Cochin History, Heritage and Legacy

[mohammedirshad06]

Originally Posted by thanseem

Kerala kings also had a luxurious life style as far as i know..they own estates/huge mansions in many locations...and enjoyed all the innovations of those times..be it a camera or a car or watever... ofcourse, NIzams and other maharaja's spent even more tax payers money in luxuries..instead, travancore kings dumped all the wealth in cellars as dead money, wen scores of their citizens were battling hunger! even in the beginning of 20th century woman doesnt have the permission to wear blouse and education was forbidden to vast majority! All the developments u r talking about is only due to a visionary Diwan. In fact, the Xian missionaries who started educational centers even in remote villages should own much of the credits for the highest HDI Kerala enjoys today..

yes there is corruption and nepotism every where..but i still prefer democracy over raja rules..any day..

Definitely, even today our rulers have always more edge than Aam Admi... Say most of Kerala Ministers are always in Foreign tours, visiting countries in name of people... Does Aam Admi gets any benefit? Planning commission Vice Chairman have the luxury of getting 35 lakh worth Sanitary accessories in his personal toilet, when atleast 40% of Indians donot have access to toilets itself..... Sonia Gandhi can enjoy hi-tech treatments at Public costs or undisclosed costs, when majority of Indians donot have quality Healthcare access.....

When Swati Thirunal's mother, Maharani Gouri Lakshmi Bai died due to Leukemia, Swati Thirunal started India's first public hospital, where all people sans caste, creed, sex have access of English Medicine... He didn't start an elite hospital, where only Royals get the quality treatment.... And even the royals depended the physicians of this hospital, even though they could get western treatments or go to West itself...... Whereas even Communist Jyoti Basu preferred to go to USA for his treatment, rather depending Indian hospitals, that too at public cost......

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Temples in Monarchical state, are state institutions. They act like a reserve, just like how we store Gold in RBI...... In times of emergency, the reserve is opened for public welfare... When India was reeling under Great Famine of 1870s, Travancore solved the problem, by opening the same Padmanabha's treasure and took the gold, pledged it and recevied hard cash... The same money was used to import Tapioca from Portugal, promote Tapioca cultivation among commoners and subsidize state rationing system..... Travancore-Kochi remained one of the very few states in India, that was least affected in the faminie, when thousands died in British Malabar....... Thats because of visionary deal of the Kings......

The same dead money of Kochi temple, now converted into one of the most busiest rail-routes in South India...... What was the need of King to fund so... After all, he has his famous Benz car to travel anywhere in his kingdom....

Then Xian Missionaries was there in all places. Not just in Travancore-Kochi. But why in Travancore-Kochi side has leaped forward in public education or healthcare, when compared to British Malabar? Xian Missionaries donot run schools on road side... They got state funding. The Kings personally took interest to provide land, initial funds to build the buildings etc.... Say St.Albert's School.. The entire land and fund for that structure was provided by the King. The school has adopted Kochi Raja's emblem as school's logo, as a token of respect to him....

Did the same Xian Missionaries, replicate the same in British Malabar, ruled by Christian Britishers? Never, there they have the same Indian rules in providing land and things, so things didn't happen at the same way, it happened in the Kingdoms.....

The concept of grassroot state PHC was seen more in Travancore-Kochi side, not in Malabar, because of extreme state funding for establishing more public healthcare centers....... Where is Xian missionaries playing role there?

The famous Kuttanad agriculture, particularly Mukken's farming made Kuttanad into rice bowl of Kerala... It was Vishakam Thirunal's personal interest, that helped Mukken to reclaim land and go for intense farming there... Whats the status of those farms today?

Kochi Maharajas spend more time in Shornour, promoting new techniques in Ayurveda, researching on it etc.... As a result, we find it reaching common man easily, rather than an elite medicine, as seen elsewhere.....

