FINDING PORTUGUESE COCHIN. Aleena S. Submitted to NIFT in partial. Fulfilment of the requirements for the. Degree of.

Transcription

1 FINDING PORTUGUESE COCHIN By Aleena S Submitted to NIFT in partial Fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Design Faculty Guide: Mr Nitin Kulkarni, Asst Professor, NIFT MUMBAI

2 Abstract Though foreign rule is often an imposition, there are many significant events/changes that it brings about in the country being invaded. India is one such land that was invaded by foreign powers which has greatly influenced its culture. Cochin was the first ever European settlement in India. History most importantly remembers Cochin, which, having a natural port of its own has always been opened to the world. Cochin has experienced the aroma of The Portuguese, The Dutch, and the British in its midst, all blended in forming a unique culture which is distinctive in its own definition. Portuguese, being the first to let its anchor down in Cochin, imparted its culture and Christianity to this land. A question surfaces as to what extent did the roots deepen? Did it reach to the extent of being the Heart of Cochin or was it so weak to be crushed and dried off by the others who came later? It can be stated that Portuguese influence greatly remains instilled in art and architecture, language, cuisine and sur names of this port city; the very characteristics that represent a culture

3 Acknowledgments I have taken efforts in this project. However, it would not have been possible without the encouragement, kind support and help of many individuals and organisations. I would like to extend my sincere thanks to all of them. I am highly indebted to The National Institute of fashion Technology for providing me a platform for conducting such a research. I would like to thank my mentor Mr Nitin Kulkarni, Asst Professor, Design Space for guiding me throughout my dissertation work. I would also like to extend my thanks to Mrs. Rebecca Philip and Mrs. Sharmila Dua for guiding me at the right times. I would like express my gratitude towards my family for their never ending support and encouragement. I thank Akhil Xavier for that conversation which inspired me in taking up this topic. I cannot thank enough Athul Joseph for accompanying me on all my field trips and to Rohit John for taking such beautiful photographs especially for my study. I would like to thank Mrs Stella Maria Figurado, Mr Ivan D Coasta, Mrs. Duefferine D Souza, Mr Jackie D Cruz, Mr. Manuel Oliver and Professor George Menacherry for sharing with me their views on the topic and for answering my questions patiently. I would like to thank Mr Joseph, curator of the Indo-Portuguese Museum for sharing his knowledge with me and making me feel welcome for all my visits. I would like to thank all the head priests of the churches that I visited for the research for providing me with information on the church s history. I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to the Archaeological Survey of India, Thrissur circle for entertaining me using their library and for permission for use of their photographs.

4 List of Plates Plate No: Title Last standing bastion of the fort Emmanuel Remains of the Gunnery of the Fort Pallipuram Fort The Mattancherry palace Outer view of the Bungalow. Remains of the fort wall can be seen. Page No: Portuguese style roofing St Francis Xavier Church, Fort Cochin Bom Jesus Church, Goa St Francis Assisi Church, Ouro Petro Brazil Catedral san cristobal, Havana, Cuba Entrance, University of Coimbra, Portugal St Dominic s Church, Macau,China St.Augustine church, Paoay, Philippines An old Portuguese Baroque Church, Paraty, Brazil Christ Church, Malacca Baroque buildings, Krumlov Town Square, Czech Republic 19th Century Portuguese Baroque Style Chairs Façade and side view, St Francis Xavier church, Fort Cochin Arched portal four columns on the lower level ornamental columns decked on top of columns Entablatures are mouldings lying horizontally across the façade Roman arched windows Gothic Manueline pinnacle Clock bell turret gabled roof with terracotta tiles Buttress A view of the interior from the entrance, towards the altar columns supporting the balcony Teakwood ceiling in the entrance A view of the altar. The original retable, exhibited at the Indo Portuguese Museum Ceiling the flooring is done using unpolished granite

5 Pulpit A view of the balcony from the altar flooring of the balcony done in teakwood Stained glass, introduced by the Portuguese. Stairway on the side, enclosed within A 41.B Church of Our Lady of Hope, Vypeen Gothic Portal of Church of Our Lady of Life, Mattancherry St Sebastian Church, Chellanam St Lawrence Church, Edakochi St Louis Church, Mundamvely St George Church Puthenpalli Retable of the first church now erected at The Church of Our Lady of Hope, Vypeen 47 Baroque style retable of St George Church, 38 Pazhangad, Kumbalangi 48 A wooden ornately carved and hand painted 39 retable at St. Louis Church, Mundamvely 49 Retable at St George Puthenpalli, Varapuzha An ornately carved Pulpit belonging to Church of 40 Our Lady of Hope, Vypeen. 51 A simple pulpit made in wood at the St George 40 uthenpalli. 52 Ceiling of St. Francis Assisi Church, Fort Cochin Ceiling of Church of Our Lady of Hope, Vypeen Ceiling of St George Puthenpalli Ceiling of St George Church, Pazhangad, 42 Kumbalanghi 56 buttress of St Francis Assisi Church, Fort 43 Cochin Buttress of St Louis Church, Mundamvely Chair accompanying Confession Chamber of Church of Our Lady of Hope, Vypeen Chair made in teakwood with seating and backing made of rattan. Chair made in teakwood with leather seating. It exudes Portuguese Baroque features. Came de Vinha d Alhos

6 62 Chicken Vindaloo Pork Vindaloo Sardinhus Assados Mutton Soup Peixe Caldeirad of Portugal Kerala Fish Curry Puttu (Rice Cake) Appam and Chicken Stew Irachi pidi Portuguese Stuffed Squid Portuguese Onion and Tomato salad Malasadas Uniappam Achappam Fiddle Tambor A still from a Chavittunatakam The artists wear very colourful medieval 62 costumes List of Figures Serial No: Title 1 Chinese Nets, Fort Cochin Page No: 46

7 Table of Contents Chapter Topic Page Number INTRODUCTION Introduction Objective Significance Limitations REVIEW OF LITERATURE Age of Discoveries: The trade route to India Vasco da Gama s arrival at Calicut in 1498 Pedro Alvarez Cabral s arrival at Cochin in 1500 Social changes brought by the Portuguese Portuguese Impact in different Areas Deterioration of Portuguese Power RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODOLOGY Methodology Schedule FIELD STUDY AND ANALYSIS Field Study Findings Architecture Furniture Chinese Nets Language Cuisine Music Chavittunatakam 59 CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMANADATIONS Conclusion Recommendations List of References 65 BIBLIOGRAPHY 66 GLOSSARY

