Direct Rule by the Dutch

Dutch Contribution to Kerala

Though the Dutch had never interfered in the administration directly, the Kochi Raja consulted every move with the Dutch Admiral. The ruler even sought DEIC’s permission to adopt members to the royal family. The ruler could arrive on decision regarding the affairs of the state after lengthy discussions with the DEIC. The ruler executed the decision through the Prime Minister. Major decisions were implemented after obtaining the consent of the DEIC. The ruler had no freedom to appoint or terminate his ministers. If the company men erred, only DEIC had the right to punish them. Similarly, the Maharajah had the right to punish only his subjects. The right to impose capital punishment was vested with the council of ministers including the representatives of the DEIC. Only Paliyath Achan (prime minister)had the privilege to pardon the accused. K.P Padmanabha Menon, in his work ‘Kochi Rajya Charitram’ (History of Cochin) says “Land tax was introduced in Kochi in 1762 and amendments were made in the next year. The state was divided into units called nadus for the convenience of administration. However, the ten kovilakams in the state were entrusted under a Karyakar. Accounts were monitored by Menons and assets by Yantrakars. Every desam had a chieftain appointed irrespective of caste and creed. These designations were the perpetual privileges of certain ancestral tharavadu.  Only they had the right to report the superiors the day to day affairs. Kovilakathu vathilukal were classified into vadakkemukham and thekkemukham under each sarvadhikaryakkar.  There was a valyasarvadhikaryakkar, to supervise the entire kovilakathu vathilukal.

Direct Rule by the Dutch

The Dutch had many forts and trading centers besides vast lands at Kochi. They were controlled by the commander/ the governor/the council. The capital of Dutch in the east was Djakarta (Batavia) and its governor general was the chief of the eastern region of the DEIC. He had director generals for looking after the trading centers. Thus, Malabar governor came under the director general of Batavia. If the administrator of Kochi happened to be a member of the council of Batavia, the post of governor was conferred upon him and others were mere commanders (Kamudharu). There was a body of council or sabha to help the governor/commander in administration. The commander was also a senior merchant. The council had the following members:

• Commander
• Fiscal
• Army Chief
• Warehouse Keeper
• Dispensier
• Junior Merchant
• Chief Representative of Kollam
• Secretary of the Council
• Interpreter

In 1667, the Kochi Fort was the major landmark were one would find concentration of the Dutch. Sooner, the warehouses of Kollam, Kayamkulam, Kodungallor, Kannur, Chettuva came under their control. As per the official records, trade centres existed in 20 places, including Malabar. They were under the control of governor general/governor/director/chief. 

1	Moluccus	Governor
2	Amboine	‘’
3	Bande	‘’
4	Macassar	‘’
5	Malacca	‘’
6	Ceylon	‘’
7	Coromonal	‘’
8	Cape of Good Hope	‘’
9	Solar	Chief
10	Timur	‘’
11	West Coast of Sumatra	‘’
12	Jambu	‘’
13	Mocha	‘’
14	Japan	‘’
15	Bantan	‘’
16	Cheribon	‘’
17	Malabar	Commander
18	Samarang	‘’
19	Surat	Director
20	Persia	‘’
21	Bengal	‘’
22	Batavia	Governor General

In 1725, Nagapattinam became the centre of DEIC in the Coromondal Coast. It was also known as Chozhamandalam. Gradually, Nagapattinam assumed the status of the office of the DEIC in India. The following is the list of Dutch governors and commanders who served in Kochi:

1	Van Rheede (1673-77)
2	Jacob Lobo (1677-78)
3	Martin Huysmen (1680-81)
4	Gulmer Vorsburg (1684-86)
5	Isak van Deilen (1687-93)
6	Hendrick Zwaadercrool (1693-1698)
7	Peter Cocssart (1698)
8	Magnus Weckelman (1698-1701)
9	W. Moerman (1705-1709)
10	Barent Kentel (1709-1715)
11	Major Hans Berkman (1717-1724)
12	Jakob de Jong (1724-31)
13	Adrian Van Maten (1731-35)
14	Van Gollenese (1735-43)
15	Reinierus Siersma (1748-50)
16	Abraham Cornellis de Pahaye (1750-51)
17	C. Cunes (1751-57)
18	C.D. Jong (1757-61)
19	Wayerman (1761-64)
20	C. Breekpot (1764-69)
21	C.L. Snett (1769-71)
22	Moons (1771-1781)
23	Anglebeck (1781-93)
24	Janlam Bertus van Spall (1793-95)

Dutch Contribution to Kerala 

The contributions of Dutch to Kerala had long term impacts. The Portuguese ruled Kochi for more than a century. Though the Dutch ruled for a short span, the British who came later emulated the Dutch. K.P Padmanabha Menon, K.M Panicker, Dr. T. A. Punnen and Prof. A. Sreedhara Menon had done in-depth study on Dutch.

The Dutch had more tolerance towards other religions than the Portuguese. The Portuguese blindly followed the sentiments of the Catholics which created much turbulence. Tension surfaced in the name of religion. The move to convert the Latin Dioceses to Catholics led to widespread protests. The assembly of Syrian Christians in front of the cross at Mattancherry is a major event in the religious history of Kerala. These protesters, holding the free end of the rope fastened to the cross vowed not to obey the priests and bishops of Latin Dioceses. This is known as the Rebellion of the Koonan Kurishu (1653). Since then, the Syrian Christians divided into two- Romo Syrians and Jacobite Syrians. The Protestant Dutch accepted the changes in the field of science and technology. The Dutch, though initially opposed the Roman Catholics, gradually changed their policies. Thus, in 1673, a Carmalite Church was erected. In 1682, they established a seminary at Varahpuzha.  Later, this came to be known as St. Joseph’s Pontifical Seminary. The Protestant Dutch in Europe reconciled with the changing scenario.

The Dutch bell at the temple of Varkala (now in Thiruvananthapuram district) and the lamps in the Harippadu Temple (Alappuzha district) were offerings made by the Dutch East India Company (DEIC).

Dr. T.A. Punnen, in his essay on Dutch in Kerala, Volume I, Kerala History Association, had evaluated the administration, reforms, exports, imports, religion and culture of the Dutch. “Dutch Hegemony in Malabar” and “Lanthakkar Keralathil” were the two books authored by Punnen.

The influence of Dutch in Kerala can be grouped under the following sub-headings:

• Botany Medicinal Plants
• Agriculture
• Industry Commerce
• Medicine
• History Culture
• Administration
• Miscellaneous