r o d u c t i o n p.vii.

King RSma Varman v i s i t e d D e l h i i n

1902 and 1912 t o a t t e n d t h e c o r o n a t i o n of t h e

Emperor. 193 H e made use o f t h i s o p p o r t u n i t y to

g e t acqua in t ed w i t h s c h o l a r s from v a r i o u s p a r t s

o f Ind ia .

I n 1927, he p a r t i c i p a t e d i n t h e A l l

I n d i a P h i l o s o p h i c a l Conference and p re sen ted

a paper c o n t a i n i n g h i s own i n t e r p r i t a t i o n s o f

I n d i a s s Ph i lo soph ica 1 her i t a g ~ i ? ~ ~ Th i s paper

was g r e a t l y p r a i s e d by t h e s c h o l a r s p resen t .

H e d i d no t b e l i e v e t h a t t h e Universe

is mere i l l u s i o n . A t t h e same time he d i d n o t

approve of was t inc~ l i f e i n s e n s u a l p l ea su re s .

W e see here t h e view p o i n t of a n e n l i g h t e n e d

s o u l who seeks non-attachment even while re -

maining i n t h e world of a t tachment . The

- 1 9 3 8 Balsbodhannm I n t r o d u c t i o n p.viiaRg j a r s i (BB) p. 35. 1 ' 2 4 8 S R V R . ~ . S U I R ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ S I (u.n.)p.36reaLab&horum

introduction p.ix.

t e a c h i n g o f Hindu Phi losophy - o f even popular

ph i losophy - is unequivocal No doubt , S r u t i

s a y s - ' ~ ~ # q fh - f + m s t b - r m r ; t h a \ ' - - b u t Jnana i t s e l f cannot be ob ta ined b y a pre-

meture renouncing of t h e world w i th a l l i t a

c l a i m s on you u n f u l f i l l e d . lg5 The meaning of

Karma r Yoga is t h e c o n s e c r a t i o n of l i f e t o

the s e t v i c e of God and nant an8 he who trices

t o be a Sanya'sin wi thout performing h i s e a r t h l y

d u t i e s b u i l d s w i t h o u t foundat ion. The Hindu

ideal of r e n u n c i a t i o n i s not nega t ive , b u t

p o s i t i v e . I t Bemands t h e complete and f a i t h f u l

E u l f i l m e n t s of one ' s d u t i e s b e f o r e can be

196 f i t fo r ~ % n a and Mokga.

irere ha a rgues t h a t r e n u n c i a t i o n m n n s

n o t e scape from l i fe, b u t a courageous encounter

w i t h it. A n d h e r e a l i z e d t h i s i d e a l i n h i s own

l i f e .

is p r e s i d e n t i a l a d d r e s s a t t h e A 1 1

1 9 ' ~ : Biilabodhanam I n t r o d u c t i o n p.ix. 1.1 I , , y 2 1

196s Ibid p-ix.

I n d i a Ayurvedic Confrence a t Pune i n 1917 is

famous, 1t is a good example of h i s c l a r i t y

of thouyht. s k i l l i n o r a t i o n and command of

S a n s k r i t proses-

After t h i s modest beginning he

a t a t e s clear ly about ~ e r e l a s Ayurvedlc tradi-

t i o n .

* A&-4 T&%i1ch~3i &t%>qad

4 a r \ - v r $ 2 ~ , ' u y * f p ~ mift~qh $41944 - fdlscfq .6h1?1 - f h b ~ - - (

, \ - -*? \ 2$md? : " 199 bmW* rW 1

- - - - -

197: KSC.V.p.224jKSSC.V.p.l86jSRVR.p.&$ $RZjarsi (B.u. ) p. 42;~blabodhanam 1ntrOduct lon .p . i~ .

1 9 8 : RSlabodhanam 1ntroduction.p. ix.

193s Ibid p . i x .

