It is true that during the colonial era, Indian subcontinent became a battle ground for the European powers to dominate trade activities, etc. The British had an edge over the others as their business tactics, wheeling dealings and administrative ability helped them go on a land grabbing free which was unethical and by the end of 19th century Britain held much of the Indian land and generated vast revenue to improve Britain. The other European countries had limited imperialistic ambition and at last lost out to the wily British Bobs. Little do we know that Denmark played a sensible role in India by focusing more interest in trading than in land grabbing and creating mischief among Indian rulers as the English East India Co did in the 17th and 18 the centuries.
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| Restored Danish Gov. Bungalow Tharangampadi TN upload.wikimedia.org/ |
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| Danish Gov. Bungalow, Tharangampadi, TN en.natmus.dk |
Above image: Danish Governor's residence, now restored, one-story structure and the upper floor with a tiled balcony and hall. Palladian style design has noted simplicity and austerity. Note the absence of pediment - triangular section gable above the horizontal super structure..........
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| Danish Gov. Bungalow,(built in 1784) Tharangampadi, TN dreamstime.com |
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| Danish Gov. Bungalow, Tharangampadi, TN reamstime.com |
Above image: Danish Governor’s Residence (1773), Danish settlement, Tharangambadi.
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| Gov. residence Tharangambadi, TN.travelshoebum.com |
Above image: Danish Governor's residence, Tharangambadi, colonnade below he balustraded parapet wall
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| Veranda, Gov. residence Tharangambadi, TN.travelshoebum.com |
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| Danish Gov. Bungalow, Tharangampadi, TN .telegraphindia.com |
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| danish settlement in Tamil nadu. enigmaticindia.com |
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| Danish Gov. Bungalow, Tharangampadi,en.natmus.dk |
It was in 1784, the Danish state purchased the impressive house on the parade ground across Fort Dansborg from previous Governor David Brown t for the exclusive purpose of serving as the official residence of the Danish governor in Tranquebar.
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| Danish Gov. Bungalow, Tharangampadi,en.natmus.dk |
Above image: Danish Governor's residence, Tharangambadi. Earlier design. danes made alterations later after purchase. In the later period it functioned as regional salt office. Photo: Knud Heiberg, 1935. National Museum of Denmark. The new façade of the Governor’s residence drawn by Governor Peter Anker in 1794. Maritime Museum, Denmark.......
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| Danish settlement, Governor's house.Tharangambodi TN |
Built in the British colonial Palladian style with a flat roof and a front colonnade, the stately house was owned by a rich British merchant in the 1773. The house the incorporated with native design style has a large inner courtyard that is connected to a well-kept garden laid out in the baroque French style. Enclosed within the compound wall, there are additional provisions for warehouses, stables, a shed for vehicles and palanquins, a kitchen, and rooms for domestic servants and stable hands.
The Danes, on advice from Governor Peter Anker, redesigned and refurbished the façade of the house with a large, central veranda and a double front colonnade making the governor's residence stand apart as an impressive one in that small town.
the Governor's residence was put to many uses - to conduct official meetings, gatherings and receptions of foreign delegations. it also served as a venue for social activities, get-togethers, banquets, dances. The small European community living there needed some entertainment and respite in this isolated town to be from mundane and lonely life. The house continued to function as the private home of the newly posted governors and their families. Part of the governor's duty included sending reports home to the Danish King on the trading activities in the trading station. Today, several of these documents related to daily activities of the governor, etc are kept in Danish archives. One of the important events happened during the 225 years of Danish rule in Tranquebar was the arrival of the two German Lutheran Missionaries, Bartholomäus Ziegenbalg and Heinrich Pluetschau on 9 July 1706 as part of Tranquebar Mission. They established the first protestant churches in India. They also introduced printing press and published the Bible in Tamil.
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| Tharangambadi, TN.Mission plaque.telegraphindia.com |
When Danes were unable to run the station because of various social and political problems they wound their station and left Tranquebar in 1845; they ended their 225 years of rule of Tranquebar.But the Danish aura is very much there. The residence of the governor lay empty. In 1860, the British converted the building into a courthouse and it functioned as such until 1884.
The big salt panes are located in Vedaranyam village near by and the house also served as regional salt office in the 1910s, After India's independence the house continued to function as a salt office till 1985. Later Tamil Nadu State Department of Tourism, took over the site soon opened a new hotel in the backyard, Hotel Tamil Nadu.
Fort Dansborg and the Land Gate are officially declared as as historical monuments protected by Indian antiquarian authorities, and are therefore well preserved. for the Government of Denmark, it is their proud legacy as the settlement is the largest Danish settlement out side Denmark. Sreerampur, another former Danish colony near Kolkata, came up 135 years later.
As per Govt. GO dated Nov 27, 2019, Governor Bungalow at Sathangudi village in Tharangambadi brought under the Tamil Nadu Ancient and Historical Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act 1966; hence it is a protected monument.
https://travelshoebum.com/2017/11/15/danish-delight-in-india-tranquebar-tharangambadi/
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