Journal of Xi'an University of Architecture & Technology ISSN No : 1006-7930

WILLIAM LOGAN AND WILLIAM HENRY HORSELY: PIONEERS OF MODERN TREND IN HISTORY AND HISTORIOGRAPHY

Richardson.G Ph.D., Research Scholar – Fulltime Dept. of History and Research Centre N.M.C.College, Marthandam ManonmaniamSundaranar University Abishekapatti, Trinelveli – 627012 Tamil Nadu, India

Abstract

William Logan and William Henry Horsley, both were British colonial officers, served under Madras presidency and princely states of Travancore and Cochinin various capacities. As they officially involved in the region, they closely observedthe geography,mountains and rivers, geology, climate, fauna and flora, caste and occupation, culture, religion, caste and people, and various issues of their respective regions and consulted various then available records for their research writings. Logan, as an administrative officer, he converted his experience and encounter of the regional customs and issuesuponhisofficial commitment of producing a monumental work on history Malabar region as Malabar Manuel and other historical works with modern historical methods. Horsley, as an engineer to Madras presidency in the area of defense and later his service under Travancore state as a civil engineer gave him immense opportunities to collect data and consulted then available sources which he used forhis historical writing in the title ‘Memoirs of Travancore’ that was the maiden writing on Travancore with historical perspective.

Key Words: Pioneers, Kerala History, Historiography, Malabar, Travancore, William Logan and William Henry Horsley

1. Introduction

The art of writing history is an old phenomenon. As ages pass through, civilizations progressed; therewere various techniques and methods employed in the process of historical writings, which resulted in the emergence of History as an independent branch of knowledge. The historians of different countries and time used certain methods in writing to suit their own perspective and interests. As time progressed, historians applied new methods of collecting

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data, analyzed its authenticity, arranged systematically and postulated conclusions keeping aloof them from their personal affiliations that inaugurated modern trend in History and Historiography. Kerala as a part of India had her space in every aspects Indian civilization. Yet, history as a separate subject of interest known to other world civilizations was not common, her historical facts are often mixed with mythsand intertwined with literatures up to the advent of Europeans and even continued to the first half of the 19th century. The British colonization on India and their expansion in Kerala paved the way for appointing highly educated British officers to the service. As the part of their official documentation and their taste for history they produced some fine historical works in which they applied modern elements of historiography.

2. Pre – Modern trend in Kerala History and Historiography

Kerala is a land which created her own space in culture, art and architecture, language,trade and had long standing foreign relations since ancient period par with other regions of Indian sub-continent.An eminent Historian of KeralaA. SreedharaMenon narrates its essence as: …The Kerala region like, the Indian Sub – continent, can claim to have a culture, the history of which runs into the dim recesses of antiquity….Its history unfolds the romantic synthesis and social assimilation. Its insularity enabled Kerala from the very beginning its history to developed its own outlook and way of life, art and architecture, language and literature and economic and social institution, in spite of some similarities with those in other part of India, have retained their own distinctive characteristics to this day….1Though, she occupied a remarkable place on the features of heritage, the evolution of history as an independent and distinctive branch of knowledge did not gained any intellectual pursuit and momentum among the Keralites.It as a part of Indian sub-continent too subjected to the charge by the foreign scholars due to the lack of historical conception and tradition. This too is echoed by Kerala’s historians as well.

There may be various reasons for the lack of historical curisioty and bend of mind. An Expert in Kerala history, Daniel analyses such lack was due to the aftermath of cultural hegemony sustained by the ruling class with the support of priestly class, development of social life around the temple factors and the convenient rejection of the masses who lived in the villages. The ingredients like hierarchy in the social order, social subjection, slavery, religious superstitions, lack of scientific enquiry, and illiteracy contributed substantially towards the low historical sense of mind. The life circumstances common people did not gave them any time and space to resister their events, thus writing history, especially representing the socially rejected became a forgotten idea.2 It cannot be conceived that there were no historical elements

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and fragments found in Kerala. Her historical elements are intrinsically mixed with legendary stories, religiousliterature, foreign accounts, and traveloguesas well as in Tamil, Sanskrit and literary forms.

3. The Gate way to Modern trend in Kerala History and Historiography

The advent of Europeans opened the gate way to Modern trend in Kerala’s historical writing, among them British were more responsible for the development of independent discipline as history in Kerala. The expansion and consolidation of British power in Kerala after the revolt of Diwan Velu Thampi in 1806 made them to appoint British residents and officersin princely states such as Travancore and Cochin which resulted in lot of administrative, social reforms as well as writing of history. The other regions called Malabar came under their direct political and economic supervision enabled them to begin the process of collecting information for creating official document for the purpose of administration which was totally a new system for Kerala. They developed that system on the English model. The new model constitutes the collection of data from grass root level by field research, direct enquiry and careful analysis of available sources then arranging the data in a systematic manner. Through the spread of English education and the relentless efforts of missionaries in literacy and social transformation, western ideas of liberty, equality and fraternity were introduced to the hitherto suppressed section of the society. This played a tremendous role in the shaping of the spirit of enquiry, systematic thinking of mind and the formation of new socio – economic order. The socially subjected section of the society awakened of their civil rights and privileges which eventually challenged the traditional social and economic hierarchy sustained by the caste system paved the way for the Modern trends in Kerala History and Historiography.3

