Sunday, 17 July 2022
TALES FROM THE CAPITAL CITY – 138
Sharing the link to the live recording of the Fort Area
Thiruvananthapuram Heritage Awareness Programme conducted in collaboration with
LSGD Planning and Art & Heritage Commission.
For more information on the building regulations (focused on the Agraharams) you may visit kerala.gov.in https://townplanning.kerala.gov.in › ...PDF FORT AREA HERITAGE ZONE to download the handout prepared in collaboration with the Department of Architecture, College of Engineering Trivandrum (CET), Thiruvananthapuram.
Friday, 29 April 2022
TALES FROM THE CAPITAL CITY – 137
Uma Amba Tampuratti of Kilimanur
Previously unseen excerpts from C. Raja Raja Varma's Diary
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Uma Amba Tampuratti, Raja Ravi Varma's mother Image courtesy: RajaRavi Varma, Portrait of an Artist: Diary of C. Raja Raja Varma |
For me, Raja Ravi Varma's birthday is an occasion to celebrate the artistic contributions of the members of the Kilimanur clan over the generations. Kilimanur family's tryst with art starts with two sisters, one of whom was Ravi Varma's maternal grandmother. Bharani Tirunal Rajaraja Varma (Ravi Varma's uncle), C. Raja Raja Varma and Mangala Bayi, the painter's siblings and descendants, kept the tradition alive.
Uma Amba Tampuratti, Raja Ravi Varma's mother (seen here in a reproduction of a posthumous portrait by the Varma brothers, painted around 1887) was also an artist. It is said that she taught art to the younger members of her family and possibly contributed to her own children's early artistic training.
In his diary, artist C. Raja Raja Varma says: "My mother was born under the star Makayiram in the month of Medam 1007 M.E. She was the youngest of my grandmother's eleven children. She had a very fair complexion. She was rather below medium height and was very delicately formed. She was endowed with musical and artistic tastes though she had no opportunity of cultivating them. She had an extremely kind and tender heart and could never see any suffering in others. I had seen her crying when she listened to tales and accounts of human suffering and misery. She was attacked with a sort of eye disease from which she suffered, but she took advantage of the illness to learn Ophthalmology or the science of treating eye diseases from the various physicians who treated her and notably from a Thirumulpad of Naikunnam. She knew also to treat ordinary ailments of children. She appears to have given certain medicines to Her Highness the late Senior Ranee, C.I. The Ranee had cherished a great regard for the lady as some of the letters from the former to the latter testify. She had such self-sacrificing heart that she treated poor women and children gratis giving them medicines and clothing. She composed in Malayalam verse a Thullal called Parvathiswayambaram and several stray verses. Parvathiswayambaram has been published by my second brother Goda Varma at his expense. She was a great devotee of Siva and Parvathi, and when the disease (consumption) laid its icy hand on her about the latter part of her life, she devoted most of her time to prayers and worship. A melancholy circumstance connected with her death was that she had not her eldest son (Raja Ravi Varma) by her side when she died in the month of Makaram 1062. When her last illness took a serious turn we all gathered around her bed, but a day or two previous to her death urgent business compelled my eldest brother Ravi Varma to go to Trevandrum. From the next day she began to sink, and she used to ask, until she became unconscious, if he had returned. When we saw that she had not many hours to live, a man was sent post haste to Trevandrum to give him information of her condition and he arrived to his deep sorrow an hour or two after her death. Her obsequial ceremonies were celebrated in a grand style by my brother Ravi Varma. When the year of mourning passed away he and myself took a pilgrimage to Benares with the urn containing her ashes which we duly consigned to the holy Ganges. So let her soul rest in peace. We regretted very much that we neither painted her portrait nor even photographed her while she lived. Her portrait was painted... From memory and yet it is a fairly accurate likeness."
Sunday, 12 December 2021
TALES FROM THE CAPITAL CITY – 136
Uthram Tirunal Marthanda Varma's Ivory Skeleton
It was great fun working with the staff of the Natural History Museum, Thiruvananthapuram, for this short film on the ivory skeleton currently on display at the museum.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0p9ly4K9u_ESaturday, 24 July 2021
TALES FROM THE CAPITAL CITY – 135
Life Around the Temple - Urban Form of Trivandrum Fort | SPACES 2021
Thursday, 11 March 2021
TALES FROM THE CAPITAL CITY – 134
FROM THE FAMILY ARCHIVES: G. NILAKANTAN B.A.
G. Nilakantan B.A. (Retd. Asst. Excise Commissioner, Ex. MLA, Honorary Magistrate, Municipal Councilor)- my great aunt's grandfather was the first graduate from the Viswakarma community of Travancore. Nilakantan was born in 1874, in Perinadu, Kollam, but later relocated to Trivandrum on entering government service.
