Cochin History, Heritage and Legacy

[Malayaali]

Maharaja's: Regal to the core

Only one college in the state has been constructed on the lines of the Cambridge University, London, and it is in Kochi. And this college is older than the famed St Xavier's colleges in Kolkata and Mumbai, Chennai Loyola, and St Stephen's, Delhi. And it is none other than Maharaja's, Ernakulam.

Do you have any clue how big the 136-year-old college campus was?

Well, the Irvin Park, which later became Subash Bose Park, was originally the botanical garden of the college. And originally, the Park Avenue Road which connects Durbar Hall Road and Shanmugham Road was a road running through the campus.

It was Reverend Xeily, the founder principal of the college, who decided to construct the college buildings on the lines of Cambridge University. He designed the principal's room in such a way that a person looking from the room could see the opposite shore of Lake Vembanad on the western side.

On the literary front, the winner of first Jnanpith G Sankara Kurup, wrote his masterpiece Odakkuzhal while he was a faculty of the college. The transition of Malayalam poetry from romanticism to modernity can be traced to Maharaja's with many towering figures in literature, who were students here, drawing inspiration from its ambience. Changampuzha Krishna Pillai, Vyloppilli Sreedhara Menon, G Sankara Pillai, P Sachidanandan and Balachandran Chullikkad are alumni. Nobel laureate Gunter Grass had an interactive session with the students of the college way back in 1973 when he was not known to many. And in 2006, renowned linguist Nom Chomsky delivered a lecture at the centenary hall of the college.

The college history hall too has witnessed history being made. The Kerala Cricket Association was formed here 51 years ago. The college has produced over half-a-dozen Ranji players, K Balachandran and Jayaram being the prominent names.

[Malayaali]

Bolghatty Palace -1900

Photograph taken about 1900 by the Government photographer, Zacharias D'Cruz of the Bolghatty Palace in the erstwhile Cochin State.

[Malayaali]

A street in Fort Kochi in 1913

I think this is the main market street, which is still the same!

[mohammedirshad06]

The Tale of a Rail, a King and his Crown

Today, the state of Kerala, is dreaming to finance a rail line worth more than 10 times of its annual budget, with a vision for development for next 100 years.

In this context, one needs to rewind little back to the history, where a similar drama have once enacted, only with a change of few actors and roles.

The story of development of Cochin with a modern Port on par with Mumbai, firmly lays its ground on vision of one man and his diwan with a rail line, that cost not only his treasures, but also his crown. Yet he is hailed as Man behind Kochi's changed destiny.



H.H Rajarishi Rama Varma XV, who dream for Kochi's growth and fuelled with one single rail line, that costs 20 times more than Cochin Treasury.

The King, who is popularly known as Scholars among the princes and Princes among Scholars, have been aptly titled by eminent, as Rajarishi for his humble lifestyle and scholarly attitude. Born in 1852 in Thrissur, the prince was named as Crown Prince of Kochi in year 1892 and as King of Kochi in 1895 AD.

While he presented several noteworthy achievements like introduction of Panchyati Raj for first time among Princely states of India aiming to improve grassroot administration, introduction of tenacy law replacing the fedual land laws of the state which included bonded labour and starting a full fledged Revenue department to effectively raise state revenues; the most important landmark achievement which he is known to is for starting the first railway line between Border town of Shornour to Kochi.

In 1860, the British introduced railway lines to British Malabar districts of Madras Presidency. Prince Rama Varma was pretty convinced such railway line into his country, would prosper the state and its business opporunity. In 1892, armed with a proposal, he met British Governor Ferdick Nicholson to start a line from Shornour, the border town between Kochi and Malabar to Kochi. The British engineers and economists laughed at the proposal and the governor outrightly rejected the prince's proposals, calling it amaturish and unviable for economic reasons, even prima facia.

The Prince returned back to Thrissur with a heavy heart. Next three years, he dedicated his life in drafting a proposal and economic turnaround plan, that eventually turned Kochi's foruntes.

