Thandora Beater stood at the graveyard outside the hamlet, stretching his body as if he believed the hamlet was not fit for him to go in. With a booming ‘Dum Dum‘, he issued the proclamation of the the state of Travancore.

“Sri Uttaram Thirunal Maharaja Thirumanas, Sri Padmanabadasa Vanchipala Marthanda Varma Kulasekara Greedapati, Mannai Sultan Maharaja, Rajya Pakyothaiya Ramaraja Bhagadoorsham Sherjang Maharaja, Suchindram Thanumalayan will visit the temple chariot festival the day after tomorrow, and stay for a duration of two days”.

“In view of this, it is announced to everyone that all the despicable low caste workers, cultivators, come with your offerings and handicrafts and you are ordered to stand 96 feet away from Suchindram Katcheri. Prior to the arrival of the Maharaja, all taxes such as the land tax Prusangdaram, the inheritance tax adiyara, the house tax kuppagalhcha and the palm tree tax, the tax for palm tree ladder enikkaram, the tax for palm fiber thalakkaram, the head tax, the breast tax mulakkaram, the moustache tax meeshakkaram, the mangalsutra tax, and the plantation tax should be paid without any due. In addition, those who have seen, heard, and known through inquiry should immediately inform the higher authorities about the lower castes who do not observe caste rituals. In case of violation of these, it is informed that those who do not disclose this information will be given any punishment including capital punishment.”

(to be continued)

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