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| Paliath Achan of Chendamangalam thehindu.com |
During the colonial rule and later under the Raj there were so many princely states across India headed by Maharajahs and Nawabs but the manipulating string was with the wily British. In the princely states with a monthly dole from the British, the princes, with some exception, led a lavish and luxurious life, though they lost the exalted royal status.
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| Chendamangalam, Kerala.bharatbiz.com |
In the state of Kerala the rulers of Cochin kingdom being orthodox and religious lived a simple life more interested in the welfare of their subjects and temple rituals, affairs, etc., than indulging in self-adulation, self aggrandizement and ambition to expand their lands. This was also true of the rulers of Travancore who ran their kingdom in the name of Padmanabha Swami.
If the heads of Cochin kingdom ran the country effectively it was because of some dedicated and loyal administrators behind them in their employ. They literally acted as an impenetrable shield to them during their difficult period.
One such family was the Paliam family of Chendamangalam who enjoyed a special status in the Cochin kingdom. 'Paliath Achans, primarily hereditary prime ministers to the Rajah of Kingdom of Cochin (Kerala) from 1632 to 1809 enjoyed equal power and wealth in the Cochin region. During their heyday, they led a glorious and influential life and in terms of wealth and lifestyle they exceeded that of the Maharajahs.
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| Another view. The Paliam Naalukettu building. upload.wikimedia.org |
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| The Paliam Naalukettu upload.wikimedia.org |
Because of peculiar royal family system and their adherence to simple life the number of people both princes and princesses between 1878 till 1949 multiplied manifold at the time when the Cochin state joined the Union after India's independence. The amazing thing is despite their royal line of lineage both male and female members led a humble life - men working in the government offices and women taking to teaching as their calling. Apart, they lived in modest buildings in a complex near Ernakulam in Tripunithura owned by their family temple deity- kula theivam
Paliath Achan is often referred to the oldest male member of the Paliam family, a Nair chieftain family that was intertwined closely with the history of the region. The political and cultural history of this region is incomplete with them.
Their main ancestral home - tharavadu (Naalukettu) dates back to more than 450 years and so were many buildings dating from 60 to 300 years. Chendamangalam, 18 miles outside Ernakulam, is their ancestral home. The Paliam family once were very rich in Cochin, a bit richer than the royal house. With occasional glitches over policy matter, etc. for a long time - roughly 150 years till 1809 the Paliath Achans had served as ministers of Cochin with patriotic zeal and loyalty.
Owing their allegiance to the Perumpadappu Swaroopam, the rulers of Cochin, the Paliam family is said to have moved over to Chennamangalam from Chavakkad along with the ruler in the wake of wars with neighboring States. In Chennamangalam, over a period of time, the Paliath Achan became a powerful man in the kingdom, second only to the King himself by dint of hard work and administrative ability. To the Paliam family dereliction of duty was an anathema. As for the king, he found a trusted confidant in the elder member of the Paliam family. Obviously, from the 16th to the 19th centuries, the successive Paliath Achans dominated the politics of Cochin.
When successive European powers ruled the roost in the Malabar region, the Paliam family, with skill and tactics, successfully mediated between the ruler and the European agents. Komi Achan, being shrewd and courageous, gave a tough time to the Portuguese who wanted to annex the land. He won the admiration of the Dutch forces operating in Kerala then for their alliance with them in the skirmishes against the Portuguese. Komi Achan, strengthened the alliance with the Dutch by signing a treaty with them. To honor him the Dutch had a palace (the Kovilakam) built at Chendamangalam.
Paliam family's glorious days are gone in the shifting sand dunes of time but their memories and contributions are frozen in the museum. The Kovilakam - palace has an excellent collection of artefacts - ancient documents, religious texts, weapons such as swords, rifles, and gifts brought by foreign dignitaries. The Paliath Achan's Kovilakam built by the Dutch, also called the Dutch palace, is near the ancestral home. It is where the oldest male member used to stay. On the first floor balcony there was a sort of platform used by Paliath Achan to address the common folks. There used to be a big bell to be rung announcing the time of address. The bell is no longer there.
According to The book ‘Paliam History’ (written by M. Radhadevi and ‘Paliam Charithram )’ the letters between the Paliath Achan and the rulers of Cochin and Travancore show that the Paliath Achan was a close confidant of the Maharajah of Cochin.
For various reasons - political economic and cultural reasons the number of Paliath family members in Thrissur has declined a lot.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paliath_Achan
