ABSTRACT
The English got permission from Vira Ravivarma to establish their first factory at Vizhinjam in 1644. British possessed a number of factories like salt pans, dyeing and printing along the Malabar Coast, Cochin and Angengo. Travancore and Dutch East India Company entered into political intrigues with the enemies of Marthanda Varma in order to perpetuate their commercial supremacy. In 1741 a large Dutch force from Ceylon landed at Colachel and heaving bombarded Colachel.
The Dutch also feared the formation of an alliance between the English and the Maharaja. They thought such alliance would endanger their existence in Travancore. The battle of Colachel brought about an immediate change in the kings attitude towards the French. The withdrawal of Dutch from Colachel encouraged the French in their designs to gain a footing in Travancore. The English used the king as an effective instrument for the suppression and liquidation of the rival powers. The intimate relationship between the English and the Raja of Travancore infuriated Tippu Sultan. The Raja of Travancore expected an attack from Tippu Sultan at any time. In 1805 Governor General Wellesley forced Travancore to conclude a new treaty of perpectual friendship and alliance, it brought Travancore under its control. Travancore also fell a victim to the subsidiary system of Lord Wellesley.
Introduction
Travancore was one of the earliest among the princely states of India to cultivate friendship with the English East India Company. They made systematic attempts to establish their commercial settlements along the coast of Travancore. In the early half of the 18th Century the Dutch held sway over the Malabar Coast. They possessed a number of factories like salt pans, dying and printing along the Malabar Coast, Cochin and Angengo. However shattered the Dutch dream of establishing their supremacy in Malabar. After the disastrous defeat the Dutch concentrated their attention only on trade.1
The battle of Colachel brought about an immediate change in the king’s attitude, towards the French. The withdrawal of Dutch from Colachel encouraged the French in their designs to gain a footing in Travancore. Colachel was their choice and they wanted to set up a factory there. The other European merchants were also trading in Colachel. The Danes had a factory there. When the French asked a settlement there, the English at Angengo informed the king that any concession granted to the French would be a violation of the treaty of 1723.
Marthanda Varma declared that he had no idea of the French designs. He assured the English that if the French acted contrary to his wishes he would resist them with all his forces. During the last years of Marthanda Varma’s life he came to rely very much on the English. It was the wish of the Maharaja that the friendship between the English and Travancore should continue undisturbed even after his death. Marthanda Varma’s nephew and successor king Rama Varma (1758 A.D. – 1798 A.D.) became an ally and the dependent of the British government.2
The Raja of Travancore expected an attack from Tippu Sultan at any time. Tippu also continued to strengthen his military forces for an attack on Travancore. At this crucial hour the Raja repeatedly requested the English to send battalions of sepoys from the garrisons of Madurai and Palayamkottai. But the English demanded an advance of one lakh pagodas for a war against Tippu. Finding no other way the Raja paid one lakh rupees with a request to send the company’s army at the earliest. Again on 3rd April 1790 A.D. another one lakh of rupees was remitted. Still the English were passive spectators and failed to provide help to the Raja. As there was no resistance Tippu caused heavy havoc, demolished the strong Lines of Travancore and took control of the area.3
In the meantime the third Mysore war arose between the English and Tippu. Thouugh Travancore rendered a very valuable service to the English in the war, Travancore was deliberately kept out of the terms of the treaty. The English failed to mention even a name in the treaty of Seringapatam. Yet the Raja was directed to meet the whole expenses of the Third Mysore War.
The war expenses put the Maharaja in a very critical position. So he requested John Hatchinson, the commercial Resident at Angengo for a monetary help of ten lakhs rupees. But he could not get the required amount and so he turned to the Dutch, the Danes and the French. They came forward to offer higher price for pepper. He sold certain quantity of pepper to them without the knowledge of the English, Hence Sir John Shore, the Governor General directed John Hutchison to conclude a permanent treaty of friendship, alliance and subsidy.4 Thereafter a treaty of perpetual friendship was signed – with the Maharaja in 1795. This treaty laid down that the company should not hinder the administration of the Raja of Travancore in any way. Yet the Maharaja could not make the payment as per the revised treaty. As a result the amount of subsidy went on accumulating, so the government raised loans from different sources. At this time, Kalkulam Taluk remained safe and there was no hindrance in the trade of Colachel.