4. Pioneers of Modern trend in Kerala History and Historiography 4.1.William Logan 4.1.1. His life and career

He was born at Ferney Castle, Berwickshire, Scotland to David Logan and Elizabeth Hasti on 17th May in 1814. Berwickshire was a rich farm land and the Logan's were tenant farmers for two centuries. He was educated at Musselberg School, Edinburgh; his brilliancy earned Dux Medal for distinguished scholarship in 1856.At the University of Edinburgh, he applied for the Madras civil Service examination and cracked the prestigious Indian Civil Service Examination and begun his Civil Service career under Madras Presidency in 1962 as the Collector of North Arcot. In 1866 he was shifted to the service of Malabar region of Madras

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Presidency and handled judicial and revenue avenues. For the period of eight years between 1875 and 1888, he acted as the Collector and District Magistrate. He had once acted as Resident to Travancore and Cochin. He resigned his Civil service career in 1888, returned to homeland and died at Edinburgh in 1914.4

4.1.2. Logan as the firstauthentic Historian

According to M.G.S. Narayanan, William Logan was the first person who made serious attempts to reconstruct the .5The two decades of his official career in Kerala made himto learn the socio – economic scenario of the 19th century Kerala. His knowledge of regional languages enabled his to understand regional life, customs and manners of Kerala.Above all his administrative experience necessitated and shaped his historical sense of mind. His acute desire and proficiency in history displayed in his historical works and methods unknown to Kerala.6The paths breaking historical works of Logan are:

A. ‘A Collection of Treaties, Engagements and other Papers of Importance Relating to British Malabar’ – this editorial with notes came in 1879 as the result of the search for source materials to a historical and descriptive account of Malabar among the Tellichery Factory records7. ‘Report on the Malabar Land Tenure’ – This was a historical research, analyticalstudy and suggestions, he submitted to the Madras Government in 1882 pertaining the causes and courses of Mapila peasantry outrages.8 B. ‘Malabar Manuel’ – It was the product of his official work associated with the decision by Madras Government to create separate District Manuel,consist of every details of geography,mountains and rivers, geology, climate, fauna and floracaste and occupation, culture, religion as well as other details of administrative importance. It was published in 1887.9It earned him the admiration as the authentic historian of Kerala. 4.1.3. His Views on Kerala History

As he belongs to the kind of British administrator- historian, he had a concept of history which exhibited in his conception of the past and the treatment of the areas he undertook. For him, history means ‘progress’ which he could not find in Kerala very much made him to conclude that Kerala had ‘no history’ until the advent of foreigners, particularly Europeans, was sounding similar to other European historians. He saw the people are living with perfect happiness without history and progress and arrived his idea of Kerala history as “happy is the people who have no history”.10

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4.1.4. Historiographical analysis on Logan

A historiographical analysis of Logan’s writingsexhibits that he employed critical, analytical, chronological methods towards the treatment of available sources and his research.11His research permeated in all areas of historical important and consultation of sources for the same as well as systematic arrangements shows his professionalism in history. M.G.S comments on Logan’s Malabaras that he inaugurated a new tradition in the Historiography of Kerala.12 The non- emotional commitment tothe region of his research as well as no need to eulogize any sponsor helped him to maintain a healthy historical perspective throughout his writings. The absence of divine providence in his interpretation or the historical process makes his as a first secular historian of Kerala.13 His accuracy in information makes him as an unbiased historian. His idealization, sympathy and projection of Nair community as the ‘elites of the society in every sphere’ reveal his own personal family bias and colonial mentality, his portrayal of Tippu Sultan, ruler of Mysore connotes hisbias as a British administrator.

4.2.William Henry Horsley 4.2.1. His life and career as elegant Engineer

William Henry Horsley was born in October 28, 1812 to George Henry Horsley and Frances Elizabeth Horsley.14 He completed his engineering training at Addiscombe in 1830, sailed to India and was placed at Chatamfor a year for the preparation as well as for field instruction for the act of sapping and mining.15In 1833, he was placed as an engineer in artillerysection and acted as corps of sappers and miners.16In 1841, he was appointed as the civil engineer in 8th division.17 He did several modification to the building erected for the memory for the first Sepoy Mutiny in South India in 1857.18After few years of service in Madras Presidency, he was appointed as the Engineer of Travancore. There are at least two traces of his engineering masteryexist as structures in Trivandrum that withstood the test and ravages of time; they are Trivandrum Observatory (now under the university of Kerala) and a bridge over Karamanariver which still stands on the foundation and some part of the columns erected under his supervision19. He was not only committed to public service but also came forward for religious establishment. He was one of the officers instrumental for the creation of protestant Church in Trivandrum and became one of the initial the trust member of the same religious establishment.20

