Raja Kesavadas
Encyclopedia
Raja Kesavadas was the Dewan
of Travancore
during the reign of Dharma Raja
Karthika Thirunal Rama Varma http://alappuzha.nic.in/rajakesavadas.html.
community who followed matrilineal system, it was the uncle's name which was used a prefix. Although he did not get receive a formal education, through his formidable talent, he was employed by a local merchant Poku Moosa Marackar as a tally clerk.
It was under Rajah Keshavadas's direct command a comparatively small army humbled and defeated
the invading army of Tipu Sultan
near the Nedumkotta
.
during his time.
He also constructed the Main Central Road
(now State Highway No.1) from Thiruvananthapuram
to Karukutty
, near Angamaly
which is still the main road in the hinterland
areas of Kerala. The originating junction of this road - Kesavadasapuram
- is derived from his name.
had made him request the King to request for British help. This request for help finally allowed the British to have control on the kingdom and later led to installation of a regent under British rule (although this happened after his death). His tenure of Diwan ended with demise of Dharma Raja
Karthika Thirunal in 1798. Balarama Varma
, his successor aged fourteen became the crown prince. Rajah Kesavadas was proclaimed as a traitor and kept under house arrest. Later his family assets were confiscated and he was poisoned to death on 21 April 1799.
Dewan
The originally Persian title of dewan has, at various points in Islamic history, designated various differing though similar functions.-Etymology:...
of Travancore
Travancore
Kingdom of Travancore was a former Hindu feudal kingdom and Indian Princely State with its capital at Padmanabhapuram or Trivandrum ruled by the Travancore Royal Family. The Kingdom of Travancore comprised most of modern day southern Kerala, Kanyakumari district, and the southernmost parts of...
during the reign of Dharma Raja
Dharma Raja
Dharma Raja Karthika Thirunal Rama Varma was the Maharajah of Travancore from 1758 until his death in 1798. He succeeded his uncle Marthanda Varma, who is credited with the title of "maker of modern Travancore"...
Karthika Thirunal Rama Varma http://alappuzha.nic.in/rajakesavadas.html.
Early years
He was born Raman Kesavan Pillai, nephew of Raman Pillai, in a small hamlet called Kunnattoor, at the Keertimangalam House on March 17, 1745 A.D. in Travancore. Amongst the NairNair
Nair , also known as Nayar , refers to "not a unitary group but a named category of castes", which historically embody several castes and many subdivisions, not all of whom bore the Nair title. These people historically live in the present-day Indian state of Kerala...
community who followed matrilineal system, it was the uncle's name which was used a prefix. Although he did not get receive a formal education, through his formidable talent, he was employed by a local merchant Poku Moosa Marackar as a tally clerk.
In Royal Service
He impressed the King with his behavior during a visit of the Marackar to the Palace. The king gave him a job in his administrative staff. Kesava Pillai climbed the lower rungs of the official ladder and in 1789 he was appointed as the Dewan of Travancore. He was given the title Rajah by the British Governor Mornington, in appreciation of his administrative talents. It is said that out of humility he linked his name with the word Dasan (servant) and liked to be called Rajah Dasan (servant of the King), but the name Raja Kesavadas stuck.Victory over Tipu Sultan
Main article:Mysore invasion of KeralaIt was under Rajah Keshavadas's direct command a comparatively small army humbled and defeated
Battle of the Nedumkotta
The Battle of the Nedumkotta took place on 29 or 28 December 1789, and was the opening of hostilities in the Third Anglo-Mysore War and was also a part of the Travancore-Mysore War...
the invading army of Tipu Sultan
Tipu Sultan
Tipu Sultan , also known as the Tiger of Mysore, was the de facto ruler of the Kingdom of Mysore. He was the son of Hyder Ali, at that time an officer in the Mysorean army, and his second wife, Fatima or Fakhr-un-Nissa...
near the Nedumkotta
Nedumkotta
Nedumkotta or Travancore lines was a wall built as a protection against consistent invasion and threats from northern kingdoms mainly Zamorins of Kozhikode...
