Cochin History, Heritage and Legacy

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The Maharaja of Travancore, Sri Bala Rama Varma, visiting Kochi's Jewish Synagogue. The Rajah, was in Kochi, to sign Travancore-British treaty, after Velu Thampi's defeat at Kundara war against British.

The King was the first Travancore Ruler to visit Synagogue and presented the a golden crown, which is still seen at the Torah.

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Remains of Nedumkotta as of today

Nedumkotta-The first line of Defence

The Nedumkotta or Central Fort, was an ambitious plan of Travancore and Kochi Kingdoms to secure Kochi and Travancore from Zamorin's attacks as well as Mysore.

The Mega fortifications was planned on lines of Chinese Great Wall, starting from Pallipuram in North Paravur to Foot Hills of Anamalai covering a horizontal distance of 56 Kms. The Fortifications was broken only at one place, near Chalakudy river, where the river flows in between two fort walls, which was secured by increasing the depth of riverbed, to avoid enemy army entering via river.

The idea of mega fort, first rose in mind of Travancore Maharaja, H.H Rama Varma Dharma Raja, which got instant support of Kochi Maharaja, H.H Rama Varma VII. The fort was designed by the Travancore Army Commander De Lennoy under the supervision of Ayyappan Marthandan Pillai, Dalawa of Travancore and Komiachan, Prime Minister of the Kochi Kingdom.

The province of Paravur in Kochi was split into two, with North Paravur being leased to Travancore Army for 99 years lease and Travancore started construction of the fort, which fundings from Kochi. The height of the fort varied from 10 M to 15 M. A mega trench parallel to the fort, were digged thro'out the lines, where Travancore Army had maintain small squads for surprise attacks.

Huge caves and hallow rooms were created in the fort, to store arms and ammunitions.

The structure proved effective to defeat Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan, though Tipu was successful to breach the wall.

The entire fort lost its relevance, when Malabar was annexed into British Empire and Mysore under friendly regime. The fort was lost in memories, eroded due to time, rains etc and public activity due to ignorance. But the name of forts at several places struck,

like Kottamuri (Breach of Wall), Krishnan Kotta (Krishna Fort), Kottapuram (Fort Land), Kottamukku (Fort Junction), etc, most of them falling in Ernakulam district.

[mohammedirshad06]

Public gathered at Durbar Hall in Ernakulam on August 1947, for the Coronation of Last Maharaja- Parashikit Thampuran as the King of Kochi.

[mohammedirshad06]

Pallipuram Fort

The fort located near North Vypeen in Kochi, the oldest surviving European Fort in India. Built by Portuguese in 1503, it was one of the important and most strategic Portuguese forts in India. Initially constructed to counter attack any movements of Zamorin Army of Calicut to Kochi, the fort also later became a major Portuguese factory.

The Dutch made their first presence in India, by attacking and conquering this fort in 17th century and gained much important power of the Kochi.

In 1789, the Dutch sold this fort to Travancore Army, who made it part of Nedumkotta- the major fortification. After Nedumkotta lost its relevance, the fort was taken over by Travancore Govt and in 1909, it was converted into a museum.

[mohammedirshad06]

The Sketches of India- 1800, where a Cochini Jews writes in the scrolls of Cochin Synagogue.

[mohammedirshad06]

Procession of Kochi King, as per Portuguese Records in 1503

[mohammedirshad06]

Plan de la Ville de Cochin

The map of Fort Kochi.

The Fort Kochi was a heavily fortified fort with 7 bastions. We can see, the land where INS Dronarchaya is set up, was barren that time. While the heavily populated Mattancherry of today, was more free and open that time....

More noteworthy, there was a sandbar between Vypeen Island and Fort Kochi, leaving a very narrow strip, that opens to sea, thro' which the ships of that era used to enter Kochi Harbour.

It was in 1920, the sandbar was broken to open Kochi Backwaters to sea and allow more larger ships inside.

[mohammedirshad06]

The Throne of Kochi Kingdom in Hill Palace Durbar Hall.

The Royal Throne of Kochi, set in the Royal Durbar Hall of Hill Palace, is a throne made out of Rosewood, coated with pure silver.

The throne was used for daily durbars which was the cabinet during Monarchy days.