H e s p e a k s a b o u t K e r a l a ' s t r a d i t i o n

I n tho t r e a t m e n t o f c h i l d r e n ' s d i s e a s e s . eye

d i s e a s e s a n d p o i s i o n i n g . Then h e d i s c u s s e s

t h e p i t i a b l e c o n d i t i o n of x y u r v e d a and p u t s

f o r w a r d i d e a s for its r e v i v a l . H e e n d s b y

s a l u t i n y t h e a u d i e n c e t h u s a-

~ & l a g a t i g g d h a r a T i l a k was among t h e

a u d i e n c e . Haviny listened a t t e n t i v e l y t o the

xgeech, he r emarkedr "I had h e a r d t h a t H i s

f i i g h n e s s was a s c h o l a r among p r i n c e s , i t is o n l y

now t h a t I hove comto know t h a t he is a p r i n c e

201 arnonq s c h o l a r s .

- -

200s BSilebodhanam I n t r o d u c t i o n p.ix.

2 0 1 1 XSC.V.p.224rKSSC.V.p.186~SRVR.p.~1Riijarq:i

(B.B.) p.42;~~~.p.14r~alabodhanam I n t r o d u - c t i o n ~ . i x .

On Decenber 25, 1912 (Dhanu 11,1088)

t h e King c e l e b r a t e d h i s S e s t y a b d a p k t i a l l the . . peop le young and o l d , zegoiced t h e c e l e b r a t i o n s

o n A grand s c a l e . 202 A l l i n s t i t u t i o n s l i k e c o u r t s

and s c h o o l s were g i v e n a ho l iday . Poor people

were g iven a f r e e f e a s t . Th i s was a r ranged i n

a l l p a r t s of t h e Kingdom. There were s p e c i a l

p r a y e r s i n temples and o t h e r p l a c e s of worship.

There had never been such a King or

s u c h a c e l e b r a t i o n . The people wished to

erect h i s S t a t u e . Accordingly a S t a t u e was

c o n s t r u c t e d w i t h dona t ions made by people and

203 i n s t a l l e d a t Subhash Dose Park, ~rni ikulam. - .

Even cfuring h i s l i f e t ime he w a s a

c o n t r o v e r s i a l f i g u r e n o t o n l y i n Kera l a b u t

i n t h e whole o f Ind ia . No I n d i a n King i n

modern t i m e s had a b d i c a t e d of h i s w n accord.

But on December 7 , 1914, a f t e r n i n t e e n yea r s

of cllorioun r u l o , King ltiima Varrnan renounced

2 0 4 t h e th rone .

I n cac ry ing o u t h i s d u t i e s , t h e King

had o f t e n t aken an independent s tand . Some

times t h i s c r e a t e d f r i c t i o n i n h i s r e l a t i o n -

2 0 5 s h i p w i t h t h e B r i t i s h GObeznment.

I n 1911 he v i s i t e d a Germanship t b c t

had co rn t o the Cochln arb our?'^ The German

Consul r e c e i v e d h im w i t h due ceremony. Then

h e i n v i t e d t h e s h i p s o f f i c e r s t o d i n n e r a t t h e

H i l l Pa lace . On t h e b a s i s o f t h i s , a rumbur

s p r e a d t h a t t h e King had had d e a l i n g s w i t h

t h e Germans and had consp i r ed a g a i n - s t t h e

B r i t i s h , and t h a t t h e B r i t i s h had o rde red h i m

t o a b d i c a t e b u t there was no t r u t h i n it.

I n fact, t h e Governor o f n a d r a s , Lord A p t i l

and t h e Viceroy Lord C u z o n d i d a l l t h a t t h e y

c o u l d t o p r e v e n t h i s abd ica t ion . C.Acyuta

Menon has no ted t h i s i n h i s s h o r t book The Story

On Uecembor 8,1913. one year b e f o r e

h i s a b d i c a t i o n t h e King s a i d i n a message to

heloved s u b j e c t s t h a t he had decided to r e l i n -

q u i s h power?08 H e s a i d t h a t t h i s was becauae

t ~ e wished t o spend a p ~ r a c e f u l o l d age f r e e from

t h e c a r e s o f Government. tW s a i d t h a t h e

f e a r e d n o t t h a t h i s work cou ld a f f e c t h i s h e a l t h ,

but t h a t h i s h e a l t h cou ld a f f e c t h i s vork. But

he added t h a t he i n t ended t o remain i n powsr

t i l l he had brought a b o u t some more reforms,

and t h a t he would declere t h e d a t e of h i s 209 a b d i c a t i o n Later .