There are many many such examples..... Its easy to give credit to Diwan and say Kings enjoyed... If thats the case, we can say the same now... IAS bureaucrats works and politicians enjoy........ I hope you don't agree that

[thanseem]

MI....its almost like exampling the exceptions! i too can tell u 100s of atrocities they did to humanity..

despite all the short comings, Kerala developed tremendously in the last 50-60 years of democratic rule. When <5% of the total populations were the beneficiaries of Raja rule, its > 90% now! All the wealth the kings earned were through foreign spice trade and all sorts of unjust and brutal levies and taxes from farmers and traders. there was no "panam kaayikkunna maram" then too..the rulers should have utilized it for the common well being of the society..wen it was mostly needed
please do not glorify a society where more than half of the population could not enter even a worshiping place!
I am not talking abt Travancore in partcular; but of all Raja rules.

[maheshponneth]

I can not admit this point. As far as administration is concernd we can't negate the Kings of Kerala. So prestigious industrial institutions are installed during King's rule. For example, FACT. Similarly a lot of educational institutions and health institutions as mentioned by MI, have been started in that era.

[thanseem]

Originally Posted by maheshponneth

I can not admit this point. As far as administration is concernd we can't negate the Kings of Kerala. So prestigious industrial institutions are installed during King's rule. For example, FACT. Similarly a lot of educational institutions and health institutions as mentioned by MI, have been started in that era.

its all only a handful mahesh-san.. scores of population were neglected..kings in general were only concerned abt their own well-being..wishes, hobbies, girls..wat more..they were not answerable to anyone..some of them were really kindhearted....i agreed..thats all..

[mohammedirshad06]

Originally Posted by thanseem

MI....its almost like exampling the exceptions! i too can tell u 100s of atrocities they did to humanity..

despite all the short comings, Kerala developed tremendously in the last 50-60 years of democratic rule. When <5% of the total populations were the beneficiaries of Raja rule, its > 90% now! All the wealth the kings earned were through foreign spice trade and all sorts of unjust and brutal levies and taxes from farmers and traders. there was no "panam kaayikkunna maram" then too..the rulers should have utilized it for the common well being of the society..wen it was mostly needed
please do not glorify a society where more than half of the population could not enter even a worshiping place!
I am not talking abt Travancore in partcular; but of all Raja rules.

Atrocities happen even in Democracy.... Perhaps, the Sanjay Gandhi Era or Emergency Era is not something we can forget.... Untill LPG, power, wealth etc concenrated in few... Brute use of power can be seen easily in states like TN, UP, WB etc untill very recently. Now Media is strong, so its liberalized to some extend....

Regarding levies, yes, many traditions were there... But if you read history, you must know, both Kochi and Travancore abolished nearly 240 taxes, citing unjust way back in 1840s, including tax levied on roof etc, whereas many such existed in British India.... Say Salt Tax was abolished in 1846, when rest of India still had even in 1920s.... Definitely there were some unjust taxes, but unlike other Princely states, both Kingdoms were more progressive to change it, when they realize the same.....

Friend, we talk about history seeing from present... Thats not fair... Say, today we don't allow non Hindus in Hindu temples... Tommorrow that may be allowed by legislation. Can tommorrow's generation say, today's generation was wrong?

Each era has its own rights and wrongs... Something that was right could become wrong over-night due to change in environment and multiple factors... Say in those era, in upper class marriage was not an institution, rather it was just live-in relationship. Then the society changed and made it into a social institution like today. Now modern generation slowly feels no need for it and many going into live-in.... We neither can say one is wrong or right, as each time as its own justifications and reasons.......

Every regime has its own rights and wrongs.... When we balance it, if wrong over-weights, the society as whole discards that history or if its equal, we accept that.... Say, the German society and world as whole rejected Hitler, because his wrong doings was more than positive.... Whereas the same Germans accepts Bismark or Willeham's history, not because all was prefect and fine there... But it was balanced......

Same here... Monarchy helped Kerala in a big way and we enjoy its fruits even today.... Lets condemn the wrond doings, but on any scale, its balanced and equal........

