Since this thread has taken a peculiar turn to blame the kings of Kerala let me highlight some amazing stories especially of Rajarishi Rama Varma XV.
He was an extraordinary scholar in Sanskrit and English and 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.
His vision was the one which transformed Kochi (Cochin / Ernakulam) into the foremost city we know today. It was his dream for Kochi's growth and fuelled with one single rail line, that costs 20 times more than Cochin Treasury.
In 1860, the British introduced railway lines to British Malabar districts of Madras Presidency. Prince Rama Varma was pretty convinced such railway line into his country, would prosper the state and its business opportunity. In 1892, armed with a proposal, he met British Governor Ferdick Nicholson to start a line from Shornour, the border town between Kochi and Malabar to Kochi. The British engineers and economists laughed at the proposal and the governor out-rightly rejected the prince's proposals, calling it amateurish and unviable for economic reasons, even prima facia.
After the Prince returned back to Thrissur the spent the next three years drafting a proposal and economic turnaround plan, that eventually turned Kochi's fortunes.
In 1895, he was crowned as King of Kochi and appointed Diwan P.Rajagopalchari who was better influential in British Circles. To every one's suprise, in 1895 Kochi Durbar, the new King announced the state of Kochi will own and draw a new line from Shornour to Cochin, using its own funds.
It was more amusing to all. A state with Rs 2 lakh as its annual Budget, financing a Rs 44 Lakh worth project!!! The Britishers called the king lunatic and idiot, though Lord Curzon, the Viceroy of India have something else to say. Curzon felt, the King was challenging indirectly to British and asked Madras Governor to accept the challenge, by asking Madras Railway to work on the project, with finances from Kochi state.
The british then in 1896 called a meeting under Madras Governor asking King to explain, how he will finance it, the King presented an audited Balance sheet of Kochi Kingdom, with surplus of EXACTLY 44 LAKHS in state treasury?
How a kingdom with little or not more than 2 lakh Rs as reserve in budget, shows a surplus of 44 lakhs within a year?
It was the sheer determination of a leader who was ready to vision and work for his passions. The King sold his 11 sacred crowns, half of Hill Palaces Gold reserves, used up entire Temple gold treasures and on the top 14 sacred Golden Caparisons of Palace Elephants of Tripunithara Temple, leaving one alone back. The Travancore state gifted 62 acres of land, for rail line that passes via its enclaves in Edappally and Angamally
It does not end here. There was a shortage of 13 Lakhs yet. And a King of 19th century, used the buzzword of 21st century well Public-Private Participation. The King called up Kochi's businessman, asked them to contribute as much as they can. The King, being a role model for putting all his personal reserves into, made many business men to take Government Papers and Bonds. Every Temple in the Kochi state, was asked to finance for the project by subscribing to Government Paper. As a token, The Consort Queen Neytharamma, gave 300 sovereigns of Gold in public, which made a Psychological effect for several Palace ladies and nobles to give up gold.
In short, with a year from the King's Announcement in 1895, a funding of 44 lakhs were able to collect so. The Britishers were amazed at the skills of King to make a widespread funding for the project and sanction was duly accorded in 1899 and works started in full swing.
Troubles donot end here. The Britisher suppliers were lagging in supply of materials, slowly raising the project cost. In addition, the King also was working to development of Parambikulam Cochin Forest Tramways. The Cochin Treasury suffered terribly. On the eve of Onam of 1900, there was just 2 days of money left in the state treasury.
The King went into full force again. He abolished the privy purse to all Male Princes to the Kochi Kingdom, thus saving around Rs 3.5 Lakh from the Royal Household provisions. The money was put again. The payment in gold to Lady members of Royal Household as allowance (known as Uttaradakizhi) stopped. Rather a sum of Rs 100 and new clothes was paid instead. The Palace asked its staff to have Onam feast from the Palace itself, rather than issuance of Onam Allowances to all, saving more than a lakh of rupees.
And once again, the King went to Tripunithara Temple, to open up remaining treasures and raised the balance amount of 20 Lakh Rs for funding.
Sensing the Britishers are delaying in issue of rolling stock and few stretches of line, the King directly contacted German Political agent for supply for the same. The Germans were assisting the King in building Parambikulam Tramway project, supplied the remaining tracks, rolling stock and signals and avoided another issue of project over-run.
The issue never ended there. Just before eve of final completion of the project, there was a shortage of another Rs 3.42 Lakhs. The Britishers were sure, the King can never raise the same. However be surprised, the King raised it by taking a Loan from Chidambaram Temple Authorities.
By 1902, the line was ready. The King also completed his state Mansion near to the Railway station to view the first train chugging into Kochi (Today's High Court Bldg). And that happened on June 2nd 1902, when German Made Ivse Steamer chugging into Ernakulam Terminus. The Passenger traffic started on July 10th 1902, with the King and his wife as first passengers.
Kochi got a new line and new impetus of growth. Rest is History, how Kochi became the state's commercial capital.
But the irony to the story is that, the same line line which brought glory to King Rama Varma, also resulted in his downfall.
.......... how desperate are you to twist history and play victim.
....Nothing stays the same forever and everything change with time.