The n a h > r s j a had brought about many

reforms w i t h the s o c i a l an8 p o l i t i c a l p rog res s

of t h e S t a t e i n mind. 210 There were t h r e e re-

forms t h a t he s p e c i a l l y wished t o b r i n g abou t

b e f o r e t h e end o f h i s r u l e ; to fotm a n

Advisory Council . t o vo ice p u b l i c +opinion. where

;in o f f i c i a l m e m b e r s t o o would have a p l ace , t o

pssa a h n a n c y B i l l t h a t would p r o t e a t t h o

i n t e r e s t of fa rmers , and to o r g a n i s e V i l l a g e 211 Panchayat i n e v e r y v i l l a g e .

The Government o f Madras was of t h e

o p i n i o n t h a t it was n o t p roper f o r a r u l e r who

was going to a b d i c a t e t o make reforms, and

t h a t t h e mat te r should be left to the d e c i s i o n

o f t h e n e w r u l e r . 212 ~ u t t h e King i n s i s t e d

t h a t a s long a s he remained t h e King, he waa

f u l l y a u t h o r i s e d l e g a l l y t o c a r r y o u t any

a d m i n i s t r a t i v e measure he liked. The Government

o f Madras a l s o s a i d t h a t s i n c e t h e t e n u r e of

Diviin A.R. Baner j ea was abou t t o e x p i r e , t h e

King should w a i t f o r t h e adv ice o f t h e D iv in

who would succeed him. But the King informed

t h e Madras Government o f h i s firm op in ion t h a t

i n a d m i n i s t r a t i v e m a t t e r s t h e King and t h e ~ i v g n

d i d not have independent i d e n t i t i e s , and t h a t

213 t h e King had complete c o n t r o l over t h e Divgn.

The Madras Government had t h e op in ion

t h a t a more democra t i c body t h a n t h e Advisory

Counci l v i s u a l i s e d by t h e King w i t h more de-

jn l t r , pouars wou10 bo s u i t . b l ~ ) ? ~ ' But t h i s

s u g g e s t i o n was n o t a c c e p t a b l e t o t h e King be-

c a u s e he fe l t t h a t it was no t t imely.

I n t h e l i g h t of t h e King's d e c i s i o n

t o abdicate, h i 3 nuygaut ion foiled tn r a c e i v e

q u i c k a t t e n t i o n f ~ b n r t h e Madras Governmnt .

However t h e Tenancy B i l l and t h e V i l l a g e Pancha-

y a t came i n t o e f f e c t i n 1914 i t s e l f . The Advi-

s o r y Counci l came i n t o being d u r i n g t h e r u l e

of a succes so r i n t h e form of t h e L e g i s l a t i v e 215 Council .

There have not been many people,

any where i n t h e world a t any time, who cou ld

c a s t a s i d e t h e power and luxury o f k i n g s h i p

l i k e t h i s noble r u l e r . Even e a r l i e r he had

l i v e d as a ~ ; i ' j a r s i , and w i t h h i s a b d i c a t i o n

h e c a r r i e d o u t t h e d i c t a t e o f t h e a n c i e n t 216 I n d i a n t r a d i t i o n r ega rd ing RXjadharma,

A f t e r t h i s , h e l e d a s imp le and ssin-

t l y l i fe a t Kiinat-tykara i n ~ r & & i i r . 21a ~e s p e n t

h i s t i n e i n l i t e r a r y and s p i r i t u a l a c t i v i t i e s .

is was a g l o r i o u s lifs worthy o f emulation.

He had fame a s a s ta tesman, cucl tural figure,

and scholar . H e succumbed to the a i lments

o f old ago and passed away on January 2 9 ,

2 18 1932 (16, Makaram, 1109).