8 CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION 1.1 Introduction Cochin is a quaint little land situated on the western tip of the Ernakulum district in Kerala. During colonial times Cochin was ruled by the Portuguese ( ), the Dutch ( ) and the British ( ). The Kochi-Muziris biennale, a contemporary art exhibition held from to brought about a change in art scene in Cochin. It was the first of its kind to be held in Cochin. The whole of Cochin was curious and eager to experience it. Another thing that was intriguing about it was its name. Kochi was understandable, but not Muziris. Upon researching, it was found that Muziris was actually the port city where Romans, Greeks, Jews etc traded. In 1341 AD, an unprecedented flood destroyed this port city, disabling it for ships to anchor. The same flood paved its way in forming the Cochin harbour, presently one of the best natural harbours in the world and a famous port city. Vasco da Gama, a Portuguese explorer discovered the trade route to India, arriving at Kappad, Calicut. The evolution of Cochin started soon after Pedro Alvares Cabral, another Portuguese explorer was the first European to reach to sail into Cochin harbour in 1500 AD. Cochin became the capital of the Portuguese empire in the East. It rose as the first western style city in India comparable with cities in Europe with 23 churches, a hospital, Asia s largest library, Asia s second largest college and above all, wealthy with the trade activities. After being ruled by the Dutch and the British, Cochin forgot about the Portuguese. Cochin began to be regarded as a British colony with Dutch warehouses and buildings along with the British, dotting the coast and the streets. Cochin, even in recent times is referred to as British Cochin. Historians, through their books, communicate the various contributions that the Portuguese brought about in the society. This research attempts in finding out what are the remains of that culture that Cochin still carries. 1.2 Objective To find the remnants of the Portuguese culture that still exists in Cochin. -To read history and understand about the arrival of Portuguese, their rule and how it ended. -To understand the then present culture of Cochin and how the Portuguese later influenced it. 1

9 -To come up with certain selected areas after the secondary research into which further research could be done to achieve the objective. 1.3 Significance The significance of the project is that it is an attempt to find the remains of a culture that nurtured Cochin in becoming what it is today, but which has been greatly avoided. 1.4 Limitations -The time limit allotted was very short for the type of research undertaken. -Thus research has been limited to proposed time frame. -No specific documentations on cuisine. 2

10 CHAPTER 2 REVIEW OF LITERATURE 2.1 Age of Discoveries; Trade Route to India and to Kerala The age of Discovery is referred to the period starting from the early 15th century and continuing till the 17th century. This is the period when European navigators started exploring the Other World. The Europeans called their land the Old World and the rest of the world that was unknown to them, the Other World. Eventually, the term Other World came to be known as the New World. The pioneers of those explorations were the Portuguese. They were closely followed by the Spanish and finally, the British, French and the Dutch. The Portuguese began exploring the Atlantic coast in 1418 and the Spanish in 1492 A treaty was signed between Portugal and Spain, the Treaty of Tordesillas, according to which the world was divided into two regions of exploration. This was to avoid conflicts between the two countries. According to the treaty, each had exclusive rights to claim newly discovered lands. According to historians, the motives behind these explorations could be varied. It would have been the eagerness to know about the Other World and their culture. It would have been to spread Christianity. It would have been to establish new trade links. Looking back at the nature of activities of these explorers now, establishing trade links and spreading Christianity seem to be the sole objective. Most of the explorers had the immediate task of finding a direct route to India and the Far East in order to obtain spices such as pepper, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger and cloves. There are over 250 varieties of spices native to the East; some specific to one island or region alone. [In the words of Mr. Steven Kreis]. [1] 2.2 Vasco Da Gama s arrival at Calicut in 1498 On July, 1497, under King Dom Manuel I of Portugal, a small exploratory fleet of 3

11 ships under the command of Vasco da Gama with about 170 men left the port of Lisbon. By December, the fleet went past the Great Fish River, a point on the south east coast of South Africa that a previous explorer Dias had arrived at, but dared not to go ahead. But, Vasco da Gama continued sailing into the unknown waters, finally arriving on the south-western coastal strip of India, to be specific on 20th May, 1498, at Kappad, in Calicut, Kerala. The landing of Vasco da Gama marked the beginning of a new era in the history of Kerala. The first implantation of western culture anywhere in the non-western world, with continuous development and without genocidal impact, was in India, after Vasco da Gama s arrival. The Zamorin of Calicut received Vasco da Gama with traditional hospitality. The Raja and the Portuguese explorer had a discussion regarding the prospective trade between Portugal and The Zamorins, but nothing productive came out of it. The Raja did not even give permission for da Gama to leave the unsold merchandise brought with him and a supervisor for it on the coast of Calicut. Thus Vasco da Gama left Calicut. He stopped at Cannanore (now Kannur) at the invitation of the Kolathiri raja who ruled that territory. The Kolathiri Raja offered da Gama trade facilities at Cannanore. So, after successfully meeting his objective of establishing a trade route with India, Vasco da Gama returned to Lisbon from Cannanore in November Upon reaching Lisbon in 1499, he was received with a hero s welcome. [In the words of A Sreedhara Menon in A Survey of Kerala History] [2] 2.3 Cabral s arrival at Cochin in 1500 The next expedition commissioned by Portuguese to India had Pedro Alvarez Cabral as the leader. The fleet consisted of 33 ships and 1500 men. After a perilous voyage and discovering Brazil on the way, Cabral reached Calicut, India with only six ships. His agent Aires Correa met with the Zamorins and managed to get permission to open a factory in Calicut. But this did not end up in a good relation between the Portuguese and the Zamorins. During that time, the Arabs and the Egyptians were the main traders with Kerala. The Portuguese always had enmity towards Muslims. Tight competition between the local Arab traders resulted in terrible warfare between the Portuguese and the Arabs. Ships were destroyed; crewmen massacred on both sides. 4

12 Finally, the locals destroyed the Portuguese factory and killed more than half of the Portuguese men. This put Cabral in panic and he left Calicut and sailed towards Cochin. [As mentioned in The Cochin State Manual][3] On 25th December, 1500, Cabral sailed into the harbour of Cochin. Cabral s fleet was the first European fleet to reach Cochin. The Portuguese were given a warm welcome by the Cochin Raja. They were given all facilities for trade at Cochin. The Cochin Raja also gave the Portuguese the permission to open a factory. While staying in Cochin, Cabral got cordial invitations from the Rajas of Quilon (now Kollam) and Cannanore promising him all help to load cargo from these places. On the whole, Cabral s expedition was a triumph for the Portuguese in so far as it won for them an ally in the Cochin Raja and a fine harbour from where they could safeguard their commercial and political interests on the Kerala coast. [2] The scenario in Kerala just before the arrival of the Portuguese and the Portuguese Rule in Cochin With no strong central power in the country to guide the destinies of the people and with a series of small principalities at war with each other, Kerala on the eve of the arrival of the Portuguese presented the tragic picture of a feudal polity. Though the immediate object of the Portuguese was the expansion of trade, they entertained in course of time grand visions of building up an empire in India by bringing the local powers under subjection. The bitter rivalry between the Zamorin on the one side and the Raja of Cochin, the Kolathiri and other minor powers on the other created conditions favourable for the partial realisation of the Portuguese dream at least for a short period. The Raja of Cochin who was being used as a puppet by the Zamorin saw the arrival of the Portuguese a golden opportunity to get foreign assistance against his traditional enemy and build up his political strength. The cold reception met by the Portuguese in Calicut by the Zamorin helped to bring the Cochin Raja and the Portuguese closer together in a defensive and offensive alliance. The Kolathiri Raja too rendered much help to the Portuguese in view of his traditional enmity towards the Zamorin, but there were occasions when he took a firm stand against them. The Rajas of Quilon and Purakad were allies of the Portuguese. It was the willing help 5