[mohammedirshad06]

The Durbar Hall at Hill Palace

This is the Durbar Hall at Hill Palace, the principal seat of Kochi Royal Family. The Durbar Hall, housed the daily cabinet meetings between King and his councilors.

However much of its relevance was lost, when new Durbar Hall was commissioned in Ernakulam. But the hall was retained as King's private Meeting room.

[mohammedirshad06]

Coup d'état- Kochi, in 1660-1663 Goda Varma's Cochin Army fighting against Dutch Army.

Not much of people know, that there was a bloody Coup d'état for the Cochin Throne between two princes, H.H Goda Varma II and Veera Kerala Varma V

It was for the first time, in the royal family, a terrible feud occuring, which went on into a full scale civil war between two sections. Initially Dutch Government in Fort Kochi, were reluctant to interfere into the issue, considering the issue being an internal matter of Royal family.

However, in 1662, it intervened, after receiving intelligence reports, that the reigining Ruler- H.H Goda Varma Raja II has a strong support of Zamorin and Calicut is funding heavily to make Cochin aligned to the Zamorin.

Dutch Governor Hendrik Van Rheede along with a huge Dutch Army, met Cochin Army which supported Goda Varma II and had an intense battle at Kalavetty Palace grounds. Meantime, Hendrik and a huge force, stormed into Kalavetty Palace, to arrest H.H The Queen of Kochi and placed her custody at Malabar House (the modern Malabar House hotel in Fort Kochi)

It later turned out, the move of Hendrik was to make Queen name her first Brother Veera Kerala Varma as the new King, which resulted in arrest of Goda Varma II and displaced him from Throne.

The Dutch Intervention helped Kochi to remain as one state, which otherwise would have divided into two states.....

[mohammedirshad06]

The History of Fort Kochi

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Costumes of Jewish Women of Cochin in 1884

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Images of Kochi, on eve of Independence

The grandeur of Ernakulam city under the Royal rule, which many lost its sheer ambiance and glory.

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Scenes of Ernakulam Town (that time, it was only a small town), in 1971, from the malayalam movie- Ernakulam Junction

[mohammedirshad06]

Broadway in early 1950

The city of Kochi made a date with time, long ago, through the services of Antony Kaniampuram. Listen to his story. In keeping with the times, a young boy once chose to follow his heart. Obsessed by the mechanics of watch repair and manufacture he left school to pursue his interests. His mother supported her son's independent streak. Except that she told him of his father's dying wish: To abstain from any bad habit. “Till today I don't drink, even tea or coffee,” says the 88-year-old today, a pointer to his disciplined ways that brought him commendable entrepreneurial success.

Learning watch repair

A dropout, he went on to manufacture watches and clocks from his unit at Mulavakadu, watches that became famous all over India. He even exported them to America in 1978!

Antony learnt the art of watch repair from a Jew of Indian descent, Aaron Eliyas in 1945-46. When Aaron Eliyas left for Bombay, Antony began a watch repair outlet on Banerjee Road in a small way. He also started teaching the art to a few others.

Antony followed his master to Bombay and further enhanced his skills. He was curious and sharp and quickly understood the market. He moved on to Kolkata for a short while, where he keenly searched for machines and found a ‘Dividing Head' at a scrap dealer's. He was thrilled as this could be used for fine adjustments. Back in Kochi Antony opened his shop, Kaniampuram Bros in Broadway in 1952. In Bombay he had ordered for 200 ‘clock movements' which he found lying unused for lack of know-how. Here he made dials, pendulums, hands and gongs and assembled them to produce his first clock in 1953 as a 23-year-old. He named his brand Walstar.

By the end of that decade he started manufacturing clock movements. In the early 60s he imported a consignment of springs from Japan, which was found rusted on arrival. The Japanese came down and replaced the entire order after seeing the dexterity of his work. “They asked me if I was an engineer or had learnt the art from them!” In fact the Japanese suggested the name Hotta, for his clocks, which then came into production.

By then Antony had established himself as a clock manufacturer and repairer of repute. He had buyers from across Kerala, Bombay, Japan and even America. He worked along with skilled blacksmiths and carpenters who fondly called him, ‘asan'.

Hotta clocks

An officer once refused to allot him an import license, unable to believe that a man without any engineering background was manufacturing such clocks. He changed his mind later when he found an old Hotta clock in his house in perfect working condition.