[thanseem]

may be something interesting with respect to above discussion..

http://www.mathrubhumi.com/nri/orida...rticle_324966/

[Malayaali]

Today in History: Monday, December 24

In 1524, Portuguese navigator Vasco da Gama — who had discovered a sea route around Africa to India — died in Cochin, India.

[induzcreed]

From 1127 AD to 1948, Kochi was state, making it as one of longest reigned Kingdom in the country. The official name of Kochi Kingdom in Malayalam was Perumpadappu Swaroopam, which includes modern day Thrissur district, Chittoor Taluk of the Palakkad district and Kochi Taluk, most of Kanayannur Taluk (excluding Edappally), parts of Aluva Taluk (Chovvara, Kanjoor, Srimoolanagaram) and parts of Paravur Taluk (Chendamangalam) of the Ernakulam district

Courtesy: FB

[kochi_]

The state-level inauguration of the Heritage Museum project will be held here on March 2. Chief Minister Oommen Chandy will launch the project at a function to be held at the Bastion Bungalow in Fort Kochi.

Union Minister of State for Food and Civil Supplies K V Thomas will inaugurate the meeting. Cultural Affairs Minister K C Joseph will preside over the meeting. As per the project, the Bastion Bungalow in Fort Kochi will be renovated and converted into a museum.

The Heritage Museum project is restricted to four districts, and the total estimated cost of the project is `14 crore.

Indian Express

[mohammedirshad06]

The first and only visit of an Indian King to German Naval Ship

In a few pages back, I have narrated the story of a determined King- Maharaja Rama Varma XV, popularly known as Rajarishi, who was determined to transform a small out-grown village- Ernakulam into today's Kochi by putting in Railway Map of India with limited funds in hands.....

The story ended how the King was forced to abdicate the throne, after Her Highness Penvazhithampuran of Kochi (Queen of Kochi- the Sovereign) ordered for his abdication at instance of British, due to King's growing relations with Imperial Germany.

The immediate provocation of British, happened on the fact, H.H The King Rama Varma and Consort Queen Neythar Amma Madhavi visited German Naval Ship Woldden at Kochi Outer Harbour carry Prince Kaiser-I of Germany. British had intense fear whether Kochi would align with Germany and provide an access to India as a base, especially in context of eve of World War 1.

Palace officials of Kochi have took photographs, which however leaked out, causing British Govt to pressurize Queen to push the king out under threat of annexation. Owing to continuous pressure within family as well as government, the King signed abdication paper in Dec of 1914.

[kochi_]

Vasco Square still remains Fort Kochi’s main hub of activity

Vasco Da Gama Square, it got its name only in 1985, has changed beyond recognition. Earlier, it was a panoramic sea shore where six to seven Chinese nets operated quietly. The 400-year-old, ocean facing, Bastion Bungalow, then the residence of the Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO), stood resolutely on one end. On its leeward side was the Tower House, belonging to the English trading firm Pierce Leslie. The River Road separated the two historic edifices bifurcating at the bend, opening a delta where imperial history was churned.

The wave of tourism was yet to lash the shore but when it did, in the 90s, the quiet seaside lost its isolation and became a hub for people from all lands. In 1985, K.J. Herschel, former MLA and Chairman, Fort Kochi Municipal Council, inaugurated the Square as a public space. The Beach Festival committee, part of the Cochin Carnival, initiated the move. Trees were planted and the move was supported by K.B.Valsala Kumari the then SDO.

Soon the place started beckoning droves of holidayers and strangely if walls have ears they once again began hearing familiar accents that inhabited the space three to four centuries ago.

“Life has come a full circle for Vasco Square. It is one of Fort Kochi’s main attractions,” says K. J. Sohan, former mayor and a conservation foot soldier.