In 1895, he was crowned as King of Kochi and appointed Diwan P.Rajagopalchari who was better influential in British Circles. To every one's suprise, in 1895 Kochi Durbar, the new King announced the state of Kochi will own and draw a new line from Shornour to Cochin, using its own funds.

It was more amusing to all. A state with Rs 2 lakh as its annual Budget, financing a Rs 44 Lakh worth project!!! The Britishers called the king lunatic and idiot, though Lord Curzon, the Viceroy of India have something else to say. Curzon felt, the King was challenging indirectly to British and asked Madras Governor to accept the challenge, by asking Madras Railway to work on the project, with finances from Kochi state.

The project DPR was prepared and plans was laid. It would extactly cost 44 lakhs. But to surprise of all, in the 1896 meeting called by Madras Governor asking King to explain, how he will finance it, the King presented an audited Balance sheet of Kochi Kingdom, with surplus of EXTACTLY 44 LAKHS in state treasury?

How a kingdom with little or not more than 2 lakh Rs as reserve in budget, shows a surplus of 44 lakhs within a year?

It was the sheer determination of a leader who was ready to vision and work for his passions. The King sold his 11 sacred crowns, half of Hill Palaces Gold reserves, used up entire Temple gold treasures and on the top 14 sacred Golden Caparisons of Palace Elephants of Tripunithara Temple, leaving one alone back. The Travancore state gifted 62 acres of land, for rail line that passes via its enclaves in Edappally and Angamally

It doesnot end here. There was a shortage of 13 Lakhs yet. And a King of 19th century, used the buzzword of 21st century well.... Public-Private Participation. The King called up Kochi's businessman, asked them to contribute as much as they can. The King, being a role model for putting all his personal reserves into, made many business men to take Government Papers and Bonds.... Every Temple in the Kochi state, was asked to finance for the project by subscribing to Government Paper. As a token, The Consort Queen Neytharamma, gave 300 sovereigns of Gold in public, which made a psychological effect for several Palace ladies and nobles to give up gold.

In short, with a year from the King's Announcement in 1895, a funding of 44 lakhs were able to collect so. The Britishers were amazed at the skills of King to make a widespread funding for the project and sanction was duly accorded in 1899 and works started in full swing.

Troubles donot end here. The Britisher suppliers were lagging in supply of materials, slowly raising the project cost. In addition, the King also was working to development of Parambikulam Cochin Forest Tramways. The Cochin Treasury suffered terribly. On the eve of Onam of 1900, there was just 2 days of money left in the state treasury.

The King went into full force again. He abolished the privy purse to all Male Princes to the Kochi Kingdom, thus saving around Rs 3.5 Lakh from the Royal Household provisions. The money was put again. The payment in gold to Lady members of Royal Household as allowance (known as Uttaradakizhi) stopped. Rather a sum of Rs 100 and new clothes was paid instead. The Palace asked its staff to have Onam feast from the Palace itself, rather than issuance of Onam Allowances to all, saving more than a lakh of rupees.

And once again, the King went to Tripunithara Temple, to open up remaining treasures and raised the balance amount of 20 Lakh Rs for funding.

Sensing the Britishers are delaying in issue of rolling stock and few stretches of line, the King directly contacted German Political agent for supply for the same. The Germans were assisting the King in building Parambikulam Tramway project, supplied the remaining tracks, rolling stock and signals and avoided another issue of project over-run.

The issue never ended there. Just before eve of final completion of the project, there was a shortage of another Rs 3.42 Lakhs. The Britishers were sure, the King can never raise the same.... However be surprised, the King raised it by taking a Loan from Chidambaram Temple Authorities.

By 1902, the line was ready.... The King also completed his state Mansion near to the Railway station to view the first train chugging into Kochi (Today's High Court Bldg). And that happened on June 2nd 1902, when German Made Ivse Steamer chugging into Ernakulam Terminus. The Passenger traffic started on July 10th 1902, with the King and his wife as first passengers.

Kochi got a new line and new impetus of growth. More business travellers flock into the port town. And one man too stepped out into Ernakulam Terminus on a morning of 1918 July, that was meant to change Kochi's destiny. Sir Robert Bristow, the maker of Modern Kochi Port. Rest is History, how Kochi became the state's commercial capital.