13 rendered to them by the local powers that helped the Portuguese to establish their commercial supremacy on the Kerala coast for more than a century and a half. [2] The Portuguese ruled Kerala for 160 years (from ). Cochin was the Headquarters of the Portuguese empire in India till 1663, after which it was moved to Goa. Effect on social, political, cultural, religious and other aspects in Cochin/Kerala by the Portuguese Cochin, under the Portuguese rule for 160 years, went through many significant transitions. Many path breaking events occurred during this period that lead to the advancement of the society. The first capital of the growing Portuguese empire in Asia, Cochin, was also the first Western-style city to be raised on Indian soil. 2.4 Social Changes brought by the Portuguese: As given in Sreedhara Menon s A Survey of Kerala History, [2] before the arrival of the Portuguese, dressing was not a part of the lives of Keralites. Even the Raja and the Nobles wore only very basic piece of garment like the loin cloth. It was the Portuguese influence that initiated the act of dressing up properly among the Cochites. One very significant effect of the Portuguese rule was the abolishment of untouchability. Wherever they went, colour bars were abolished. The Portuguese officials and soldiers were encouraged to marry Kerala women. And if they became Christians, they were given equal rights as whites in the society. St. Francis Xavier who converted masses of people is said to have struck the first blow in the long battle to stop evils of untouchability. Tanya Abraham in Fort Cochin: History and Untold Stories [4] states that the Chinese net which is iconic of Cochin now was brought by the Chinese 500 years before. The nets were not as big as they are today. The actual nets were of a very smaller size. It was the Portuguese who improvised these nets using locally available wood and carpentry skills to monopolise upon fishing. It was also the Portuguese who brought sardines to Kerala. 6

14 New techniques of warfare were introduced by the Portuguese. Artillery assumed special importance in the wars during that period. Several new towns came into existence and old towns decayed during the period of Portuguese trade contact. Thus Calicut, Cochin and Chaliyam grew in importance while Quilon and Cranganore languished for want of patronage. [2] 2.5 Portuguese Impact on: Impact on Politics: Before the Portuguese arrived, the Zamorin of Calicut was trying to unify Kerala under his power. But with the arrival of the Portuguese, this came to an end. The Portuguese entertained minor Chiefs and Nobles, making them powerful and turn against the major Rajas. The political disunity lead by the Portuguese paved way for the Mysore rulers and the English to conquer Kerala in later periods. Impact on Economics: The Portuguese put an end to the age long trade connection of Kerala with t he Egyptians and the Arabs by monopolising the trade in Indian waters. They popularised Kerala spices like pepper, cardamom, cinnamon and ginger in European markets by arranging their direct transportation. Trade with Europe grew in dimensions and led to the flow of wealth into the country. It was because the Portuguese instituted the trade link that Kerala s fate linked with Europe. Still Kerala is more dependent on its foreign trade that any of the other Indian states. Impact on Education: The Portuguese founded theological seminaries and colleges at Cochin, Cranganore (now Kodungalloor), Ankamali and Vaipikotta for the purpose of training Christian priests. These institutions helped to spread the knowledge of Latin and Portuguese among the local people, thus contributing to the great educational movement which 7

15 later on made the state the most literate state in India. Apart from the Christians, a majority of the Hindu Chiefly families were influenced by this early western education. Even the Cochin Raja is said to have mastered the Portuguese language. The Portuguese set up printing presses at Cochin and Vaipicotta. Under the Portuguese patronage, St. Francis Xavier, in 1550 converted Madre de Deus, a church, into a Jesuit college. It in turn soared into a structure of 3 stories with 33 students and was the second largest college in Asia. The Portuguese period marks the beginning of Indological studies and research by European scholars. Impact on Language: A large contribution was made to Malayalam language which led in the development of Malayalam prose writing. St. Francis Xavier, who arrived in Cochin in 1542, translated Catechism into Malayalam. About 200 words in Malayalam have been derived from Portuguese. When the Portuguese language arrived in Asia, it came into contact with the local languages, and that gave rise to a string of new languages. Such languages, born from intense contact between two or more languages, are what linguists call creoles. Such a Creole developed between Malayalam and Portuguese Cochin Creole Portuguese. Since Cochin was the first place where the Portuguese established a stable presence in South Asia, it is usually accepted that Cochin Creole may have been the earliest of all Indo-Portuguese Creoles to be formed, and, if so, probably determined to some extent the development of the other varieties.. With the death of William Rozario this August in Vypeen died Cochin Creole Portuguese. Rozario was the last fluent speaker of this language. As given in The Hindu of [6] Till the formation of British supremacy in Kerala, Portuguese remained the diplomatic language of the rulers of the state. It remained so for over a half century even after the Portuguese departed from India. 8

16 Religious History of the Portuguese Period: The Portuguese were fanatical followers of the Catholic faith, and they considered it their mission to spread Catholicism and establish the supremacy of the Pope of Rome. Conversion was one of the main objectives of the Portuguese. But, upon the arrival at the Malabar Coast, the Portuguese were shocked to find that Christianity had already been established in Kerala. Still, they indulged in forcible conversions. Converts were provided with high civil and military posts. Some converts were even ennobled. As a result of forcible conversions, from Goa, the Gowda Saraswaths or the Konkanis immigrated to Kerala in the 16th century. The Jews were also treated ruthlessly. Hence they also left their ancient settlement at Cranganore in 1565 and settled in places like Parur, Chennamangalam, Mala, Ernakulam and Cochin. In Cochin, the Jews received patronage of the Cochin Raja in spite of the Portuguese hostility. But the Portuguese tried to harass them in all possible ways. They even partially destroyed the Synagogue built by the White Jews in Over the years, these Konkani and Jew settlements have become an inevitable part of Cochin. The Portuguese hated Muslims even from their homeland. After reaching Kerala, they continued having this enmity towards Muslims and often were at war with them. But the Portuguese respected the religious sentiments of the Hindus because they wanted to please them and win favours. Revival of the Bhakti Cult: The Portuguese period saw the revival of Bhakti Movement in Kerala. The peculiar political, social and economic condition of the age created a mental and religious stir among the Hindus and lead widespread popularity of the doctrine of Bhakti. Introduction of artillery and other new weapons of warfare puzzled the common man and made him crave for mental and spiritual solace. Impact on Agriculture: It was the Portuguese who encouraged the cultivation of coconut commercially. They discovered the use of coconut fibre in making sturdy coir ropes and made coir and copra articles of world trade, which otherwise was just made for household purposes. They even brought a new strain of coconuts from Africa which produced bigger and 9

