Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Sree
Padmanbhadasa
Sree
Chithira
Thirunal
Balarama
1802
and
1809
during
the
reign
of
His
Rama
Varma Kulasekhara Perumal. He is best known for being one of the earliest individuals to rebel against British
Thampi
was
born
in
the
village
that
had
been
of Chempakaraman for
honoured
their
with
services
the
high
the
state
to
title
by
as
Velu
Thampi,
was
appointed
Pazhassi Raja
Kerala Varma Pazhassi Raja (also known as Cotiote Rajah or Pychy Rajah)
(3 January 1753 30 November 1805) was one of the earliest freedom fighters
in India. He was the prince regent of the princely state of Kottayam or Cotiote
in Malabar, India between 1774 and 1805. His struggles with English East
India Company is known as The Cotiote War. He is popularly known as Kerala
Simham (Lion of Kerala) on account of his martial exploits.
Pazhassi Raja was a member of the western branch of the Kottayam royal
clan. When Hyder Ali of the Kingdom of Mysore occupied Malabar in 1773 the
Raja of Kottayam found political asylum in Travancore. Pazhassi Raja, the
fourth prince in line for succession to the throne during this period, became
one of the de facto heads of state surpassing several of his elder royals. He
fought a war of resistance on Mysorean army from 1774 to 1793. On account
of his refusal to flee and resolve to fight invaders, people of Kottayam stood
firmly behind the Raja who had not abandoned them in their hour of misfortune. Raja's troops were drawn from
ranks of theNambiar, Thiyya and also the tribal clans like Kurichias and Mullukurumbas.[1][page needed]
In 1792, after the Third Anglo-Mysore War, English imposed their paramountcy in Kottayam in violation to their
earlier agreement of 1790 which recognised independence of Kottayam.Vira Varma, to whom Raja was a
nephew, was appointed by the East India Company authorities as the Raja of Kottayam. To meet revenue target
fixed by Company authorities, Vira Varma ordered exorbitant rate of tax to be collected from the peasantry and
this move was met by a mass resistance led by Pazhassi Raja in 1793 who was opposed to surrender to English
right from beginning. In 1796, the Company made an attempt to arrest Pazhassi Raja, but he evaded capture
and instead fought back using guerrilla warfare. After a string of serious setbacks, the Company sued for peace
in 1797. The conflict was renewed in 1800 over a dispute on Wayanad and after an insurgent warfare lasted for
five years, Pazhassi Raja was killed on 30 November 1805 in a gun-fight at Mavila Todu near Kerala-Karnataka
border
Rama Varma XV
An erudite scholar in Sanskrit and English, he earned high repute inside and outside the State and no less
person than Lokamanya Tilak described him during World Sanskrit meeting in 1919, where Rajarshi was the
Chief Guest, as A scholar among princes and a prince among
scholars. Lord Curzon once remarked that among the native Indian
States, nowhere had he seen a more progressive administration
than in Cochin. He had high praise for the Maharaja. Rajarshi will be
remembered for all time to come as the Father of Modern City of
Cochin. He brought permanent reforms to the department of
Revenue and Accounts. He introduces Railways in the State. The
Village Panchayath Bill was a valiant attempt to get the people at the
grassroots involved in administration. The Tenance Act was a
personal triumph of Rajarshi.
It was during his reign that the railway line from Shornur was
extended to Cochin. Rama Varma abruptly abdicated the throne in
1914. While some believe that he had differences with British over
his pro-German politics, others opine that he abdicated due to illhealth.