But it would be an irony to the story, that the line which brought glory to King Rama Varma, also resulted in his downfall.

The King earned not just his family members as his enemies who have reason against the king for stopping their Privy purse as well as selling 3/4th of Palace money to be used privately for generations; but also earned Britishers as sworn enemy.

The Britishers couldn't accept the fact, a mere Indian King, able to complete a rail line within 3 years, that costs 20 times more than his ability. However much more than an ego issue, there is solid politics behind the enemity. The King was acting too favourable to Germans, who helped the King to start Kerala's first Tramway project at Parambikulam, that helped the King to access into thick forests of the region and monopoly over the woods and timber, which was sold to German companies based in Kochi. The Germans were given preference in supply of technology and rolling stock over British, citing avoiding delays and cost over-runs. The King even hoisted a meeting with German Political Agent at Hill Palace and the German Emperor awarding a medal as token of friendship between Kochi and Germany. These factors made Britishers to fear whether the King is favoring German powers, especially when Europe was into a danger zone between Axis and Allied powers on eve of WW.1

All the factors slowly made Britishers to poison in the mind of Queen of Kochi against the King, citing lunatic and ill health to remove.... And all that resulted in the King signing abdication letter in 1914. He stepped out Hill Palace only with a personal trunk of clothes and lived in Wadakkancherry near Railway line to see the trains chugging off. He finally died in Madras on 1932.

Kochi lost a glorious King, who was ready to visionize his city and state for next 100 years. But his achievement in turning a merchant city into one of South India's prominent port city will ever remain. And as a testimony to all the happenings, the Ernakulam Terminus remains covered under weeds, waiting for a new life....

[mohammedirshad06]

One more irony is there is this tale.....

The King's reign also saw the last infamous Samartha Vicharam (Inquisition trial among Namboothiri families against their ladies who suspected to commit adultery) against Kuriyedathu Dhathrikutty in year 1904. She named upto 64 men who slept with her and the king intervened to stop naming the 65th. Its rumoured that 65th man who had intercourse with her was none other than the King himself. The King declared the trial completed without extracting remaining names, and ordered the lady to be banished from Kochi state as per Namboothiri traditions along with 64 men.

Call it an irony, Dhathiri Kutty boarded the very same train which the King ordered with passion, exactly on the 3rd anniversary day to leave Kochi state.

And call it reversal of destiny, the King also was forced to abdicate the throne on the 12th anniversary of the rail line....

[Malayaali]

Royal St. Albert's College, Kochi, in the 1950's

[mohammedirshad06]

Originally Posted by Malayaali

Royal St. Albert's College, Kochi, in the 1950's

Thats not the College, but St.Albert's School, which remains like that same, except for its color from white to Victorian red.... Its regularly used in movies as court-bldg set......

Infact, one must note, its one of the first Private school in Kerala, started in 19th century..... The King of Kochi Ravi Varma was so focused that public, particularly those from lower strata must get basic and elementary education, if the state has to prosper. The entire land, right from School to Archbishop's house in Marine Drive, was donated by King, where Archidiocese established its first public free school, irrespective of caste, creed.... Ofcourse there was gender difference, as Kochi State prohibited Co-Education, a rule which St.Albert's group followed till 2008, by remaining as only Boys/Men's institution.

It would be more noteworthy, the St.Alberts School still maintains its logo, which was an Order of Merit received by the Archidiocese from Kochi State (that carries the state insignia of Counch, Umbrella and Lamp... The Palanquin was removed as it represents aristocracy and replaced with book representing knowledge.)

And the bldg on extreme right, is now used as Albertian Institute of Management, the MBA department of St.Albert's College.

[mohammedirshad06]

The English diary of an Itinerant Raja
Gayathri Sasibhooshan TNN

A scrupulously maintained diary by Kerala Varma IV offers glimpses into Cochin of the 1840s and 50s. The diary is in possession of Raman Namboothiri (inset), a former Archaeological Survey of India scholar

Macaulay, had he read this, would probably have been less patronising about Indians and oriental life in general. A scrupulously maintained diary by Kerala Varma IV, the 32nd king of the erstwhile Cochin kingdom, provides a rare glimpse into mid-19th century provincial India, its last entry being just three years before the great Indian mutiny.