17 better fruits. It is these Portuguese coconuts that are planted in abundance along the Kerala coast now. The Portuguese had greedy demand for pepper and other spices. Thus they accelerated the tendency for agriculture and focused on cash crops for exports. This resulted in an import of rice in the 16th century as the local production of rice diminished due to the focus given on cash crops for exports. The Portuguese introduced to Kerala the following: cashew nut, tobacco, custard apple, guava, the pineapple and papaya. They promoted the scientific cultivation of pepper and ginger on an extensive scale. This led to masses of people starting their cultivation. Impact on Architecture: Before the arrival of Vasco da Gama, the palaces used to be wooden buildings, often very small as the Kings then used to stay only for smaller periods. In 1555, the Portuguese constructed a stone palace with a tiled roof in Mattancherry as a gift to the raja of Cochin which possesses one of the finest groups of mural paintings of Kerala. The palace still stands. This palace influenced many Nair Nobles who in turn constructed palaces inspired from it in Quilon, Cochin and Calicut. The Portuguese introduced ornamental architecture and the buildings of the bungalow type. Manuel Kota/ Fort Manuel built by the Portuguese is the First European Fort in India. In the words of Mr. Jaayaram Poduval in Kochi: the Beginnings of European Architecture [5],The Portuguese began erecting large churches in Cochin from around 1505 and were able to construct as many as 23 before the Dutch expelled them in Most of these churches were built by in the Gothic Manueline styles, with a few in the style of the early Portuguese Renaissance. As the pioneers of church building activity in Kerala, the Portuguese have left a legacy of their architecture which travels beyond their political legacy. One feature of churches in Kerala that appear distinctly Portuguese is the retable, erected as the screen behinds the altar. This highly decorated, mostly wooden, gilded backdrop of the altar is the decorative focus of the church interior. It has niches flanked with twisted pilasters topped with Corinthian foliage capitals. The niches, usually in three 10

18 tires, have curved arches and in many examples are styles as decorated shelves, seen in the renaissance and baroque period. The top portions of the reatables are curved, similar to the facades outside. The whole composition is decorated with creepers and foliage supported by cherubs and soldier figures. The retables of Kerala betray their Portuguese lineage. Even the motifs remain unaltered: twisted wine creepers, corn, wheat and acanthus leaf, similar to those of Goa and Portugal. None of these plants grow in Kerala even now. So the decorative flora seems to have imported, along with the architecture. In 16th to 17th century, indigenous architecture, the decorative motifs used were palm, lotuses, makaras(crocodiles) and vyaalis( dragons) which are conspicuously absent in the church decoration. Neither of these traditions seem to be aware of the other or acknowledge the other s existence. Like chillies, tomatoes and tapioca which are very much part of the Kerala diet, the art tradition brought by the Portuguese entered so deeply into the culture of Kerala that it is difficult to distinguish between the indigenous and the foreign. The Portuguese influence so pervaded the art tradition of Kerala Christian art that even the successors of the Portuguese in Kerala did not venture to change it. The Dutch and the British might have replaced the Portuguese political base of Cochin in 1663 and 1795 respectively, but they could not replace the Portuguese legacy of art in Kerala with Cochin as its fountainhead. Impact on Art and Art forms: Jose Pereira in Portugal s Impact on India: Westernization of the Non-Western world, in the book India and Portugal, Cultural Interactions[7] says It was in Kerala that India, of all lands of the non-western world, was first exposed to Western music, with its panoply of instruments unknown in that world, as well as introduced to its new musical texture, harmony. Christian art of Kerala is highly inspired from the Portuguese culture. The Chavittunaatakam, the Christian counterpart of the Hindu Kathakali, originated and grew into a popular form of entertainment under the patronage of the Portuguese missionaries. 11

19 The Cochin Carnival, which is celebrated in Cochin during the Christmas and New Year is also a tradition started by the Portuguese. Though the Westernisation of India was initiated in Kerala, and evolved in Goa, it did not cross the boundaries of those West Indian regions to any noteworthy degree. 2.6 How the Portuguese power deteriorated By 1663, the Portuguese flag ceased to fly in Kerala. The failure of the Portuguese to establish an enduring dominion in India with Kerala as its base was inevitable. Their early successes on the Kerala coast were facilitated by the naval supremacy they enjoyed in the Indian waters. The Portuguese could retain their hold on the local powers only so long as other European powers like the Dutch and the English were absent from the scene. The Portuguese failed to establish an efficient system of government in the territories which came under their sway. Though some of the earlier Portuguese administrators who came to Kerala were men of ability and character, there was decline in the calibre of the officers who came in the later periods. Most of them were greedy, corrupt and unequal to the task of administration. The Portuguese government in Kerala lacked inherent military strength. Their fortresses were ill equipped and ill garrisoned. The Portuguese soldiers though brave and fearless, were an undisciplined lot and had hardly any military experience. The Portuguese government did not pay cash salaries to their civil or military officers. Consequently corruption was perfected. Interested only in private gain, the Portuguese officers resorted to private trade and other questionable practices to enrich themselves. The religious policy of the Portuguese was not based on liberal and enlightened principles. They were extremely fanatical and narrow-minded in their dealings with all religious communities including St. Thomas Christians. Each Portuguese fort was an exclusive colony of Portuguese citizens and natives who became converts to Christianity. Non Christians who refused to embrace Christianity to give their women folk in marriage to Portuguese soldiers were expelled from within the fort areas. 12

20 With the absorption of Portugal by Spain under Philip II (1580), the personal interest which the king of Portugal had taken in the progress of the Portuguese possessions in India vanished. The Portuguese administration in India lost almost all contacts with the home government and had to grope in the dark for instructions and guidance in their work. Under such circumstances, the failure of the Portuguese in Kerala was a foregone conclusion. How the Dutch ousted the Portuguese: The Dutch were the first Protestant nation of Europe to establish trade contacts with Kerala challenging the Portuguese trade monopoly. In 1604, the Dutch expedition led by Admiral Steven Van Der Hagen reached Calicut. The Zamorin of Calicut gave them a warm welcome. In the same year, The Zamorins and the Dutch entered into a treaty. The treaty provided a mutual alliance between the Dutch and the Zamorins for the purpose of expelling the Portuguese from the Indian soil. Thus, in 1663, the Dutch overthrew the Portuguese from Cochin and became the second European power to rule Cochin. 13