'Kamalavilas,' Nilakantan's palatial bungalow in Kunnukuzhi had been the venue to several crucial meetings and discussions involving top brass officials and social reformers during his lifetime. Some of the frequent visitors to the house were Ayyan Kali, 'Silparatnakara' N. Veloo Achary FRSA, Pichu Aiyar (Inspector General), Changanasherry Parameswaran Pillai, Rao Bahadur 'Rajyasevanirata' N. Kunjan Pillai, the Govt. Chief Secretary to name a few.
Even though Nilakantan commenced his career as an Inspector with the Excise Dept., the testimonials of his good conduct soon reached the ears of the Maharajah Moolam Tirunal, who summoned him to the capital and placed him under the mentorship of Van Ross, the Excise Commissioner.
In the 1930s, G. Nilakantan was identified as a prominent leader of the Viswakarma community and he became a staunch fighter for the 'Kammal Bill' in the Sree Moolam Praja Sabha, intended to regulate the social customs of the Malayalam speaking Viswakarmas. He encountered firm resistance from a faction headed by N. Veloo Achary, the mastermind behind the 'Viswakarma Bill'. Achary argued the Kammala Bill was flawed since it turned a blind eye towards the Tamil speaking Viswakarmas of southern Travancore.
The arguments by both parties continued for a long time, and eventually, the bill remained unsettled and finally got lapsed.
As for G. Nilakantan, he passed away on August 9, 1948, while attending a session of the Legislative Assembly.
Thank you MyHeritage Deep Nostalgia for giving us a feel of what our long-gone ancestors may have been like!
Sharat Sunder Rajeev
11.03.2021.
Saturday, 12 December 2020
TALES FROM THE CAPITAL CITY – 133
THE ATTOLI MADHOM NAMBOOTHIRIS OF KILIMANOOR
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Attoli Sree Haritripura Kulangara Devi temple, Malayamadhom, Ponganad, Kilimanoor. |
A temple overlooking an expansive sweep of paddy farmland is so typical a sight in rural Kerala. Kilimanoor, the birthplace of Raja Ravi Varma, is a place where one still finds vestiges of an untouched agrarian culture. The old mansions of local chieftains, ancient temples, sacred groves, water bodies and lush paddy fields are reminiscent of a long lost lifestyle.
Uma Amba Thampuratti of Kilimanoor royal house. |
Sunday, 6 September 2020
TALES FROM THE CAPITAL CITY – 132
COIMBATORE RAGHAVA AIYER
Raghava Aiyer (b.1826-d.), a second-generation Mullamootu Bhagavathar (an epithet used by the Travancore court musicians) was born in Vadasherri near Nagercoil. Young Raghava Aiyer was fortunate to receive training in music from the famous Palghat Parameswara Bhagavathar, who had adorned the royal court since the days of Swathi Tirunal Rama Varma. After a brief stint at Trivandrum and Haripad, Raghava Aiyer was helped by Cherunni Koil Tampuran, the elder brother of Kerala Kālidāsa Kerala Varma Valiya Koil Tampuran, to relocate to Coimbatore. At Coimbatore, Aiyer resumed his lessons under Chidambara Nattuvan, the grandson of the renowned Vadivelu Nattuvan (one among the Tanjore Quartets of Swathi’s court).
Raghava Aiyer was introduced to Maharajah Ayilyam Tirunal Rama Varma by M. Kunjaru Raja of Mavelikkara (a talented musician and gifted player on Swarbat), during the latter’s visit to Madras. Later, the Maharajah invited Aiyer to Trivandrum, where he was appointed as a court musician. Not long after, the Maharajah developed a deep admiration for Aiyer’s singing and invited him to perform at the Sangumugham beach palace whenever the king visited the place with his close friends and advisors.
However, around the early 1870s, a sly court musician poisoned the Maharajah’s ears with stories that would ultimately lead to Raghava Aiyer’s fall from grace. Crestfallen, he returned to his wife’s house in Haripad and led a quiet life. But by a stroke of luck, in 1874, Raghava Aiyer returned to Trivandrum on the Maharajah’s command for a musical duel at the Rangavilas palace hall. Ayilyam Tirunal was desperate to present Raghava Aiyer before Maha Vaidyanatha Aiyer, the unmatched musical virtuoso, who was invited to the capital for the Navarathri festival. The legendary duel went on for two days, by the end of which the Maharajah presented expensive shawls, pair of gold bangles and Rs.1500 to both the contestants.
Happily for Raghava Aiyer, his successful performance as a formidable Travancorean who could meet Vaidyanatha Aiyer on his own ground was enough to reinstate him back on the lofty pedestal as a royal favourite.
