A world of fascinating study awaits bright and passionate young historians in modern Travancore history, according to historical researcher Robin Jeffrey, who is known for his book ‘Decline of Nair Dominance.’ He was delivering a speech at a dialogue conducted by Sree Uthradom Thirunal Institute of Culture here on Wednesday.
“There is a lot of work which young historians can engage in and learn about the ambience in which Cullen lived rather than the man himself,” said Jeffrey, referring to the erstwhile Resident of Travancore General William Cullen, who was appointed to the post in 1840 in the time of Maharaja Swathi Thirunal Rama Varma.
The dialogue on Wednesday had been to discuss the relations between Swathi Thirunal and General Cullen which were known to be less than pleasant.
“Their relations soured because Swathi Thirunal felt that his sovereignty was undermined by the Resident, who interfered in day-to-day matters of the state,” said Jeffrey.
Swathi Thirunal had to speak loudly to make himself heard to Cullen, who was hard of hearing, said Jeffrey quoting from the Swathi Thirunal website. “This was not at all agreeable to His Highness. He was rather delicate in constitution, and the strain on His Highness’s lungs seemed to injure his health. His interviews with the Resident therefore were not very frequent and when a private meeting was sought, the Maharajah often tried to avoid seeming him under some excuse or other.”
Further, it was one of Cullen’s favourites - Krishna Rao - who would convey information to him on matters of the state. Krishna Rao later was made Diwan, overthrowing the king’s trusted Suba Rao and that didn’t go down well with Swathi Thirunal either.
“Perhaps it is unfortunate in a way that these two had unpleasant relations because to me Cullen seems to a person who is right out of William Darlymple’s ‘White Mughals,’” said Jeffrey. “He seemed to be one of those who was more sympathetic to everything Indian. For one thing, he didn’t get along all that well with English missionaries and one report by missionaries calls him a ‘thoroughly antiquated, Brahmanical Resident out of touch with the ways of Lord Jesus Christ.”’
R P Raja, who has authored a book on Swathi Thirunal, also spoke on the occasion. He spoke in brief about the still mysterious death of the former king and about how the controversies had risen years ago questioning whether Swathi Thirunal had indeed written the 400 plus compositions or not.
M G S Narayanan, Director, Centre for Heritage Studies, was also present.