21 CHAPTER 3 RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODOLOGY A qualitative and visual research method was followed to facilitate the study being undertaken. Since there was no problem being identified for which a solution was to be found or any hypothesis being tested, the result of the research was not known in advance. The research started in the traditional method, starting with the secondary research. Initially college library was visited wherein some relevant information could be found. Further researches where done online. Upon reaching Cochin, The Ernakulum Public Library was visited from where a considerable amount of information could be found on the history of Cochin. Visits to the Indo-Portuguese museum in Fort Cochin provided first glances of actual objects of the Portuguese period and several other objects which had Portuguese connection. The curator passed information that he knew about the Portuguese. The time period allotted for secondary research was extensively used collecting maximum information possible through effective library research and online research. Secondary research culminated with a Review of Literature on the Subject studied. Soon after the secondary research work, Primary Research commenced. Primary research was extensively on the lines of field study wherein data was collected through: Interviews Observation Visual research through photography Secondary research was required to be carried out with primary research as information had to be collected in order to authenticate the primary data collected. As the research progressed, Architecture started gaining more importance. Thus a considerable time was taken out to visit various monuments which had Portuguese connection. For each monument, two steps were followed: Interviewing the curator/caretaker/priest (in case of churches) 14

22 Taking Photographs of the monuments (only of those which were to be taken for further analysis and study) SHEDULE TIME FRAME STAGE January 7 - February 18th 2013 Secondary Research February 19 March 4 Primary Research 1st Session March 5 March 6 Mid jury March 7 April 4 Primary Research 2nd Session April 5 April 21 Data Analysis and Documentation 15

23 CHAPTER 4 FIELD STUDY AND FINDINGS 4.1 Field Study After the secondary research, a plan was made on what areas to be searched for. The field study for primary research was conducted adhering to this plan. The first place to visit was the Indo-Portuguese Museum in fort Cochin. The museum had several exhibits, few dating back to the Portuguese period and others that were connected with the Portuguese, but from later periods. Then, interviews were conducted with few members of the Luso Indian community to understand their lifestyle, custom etc so as to find out what were if there was anything very specific of their community that was being followed by the natives. Department of Malayalam, Maharajas College, Ernakulum was visited to obtain a book which would give information regarding influence of the Portuguese in language as the only book having such documentation was out of print. For collecting information regarding cuisine, a detailed interview was conducted with Mr Benny Joseph, head chef, Oceanus, Fort Cochin who is an expert in IndoPortuguese cuisine. Information on Chavittunatakam was obtained by interviewing few artists, a director and the secretary of the Kerala Chavittunataka Samithy. Primary research on architecture consumed majority of the time allotted for primary research. For studying architecture, 5 monuments and 14 churches were selected that were to be visited. First a reccé was conducted in order to understand what should be observed and noted while visiting the churches. Photographs were taken and later analysed to understand what was needed and what was not. Detailed plans were made for each day visits. Upon reaching the churches, first the head priest was met with and asked on about the history and details about the particular church. Each one of them was kind enough to do the same. Materials if any that could be collected were done. Then photographs of the churches were taken. 16

24 4.2 Findings ARCHITECTURE The cultural heritage of any country is seen best exposed in its architectural monuments. The ways in which the buildings are designed, constructed and decorated speak not only of the technical and artistic capabilities of the craftsmen, but also of the aspirations and visions of the preceptors for whom the construction is only a medium for thematic expression. In a place like Cochin, its architectural monuments speak of the history of a bygone era. In olden days, precisely talking, 5 centuries ago, structures were limited to wooden palaces (nalukettu) of the Rulers and Nobles and mud and thatched roof houses of the others. Some temples were carved in stones. Other than these there were no notable gigantic or otherwise structures. It was after the Portuguese rule started that the landscape of Cochin changed drastically with forts, churches and bungalow like palaces came up in bricks and mortar Forts A. Fort Emmanuel The Zamorin of Calicut, irritated by the alliance between the Raja of Cochin, in 1503, despatched a fleet from Calicut to crush the raja in the absence of the Portuguese. The Raja was defeated and took refuge in an island. On September 2, 1503 Alfonso Albuquerque with a fleet of 12 ships arrived in Cochin to rescue the Raja. As an expression of his gratitude to the Portuguese for their timely aid, the Raja allowed them to build a large fort at Cochin which was named Fort Emmanuel. The fort was wooden initially, built with coconut trunk. Plate1: Last standing bastion of the fort Emmanuel Presently, only a bastion and some part of the Fort wall remains. 17

25 Plate2: Remains of the Gunnery of the Fort B. Pallipuram Fort Plate3: Pallipuram Fort Courtesy: Nirmal Harindran This is the first ever European fort to be erected on Indian soil. It was built by the Portuguese in 1503and is still standing Palaces and Bungalows A. The Mattancherry Palace Plate4: The Mattancherry palace 18

26 In 1555, the Portuguese constructed the Mattancherry Palace as a gift to the Raja of Cochin. It was the first ever palace to be built in stone and tiled roof. The palace possesses one of the finest groups of traditional mural paintings of Kerala. The palace still survives under the misleading name The Dutch Palace, as named by the Dutch after they established their rule, ousting the Portuguese. B. Bastion Bungalow Plate5: Outer view of the Bungalow. Remains of the fort wall can be seen. Bastion Bungalow is a part of the Fort Emmanuel built by the Portuguese. This was the first residence type building to be built by the Portuguese. The original fort wall surrounding it still stands. The Dutch named it the Stromburgh Bastion and the British during their rule renamed it as the Bastion Bungalow it was made the official residence of the District Sub Collector. It is now been declared as a protected monument by the State Archaeological Survey and will be converted into a heritage museum. Plate6: Portuguese style roofing 19

27 Church Architecture The Portuguese were the first Europeans to built churches in Cochin, St. Francis Assisi church being the first. This church is still standing and is iconic of Fort Cochin and attracts thousands of travellers around the world. Plate7: St Francis Xavier Church, Fort Cochin The architectural style is referred as Portuguese style. A Visual exploration was done to find the exact style. First churches in Goa were explored and found that Bom Jesus Church, Goa had a similar façade. Plate8: Bom Jesus Church, Goa A mention about the church as Baroque in style was found. Thus a visual study was done on Baroque churches around the world and Portuguese baroque style monuments/furniture around the world and a comparative study done. 20

28 Plate9: St Francis Assisi Church, Ouro Petro Brazil Source: Plate10: Catedral san cristobal, Havana, Cuba Source: Plate11: Entrance, University of Coimbra, Portugal Source: 21

29 Plate12: St Dominic s Church, Macau,China Source: Plate13: St.Augustine church, Paoay, Philippines Source: Plate14: An old Portuguese Baroque Church, Paraty, Brazil Source: 22

30 Plate15: Christ Church, Malacca Source: Plate16: Baroque buildings, Krumlov Town Square, Czech Republic Source: Plate17: 19th Century Portuguese Baroque Style Chairs Source: 23