“This is a jungly place and wild beasts, I am told, do much injury here,” Varma noted on Jan 2, 1854 on the road near Balasore en route to Kasi. The raja had left Cochin the previous year, complete with servants, palanquins, horses and retinue on a pilgrimage to Hinduism’s holiest spot. Call it prescience or just coincidence, but the very next day after he made that particular observation one of the raja’s peons was attacked by a Royal Bengal tiger.

Written, remarkably, in English and largely from the privileged eye of an aristocrat with an assured voice, the language, despite the occasional quaint spellings and profusion of idioms, would have rivalled anything coming out from the office of the Earl of Dalhousie, then governor general of the East India Company.

“Earlier, the Rajas of Kochi knew Malayalam and even Dutch, but this king will be remembered as the first one to learn English. In fact he kept a meticulous diary to improve his second language,” says Raman Namboothiri, a former Archaeological Survey of India scholar. Namboothiri has tried his best to preserve this piece of history from perishing by making a copy of the original manuscript, which will soon be published as a book.

The diary offers glimpses into Cochin of the 1840s and 50s. In one instance the diary notes how Kerala Varma as a teenager used to throw bullets into the palace pond instead of stones. Bullets were a common ‘toy’ for the princes in the 19th century, Namboothiri explains.

Cochin then was a suzerain of the East India Company and the rulers had no real powers. “In those days, the kings of Cochin had no role other than being a rubber stamp because the diwan usually oversaw the kingdom. Instead of idling away, this king wanted to travel and see India and then come back and try to implement some change in Kochi,” says Namboothiri.

For more than seven months, Kerala Varma IV travelled through a huge swathe of India and most of the diary narrates the sights and scenes he encountered. They provide idiosyncratic, albeit valuable, footnotes to drab official history.

[bijuarr]

Originally Posted by mohammedirshad06

The Tale of a Rail, a King and his Crown

The story of development of Cochin with a modern Port on par with Mumbai, firmly lays its ground on vision of one man and his diwan with a rail line, that cost not only his treasures, but also his crown. Yet he is hailed as Man behind Kochi's changed destiny.

Excellent...dear MI.....

[sree_ec]

Originally Posted by mohammedirshad06

The Tale of a Rail, a King and his Crown

[mohammedirshad06]

Thanks buddies.... Infact, I wish to share the information about this great visionary, who had huge dreams for our city and sheer determination to execute at any cost.... Perhaps, we don't have any such hardcore leaders, who even dare, even to clean up canals, fearing voices of vote banks.... And it was more interesting to note, the Shornour-Cochin line was commissioned by the King in just 3 years (1899-1902), whereas its doubling took 15 years and electrification alone took 10 years..... And it has been in papers for past 5 years for the tripling works..... That alone shows the power and determination of the King.

But as a Kochinite, I felt we have done huge insult to this great leader and several other Kings, who really HAVE DONE for the city.... We are no-where near to our own counterparts in Thrissur or Trivandrum, when coming to respect these leaders or knowing History....

Thrissur still names most of its projects after Kochi's legendary King Sakthan Thampuran. One must be suprised to see how respectfully, they have kept the statute of Rama Varma in the prominent place....

Whereas in Kochi, the man who made Kochi as today's Kochi, have its statute, kept at one corner of Rajendra Maidan, with no maintenance.... Take Trivandrum, where one can find statutes and portraits of Kings and Queens in many places and public still respecting them to the core.

As a Kochinite, we don't know how big these Kings played their role in shaping our city..... For example the same Rama Varma Rajarishi, was instrumental in buliding up Park Avenue and Shanmugham Road.... Most of us do-not know, it was he would developed SA road into a proper tarred road for the first time....

