Victoria Gowramma : Book Review
This is one the intriguing books I have read in quite a while. Being a history buff all my life, it was really eye-opening that my home state of Karnataka had this piece of history.
The book chronicles the story of the decline of Kodava Rajas in Coorg. One of the interesting facts I learnt was that all the Kodava kings from 1600 on were Lingayats, my mental model always had that sect/subcaste dominating the northern part of our state.
The Crux of the story is in the mid-1800s, the time when British consolidated their control over most of India. The British Annexation of Coorg was in fact welcomed by local people as the last Raja of Coorg, Veerarajendra had become despotic and was surrounded by unwise advisers.
He was banished to the erstwhile Banares, now Varanasi. There he hatches a plan to recover a substantial amount which his ancestors had deposited with the British. Part of his master plan was the ruse that his daughter Gowramma wishes to be converted to Christianity. This reason got him in the good graces of the East India Company and the crown and they gave permission for the Raja to visit England, under his own expenses of course.
In the meantime, another daughter of Veerarajendra gets married off to the king of Nepal Jung Bahadur. The Governor-General at the time, Lord Dalhousie wanted this princess to be converted to Christianity rather than Gowramma as she was better looking. He resented the King of Nepal for this.
Princess Gowramma was educated in Christian mannerisms and scriptures by an English family in Banares in preparation for her conversion to Christianity. After a few years of preparation they finally set sail for England, which had land journeys from Banares to Calcutta; and the one in Egypt.
The princess was taken in by Queen Victoria and the royal family. The royals of Coorg were the first Indian royals to set foot in Britain. They were invited to most of the occasions by the royal family. After some more training, Gowramma was baptized to become a Christian, Queen Victoria became her Godmother and endowed the name Victoria on Gowramma.
Meanwhile, the British had defeated Ranjit Singh and had annexed Punjab. Then they exiled his wife, and took the young gullible Duleep singh under their wing. He was exiled to Fathehpur, so as to avoid any chances of revolt under him in Lahore. He was given western education which in due course made him choose Christianity under his own free will and reject on the traditions which he had inherited.
He was further educated under the tutelage of the local pastor and a British family, and he set sail to Britain some years after Gowramma to finalize his conversion under the church of England.
The company and the crown in cahoots with each other hatched a great idea for a marriage alliance between these two royals, who have converted to Christianity as a way of enticing the rowdy Indian populace to convert so that they become easier to rule.
Duleep Singh was introduced casually to Gowramma at an official crown party, but his response was lukewarm towards her even though she was interested. In the end, Duleep singh declared that he was not interested in Gowramma, which poured cold water to a lot of well laid plans.
Veerarajendra meanwhile tried to sue the East India company to get the cache of money which his ancestors had deposited. Though he received support from some moderates in the British elite, it didn’t come to fruition and he passed away in Britain, having lost his Daughter, who could barely understand her mother tongue having stayed under British family since arrival.
Victoria Gowramma after multiple failed attempts at marrying Duleep Singh, ended up marrying a British officer some 20 years senior to her, whose sole intention was the get the pension which she was entitled as a dethroned royal.
Queen herself lost interest in Gowramma. Although in an abusive marriage Gowramma gave birth to a girl child in 1861. Gowramma passed away in 1864 due to an illness. Her lineage ended sometime in the mid 1930s.
The promising girl who had her paintings and busts made by the best artists available to the most powerful Empire this world has possibly seen, had a very tragic and heart -breaking end.
This book reminded me to look in and around my place of birth to understand the history before anything else.
I was also impressed with the author C.P. Beliappa who is doing great work bringing such stories to light Kudos to him.
If you’re a history buff this a short yet great read.
