Rama Varma Union Club and its amazing growth seeing 3 Centuries
Rama Varma Union Club a Club founded in 1881 has a chequered History that could be traced to the very founding of modern Kottayam. Both were founded by the same person, Thanjavoor Rama Rayar the Diwan Peshkar of Northern Division of Travancore State. So it will be interesting to go back in History to know how Kottayam was when it was founded. Present Kottayam Town 140 years back was a sleepy village with wild growth of brambles and thorny plants. It also had hard laterite boulders projecting and spreading allover. Human habitation was only at Thazhathangady region which was connected to other parts of the state by Meenachil River. At Thazhathangady Talikota Hill was the last stronghold of Rajahs of Thekkumcore till 1749 when Venad King Veera Marthanda Varma took over the Kingdom after a fierce battle at Talikota. Ramayyan Dalavai and De Lennoy the Dutch Captain led the Venad Army and they demolished the palace, fort and battlements and left it a pile of ruins. De Lennoy and his Dutch Army were defeated at Battle of Kolachel by Marthanda Varma and seeing his military prowess, was appointed to lead Travancore Army. Talikotta had the Palace, Thaliyil Temple and residential areas with a fortress around extending from River Meenachil to Arathootty Bridge. The area inside the fort was called “Kottayakam” which later got shortened to Kottayam. The Thekkumcore and Vadakkumcore Rajas were chieftains under the Chera Kings who were defeated by Raja Raja Chola in 12th Century A D. After chola king left the chieftains carved out their own domains and Thekkumcore and Vadakkumcore were holding the area from Murinjapuzha down to Kaipattoor under their domain. Later they separated and the Vadakkumcore had the northern area ruled from Kaduthuruthy and the Southern area ruled by Thekkumcore from Vennimala and Manikandapuram ( modern Vakathanam). Later the Headquarters was shifted to Thazhathangady with the intention of directly handling the pepper trade with the Portuguese. Thazhathangady was the ideal spot to transport pepper - laden water crafts to ports of Purakkad (Chertallay), Kochi and Kodungalloor.
In 1749 when Marthanda Varma conquered Thekkumcore and driven away the Raja, Kottayam once again fell into sleepy existence for long. Till 1818 when Benjamin Bailey, Henry Baker and Joseph Fenn had founded the Grammar School and Started English Education nothing much happened. In 1855 when Venad created Northern Division extending from Paravoor till Kayamkulam with its Headquarters at Shertallay, Thazhathanady (Kottayam) became a Taluk Headquarters. Then Fortune started smiling on Kottayam and in 1880 Tanjavoor Rama Rayar was sent as Diwan Peshkar of Northern Division to Shertallay. On an Inspection tour of Taluk Head
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Quarters at Kottayam he somehow was caught in a turbulent storm while crossing Vembanad lake. Braving the Thunderstorm and high rise waves of Vembanad lake he reached Vyaskarakunnu Palace. Mortally afraid to make such hazardous crossings in bad weather he took decision to shift his Headquarters to Kottayam. But Thazhathangady was no place for a Headquarters for a visionary planner like Rama Rao. He located a place near Vyaskara Hills, a wild area with laterite boulders and brambles and no habitation what so ever. He seemed to wield a magical wand and in few months, the wild growth was cut away and the boulders blasted to form a level terrain from Thirunakkara Temple to the present Collectorate area. Present Thirunakkara Maidan area, where slaves were auctioned till the Abolition of slavery, was cordoned off with cast iron railings from Birmingham. Market, District Hospital, Peshkar Office, Police Station and Jail, Courts etc were added in 3 years. Cardamom Hill Road (present K K Road) was cut for travel to High ranges. Puthen thodu was dug to have closer access to Vembanad Lake for onward Journey to Alleppey. Vaikom Thodu was dug for access to Northern Regions. A Boat race was started for the first time in the world at Thazhathangady river for Boats of same size rowing in spine-chilling Competition. Chundan, Irittukuthy, (used by Robbers), Veppu(with cooking facilities and accompanying fighters on Chundan) were paired for the race in each class.