“It was of strategic importance as an entry point for successive European powers - Portuguese, Dutch and British. It is here that the sea meets the channel and all ships carrying cargo anchored nearby. The gear shed, the coal shed, customs office, port office were all adjoining the Vasco Square. Once upon a time all these activities went on in its vicinity. Bastion Bungalow is part of the first Fort Immanuel built by the Portuguese. The Dutch fortified it and it was called the Stromburgh Bastion. The British renamed it as Bastion Bungalow. It is now been declared as a protected monument soon to be converted into a heritage museum. There was a signal tower at the far end of Vasco Square, where the present children’s park stands, that was brought down” says Sohan. And he goes on to add: “An oil painting of the tower, perhaps the only one, is present at the Cochin Corporation office in Fort Kochi. A flag was hoisted to signal the arrival of a ship carrying a particular cargo. The tower was later shifted near the lighthouse. It was only in 1951 that a park for children, Nehru Park, designed by C. R. K. Menon, came up. But because of its openness Vasco Square was always a public space.”

Dutch anthropologist Bauke van der Pol who shared the unique 19th century photograph of Vasco Square writes on mail: The photograph of what is now part of the Tower House Hotel, the building with the staircase, used to be the bungalow of an English trading company. According to the Dutch map from 1696 there was a horse stable right behind this Tower House. In an interview in 2009 the new owners said that before they began the renovation on the building there was ‘a clear sign that the ground floor was a stable.’

Jose Dominic, MD Cgh Group of Hotels has this old photograph enlarged and showcased at Eighth Bastion and the Brunton Boatyard. A history buff, he narrates an interesting tale about the dusty pathway in the picture. “The story goes that a lady of sufficient importance, must be the commander’s wife, who stayed in the Tower House was sensitive to the dust that rose from the mud track. Hence, bitumen was brought by ship from Europe and the path was tarred. This is roughly dated to sometime in the 1940s.”

Ivan D’Costa, 77, a former custom’s officer remembers playing at the “port maidan,” the open land which is a part of the Square. “It is a pretty old photograph, when my mother was teaching in Vypeen. There were only row boats then. ‘Crossing Over’ was the word commonly used to go to the other side. When there was a storm the boat officer this side would raise a red signal. They had lanterns those days and placed red paper on it. This picture must be sometime in the 1920s because there is no weather cock. When I grew up in the 1940s, playing at the maidan, there was a rain gauge, a temperature recorder all kept under lock in an iron trellis. There are still evidences of that. The port officer was one Mr. Shepherd. The Tower House was a nurse’s quarter.”

Today, Vasco Square is chockfull of people, cars, vendors, free speech makers, protestors, painters and plain visitors. There is activity all around. The Nehru Park walls were brought down at a suggestion by INTACH (Indian National Trust for Art and Culture Heritage), in the 90s, to give more visibility to the water. The area was cobbled and colonial style lampposts erected. A walkway was built snaking past the Square along the water. The trees planted in the 50s have grown into gigantic shade trees, their overarching branches providing a leafy canopy. Sun umbrellas, small eateries, film shootings, children on see saws and slides, balloon sellers, tourist police are all part of the colourful picture at the square. A concrete stage has been recently erected, in the late 90s, with the Bastion Bungalow in the back drop. Cultural events are held here almost everyday.

Hindu

[mohammedirshad06]

Kochi Maharajas always hoisted a traditional science meet, called Sastra Sadas, where scholars debate about various elements of Vedic science, in Sanskrit.... The King himself normally acts as the chief judges in these sessions. One of the last Sastra Sadas held under auspices of Last Maharaja H.H Parikshit Thampuran at Government Sanskrit College- Tripunithara

[mohammedirshad06]

H.H Parikshit Thampuran, the last Maharaja of Kochi welcoming B. Ramakrishna Rao, first Governor of Kerala, at the Govt. Sanskrit College, Tripunithura, in 1957

[mohammedirshad06]

The Cochin Forest Tramways



Just like how Maharaja Rajarishi Rama Varma XV worked hard soon to make Kochi-Shornour Railway line into reality, even challenging the mighty British, the same King also worked for making another project, more tiresome and more challenging also into reality, at shortest of time.

The Cochin Forest Tramway Project, connecting Chalakudy- the headquarters of Cochin Royal Forests Services Office to deep forest ranges of Parambikulam, upto bottom of Nellayampatti ranges near Chinnar.