31 It was in Malabar or Kerala that European architecture first took hold, at the beginning of the 16th century. St Francis church was built in early 16th century. With the visual research done and more secondary research, it can be concluded that it is Neo Roman in its style having influences from Manueline Gothic style, Portuguese renaissance style and Portuguese Baroque style. Before the advent of European architecture, local variants of the Chalukya and Dravida styles were prevalent in the region. The most important of Portuguese contribution in church building is the façade and the retable (a screen behind the Altar). These churches were built incorporating some attributes of Kerala architectural style, the main aspect being the hallway and the Altar with respect to the hallway and the sanctum sanctorum of a temple. Roofing is gabled with terracotta tiling to adjust with the climatic conditions of the place. The Portuguese churches found in Cochin are Luso Indian with reference to the Portuguese influence and Malabari in terms of Neo Roman styles. A descriptive analysis of St. Francis Assisi Church, Fort Cochin, to understand the features of this style: A. Plan The plan is of a simple rectangular one with two square extensions on one side for stairs. B. Structure The structure is made of laterite stone plastered with lime and certain vegetable juices. The exterior is also plastered with lime to give a smooth finishing look. C. Exterior I. Façade Plate18: Façade and side view, St Francis Xavier church, Fort Cochin 24

32 Facade is one of the greatest contributions of the Portuguese in Church architecture. The otherwise simple rectangular building with gabled roof of tiles in the Kerala style looks imposing with this façade. This is called the Malabari façade as this facade is found only in the Malabar area, which is the western strip of Kerala. The façade is divided into 4 levels by entablatures running horizontally across the façade. Portal Plate19: Arched portal Roman arched portal flanked by columns on both sides and semi circular reliefs along the arch. Have heavy wooden double doors and latticed glass panel for the arch. Columns Plate20: four columns on the lower level 25

33 The lower level of the façade has four columns dividing the façade in five parts horizontally. The columns rest on a pedestal has an Indian-Tuscan order capital and entablatures running along the top, across the façade. Pilasters Plate21: ornamental columns decked on top of columns Pilasters are columns on the façade which are merely ornamental in nature. They are placed vertical on top of the columns on the lower level. These are built on the second and third levels of the façade, with second level having number of pilasters as equal to the number of columns on the lower level and the third level having only two pilasters. Entablatures Plate22: Entablatures are mouldings lying horizontally across the façade 26

34 Entablatures are those structures consisting of mouldings and bands running horizontally across the façade over the capitals of the columns/pilasters. Windows Plate23: Roman arched windows The windows are Roman arched simple windows made in white cedar. Like the doors, they also double paned and Pinnacles Plate24: Gothic Manueline pinnacle The pinnacle is an ornamental structure which looks like a small spire which is placed on the two ends of the façade from where the curves begin. It is of Gothic-Manueline style. 27

35 Clock Plate25: clock The church has a clock on its third level. This is the only church amongst the studied which had a clock on its façade. Bell turret Plate26: bell turret It is a small tower on top of the façade for the bell. There is no separated bell tower. 28

36 II. Roof Plate27: gabled roof with terracotta tiles The roof is of Kerala architectural style. It is gabled to in order to adapt with the heavy rainfall in Kerala. The Portuguese were the first community who were allowed to use terracotta tiles by the Rajas. III. Buttress Plate28: Buttress 29

37 It is a structure built against the walls of the monument in order to support it from any external forces coming from sideways. They are huge and is of the same height as the church s ceilings. The buttress of St Xavier is compact. There are three buttresses each on both sides. D. Interior Interior consists of a hallway leading to the Altar. The main features are: Plate29: A view of the interior from the entrance, towards the altar I. Column Plate30: columns supporting the balcony St Francis church has an entrance hall before the hallway. Six columns support the wooden ceiling here, which is a balcony. (Plate62) 30

38 II. Ceiling of the Entrance Hall Plate31: Teakwood ceiling in the entrance III. Altar/Retable Plate32: A view of the altar. The retables were removed from the Church by the Dutch. 31

39 Plate33: The original retable, exhibited at the Indo Portuguese Museum IV. Ceiling Plate34: Ceiling The ceiling is very high to reduce heat inside and resembles a Kettuvallam or big canoe turned upside down. Here it is inlayed with asbestos sheet. 32

40 V. Flooring Plate35: the flooring is done using unpolished granite VI. Pulpit Plate36: Pulpit The pulpit is a small raised platform ornately carved in wood. The one present in the church is of Gothic Manueline style. VII. Balcony Plate37: A view of the balcony from the altar 33

41 Plate38: flooring of the balcony done in teakwood VIII. Stained glass Plate39: Stained glass, introduced by the Portuguese. IX. Stairway Plate40: Stairway on the side, enclosed within. 34

42 E. Comparative Study: 10 Churches in Cochin were identified having the Malabari façade. Keeping the first church i.e., St Francis Assisi Church, certain notable features of the churches have been identified and compared to show the variations in style. I. Façade Several variations of the Malabari façade can be seen in the following churches. Plate41.A: Church of Our Lady of Hope, Vypeen This façade s prominent distinguishable feature is the portal. It has a gothic portal, one among the only three extant in India. Plate41.B: Gothic Portal of Church of Our Lady of Life, Mattancherry. 35

43 Plate42: St Sebastian Church, Chellanam St. Sebastian Church, Chellanam has a double façade unlike any other church in Cochin. Plate43: St Lawrence Church, Edakochi St. Lawrence Church in Edacohin is the only church with a bell tower attached to its façade. 36

44 Plate44: St Louis Church, Mundamvely St. Louis Church has additional pilasters than the other churches, thus having a wider façade. Plate45: St George Church Puthenpalli Puthenpalli s façade has fanlike quadrant alette with radiating striations on the top level sides, distinguishing it from others. 37

45 II. Retable Malabari interiors are architecturally unremarkable. Their entire effect id depended on the retables. The retable is a screen erected behind the Altar. These are mostly ornately carved in wood and hand painted. There will be a main retable behind the Altar and two smaller retables on either side of the Altar. (Refer plate58). Plate46: Retable of the first church now erected at The Church of Our Lady of Hope, Vypeen Plate47: Baroque style retable of St George Church, Pazhangad, Kumbalangi 38

46 Plate48: A wooden ornately carved and hand painted retable at St. Louis Church, Mundamvely Plate49: Retable at St George Puthenpalli, Varapuzha The style is Gothic Manueline. 39

47 III. Pulpit Refer Plate61for St Francis Church s Pulpit. Plate50: An ornately carved Pulpit belonging to Church of Our Lady of Hope, Vypeen. The Pulpit is built in teak wood and has reliefs of various apostles. Plate51: A simple pulpit made in wood at the St George Puthenpalli. It is raised on a higher level and is accessible from a first floor veranda on the side. 40

48 IV. Ceiling Plate52: Ceiling of St. Francis Assisi Church, Fort Cochin The ceiling is made of asbestos, supported by wooden structure. Plate53: Ceiling of Church of Our Lady of Hope, Vypeen The ceiling is of terracotta tiles. 41

49 Plate54: Ceiling of St George Puthenpalli This church has a well maintained teak wood ceiling. Plate55: Ceiling of St George Church, Pazhangad, Kumbalanghi This was the only church having a domed ceiling. The ceiling is made of wood. 42

