Did you know this part of the history of Kerala?

It happened when the biggest and the most valuable company in the history of the world was brought down (among other things) by a Malayali from India.

There was a moment in history when the #Vereenigde #Oost-#Indische #Compagnie (#VOC) or simply the #Dutch #East #India #Company was the most well funded and powerful Business, military and naval force in the world.

Established in 1602, it had a virtual monopoly of the global spice trade for most of the 17th century and was the first truly multinational corporation in history.

It had a great run and was the Apple or Google of its day - only more successful, profitable - paying on average, an 18% dividend for almost 200 years!!

Adjusted to inflation, it had the market capitalisation of over 7 Trillion Dollars in today’s money - making it perhaps the most valuable company in the history of companies!!

The Dutch made most of their money from India - By the early 18th century, the Dutch economic and political power in southern India was at its peak. The Dutch had thrown the Portuguese out, Defeated the Mighty Zamorins of Calicut and even turned the powerful kingdom of Kochi into a Vassal State where the crown even bore the Dutch emblem of VOC.

The Dutch East India Company is dead today - in large parts, thanks to this Indian from Kerala!! 💪🏽

Among the many mistakes that ultimately lead to their downfall, perhaps the biggest was committed by #Dutch #Governor #Gustaaf #Willem #Van #Imhoff in 1739.

During the ensuing negotiations between Governor Imhoff and #Marthanda #Varma, the ruler of #Travancore, regarding the Dutch interests in Kochi, when Governor Imhoff threatened Marthanda Varma, that his forces will rake Travancore down to dust.

In his reply - Varma quipped and I quote: With all due respect to you sir, then I will invade Holland!! 😍

Obviously miffed, the Governor of the Mighty Dutch empire walked off from the meeting, determined to teach this local king of a small Indian kingdom a lesson.

Soon, a large contingent of Dutch artillery forces landed in Colachel, lead by Captain Eustachius De Lannoy. Their intention was to make a quick dash and capture the capital of Travancore - Padmanabhapuram.

On the 10th of August, 1741, both Armies met in the now famous #Battle #of #Colachel.

Within no time, the Dutch faced a crushing and decisive defeat - most of their soldiers fled and their commander, Eustace De Lannoy was captured along with his deputy. 👏🏽👏🏽👊🏽💪🏽

Marthanda Varma made the Dutch sign a peace treaty, taking over most of the Dutch forts in the Malabar region of India and bringing to an end, the Dutch monopoly in the Spice Trade with India.

What’s more, Marthanda Varma even made Eustachius De Lannoy join his forces as a trainer and used him to modernise the Army of Travancore - which later became the Madras Regiment of Independent India. 👌🏽

The Dutch Black Pepper trade monopoly was taken over by the State of Travancore - which made them rich.

In case you wonder how rich - Marthanda Varma re-consecrated an old Temple of Lord Padmanabhaswamy (Lord Vishnu) and regularly donated to it in his lifetime.

Recently, 5 of the 8 sealed chamber Vaults of this temple were opened by the authorities - which yielded a smallish treasure in Gold and Jewels, estimated to be worth a little over USD 22 Billion (making it the richest institution and place of worship in the world). Experts believe that the remaining sealed vaults hold treasures worth a Trillion dollars.

While Marthanda Varma, an Indian, had his life moment in world history - the Indian Historians didn’t think of his achievements as important enough to even deserve a mention in our school textbooks. (Being the utmost loyal servants of the Whites, The Lords of the present times and The Devas of the "awesome" Churchianity, how can Khan-gress & Pan-spit shirts let craps like this be known to the young minds? Is it so grand as the battle of Plassey? Is it right to keep throwing light on occasional victories of the lowly Darkmen? 👊🏽👊🏽👊🏽😠)

Did Vasco da Gama discovered sea route to India? 😛😜😝

Vasco da Gama had recorded in his diary that upon his arrival at Zanzibar in Africa he saw a docked ship three times bigger than his own. He took an African interpreter to meet the owner of that ship *#Chandan*, a Gujarati trader who used to bring pine wood and teak from India along with spices and take back diamonds to Cochin. Vasco da Gama followed Chandan to reach the shores of India, a fact very few in independent India know about.

Venetian trader and explorer #Marco #Polo, as early as 13th century, had recounted that ships in India had double boards which were joined together with strong nail and crevices, filled with special kind of gum and were so huge that 300 boatmen were needed to row them. These vessels could take a load of 3000 to 4000 gunny bags having small rooms and arrangements for comfort. Additional layers were added to the bottom, when it gets damaged. Some ships had as many as six layers, the book says. In the 15th century another traveller #Nicolo #Conti found Indian ships were much bigger than their own ships and their bases were made of three boards to weather formidable storms. Some ships were built in a such a manner that if one part was damaged, the rest could substitute for it. Another traveller #Berthma had written how wooden boards were joined to prevent even a drop of water seeping into the ship and that it would take eight days to come to Iran from Cape Comorin (Kanyakumari), the book records.

Until the 17th century, European ships were a maximum of 600 tonnes. But in India, they saw such big ships as the Gogha which were more than 1500 tonnes.The European companies started using these ships and opened many new factories to make Indian artisans manufacture ships.

In 1811, Lt. Walker writes, The ships in the British fleet had to be repaired every 12th year. But the Indian ships made of teak would function for more than 50 years, without any repair.

The #East #India #Company had a ship called Dariya Daulat which worked for 87 years without any repairs. Durable woods, like rosewood, sal and teak were used for this purpose.

French traveller #Waltzer #Salvins writes, in his book Le Hindu in 1811 AD, Indians were in the forefront in the art of ship-building and even today, they can teach a lesson or two to the Europeans. The British, who were very apt at learning the arts, learnt a lot of things about ship building from the Indians. There is a very good blend of beauty and utility in Indian ships and they are examples of Indian handicrafts and their patience.

Between 1786 and 1863, 300 ships were built at factories in Mumbai. Many of them were included in the Royal fleet. Of these, the ship called Asia was 2289 tonnes and had 84 cannons.
Ship building factories were set up in Hoogly, Silhat, Chittagong, Dacca, etc.

In the period between 1781 to 1821, in Hoogly alone 272 ships were manufactured which together weighed 122,693 tonnes.

Ancient Romans and Greeks had trade contacts with India through sea. #Thamizhs were the best sea-fairers in the world. In fact, that race's name suggests that "they returned from sea"!! Once upon a time, this skill was looked upon with awe. Then how apt is to credit #Vasco #da #gama as founder of sea route to India? 😉

(Source: Hinduism Today)