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4.2.2. Horsley as the first historian of Travancore

Horsley’s Memoir of Travancore, perhaps the first attempt of a written history of Travancore, probably written in 1838 and printed from the Govt. Press in 1839.21 It was the ever first book bears the headline on the cover pageas Historical, written about Travancore. He also used the word ‘consulted’ many documents for his historical work tells us that his usage of modern historical methods. Horsley’s memoirs covers the areas such as Geography, Petty States, Divisions, Population, &c., Principal Towns and Villages, Government, Religion and Religious Establishments, Cattle and other Animals, Climate, Lakes and Canals, Principal Tanks and irrigating Channels, Principal Roads and Communications, Of Weights and Measures, Land Measure and Coins cover almost every aspect of the Government, People, and various facets of life of the time. His historical perspective and methods are reflected in the History section of his book that covers the history of Travancore in a very brief manner. The areas he covered in his book suggest that his treatment of Travancore history is like a survey. His detailed narration of historical significant Velu Thampi’s rebellion reveals that he looked at Travancore history from a colonial and British view point. The absence of special reverence to the royal families or to any religious affiliation tells us his objectivity and secular nature of historical perspective.22

5. Conclusion

The curtain of Modern trends in Kerala History and Historiography was indeed raised by William Logan in Malabar and William Henry Horsley in Travancore region. The close scrutiny of their writings reveals that they looked the events and descried those with a pure historical senseand perspective using modern methods. The methods and areas of writing undertaken by them were never used by anyone before makes them the pioneers of Kerala History and Historiography. They also kept them as much as away from their official and personal affinity and royal and religious affiliation qualifies them as secular and objective professional historians. Their writings became the area of study and inspiration for later historians of Kerala to develop new perspectives that suits to Kerala.

End notes and References

1. D. Daniel, Historical research in Modern Kerala – Problems and Scope, Issues in Kerala Historiography, K.K. Kusman, ed. (Thiruvananthapuram: University of Kerala, 2003), p.p. 141 – 142. 2. Ibid.

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3. Ibid.p. 144. 4. http://historyofthalassery.blogspot.com, 23 Aug., 2019. 5. M.G.S Narayanan, Historiography of Kerala: Some important Issues, Issues in Kerala Historiography, K.K. Kusman, ed., (Thiruvananthapuram: University of Kerala, 2003), p. 193. 6. M.G.S Narayanan, “WilliamLogan as a historian of Kerala”. Bulletin of the Malabar Chamber of Commerce, Vol. XXXIII, No.4,p. 30. 7. T. I. Poonen, “A Chapter in the History of Kerala”,Indian History Congress, Vol. 21 (1958), 624. 8. Tellichery Factory records: The English merchants at Tellicherry kept very informative diaries which can serve as useful raw material for the history of Kerala. The Tellicherry Diaries from 1725 to 1751 have been printed in twenty volumes. There are also several volumes of later year’s avail- able for consultation in well bound volumes of manuscripts preserved in the Madrás Record Office. In addition, there exist in print twelve volumes of letters to Tellicherry (1726-1750) and six volumes of letters from Tellicherry (1729-1751). 9. P. Venu, “An Historiographical Critique of William Logan (With Reference to modern Kerala History)”, Indian History Congress Vol. 52, 1991, p. 606. 10. Ibid.p. 605. 11. Ibid.p. 607. 12. Ibid. 13. M.G.S Narayanan, Op.cit.,30. 14. P. Venu, Op.Cit.,609. 15. Genealogy for William Henry Horsley, “family tree on Geni”,wwwgeni.com, 22 Aug., 2019. 16. The London Gazette, “January – June”, 1830, p. 444. 17. The Asiatic Journal and monthly register for British and foreign India, China and Australia, “New series, September – December”,Voll.12 (London, Parbury: Alan and Co., 1883), p. 24. 18. The Asiatic Journal and monthly register for British and foreign India, China and Australia, “New series, January – April”,Voll.34 (London: Wm. H. Alan and Co., 1841), p. 237. 19. S. Muthiah, The Hindu, “Madras Miscellany”, , April 24, 2011.

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20. Achuthsankar S. Nair, “William Henry Horsley’s Memoir of Travancore (1839): Earliest English treatise on the History of Travancore”,Journal of Kerala Studies, Volume XXXI, (Thiruvanathapuram: University of Kerala., 2004), p. 4. 21. Manoj Kumar Ebenezer, “Heritage”, www. Mateer memorial church.com, 22, Aug., 2019. 22. Ibid. 23. Achuthsankar S. Nair, Op.cit.,p. 5.

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