Rama Rayar being an erudite Maharashtara Brahminin in the line of Shivaji decided to provide all modern amenities to the citizen who started occupying earmarked residential areas in the new township. He knew a healthy body and healthy mind will make a proper citizen. Also since he happened to be a good Tennis Player, started a club in Kottayam after the fashionable European Clubs, and named it Union Club. He allotted land for the club in a prominent locality near the Peshkar Office. He frequented the club for his Tennis and also for having relaxation after grueling administrative functions in the vast Revenue Division extending almost 1/3 of Travancore state. Great camaraderie was established with other high officials and leading citizens. Every evening by hearing the tingling of bells from the Carriage drawn by horses at high speed, with Peshkar on his way for his Tennis, the citizens around could time the hour of the evening. This could be done again when he returns. So meticulous were things then. In 1882 in his second year he thought of providing healthy minds to the citizens and purchased 7 cents of land at the very centre of the Town from Thannickal family. There he started the Kottayam Reading Room and became its first President. The original name Kottayam Reading Room was changed as Kottayam Public Library later as Union Club later became Rama Varma Union Club.
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As the Head of the Revenue Division Rama Rayar alloted a prime place for the club and enlisted top officials, Judges and elite of Society as members. The objects of the club were to foster and develop the social interaction and espirit de corps among the members of the club.Thus within two years of his regime as Diwan Peshkar he could accomplish the platonic ideals of a Healthy Body and mind for the Citizen by providing open air exercises, indoor games and facilities for interaction and intellectual recreation for citizens of the new township he founded. Amazing achievements!
After our illustrious founder T RamaRayar gave a brilliant start the club prospered under the patronage of his successors including later Diwan Peshkars till a fire destroyed the club building in 1901. Then the Maharaja of Travancore Srimoolam Tirunal Rama Varma was pleased to make a Royal Grant for constructing the new club building and the foundation stone was laid on 31st June 1902 by Sri Krishna Swami Rao, Dewan of Travancore. In gratetful acknowledgement of the Royal patronage the club was renamed Rama Varma Union Club. It may be noted that during this period it became a fashion to name the clubs after the Maharaja. Like our club, Kollam Rama Varma Club , Rama Varma District Club Alappuzha, Rama Varma Club North Paravoor were named after Srimoolam Thirunal Rama Varma. But Rama Varma Club Ernakulam was named after Rama Varma of Kochi. Again Sri Moolam Club Trivandrum was founded by our Founder-President T Rama Rayar immediately after he was transferred from Kottayam and elevated as Diwan of Travancore in 1987. That also was founded as a tribute to Sri Moolam Tirunal Rama Varma . Trivandrum Club then was an Exclusive British Club and Sreemoolam Club thus offered membership for our people.
Our club founded in one century growing through another and scaling to meteoric heights in the 3rd are great goings by any reckoning. A club which saw 3 centuries ! The club has grown by leaps and bounds under the dynamic leadership of the leading lights of Society. Ministers, Eminent Lawyers, Leading Doctors, Professors, Municipal Chairmen, Planters, Land Lords and Public men of great repute could give the Club great recognition in different parts of the country. Our affiliation with the leading clubs of India and abroad vouch for this phenomenal advantage. The contributions and sacrifices of these great men can only be chronicled in Letters of Gold.
During the course of its chequered history of 141 years the club could expand its activities in all spheres of Public interest. The Tennis Courts, Indoor Shuttle Court, Billards parlour, the Guest House and picturesque Water Sports Complex with
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staying facilities and food. The water Sports Complex right on the banks of Vembanad Lake is a priceless acquisition especially when this lake is described as “ a gleaming tear drop on the brow of eternity”. All these provide prime facilities that make members of affliated clubs from far and wide converge to this great club.
It will not be out of place to mention the great leaderships provided by past functionaries. J Kurian Kalarickal did great service by Renovation of the Club building, Construction of Shuttle Court Complex and the acquisition of Vembanad property. The Guest House in two floors was constructed with profits made during the tenure of three past Secretaries(1970 to 1976) Abraham Itticheria Chackalayil, Abraham Itty Padinjarekkara and Bonny Jacob Kalarickal. Together they had laid the foundation stone and completed construction in six months. The Guest House a necessity to get reciprocal affliation of major clubs could benefit the club in a big way. But till 2003 we used to huddle together on the Southern Veranda of the Club building for our A G M and other functions. This great constraint could be eliminated by 2004 with the construction of the big Amenity Centre, which could provide a big Hall for functions and parties, a new Billiards Parlour, fitness centre etc. This was accomplished during the Presidency of Abraham Itticheria 2002-2004. Later the upper floor also could be put to use with a temporary roof and used for various needs of the Club. The recent initiative taken by S Muralidharan, Quilon Radio Service for providing a Roof for a Tennis Court is a Commendable effort to make it available during rain or shine throughout the year. The present Directors led by new President Scaria Sebastian and Secretary P C Mathew combine as a dynamic team to make the club scale greater heights of glory.
C. Abraham Itticheria, Chackalayil