Rama Varma as Elya Raja, was quite convinced in making Kochi, the key industrial hub of Southern West Coast. For this, his full attention was developing sound infrastructure to create an industrial scenairo.

While presenting blueprints for Kochi-Shornour Railway Line before Madras Presidency, most of the Britishers mocked the very idea, citing unfeasibility and loss making.... At the same time, several officials suggested to the Prince for consideration of a freight railway corridor to the forest ranges to tap the famed resources of Western Ghats, particularly the teak.

The Elyaraja was very much convinced with the project, but he donot want it to be used as reason to reduce the importance of Railway Line. Along with support of Sir James Thompson (Environmental advisor to the Maharaja) and newly appointed Foulkes, the Madras Forest Services, the Crown Prince drafted his plan for tapping the resources without much environmental damage.

The Elya Raja got a big support, when Alwar Chetty, senior member of Travancore Forest Services, joined into Cochin Royal Forest Services in 1897 and became Maharaja's special advisor and later as Chief Conservator.

Alwar explored the report of J A Kolhoff, ex-Conservator of Cochin Forests, regarding his idea about introducing Funicular railways. A forest engineer by name Haldwell was commissioned to survey the feasibility of this proposal. The plan was to transport timber through the rivers originating from the forests and to minimize the usage of expensive rails to the extent possible. In this plan, timber from the virgin Parambikulam Forest was to have been floated via the Parambikulam River to the head of the tramway in the valley, where they would be loaded onto the log cars.

The forested areas were merely divided into 4 felling quadrants, and the permissible felling area was set at 640 acres annually. Minimum girths for felling were assigned to the various species, Teak and Rosewood at 6 feet and other species at 4-1/2 feet. The only purpose to the felling was to keep the tram operating without a loss. The tramway helped to transport about 10,000 cu.m in a year and exploit about 32,000 ha of forest areas. The total extent of forest areas in Cochin during this period was about 50,000 ha.

The construction of the tramway commenced in 1901 and was inaugurated by Sir Arthur Oliver Villiers Russell, 2nd Baron Ampthill, Governor of Madras, in October 1905. Regular work in the tramway started in 1907. On June 26, 1907, the Maharaja of Cochin passed the Cochin Forest Tramway Act, which provided for protection and management of the tramway.

The total length of tramway is 49.5 miles. Considering the double lines between certain points, the total length of rails laid is 56 miles.

The govt completed the construction within 6 years and total investment for this project was rupees 18.5 lakhs and the state treasury had incurred a total expenditure of Rs. 24 lakhs including maintenance till 15th August 1910. The state was able to generate a revenue of 17.5 lakhs of rupees from this tramway. He concludes that the operating profits to the state treasury form this tramway is around 2 lakhs rupees per annum on an average.

When the works commenced, the British suppliers were delaying in providing supplies on time, which has slowly started keeping the schedules out of time.... The King, immediately contacted German Political Agent for supplies, which later started creating irk between British and King. On request of Cochin Maharaja, the German Govt arranged Orenstein and Koppel Co from Germany supplied the locomotives (8 Nos), wheels & axles for rolling stock and the mechanics for inclines.

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The timber procured from the forests of Cochin, was of very high demand. The timber from Parambikulam was mainly used for ship building & as railway sleepers. P&W MacLellan Ltd were the suppliers & contractors of bridges for this tramway and they got into timber trading too in association with Wallace Brothers. Together, they were supplying timber to the Clyde Teak Pool. The ship building industry in Clyde is world famous and most of the ships of those days perhaps used timber from Parambikulam.

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Decline

In 1926, the special finance committee recommended the abolition of the tramway. However in 1928, the government unwilling to abolish this ‘engineering marvel’ decided to continue to keep the tramway running at any cost, mainly by exploiting the nearby forests in the most intensive scale possible. This was another conceptual mistake which resulted in the severe damage to the forests of the area. In 1940’s the Anamalai road, from Chalakudy to Valparai came in to being and through this road motor vehicles started carrying the timber which diminished the unique role of tramway. The gradual depletion of the forests could not justify the capital expenditure and in 1950 a special committee was set up under the chairmanship of the Chief Conservator of Forests in order to evaluate the situation.