Yet, when we name our roads or parks, we go behind those people, who have no connections with Kochi.... Just see the fate of Park.... That park was a dream of Rajarishi Rama Varma and he only developed it.... Yet we named after a man, who threatened to bombard our city during World War 2..... He might be Nethaji for rest of India or for Bengal.... But what is special about him, from Kerala's point of view, when he and Japanese Navy was waiting near Kochi's shore, all set to bombard the city......

Infact, in everyway, the modern administrators of Kochi has been showing their worst ingratitude to great men, who was ready to build up our city......

[mohammedirshad06]

Kochi's Historical Bldgs

Kochi Royal Huzur Cutchery (The State Secretariat) where District court and Taluk office functions today near Shiva Temple. Commissioned in late 19th century, this bldg was the first earthquake resistant building in South India, designed by Dutch and British Engineers in Kerala-Dutch style, with extensive Belgium imported glass crystal works.

Kochi State Legislature Assembly, was the first step towards democracy in Kerala. It was the second Legislature assembly in Kerala after Travancore. The assembly proved a distinctive mechanism, with 6 elected members, becoming part of Royal Cabinet of Kochi, another step for responsible government. The hall was a key role in history of Kerala, it passed the resolution of United States of Kerala (Akiya Kerala) proposal unanimously. In 1949, the hall became H.H The Maharaja's Law College transferring the Trivandrum Law College to here, as part of Kochi-Travancore agreement for Thirukochi State.

Ram Mohan Palace, commissioned in 1903 to provide a Guest House facility to Kochi Kings, near to Old Ernakulam Railway station. Later in 1935, it became Maharaja's Court of Appeal. In 1949, as part of Kochi-Travancore agreement for Thirukochi state formation, the palace became Seat of High Court of Thirukochi State. From 1956 onwards, it became seat of Kerala High Court. In 2008, when High court moved out to nearby new facility, it became Kerala Judicial Academy

Cochin Port Trust Office, commissioned in 1930s in Willingdon Island, which served as office of Sir Robert Bristow till 1940. Even today, it part of Port HQ, though much of office facility has moved to nearby Bristow Centre.

Rajendra Maidan and Park Avenue near Shiva Temple



Kochi Main Boat Jetty in 1930

[Malayaali]

Great. The city looks much better in those days

[Prasanth_KCV]

[QUOTE=mohammedirshad06;88600025]The Tale of a Rail, a King and his Crown

How a kingdom with little or not more than 2 lakh Rs as reserve in budget, shows a surplus of 44 lakhs within a year?


Great history,Thnaks for Sharing MI.

Hats off to the GREAT KING

[mohammedirshad06]

Tracing the legacy of Dutch in India

If you were to draw a map of Kochi today, it would look exactly like this, said Bauke van der Pol, pointing to a map of Fort Kochi drawn by the Dutch settlers more than 400 years ago. Pol, an anthropologist from Netherlands, has been travelling around India for the last four decades, painstakingly collecting information on the history and heritage of the Dutch East India Company.

His work has resulted in a book, De VOC in India, a richly illustrated volume that guides the reader through the Dutch forts, cemeteries, settlements, villages and influences in India. , from Surat on the west coast to Kolkata on the east.

A chapter is dedicated to Kochi and its Dutch connections.

As a historian, Pol has guided foreign tourists many times through the Kochi streets explaining the footprints left by his ancestors here. "This is one place where the Dutch legacy is still visible and well protected, even after several centuries " he said. Kochi was a major trading centre for the Dutch in South India.

The Dutch fort in Mattanchery, Udayagiri fort and cemetery are some major remnantsof the Dutch period. "Elevated places in Kochi like Holland Bastion, Thakur House and Bishop's House are the vestiges of the fort," said Pol. "Since Dutch were much interested in the flora and fauna of the area, many streets here were named after flowers like Rose (Roose straadt) and Lily (Lelij straadt) and many still retain them," he added.

Hortus Malabaricus, the first treatise on medicinal plants in Kerala, was compiled by Hendrik Van Rheede and its original copy written in Latin is still displayed at Leiden University in the Netherlands. "Rheede died in Surat while on his way back to his country and his grave can be seen at Katragam Darwaja in Surat," he said.