Antony had dabbled in engineering works even before clocks became a passion. He used to package bolts under his brand name and sell it. The Cochin Harbour was then under construction.

He was sounded out for the requirement of bolts, as his bolt packets had caught the first engineer's eye. The sample supplied by Antony even took Sir Robert Bristow by surprise. He found them better than the ones imported earlier!

Broadway was the centre of business then. There was a temporary shed where dramas were staged, he remembers, where later Chakolas textile shop came up. The manager of Indo Mercantile Bank, near Sealord, started Pai and Company on Broadway, says Antony. But he remembers distinctly of Shanmugham Chetty, the Diwan of Cochin predicting that Broadway would not be able to contain the increase in number of cars in the future.

“At that time his predictions seemed unwarranted as there were only six to seven cars in Cochin.”

But times were changing. The clocks were ticking. The entry of quartz cut into the clock making business and a fire in Broadway charred the vestiges of the past. Antony Kaniampuram's store changed with the times. Run by his son Henri, it is the only Citizen International watch service centre in the city. Antony himself remains the original timekeeper of Kochi.

http://www.thehindu.com/life-and-sty...cle2473167.ece

[sanjupalayat]

Originally Posted by mohammedirshad06

The History of Fort Kochi

The pictures shown as Kochi Maharajas are actually the pictures of Zamorin.

[mohammedirshad06]

Originally Posted by sanjupalayat

The pictures shown as Kochi Maharajas are actually the pictures of Zamorin.

True!!! They have shown the pics of Vasco Da Gama's historic meeting with Manavikrama Samoothiripad, the Zamorin as symbol of Portuguese's entry into India. I don't think, its intentional!!!

[georgescifo]

Originally Posted by mohammedirshad06

Scenes of Ernakulam Town (that time, it was only a small town), in 1971, from the malayalam movie- Ernakulam Junction

This video seems to be very much interesting and reminds us how much Ernakulam Town has evolved since then...

[vu3nnn]

Scenes of Ernakulam Town (that time, it was only a small town), in 1971, from the malayalam movie- Ernakulam Junction

Excellent video!

What is interesting to note is that most of the commercial establishments featured in the video still survive in the same location... and Sylecon at Jos Jn still had "discount sales promotions" way back then!

The Marine drive and Ernakulam foreshore looks excellent and seems to have an aesthetic charm way back then, even though the area is much more developed now. Sridhar Theater had an imposing road frontage, now lost as Shenoys Chambers came up in front. Menaka theater, another imposing landmark has since then made way to Penta Menaka....

[mohammedirshad06]

The mention of the old railway station (Ernakulam Railway Goods station) brings some vivid memories to 84-year-old Ravi Achan, former Ranji player and member of the royal family of erstwhile Kochi kingdom.

As the train schedules were not well defined in those days, the royals of Kochi would go to the building and wait for the trains, recalled Mr. Achan. There were two spacious halls with large chairs, tables, deewans, and other facilities. A helper named Sreedharan Nair would also be around to attend to the royal travellers. According to Mr. Achan, Mr. Nair, who used to wear a white uniform with brass buttons, was employed by the Railways. No food was served there, as far as Mr. Achan could recall.

Along with his father, he used to take the train from the old railway station to the palace at Chowara, known as the summer palace of the Kochi kings.

Different areas of Ernakulam were not referred to as being in the south or north of the town, he said. It was the two railway stations, constructed later on, that brought about the north-south nomenclature, he said.

P. Rajagopalachari, the Diwan of Kochi, was asked by the then King Rama Varma (better known as ‘the king who abdicated') to execute the construction of the railway station, said Mr. Achan. “I remember a chapter that we studied in our primary (class) on the railway's association with the Diwan of Kochi,” he said.

It is said that the king sourced the funds for constructing the old railway station building by selling 14 out of the 15 gold caparisons that used to adorn the elephants during the festival of Sree Poornathrayeesa temple.

Raman Namboodiri, who retired as archaeologist from the State Department of Archaeology, said he had heard about chandeliers that added beauty to the hall. “I had once mentioned to the director (archaeology) about this railway station, but it was never taken up as a project,” said Mr. Namboodiri, who is married to a member of the royal family. Elamana Hari, who was the tahsildar of the area from 1971 to 77, said that though he had visited the building during his college days, it had fallen into disuse by then and was hardly used.

http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/...cle2475730.ece