Finally the newly formed Thirukochi Government abolished in 1952.

Still lot of legacies remain.... Several lines of old tramway are still intact, with one bridge as in good shape. Lot of proposals now happen to make into a tourist attraction.

[Asskicker]

WTF is wrong with you

many ppl already told you before dont spam in every thread
what is ur intention, if u want to bring ur page into our notice u just need to post in one thread, but why the hell are you spamming every thread

[sree_ec]

cross posting

Originally Posted by chekuthan

http://in.lifestyle.yahoo.com/photos...334912400.html

The heritage mosques of Cochin
Cochin (or Kochi), the historic port-city on the Malabar coast in Kerala, has some of the very first Indian mosques, which reveal a distinctive legacy in form, acknowledging and celebrating the place, history, and building techniques of the region. Excerpts from the book, Mosques of Cochin by Patricia Tusa Fels, are reproduced by permission of Mapin Publishing.





Rooftop view of Cutchi Hanafi Mosque (below)
©Feroze Babu / Published in ‘Mosques of Cochin’ by Patricia Tusa Fels
The indigenous Kerala mosque architecture and the story of its growth from trade across the Arabian Sea provide a valuable historical example of cultural adaptation. From the early trading days of Cochin there has been a Gujarati presence, of Cutchi Memons and Jains, from Kachchh. This mosque, located on Bazar Road, was built by the Cutchi Memon community in 1815.


The ablution pool at Cutchi Hanafi Mosque.
©Feroze Babu / Published in ‘Mosques of Cochin’ by Patricia Tusa Fels



A view of Thakyavu Palli from the water.
©Feroze Babu / Published in ‘Mosques of Cochin’ by Patricia Tusa Fels
South of the Dutch Town and Jewtown areas of Cochin sits Kochangadi, the original Muslim quarter located within Mattancherry area. Found here is this mosque (the taller structure seen in the background), whose entrance faces the backwaters. The mosque was probably built in early nineteenth century.


Carved inscription boards above prayer hall entry doors at Chembitta Palli
©Feroze Babu / Published in ‘Mosques of Cochin’ by Patricia Tusa Fels
Built sometime between the years 1520 and 1540, this is one of the oldest and finest mosques of the area. Elements adopted from Kerala houses and temples define the architecture of the mosque.



Grand entrance gable and balcony at Ponnani Juma Masjid.
©Donald Fels / Published in ‘Mosques of Cochin’ by Patricia Tusa Fels
Ponnani, a port city located north of Cochin, was inhabited from first century AD, and it was a religious centre of temples and mosques. The Ponnani Juma Masjid was built in the 1500s. The fantastic displays of mosques such as this one and Chembitta Palli may have been a direct response to the Portuguese efforts at destruction of the Muslims’ trade dominance and their faith.



Entrance to Calvathy Canal from the harbour
©Donald Fels / Published in ‘Mosques of Cochin’ by Patricia Tusa Fels
The bridge across the Calvathy canal separated Fort Cochin, which was under British control, from the native ruler’s domain. Just past the canal, in what was the European preserve, sits the Calvathy Mosque. The mosque and the nearby canal are the meeting point between the historic European compound of Fort Cochin and the ‘native’ city.


A vernacular mosque seen through the tropical palms
©Donald Fels/ Published in ‘Mosques of Cochin’ by Patricia Tusa Fels
Sited in compounds replete with coconut palms, the mosques of Malabar offer an oasis of tranquility in the densely populated neighbourhoods. Large wood-framed pyramidal roofs, deep overhangs, and fine wooden craftsmanship distinguish a Kerala vernacular that reflects the climate, the culture and the materials of the place. The adoption and adaptation of the local vernacular by the Muslim congregations for their mosques is undocumented and unappreciated phenomenon.