De Lannoy was a Dutch official who made great contributions to the Travancore army. He was captured at the Battle of Colachel in which the Dutch were defeated by the army of Marthandavarma. Later, Lannoy was appointed as the chief captain (valiya kappithan) of the Travancore navy. Descendents of Lannoy still live in Amsterdam.Pol also also chronicled the lives of ordinary Dutch men and women who came to India. as carpenters, masons, soldiers and traders. "They left their footprint as you see names like Burgerstraadt (citizen street) in many Dutch settlements in India", he said. The influence worked both ways. Traditional Dutch clothing still has Indian influence in the blue-and-red checked patterns on skirts and shirts. These are called Coromandel clothing. They are used only on special occasions now, and are considered typically Dutch.

Pol's connection to Kerala dates back to 1980's when he did his research on pulayas of north Kerala as part of his masters at Free University in the Netherlands. He also wrote a book, 'Mallabaarse Brieven' (Letters from Malabar) about Dutch preacher Jacobus Canter Visscher, who worked in Kochi from 1717 to 1723.

[Malayaali]

The historic mosques of Cochin

Cochin — the historic port-city on the Malabar coast in Kerala — has for centuries remained a centre of maritime trade along the Indian Ocean. These commercial contacts brought with them the earliest influences of Christianity, Judaism and Islam to India, resulting in a cosmopolitan mosaic of people in the region. Against this backdrop, some of the very first Indian mosques were built, located in compounds replete with coconut palms. The tropical mosques reveal a distinctive legacy in form, acknowledging and celebrating the place, history, and building techniques of the region.
The unique architecture of the Indian Ocean trade settlements, reflecting common climate and building materials, forms its own subset of Islamic architecture. The mosques of Kerala are some of the few remaining examples of a typology that once appeared throughout the tropical Muslim world of South and Southeast Asia. The concentrations of the unique Malabar mosques can be found in the coastal cities of Cochin, Calicut and Ponnani. Most of these vernacular mosques were constructed by resident masons and carpenters who were well versed in local design idioms and methods. Many of them have recently been demolished or remodeled, and replaced by generic concrete structures.



Cochin waterway with a fleet of thoni delivering goods, circa 1950.
Until recently, all the products of the region - spices, wood produce, rice, bamboo - arrived by thoni, the country boats, at the portside 'godowns', or warehouses. Foreign goods arrived from China, Southeast Asia and Arabia. The Malabar coast served as an entrepôt for the Middle East and Southeast Asia, a hinge between the western and eastern ends of the Indian Ocean.



The seaside today with Chinese fishing nets in the background.
It was with the arrival of Vasco da Gama and the Portuguese attempt to control all overseas commerce that violence entered the trading world of Malabar. From the sixteenth to the nineteenth century, change swirled around the people of the coast. The Portuguese were replaced by the Dutch and then the English. Fort Cochin, at the northern tip of a peninsula, became the first European settlement in India, and one of the few with a history of Portuguese, Dutch and English presence.



Rooftop view of Cutchi Hanafi Mosque
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.



A view of Thakyavu Palli from the water.
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
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.



Abandoned building along the Cochin waterfront.
Cochin is sited on a peninsula, with the Arabian Sea to the west, a sheltered waterway and port to the east, and the river channel’s opening to the sea at the north. The natural harbour connected inland backwaters and global sea-lanes, offering a protected landing for generations of overseas traders and local merchants. As peninsular Cochin slipped into a daydream, the mainland area of Ernakulam and the new port of Willingdon Island became the centres of modern industry.



Entrance to Calvathy Canal from the harbour
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.



Source: Yahoo Lifestyle

[balam1]

Have a look at this new blog post:

http://jewsofcochin.blogspot.ca/2012...et-in-jew.html

[Malayaali]

Rare findings at Pattanam excavation site

KOCHI: The sixth season of the Pattanam excavations at North Paravur near Kodungalur have found 2,000 ancient pottery shreds, which according to the experts of Kerala Council for Historical Research (KCHR), are unique and new to the archaeological world.

