COCHIN GSBs: THE UNTOLD STORY OF A MASSACRE!

Dear Samaj Bandhav, Amchiegele brothers and sisters, I need some information. So I am seeking help from you people. I am planning to write about GSB persecution that happened in Kochi (Cochin Queen of the Arabian Sea) two centuries ago! Brahmahatya was considered as the biggest sin in Bharat. A Hindu King killing Hindu Brahmins may be unbelievable in the history of India. But such a unique, brutal and unwarranted disaster happened in Cochin. On 12th October 1791 the Raja of Cochin, Rama Varma IX (Sakthan Thampuran: 17511805) brutally massacred lot of GS Brahmins (including Devaresa Kini, Krishen, Goga Kamath, Manuku Shenoy and Nagendra and three overseers of Tirumala Devasom Temple) and looted the biggest GSB temple in Kerala. The persecuted GSBs then fled in country boats to Thuravoor (my ancestors were among them). Some of them took the idol of Lord Venkateswara and fled to Alleppey (Travancore Kingdom) or Alappuzha. What would have prompted Sakthan Thampuran to attack a Hindu temple and kill Brahmins? Was he green with envy towards affluent GSB merchants? Was he drugged? Was he mentally sick? Was there a power-mafia around the king? Who had cheated Kinimam? Nobody knows for sure. The sudden progress and prosperity of the port town of Alleppey (the Venice of the East) was then attributed to the Venkateswara Deity. So, the King of Travancore protected the community and the temple. The idol was originally worshipped by the 15th Century AD king Saluva Narasimha Raya of the Vijayanagar Kingdom. Before his painful death in a mysterious circumstances in 1805 (Curse of GSBs and the idol, say some), the regretful Raja of Cochin persuaded the GSBs in Cochin to bring back the idol. But Travancore government didn't allow that. The Cochin Raja died without heir despite his second marriage. His successor cousin Rama Varma X also tried to bring back the idol to Cochin. There has been a state of conflict between two kingdoms for almost 60 years. During these years all five successors of the Kingdom of Cochin died within very short intervals. 8th February 1853 marked a thrilling and most exciting incident in the history of GSB community. The idol was clandestinely brought back to Cochin by a group of GSBs and disguised soldiers of Cochin Kingdom. (My great grandfather Govinda Pai had reportedly seen the boat). Some GSBs in Alleppey (Travancore Kingdom) may have helped them. The meticulous plan to steal the idol from heavily guarded temple might have been more exciting and adventurous than fiction. However, they couldn't bring the Goddess Lakshmi's image. A long legal battle ensued between the two neighboring kingdoms - Cochin and Travancore. I would like to do bit research and write about this. I have not decided if this should be non-fiction or semi-fiction or historical fiction: My intention is to write something that would compel younger generation to read it so that they would get to know about what were our ancestors! I would be much obliged if you can give me any information, suggestion, ideas or lead that you know. GSBs from Cochin are now spread across all over the world. Your parents or grandparents may know some details or source of any info. (Please contact me: Here is my website: http://udaypai.in/ E-mail: uday.pai@aol.com and Face book: https://www.facebook.com/udaylal.pai )

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