History of Thiruvananthapuram

[ajithv]

image hosted on flickr


© thejasp @Flickr

[25Dude25]

Source: Madhyamam

[25Dude25]

Source: Mathrubhumi

[25Dude25]

Source: Mathrubhumi

[ajithv]

Source: Mathrubhumi

[RajeshVR]

Rare pictures of British era to be exhibited

Thiruvananthapuram, Nov 30 (IANS) At least 200 rare pictures and documents pertaining to the British era starting with the first British settlement in Kerala would be on display here for two days starting Saturday.

This exhibition is being organised by the local branch of the Association of British Scholars (ABS) and would be inaugurated by the erstwhile Maharaja of Travancore, Uthradom Thirunal Marthanda Varma, who incidentally owns these pictures and documents, said a release by the group.

The ABS is an organisation of Indians who have lived in Britain for studies or undergoing training and are currently working in Kerala.

Among the pictures is one on the first commercial venture between Travancore and Britain when the then Maharani of Travancore in 1673 gave permission to build two factories near here at Vizhinjam and Anchengo.

A picture of a late 17th century fort near here with its ramparts jutting into the Arabian sea is another rare, must-see picture.

http://www.vancouverdesi.com/lifesty...ibited/381424/

[Venunair]

Source: Mathrubhumi

[ajithv]

125 years of Aruvippuram temple

Sree Narayana Guru’s messages against casteism are intended not only for Kerala but also for the world, Minister of State for Human Resource Development Shashi Tharoor has said.

Mr. Tharoor was inaugurating a function marking the 125 years of the consecration of the Aruvippuram Shiva Temple.

Mr. Tharoor said though the society was yet to completely get rid off the evils of caste system, the caste situation had improved from the times of Sri Narayana Guru, and hence the social reformer’s contribution was indisputable.

[25Dude25]

Source: Keralakaumudi

[RajeshVR]

Was Swati Tirunal poisoned?

Thiruvananthapuram: The mutual hatred of composer king Swati Tirunal’s and British resident William Cullen is the stuff of legend. But the discovery of a small advertisement for an ointment in one of the inside pages of the London Times of December 8, 1846, has given rise to the possibility that the king could have been poisoned by Cullen. Swati Tirunal died a few days later on December 25, Christmas day.

The charge is that General Cullen might have administered Holloway’s ointment on the king with the help of deputy peshkar Krishna Row and the king’s physician. The 19th century advertisement says that an order for the “six of the largest pots” of Holloway’s ointment has been placed on July 11, 1846 for the personal use of the Raja of Travancore.
“It will be employed under the superintendence of his private physician,” it adds.

The ad touts the ointment as a “certain cure for ulcers, wounds, sores.” Biotechnologist Achuthsankar S Nair, who dug out the ad, said that Holloway’s medicines contained only aloe, myrrh and saffron, which are unlikely to cure anything.

What heightens the suspicion is the closeness of Krishna Row and the palace physician to General Cullen. Shangunni Menon, in History of Travancore, says that Krishna Row had fallen out of favour with Swati Tirunal.

Renowned historian and Kerala expert Robin Jeffrey, though he does not subscribe to the murder theory, said that Krishna Row was like a family member to Cullen. Jeffrey also said that the physician was a relative of Cullen. Jeffrey, however, was of the view that Cullen was a great lover of Travancore and observed that he had done his best to protect Travancore from Lord Dalhousie’s Doctrine of Lapse annexation policy.

Jeffrey made these observations at the ‘Dialogue on Swathi Tirunal’s Relations with General Cullen,’ organised by the Sree Uthradom Tirunal Institute of Culture here on Wednesday.

Source

[d_rk]

Padmanabhapuram Palace

[Kannan46]

Nice Photography, Thanks for sharing.

Cheers!!!

[d_rk]

^ thanks kannan..

[25Dude25]

Source: Mathrubhumi

[25Dude25]

Source: Mathrubhumi

[25Dude25]

Source: City kaumudi

Let's not forget this man who loved Thiruvananthapuram

[Xeno Axe]

Source: Kerala Kaumudi

[25Dude25]

Source: Manoramaonline

[25Dude25]

Source: Mathrubhumi

[Tri Man]

The 200-year-old weapon is a double-edged straight sword, which tapers towards the end and has shallow grooves on its flat side.


‘When the sword of rebellion is drawn, the sheath should be thrown away’ goes an old English saying.

Perhaps the adage encapsulates the short but eventful life of Velu Thampi Dalawa, the 19th century prime minister of erstwhile Travancore and Kerala’s iconic symbol of armed resistance against British colonial rule.

His 248th birth anniversary was celebrated last week. Incidentally, the scabbard of his legendary sword has never been found.

The Dalawa’s sword, on loan from the Union government, is on display at the Napier Museum here. The State recently requested the Union government to extend the loan period.

The 200-year-old weapon is a double-edged straight sword, which tapers towards the end and has shallow grooves on its flat side.

Conservation experts at the Kerala State Archaeology Department said the ‘blood grooves or fullers’ helped lighten the sword without compromising its strength. It also prevented the blade and hilt from getting slippery with blood during combat.

The sword’s ornate hilt is fashioned from brass and covered with silver strips. The pommel has a hole to accommodate a lanyard, which when tied to the wrist ensures the weapon is not lost in the heat of battle.

Experts said they found several notches and dents on the blade, indicating the weapon has seen combat. They restored it back to its original glory through a conservation process that took several days and is repeated periodically.

First, a soft brush is used to dust away small rust particles. Petroleum jelly is applied on the blade to unsettle deeply embedded rust, which is gently removed using cotton dabbed in a chemical solution. The process is repeated till the sword gets its original sheen back.

Defeated by intrigues, betrayals, and large-scale desertions, the Dalawa was forced to flee Thiruvananthapuram in February 1809. Colonel Leger and his colonial troops were in hot pursuit. Risking the wrath of the British, the royal family of Kilimanoor gave him refuge. In reciprocation, the Dalawa presented them his battle sword. A few weeks later, he preferred suicide (by cutting his throat at the Mannadi temple in Kollam) to capitulation to the British. His body was desecrated and hung for public display (gibbeted) at a spot since referred to as Dalawa Hill near Kannamoola here.

The legendary sword was lost to history for nearly 150 years. Then in 1957, the Kilimanoor family acknowledged its possession and gifted it to President Rajendra Prasad.

For 53 years, the sword was kept at the National Museum, New Delhi, and was almost forgotten. It was brought back to Kerala in 2010 with great fanfare and has remained here since. The sword is arguably the most popular display at the Napier Museum here and draws hundreds of visitors daily.

Keywords: Velu Thampi Dalawa, Travancore dynasty, colonial India, India independence, Dalawa’s sword, Napier Museum.


Source:http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/...cle4706870.ece