According to KCHR, which leads the excavation process, the findings are different from the already known Mediterranean, West Asian, Harappan and Chinese pottery remains and an international expertise is required to shed more light on it. Remains of a human skeleton were also found in one of the sites, which will be sent for DNA examination.

KCHR head of Pattanam excavations P J Cherian, said new findings will be addressed at an international workshop which the council is planning in collaboration with the British Museum, London. "No expert associated with the project was able to identify the shreds, with anything found elsewhere in the world. It is a challenge for the archaeological community. KCHR is hoping that the latest findings would throw light on the unknown aspects of Indian Ocean maritime traditions, culture and civilization," Cherian said.

KCHR is pinning hopes on national and international experts, who will participate in the five-day workshop planned in September this year, with the support of the British Academy of South Asian Studies. "The soil condition in Kerala is not good enough to preserve ancient relics and the skeletal remains we found were very fragile. But, DNA process is possible. and we will conducting it soon.

The skeleton might belong to a Roman or an Indian. someone of Indian origin.

Nonetheless we are sure that like the other findings in the location this too is ancient," said a KCHR official.

The sixth season of the excavation which concluded on Wednesday will now start the post-excavation process that includes identification and classification of materials, and preservation. Forty members were part of the KCHR team. Operations were stopped due to the onset of monsoon.

[Malayaali]

Originally Posted by Malayaali

Rare findings at Pattanam excavation site

cc: Mathrubhumi

[mohammedirshad06]

The Maharaja of Kochi celebrates his 100th Birthday in regal pomp

For the first time in the history of the Kochi royal family, the Kalikotta Palace witnessed the 100th birthday celebrations of a valiyathampuran (senior most male member of the clan), on Wednesday.

Representatives from almost all the royalty in Kerala, including Travancore, Zamorin, Kodungalloor, Kilimanoor, Poonjar, Haripad, Panthalam and Mavelikkara, attended the birth centenary celebrations of Rama Varma Kochaniyan Thampuran, the present valiyathampuran.

The rituals started in the morning with the ceremonial honouring of elderly Brahmins at Valiyamma Thampuran Kovilakam Naalukettu. His two younger sisters, Eswari Thampuran and Hymavathy Thampuran, and his nephews and nieces participated in these rituals.

Meanwhile, all preparations had been made at the Kalikotta Palace to honour the representatives of other royal families in Kerala. Valiyathampuran along with Manku Thampuran (the senior most female member) first received Godavarma Raja, the valiyathampuran of the Kodungalloor Kovilakam. The representatives of other families then greeted Rama Varma Kochaniyan Thampuran.

Speaker G Karthikeyan, representing the state government, draped a ponnada around valiyathampuran. Many dignitaries, including K P C Narayanan Bhattathiripad, Ashtavaidhyan Neelakantan Moosu, professor M Leelavathy, M G S Naryanan and Dr C K Ramachandran were there to wish him. By 11am valiyathampuran and his wife, the 91-year-old Sarada Mani, joined others in the birthday feast.

Rama Varma Kochaniyan Thampuram recollected the youthful days that gave him the sobriquet of ‘Sixer Thampuran’, as he held a cricket bat gifted to him on his 100th birthday by the Tripunithura Cricket Club at the Kalikotta Palace on Wednesday.

‘Sixer Thampuran’ was captain of a Travancore cricket team that toured Madras in the 1930s. It was without the pomp and gaiety of a royal gathering that Thampuran celebrated his birthday, yet happily holding on to the willow he received on scoring a hundred in life’s years.

Speaker G. Karthikeyan was among the few personalities from outside the family, who attended the function.

“He has always been a passionate sportsperson and even now his yearning for cricket is the same as it was during his youth. He is a fan of Sachin Tendulkar, but hates the Twenty20 format of cricket,” said his relative S. Anujan.

On being asked about the towering sixes he used to hit, Thampuram smilingly replied, “I think they used to bowl poorly.”

He also played tennis, football, billiards and bridge. Perhaps the reason for his longevity is also the disciplined life he maintained as a sports person.

DC