During Balarama Varma’s reign due to the death of Tippu in 1799 Travancore was relieved from fear of an external aggression. This gave rise to an anti-British feeling in Travancore. The Raja himself desired to establish relationship with the Dutch, and the French. The Maharaja appointed Jeyarthan Sankaran as Valia Sarvathikaryakar and Jeyanthan Subramonian, his brother as the Maharaja’s private secretary without consulting the British Resident. Sankaran Namboodiri selected Sankaran Narayan of Thuckalay as Valia Melezhuthu (Finance Minister). The Namboodiri favourites thus got all power in their hands and they oppressed the people and alienated the English.5
They demanded heavy sums of money from the people and those refused to pay were insulted and put in prison. It was in these circumstances Velu Thambi rose to power in Travancore. He was a native of Thalakulam a village in Kalkulam taluk. He entered the service of Travancore as a Karyakar. When the misery of the people mounted up due to illegal collection of taxes, people found Velu Thambi as their saviour. Velu Thambi was one among the persons who failed to pay money to the government. Hence the ministers ordered him to appear before the ministry. By obeying the orders Velu Thambi appeared before the ministry. They asked him to pay Rupees 20,000 as his share fixed by them. He prayed for three days time to raise the sum.6 This was granted and he went back. In the meantime he went back to Nanchilnad and collected a huge gathering. He also arranged a meeting in the palace ground at Eraniel, and it was decided to save the country from the rapacity of the Namboodiri and his friends. On the third day he appeared with a large body of armed men from Nanchilnad and encamped just outside Trivandrum Fort. The Maharaja was quite alarmed at these proceedings of Velu Thambi. He agreed to redress their grievances, the Namboodiri Minister and his two colleagues were dismissed. Velu Thambi was appointed as the Mulakumadisila Sarvadhi-karyakar or Finance Minister. In 1801 due to his ability and integrity he became the Dewan of Travancore. He played an important role in the establishment of British Supremacy over Travancore. In return for his service, Marquis Wellesley, the Governor General of India presented to Velu Thambi a pair of valuable shawls, gold dresses and Kincob, which were used during the installation of chiefs in India.7
In 1805 Governor General Wellesley forced Travancore to conclude a new treaty of perpetual friendship and alliance, it brought Travancore under its control. Travancore also fell a victim to the subsidiary system of Lord Wellesley. It brought heavy fiscal liability upon Travancore. The four lakhs of subsidy according to the treaty of 1795 A.D. was enhanced to eight lakhs. By the treaty of 1805 a delay in the remittance of the subsidy would be enough for the company to take over the administration in part or full. After 1805 the relationship between the Dewan and the Resident became bitter. The Resident ridiculed the Dewan for the delay in paying the arrears. By that time even innocent English travellers were suspected and murdered in cold blood in a most savage manner. While matters stood thus, the Resident again pressed Velu Thambi for the payment of the subsidy. A final day was appointed for the payment and the Dewan was able to pay only a portion of the amount, Macaulay was in a rage and he used strong language against the Dewan. The Dewan who was arrogant by nature bitterly resented such treatment from the Resident, and it led to an open rupture and at last the Resident insisted on the dismissal of the Dewan from public service.3
On 28th December 1808 A.D. midnight, the armies of Dewans Velu Thambi and Paliat Achan surrounded the Resident’s house, ransacked and pillaged the he use and killed his domestic servants. Since the differences between the company and Velu Thambi became unbridgeable, he wanted to have an open conflict with the company. On 29th December 1809 he issued a very lengthy proclamation known as the Kundara Proclamation. It gave a short review of the past history of the Land, the appointment of Col. Macaulay, his unreasonable designs, cruel demands to drain the country of all its wealth, and to assume power which was highly prejudicial to the Raja and the people. He then called upon the public servants, the people and the troops to co-operate with him at this