What Was the Contribution of the Dutch in South India?

As traders the Dutch performance and achievements were creditable. Of all the centers with which they established trade connections those in Kerala were the most lucrative. The reason was that in no other place could they exert so much power and influence over the local powers as in Kerala. However, as this was achieved at the point of sword it caused much drain upon their treasury. Pepper was the chief article of trade, for the monopoly of which they indulged in all sorts of maneuvering in local politics.

Their political commitments to local rulers, especially to Cochin, and confrontation with Travancore, had a devastating effect upon their economic condition. Instead of following the market price and offering better terms to the local producers and rulers, they leaned blindly on treaty obligations of local princes for the procurement of pepper.

As the rival companies we prepared to offer the market price, which was above the price fixed by the Dutch through political agreements, and sometimes even a little higher, the local princes and merchant preferred the former and tried to evade the Dutch whenever it was possible. This naturally handicapped the Dutch prospect considerably. They could have achieved better results had they remained a little more prudent and less ambitious in their commercial and political dealings.

Except in Kerala, especially Cochin, in no other part of India could the Dutch become assertive and as such could pursue a consistent religious policy worth the name. Imme­diately after establishing their ascendancy at Cochin, the Dutch remained to have been intolerant towards the European Romish priests of the locality whom they ordered to vacate. This was followed by the destruction of churches and convents of the locality. Also they destroyed the Jesuit Library there.

However, the church of Franciscans was spared, but it was converted into a warehouse, and the tower was used as a flagstaff of the port. This policy created much consternation in the inhabitants and they emigrated in large numbers. Such was the panic of Christians that at last the Dutch, apprehending that there would soon be nothing left but empty house and deserted streets, somewhat changed their policy, and through milder measures tried to entice the people back, restoring to their use the Franciscan church which they had occupied. At last the Romanists were permitted to make the town of Wypeen their headquarters where their church still stands.

Dutch Governors like Van Rheede and Isaac Van Dielen were tolerant towards the Romanists whereas Gelmer Vosburgh and others were ill disposed towards them. By an amicable settlement of 1698, the Carmelite Missionaries secured lasting peace from the Dutch Company.

They were permitted to have one Bishop of their order, to reside and hold properties within their territories, on condition that they were Belgians, Germans or Italians and were well disposed towards the Dutch Government. However, the number of Carmelite Missionaries was to be limited to twelve.

Ever since the settlement the Romanises had no complaint against the Dutch; their Bishops were received at Cochin in all but regal state. Commenting on the tolerant attitude of the Dutch towards Du Perron, a Romanist, Whitehouse stated: “Though a Romanist Du Perron bears testimony to the tolerant principles of the Dutch Government, stating that his co-religionists, the Romish Mission­aries, as well as the Syrian Priests, were allowed to live quietly under their protection; and to exercise in all liberty the functions of their ministry.” The Roman Catholics of Quilon were also under the protection of the Company.

The Syrian Christians too owed much to the Dutch. They were protected by the Dutch from the oppression of the Romanists. Even in the management of their ecclesiastical affairs they were assisted by the Dutch. However, according to Paulini the latter attempt was not always successful. The Syrians had urged the Dutch to bring a Bishop from Persia to consecrate their Metran, Thomas De Campo.

Mar Joannes, who was brought for the purpose from Bussorah, was not acceptable and as such he was sent back. In 1751 three Metrans were again brought to Cochin, but the Dutch Company demanded a huge amount of Rs. 12,000 for bringing them to Malabar, which ultimately resulted in a prolonged suit at a court in Travancore.

Towards the Hindus, the attitude of the Dutch was one of tolerance. The only instance when they behaved otherwise, was, the desecration of a temple in Malabar during a campaign against the Zamorin. “Even this outrage”, says K.M. Panikkar “was committed by Balinese soldiers against the orders of the Dutch commander.” Unlike the Portuguese they were not zealous of proselytisation.

They were prepared to respect the religious susceptibilities of the Hindu, who constituted the bulk of the population in the midst of whom they had to exist and thrive. They even swore not to kill cows-a matter of pleasure to orthodox Hindus. Such prudent policies were potent enough to make a favourable impact on the people, which in turn could have been channelled to their commercial prospects, if only they had not shown intense political greed through their petty wars.

Of all the non-political activities and intellectual involvements of the Dutch in Kerala, the one directed for the composition of the Hortus Malabaricus, the renowned work on Indian Botany by the drive and initiative of Van Rheede, the Commissar-General, was the most important. This great book, prepared by the combined efforts of Indian and European men of talents, was published at Amsterdam between 1686 and 1703, in 12 vols, folio, with 794 very nicely executed copper plate engravings.

A low-caste Ezhava scholar and Ayurvedic physician, Itti Achuthan, was the author of this botanical work. After diligent search for the plants, samples were brought to Cochin where the Carmelite Mattoeus sketched them with incredible accuracy. The descriptions of plants were written in Malayalam and thence translated into Portuguese and further into Latin by Hermavan Van Douep, who was Secretary to the government. The whole project was supervised by Casearius, a Dutch chaplain who was also a close friend of Van Rheede. According to Rev. Whitehouse, “a book of its size, on which such care was expended, must have consumed a fortune before its publication; and confers honor, both on those who compiled it and the place it was compiled.