50 V. Buttress Plate56: buttress of St Francis Assisi Church, Fort Cochin. Plate 57: Buttress of St Louis Church, Mundamvely. 43

51 4.2.2 FURNITURE Portuguese influence is found in furniture, mainly in Chair. The chairs are made of teakwood. The use of Rattan for seating is a feature of these chairs. There are certain motifs used in church retables like corn, wine, floral patterns like acanthus flower etc. Plate58: Chair accompanying Confession Chamber of Church of Our Lady of Hope, Vypeen Plate59: Chair made in teakwood with seating and backing made of rattan. 44

52 Plate60: Chair made in teakwood with leather seating. It exudes Portuguese Baroque features. 45

53 4.2.3 CHINESE NETS Figure1: Chinese Net, Fort Cochin Source: Chinese nets are large fishing nets installed on the land; lying into the water body used in a specific type of fishing. Chinese nets were regarded to have been installed by Chinese traders. But new researches show that it was actually introduced by the Portuguese settlers of Cochin from Macau. The nets are actually Chinese in origin, but were of very smaller size. It was the Portuguese who improvised it using locally available wood and carpentry skills to monopolise upon the fishing activities in the coast. The names of the different parts of these Chinese nets used even today are in Portuguese language, which is a definite indication of its Portuguese Origin. The net used for catching the fish is called rede, its edge is borda, the arms of wooden parts which hold the extensive net together is brasao, while the flexible ring on the top on which the entire brasao moves is argola. In addition there are Corda and Pedra for balancing the movement of the net. There is Caluada on which the fishermen move up and down and the posts which support the entire structure from the river bottom are called Odora. Till date, the Latin Catholic community operates the nets. 46

54 4.2.4 LANGUAGE There are about 200 words in Malayalam that if of Portuguese Origin. [8] MALAYALAM WORD MEANING Aaya Alamara Altara Annanas Asenthi Borba Kappithan Chaya Chavi chaak Ishthiri Iskool Jannala Kalasam Kappela Kappiri Karoopp Kasera Kashuvandi Kadalas Kadreenja Kopa Koventha Kumbari Kurish Kushini Kuneel Lelam Mesha Mesthiri Osthi Para Pathiri Padreenjappan Padreenjamma Pena Pera Pikkas Pilas Ranthal Rathal Rentha Saathan Savala Semitheri Thambak Thira Nurse Cupboard Altar Pineapple Assistant priest in parish Oven/furnace Captain Tea Key Sack Iron box School Window Shorts/trousers Chapel African grouper(a fish) Chair Chshewnut Paper Stool Cup/dish Convent Godparents Cross Kitchen Funnel Auction Table Foreman Sacramental bread Crowbar Priest Godfather Godmother Pen Guava Pick axe Godchild Lamp/lantern A pound Lace work Satan Onion Cemetery Tobacco Gun shot 47 PORTUGUESE WORD Aia Armario Altar Ananaz Assistente Forno Capitano Cha Chave Saco Isthiriar Escola Janela Calcao Capela Caffre Garoupa Cadeira Caju Cartas Cadeirinja Copo Cinvento Compadre Cruz Cozinha Funil Leilo Mesa Mesthre Hostia Barra Padre Padrinho Madrinho Pena Pera Picao Afilhado Lantern Aratel Renda Satan cebola Cemiterio Tobacco Tiro

55 Thiruva Toppi Thoovala Vatha Varantha Veeppa Wine Vinagiri Vikari Customs duty Hat Towel Goose Open porch Barrel Vinho Vinegar Vicar 48 Tarifa Topo Toalha Pata Veranda Pipa Vigari Vinagere Vigario

56 4.2.5 CUISINE The cuisine of a land reflects aplenty the culture of that place. Most places have certain food that is truly iconic to that place. Considering Cochin, there are many such recipes which is said to be originated within. Originate it did, for many the Catalyst being the Foreigners that ruled the Port city. Cochin owes to the Portuguese its very many culinary delicacies. Following are few of the delicacies that have Portuguese connection. 1. Came de Vinha d Alhos /Vindaloo Plate61: Came de Vinha d Alhos Source: Vindaloo is derived from the Portuguese dish called Came de Vinha d Alhos. Plate62: Chicken Vindaloo Plate63: Pork Vindaloo Source: 49

57 It is a dish prepared with meat, mostly pork and chicken, marinating the meat in wine or vinegar and using ample amount of mustard paste while cooking. 1. Sardinhus Assados/Chaala nirachathu Plate64: Sardinhus Assados Source: It is a Portuguese delicacy prepared using sardines. It is basically grilled sardine consumed with vegetables sautéed in olive oil. This is a main dish of the Portuguese descendants of the Anglo Indian community in Cochin. It is called the same by the community. It is prepared with a slight variation in Cochin. The process constitutes cleaning the fish and filling in with masala and tomato and onion paste and then grilling in coal. 2. Stone soup/mutton Soup It is a soup prepared with mutton. Mostly only mutton bones are taken with very less flesh. Usually only pepper, salt and onion are used with it, and occasionally carrot and potato are used. The Portuguese counterpart has more vegetables and flavours in it. It is prepared widely in Cochin and is believed to have medicinal properties. 50

58 Plate65: Mutton Soup Source: 3. Peixe Caldeirad /Fish (/Prawn) Thilappichathu Plate66: Peixe Caldeirad of Portugal Source: Portuguese Fish stew. The way of preparation of this dish is very similar. It is mainly a sea food dish, prepared mostly with fish or prawns. First garlic and onion is sautéed then tomato and capsicum (the Portuguese version) mixed with it and masala put. Then coconut milk is added for gravy and fish being added a while later and kept for boiling. 51

59 Plate67: Kerala Fish Curry Source: Self clicked 5. Puttu (Rice/Wheat cake) Plate68: Puttu (Rice Cake) Courtesy: Mrs Vidya Arun Puttu can be considered as the most iconic of Kerala cuisine. It is said that it was actually made by the Portuguese first. The Portuguese had large number of workers under them, including their people, Africans and the natives. So to feed them, they used to bake wheat flour in a large steamer and made into small bits and serve them to the workers. Examining closely, it can be concluded that the puttu that is being made now is a transition of this. 52

60 4. Appam and Chicken Stew Plate69: Appam and Chicken Stew Courtesy: Mrs Vidya Arun Appam is a type of Pancake, which is a Portuguese speciality, through whom it came to Cochin and to Kerala. Chicken stew is also a Portuguese contribution. But the present style of making it has a British influence too. 7. Irachi pidi Plate70: Irachi pidi Courtesy: Mrs Vidya Arun 53