Sharat Sunder R, 05-09-2020. Based on 'My Musical Reminiscences' by T. Lakshmana Pillai B.A.
Sunday, 23 August 2020
TALES FROM THE CAPITAL CITY – 131
CHATAYAM TIRUNAL RAMA VARMA
A FORGOTTEN AMATEUR ROYAL PHOTOGRAPHER
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H.H. Chatayam Tirunal Rama Varma, the Elayarajah (c.1900). Detail from a photograph by Ramen Pillai, Trivandrum. |
Chatayam Tirunal Rama Varma - the Elaya Rajah of Travancore
- whose life was drawn to an abrupt end on 6 June 1901, at the age of 33, was
an acclaimed amateur artist and photographer. As a member of the Amateur
Photographic Society of Madras, the prince never missed a chance to present his
works at exhibitions conducted by the Society. In Travancore, the prince
brushed shoulder with professionals like Zachariah D’Cruz (the Government
Photographer) and Ramen Pillai. In 1887, the young prince set out on a journey
to see important cities like Madras, Bombay and Calcutta. These explorations
gave him an inclusive picture of the vast and diverse history and culture of
India, and most likely these journeys transformed the prince into a
travel-photographer.
In Travancore, the prince made regular expeditions to explore places of scenic beauty and tried his hand at portraiture and allegorical themes. Among the photographs exhibited in Madras were those of architectural landmarks like Vandur Teppakulam (Madurai), Tevalli Palace (Kollam) and studies such as ‘An Indian Prince’ and ‘a portrait of Mr. Charles Michie Smith’ (the eminent Scottish astronomer), presented to the Madras Society in 1895. The prince, it seems, was in love with the southern districts, for he produced several photographs documenting the scenery, landmarks and life of people, e.g. ‘Kuzhithuray Bridge’ (Kanyakumari District, Tamil Nadu) and ‘A view of South Travancore’ (both dated c.1897).
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The ancient Jain temple at Chitaral, Kanyakumari District, Tamil Nadu, c.1890s. Photograph by Chatayam Tirunal Rama Varma. From the private collection of the author. |
The following excerpt from a letter (dated 9th May 1898) written by the Prince sheds light on an interesting photographic expedition he made to the southern districts.
“Many years ago on one of my photographic outings in the southern districts of our picturesque country I was attracted by this interesting rock-temple (the famous Jain temple at Chitaral, Kanyakumari District, Tamil Nadu). Going thither one fine morning camera in hand I exposed a plate almost against the sun as the temple faces the west. The result was nothing extraordinary. Still I have the satisfaction of added to my collection of photographs one of a building of such classical interest.”
Sadly, for
someone credited to have followed photography with such passion, this bromide
print of the temple at Chitaral is the only work that can be attributed to
the prince without a doubt.
Sharat Sunder Rajeev, 23 August, 2020.
TALES FROM THE CAPITAL CITY – 130
REMEMBERING ASWATHI TIRUNAL MARTHANDA VARMA B.A., THE 'PHOTOGRAPHER PRINCE' ON WORLD PHOTOGRAPHY DAY
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H.H. Aswathi Tirunal Marthanda Varma B.A., c.1899, (detail). From a private collection. |
Aswathi Tirunal Marthanda Varma B.A., a.k.a., ‘B.A. Prince’
(b.1871-d.1900) — nephew of Maharajah Moolam Tirunal of Travancore — is
celebrated as an early amateur photographer, whose photograph of Swami
Vivekananda adorns the entrance to Swami’s room at Belur Math. Prof. K.
Sundararaman (Tutor to Aswathi Tirunal) records in ‘The Life of Swami
Vivekananda,’… “The Prince was struck like all others who came into contact
with him, with the Swami’s striking figure and attractive features; and being
an amateur photographer, asked the Swami for a sitting and took a fine
photograph which he skilfully developed into an impressive picture.” This
photograph was later shown in an exhibition conducted at Madras Museum.
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Aswathi Tirunal's photograph of Swami Vivekananda, 1892. |
The print currently housed at Belur was sourced by Swami Brahmananda, a monastic disciple of Sri Ramakrishna when he visited Travancore in 1916. While stationed in Trivandrum, Brahmananda came to know that a photograph of Swami Vivekananda was taken by the Prince of Travancore at the palace and expressed an interest to procure a print of the same. It is known that the negative of the picture was secured by P. Seshadri Aiyer from D’Cruz, the Government Photographer (Letter from Swamy Trilokyananda, R.K. Mission, Calicut, 1962).
Sharat Sunder Rajeev, 19 August, 2020.