.
Contribution to trade and Commerce
He is considered as the chief architect of Alapuzha town. The area which Alapuzha now occupies was once a coastal area which was uninhabited and filled with large weeded plants. He found Alapuzha to be a good location for a port. He constructed two parallel canals for bringing goods to the port. For the building of Alapuzha town he was ably assisted by one of his ministers, viz. Thachil Matthoo Tharakan.. Raja Kesavadas offered infrastructural facilities to merchants and traders from Surat, Mumbai and Kachchh to start industrial enterprises, trading and cargo centres. Alappuzha attained progress and became the financial nerve centre of TravancoreTravancore
Kingdom of Travancore was a former Hindu feudal kingdom and Indian Princely State with its capital at Padmanabhapuram or Trivandrum ruled by the Travancore Royal Family. The Kingdom of Travancore comprised most of modern day southern Kerala, Kanyakumari district, and the southernmost parts of...
during his time.
He also constructed the Main Central Road
Main Central Road
The Main Central Road is the arterial State Highway in the Travancore region of Kerala state, India. It is designated as SH 1 by the Kerala Public Works Department.The highway was built by Raja Kesavadas, Dewan of Travancore...
(now State Highway No.1) from Thiruvananthapuram
Thiruvananthapuram
Thiruvananthapuram , formerly known as Trivandrum, is the capital of the Indian state of Kerala and the headquarters of the Thiruvananthapuram District. It is located on the west coast of India near the extreme south of the mainland...
to Karukutty
Karukutty
Karukutty is a village panchayat in Ernakulam district of Kerala, India. Classified as a Grade A panchayat, Karukutty comprises 17 wards and falls under Angamaly block panchayat in Aluva taluk...
, near Angamaly
Angamaly
Angamaly is a satellite town of the city of Kochi, situated north of the city center and a municipality in Ernakulam district, Kerala, India. It is one of the entry points or gateways to Ernakulam district from northern Kerala...
which is still the main road in the hinterland
Hinterland
The hinterland is the land or district behind a coast or the shoreline of a river. Specifically, by the doctrine of the hinterland, the word is applied to the inland region lying behind a port, claimed by the state that owns the coast. The area from which products are delivered to a port for...
areas of Kerala. The originating junction of this road - Kesavadasapuram
Kesavadasapuram
Kesavadasapuram is a suburb in the Thiruvananthapuram city, Kerala, India. Kesavadasapuram junction is a meeting point of NH 47 and MC Road...
- is derived from his name.
Last years
The continuous threat of attack from the Tipu SultanTipu Sultan
Tipu Sultan , also known as the Tiger of Mysore, was the de facto ruler of the Kingdom of Mysore. He was the son of Hyder Ali, at that time an officer in the Mysorean army, and his second wife, Fatima or Fakhr-un-Nissa...
had made him request the King to request for British help. This request for help finally allowed the British to have control on the kingdom and later led to installation of a regent under British rule (although this happened after his death). His tenure of Diwan ended with demise of Dharma Raja
Dharma Raja
Dharma Raja Karthika Thirunal Rama Varma was the Maharajah of Travancore from 1758 until his death in 1798. He succeeded his uncle Marthanda Varma, who is credited with the title of "maker of modern Travancore"...
Karthika Thirunal in 1798. Balarama Varma
Balarama Varma
Avittom Thirunal Balarama Varma was a ruler of the Indian princely state of Travancore from 1798 to 1810, succeeding Maharajah Dharma Raja. His rule of Travancore was full of disturbances and internal and external problems...
, his successor aged fourteen became the crown prince. Rajah Kesavadas was proclaimed as a traitor and kept under house arrest. Later his family assets were confiscated and he was poisoned to death on 21 April 1799.
External links
- http://alappuzha.nic.in/rajakesavadas.html
- Alapuzha Website accessed on August 7, 2006.
- Voice of Dharma accessed on August 7, 2006.
- http://www.boloji.com/astro/00334a.htm