61 It is a breakfast item prepared mostly in Christian homes. Rice paste is moulded in spherical or cylindrical form, baked and had with chicken curry and gravy. 8. Stuffed squid Plate71: Portuguese Stuffed Squid Source: Stuffed squid is a famous seafood delicacy. Squid is cleaned and vegetables and masala stuffed inside and fried or put in coconut milk gravy. This is also a Portuguese contribution. 10. Portuguese Onion Salad Plate72: Portuguese Onion and Tomato salad Source: 54

62 The basic Onion Tomato salad accompanying beef roast or fried chicken is actually of Portuguese origin. Introduced in Kerala, it is now made in each and every household in the country in different versions. 11. Unniyappam (Malasadas) Plate73: Malasadas Source: Plate74: Uniappam Courtesy: Mrs Vidya Arun 55

63 It would be difficult to believe that Uniappam, a delicious sweet fried snack made with rice paste, jaggeryy and coconut crumbs is actually of Portuguese origin.the Portuguese version is called Malasadas. They are deep fried in a large pan whereas uniappam has a special vessel for frying called uniappa chatty. And they do not use coconut and instead of jaggerry they use sugar syrup. But the taste is strikingly similar. 12. Achappam (Rose cookies) Plate75: Achappam Courtesy: Mrs Vidya Arun The following reached Cochin and India through the Portuguese: 1. Cashew Nut 2. Chilli 3. Tomato 56

64 4. Tapioca 5. Pineapple 6. Mint 6. Papaya 7. Tobacco 8. Custard Apple 9. Guava 57

65 4.2.6 MUSIC Plate76: Fiddle Plate77: Tambor Source: The Portuguese introduced to Cochin, for the first time in all of the lands of the nonwestern world, western music. It was then that Cochin first learned about a new music texture called harmony. Along with this the Portuguese also introduced two very significant musical instruments, the fiddle and the tambor. A fiddle can be any bowed string musical instrument. After its introduction, it took shape of the violin. Violin in present times is an inevitable component of Carnatic music. Tambor is a drum. In olden days funeral processions of the Latin Catholic communities were accompanied by a band of these drums. That custom is long gone, but the drum still persists, in the society in its advanced forms. 58

66 4.2.7 CHAVITTUNATAKAM They came in ships, sacks of goods in one hand and the Bible in the other Ajithkumar Gothuruth Plate78: A still from a Chavittunatakam In addition to dominating the seas and monopolising trade, the Portuguese rulers were keen to propagate Christianity wherever they went. The then Pontiffs even issued a special power to appoint bishops in conquered lands by way of Padroado. Moreover, all trade ships used to leave Portuguese shores with Christian missionaries on board, to ensure propagation of their religion in new found lands. Prominent amongst them were members of Jesuit Mission, founded by Ignatius Layola to overcome the rumbles of religious renewal unleashed in Europe as a result of Martin Luther s Protestant revolution, by igniting soul and spirit of Christianity. Christianity was already advent in Kerala when the Portuguese came. Jesuit Missionaries in Kerala were greeted by a Christian society rich in Marthoma Heritage. There were also Christians from Syria, Babylonia, Anthyokya etc. The Marthoma 59

67 Christians were high caste Hindu converts who believed they were converted directly by St Thomas the Apostle. Privileges like baptism were reserved only to those belonging to the upper caste, like Brahmins and Nairs. These Christians were very rich and still practiced their Hindu customs. The Portuguese were of the Latin rite and they found it very difficult to convert these Christians. Thus they moved to the coastal regions. St Francis Xavier had converted masses of people living in coastal areas. These people were fishermen who were uneducated. He converted them, but these coastal folk could not read or understand the Bible, the understanding of which was very important for the Christians. The Jesuits spoke Portuguese and the natives Malayalam, thus there was a barrier of communication. Moreover, the coastal folk were not educated. Thus it was not possible for them to understand the Bible. Therefore, in order to spread Christianity and educate people about Bible, the Portuguese decided to make a drama to serve the purpose. Thus starts the evolution of Chavittunatakam. As historical records testify, it withstood the test of time and succeeded in meeting the goals set by its founders. Thus Chavittunatakam is indeed a contribution of from the Portuguese Missionaries to the Kerala society. It is said that Chinnthambi Annavi was the creater of Chavittu Natakam. He is known as the father of Chavittunatakam. But there are no historic records related to this person. His birth, place where he belonged to, where he spent his life, his death, nothing has any proper evidence. He develops from certain myths that have been passed on from generations. He could have been a Tamil missionary or a Portuguese missionary. During those times, Portuguese missionaries, for getting accepted by the natives, used to change their name, imbibe in the customs of the land and live like a commoner. Most of the believers in those times experienced the Holy Bible through Chavittunatakam, as the privilege of reading a book was reserved to select few. Style: 60

68 Chavittunatakam is a Dance Drama borrowed heavily from the then prevalent dance forms, songs, martial arts, music etc of the native land. All these were blended into a new and complex art form, with prominence to beats and emotions. Chavittunatakam has borrowed several steps from Kalaripayattu, the traditional martial art of Kerala. All these yielded the desired results as the new art form named generated widespread interest among Latin Catholics residing in coastal regions. All over the world, visual art forms have found patronage in religious ceremonies and it can be said without doubt that Chavittunatakam was no exception.. The influence of Kalaripayattu differentiates it from the Greek Dance Dramas prevalent in Europe during that time. Context These plays were made to reach out to the common man about belief in Christ and the Bible. For effectively spreading Christianity, for the drama, they chose either Biblical stories or stories that were set outside India which had a very strong religious importance. Brijeetha was first ever drama to be scripted. Karalsman was the second to be scripted and is the most famous. Language: It was a time when Malayalam was slowly being developed into an Independent language. Malayalam was heavily laced with Tamil during those times. Thus the colloquial Malayalam they spoke had strong Tamil influence. Chavittunatakam being a dance drama, thus has both dialogues and songs in it. These dialogues and lyrics for the songs were written in that Malayalam. Even now Chavittunatakam is performed in the same language. Music: Music is composed in the Dravidian style with Tamil lyrics. Costume: The main attraction of this drama is the costumes that the artists wear. The costumes were derived from European Operas. The exact replicas of what Kings and noble 61

69 Plate79: The artists wear very colourful medieval costumes People used to wear were worn for the Drama. Still the artists wear costumes of that medieval period while performing. Initially footwear used to be made of areca nut palm, cut out and tied around the foot. Now shoes are worn on which cloth strips matching with the costume are attached. Stage Another significant feature of it was that it was played on stage. During those times performances of any kind used to be on open grounds, with audience sitting around the artists performing. Then, only in Europe did they have performances on stages. By analysing the history of drama in Kerala, it can be concluded that it, Chavittunatakam was the ever performance on a stage. Thus it can be concluded that it was the Portuguese who brought the idea of stage to India, via Cochin. The Performance: In olden days, each performance used to be for several days. The Karalsman used to be performed over a period of 5 days. Nowadays, the same story is performed under few hours. While in olden days it was only restricted to Biblical stories, in present times social cases are addressed and very recently, a Hindu mythological story has also been scripted. 62