hour of emergency. When things were going on in such a manner the British found no hope for peace and made arrangements for a final war. The British armies were pumped into Travancore from every corner in order to establish their power. The responsibility of safeguarding the Aramboly Pass and prevent the armies through the Aramboly Pass was entrusted with Valiya Ejaman, the chief commander of the Travancore army. He collected his soldiers from the barracks at Puliyoorkurichi and proceeded towards Aramboly, passing Villukkuri, he went via Shunkankadai and reached Kaliancaud. Worshipping the Mahadevar there, he went through Kaniyankulam. Proceeding through Vadasery, the soldiers crossed the river Palayar in Nanchilnad and marched along the big street in Puravacheri.9
The Governor of Madras sent under the leadership of an English commander innumerable Marava Cavalry, Muslim soldiers and Vaduga armies to fight against Travancore. At the same time, the distinguished hero Valiya Ejaman entered the battle-field and attacked the enemies without being caught. Many of the British soldiers died and many more archers and swordsmen being hit by poisoned arrows fell down from their horses and died. Valia Ejamanan massacred all those who came in his way. Thus the chief commander of Travancore met with success at the first war and returned to his station with his companions. The British soldiers after retreating to Panagudi requested the Governor at Madras to send the victorious hero Col. Lt. Ledgers to command the armies and Col. Welsh to be his next in command. The Maharaja asked Velu Thambi to take necessary steps for conducting the war.
In a pitched battle that took place at Aramboly, Valia Ejaman fought vehemently. But the terror let loose on the people of Aramboly by the British, drove them away to the nearby hills. The British forces damaged the fortress with their cannons. Yet they could not enter the fort during the day, but at night they stealthily inched their way into the fort. The next morning the commander in chief Col. Welsh along with Col. Lt. Ledgers shot dead Valiya Ejaman. On 10th February the British flags were flying in every part of the Aramboly Lines. The successful operation at Aramboly made the Travancore and abandon all their defensive works in the vicinity and hastily retreat to Nagercoil. In the meantime, Velu Thambi with a large force stationed at the villages of Kottar and Nagercoil and personally conducted all arrangements for the next fight. The British now wanted to dislodge Velu Thambi from Nagercoil and disperse his troops. As soon as Velu Thambi knew of the reverses of the fight he hastily retreated to the north.
Col. Munro was appointed as Resident in Travancore on the 23rd March 1810. Munro found Maharaja Balarama Varma, a weak ruler, overshadowed by Ummini Thampi, the Dewan. He saw that the country was in a state of anarchy. The expenses incurred by the military operations of the Madras Government consequent on the insurrection of Velu Thambi and Paliattu Achan amounted to Rs. 15,99,000. Travancore was required to pay two-thirds. But no efforts were made to enable Travancore to pay this heavy amount. The subsidy due to the East India Company also fell into arrears.10
Munro used his zeal for social reform which was very essential in Travancore. Thus the English maintance the greater epoch in the history of Travancore.
– W. Allin Vinil
Ph.D Research Scholar, Department of History & Research Centre, N.M.C.C. Marthandam.
References
1. Shungoony Menon, History of Travancore from the Earliest Times, New Delhi, 1998, p. 208.
2. Kusuman, K.K., History of Trade and Commerce in Travancore 1600-1805, Trivandrum, 1987, p. 55.
3. Sreedhara Menon, Kerala District Gazetter, Kozhikode, 1962, Trivandrum, p. 194.
4. Nagam Aiya, V., The Travancore State Manual, Vol. I, Trivandrum, 1906, pp. 342-343.
5. Ramachandran, P., The Dutch Expedition against Colachel, Journal of Kerala studies. Vol. V, Trivandrum, p. 71.
6. File No. 1900/M. 885 April 24.1891. Kerala State Archives Trivandrum, p. 18.
7. File No. 46, Political Section, 1920, Kerala State Archives Trivandrum, p. 11.
8. Proceedings of the Srimulam Popular Assembly, dated 1 March 1919, Trivandrum, p. 15.
9. Gladstone, J.W., Protestant Christianity and Peoples’ movements in Kerala 1850-1936, Trivandrum, 1984, p. 20.
10. Rajathangam, A., Captain DeLannoy and Travancore, Nagercoil, 2005, p. 16.