Historic Visit of Jewish Delegation
to Tripunithura Kalikkotta Palace

Tripunithura, 23 February 2005. B'nai B'rith International is a Jewish organization based in Washington, DC, doing great work on human rights issues in addition to their Semitic interests. A delegation representing this organization recently visited India. One of their most important destinations in India was in Kerala, particularly Cochin.

After careful thought and consideration of the historical facts, B'nai B'rith decided to recognize and honor the ancestors of the Cochin Royal Family with a "Humanitarian Award". The Jewish delegation presented this award to the Valiya Thampuran, Shri Ravi Varma Kochaniyan Thampuran during a commemorative function held at Kalikkotta Palace on February 23, 2005.

A 7-member team, headed by Kenneth Robbins, was in touch with the royal family for the past three years. The function at Kalikkotta hosted by the Cochin Royal Family Historical Society commenced at 4 P.M. The delegation, accompanied by the members of the Jewish community in Cochin and vicinity, was accorded a warm and colorful welcome. The visitors spent some time with the dignitaries and members of the Cochin Family present for the occasion and at least symbolically revived their ties with the people of Cochin.

According to Robbins, the rajas of Cochin befriended, protected and favored the Jews allowing them to even openly practice their religion. Though the Inquisition of 1636 wanted to persecute the Jews, the Portuguese Viceroy, who feared that the Raja's displeasure would affect the prince of pepper, prevented it.

Kenneth Robbins, in his request to the royal family, expressed the desire of the Jews to honor the present Valiya Thampuran "to recall the tolerance, acceptance, religious freedom and traditional trust enjoyed by us during the enlightened times of the Rajas of Cochin and also to bring these rare qualities, essentially needed for a ruler, to the notice of posterity."

"The generosity shown by the maharajas of the Cochin royal family is yet to get society's recognition," R.T.R. Varma, son of Kunjippilla Kutty Thampiuran, the Valiyamma Thampuran, said.