Context:
Recently, Minister of State for Tourism pledged to renew the statue of Sakthan Thampuran.
Sakthan Thampuran:
- Real name – Raja Rama Varma Kunjipillai or Rama Varma IX
- Title – Sakthan Thampuran (meaning ‘powerful’)
- Kingdom – Cochin
- Ruling Period – 1790 to 1805
Key Contributions and Events:
- Advised maintaining friendly relations with both the Dutch and the English.
- Orchestrated Mysore’s attempt to invade Travancore.
- Resulted in the Powney treaty, freeing Cochin from Mysore’s allegiance and formalizing relations with the British.
- Ended the institution of Yogiatirippads, transferring temple management to the government.
- Moved the capital from Thrippunithura to Thrissur.
- Encouraged merchants of all religions and British officials to relocate to Thrissur.
- Overhauled and firmed up the kingdom’s finances, personally overseeing revenue management.
- Started the Thrissur Pooram in 1797 as an alternative to the Arattupuzha Pooram, allowing major temples in Thrissur to pay respects to Lord Shiva at the Vadakkumnathan Temple.
Kingdom of Cochin:
- Part of – Late Chera Empire
- Covered regions between Ponnani in Malappuram and Thottappally in Alappuzha.
Source: The Indian Express
Previous Year Question
With reference to ancient South India, Korkai, Poompuhar and Muchiri were well known as
[UPSC Civil Service Exam – 2023 Prelims]
(a) capital cities
(b) ports
(c) centres of iron-and-steel making
(d) shrines of Jain Tirthankaras
Answer: (b)