| Raja Kesavadas | |
| Office1: | Diwan of Kingdom of Travancore |
| Term Start1: | 1789 |
| Term End1: | 1798 |
| Predecessor1: | Krishnan Thampi |
| Successor1: | Jayanthan Sankaran Nampoothiri |
| Monarch1: | Dharma Raja |
| Birth Name: | Kesava Raman Pillai |
| Birth Date: | 1745 3, df=y |
| Birth Place: | Kunnathur, Travancore |
| Parents: | Marthandan Thampi Kaliamma Pillai |
Kunnathur Kesavan Raman Pillai, also known as Raja Kesavadas (17 March 1745 – 21 April 1799; Sanskrit ) was the Dewan of Travancore during the reign of Dharma Raja Karthika Thirunal Rama Varma. He is well known for his military tactics and administrative acumen. He was the mastermind in developing the Alappuzha town.[1]
Rajah (Kesavadas was born Kesava Pillai in a Nair family at a small hamlet called Kunnathur,[2] Travancore (now in Kanyakumari district) on March17, 1745 in the erstwhile Kingdom of Travancore.[3] His full name was Keshav Raman Pillai.[4] The name of his uncle Raman Pillai was added to his name as he was raised by his uncle on father's withdrawal. His father Marthandan Thampi was in the Travancore army. Marthandan Thampi was also called the 'Great Master'. His mother's name was Kaliamma Pillai. After relinquishing the position of Commander-in-Chief of the palace, his father returned to Kashi after accepting asceticism and the entire burden of the family fell on Kesavapillai's head. Although he was not properly educated, Poovat Pokumusa Maraikkar, a local businessman, hired Keshav Pillai to look after the accounts in his shop. At a very young age, Keshav Pillai had a special talent. Through Kesava Pillai, the trade of Maraikar flourished. The woodcutter entrusted him with all the responsibilities of his shipping business. He used this opportunity to gain more economic knowledge and to learn Hindustani, Persian and Dutch.[5]
See main article: Battle of the Nedumkotta. The Maraikars, who were dependents of the then ruling Maharaja Karthika Thirunal (1758-1798: Travancore: 1758–1798), used to visit the king. At one point, Kesava Pillai captured the king's favor with his skills. Subsequently, the king gave him an extension in his palace.[6] Keshava Pillai took full advantage of this golden opportunity. At about twenty-four years of age, Kesava Pillai was appointed as a rayasam (writer) in the palace under the Samprathi (the State Secretary). He became quite knowledgeable and influential that even the prime minister used to consult him.[7] After the Battle of Kulachal, he came to terms with Marthanda Varma, who became the Commander-in-Chief of Travancore, became acquainted with officers such as Dutch Captain Delanoy, mastered war tactics and learned languages such as Portuguese and English. Impressed by Kesava Pillai's intelligence, patriotism and devotion to God, the Maharaja promoted him to the rank of Rayasam in 1765. Keshava Pillai played an important role in boosting trade by constantly corresponding with Dutch companies residing in places like Purakkad and Kulachal and English companies residing in Anchuthengu and others. He rose through the ranks Samprati (1768) and Sovereign (1788) and became Diwan of Travancore on 22 September 1789. He became the Diwan following the resignation of Diwan Chembakaraman Pillai due to old age disability. He did not relish the title of Dalawa. With the sanction of the Maharaja, he changed the old title of Dalawa to that of Dewan eschewing the old designation of Dalawa, as better suited to the times. He was thus the first Dewan of Travancore
When Tippu Sultan of Mysore attacked Travancore, Kesava Pillai was the commandant of the state army. Travancore army fought against the Mysore force under the leadership of Kesava Pillai. Later when Mysore was attacked Tipu Sultan had to retreat to Srirangapatnam.[8]
Recognizing his victory over the Mysore, the Karthika Thirunal Maharaja of Travancore appointed Kesava Pillai as Diwan of Travancore. He was glorified by the British Governor Mornington, by the title Raja in appreciation of his administrative talents.[9] As Diwan, Raja Kesavadas was responsible for shifting the capital of Travancore from Padmanabhapuram to Thiruvananthapuram.[10]
Kesava Pillai received military training under General Eustachius De Lannoy. This training perfected him to take active service as an efficient general. He was well trained in the military art and was competent to command a whole brigade in times of emergency. He learned the Dutch and Portuguese languages under General D’Lanoy and the Persian and Hindustani under the Pattan officers.
Kesava Das's foremost objective was to develop the economy of Travancore.[11] He developed the economic condition of the people by improving trade. The profits from the trade helped the State to maintain a standing army. It also helped to make other necessary preparations for the struggle with Tippu Sultan. Essentially it was a kind of war finance system. He visited coastal areas from Kanyakumari to Alappuzha and converted two areas such as Alappuzha and Vizhinjam which had the potential to be upcoming ports.[12]
The port was opened in 1762, mainly for the export of coir-matting and coir-yarn. Kesavadas built three ships for trade with Calcutta and Bombay, and Alleppey afforded a convenient depot for the storage and disposal of goods produce in the east.[19]
See main article: Nedumkotta. The greatest achievement of Kesavadas was his defence of Travancore against Tippu Sultan. When Kesavadas came to power, Tipu was threatening at the gates of Travancore. He bought the Kranganur and Ayakotta forts from the Dutch. He repaired the fort at other places and strengthened the army with well-trained soldiers; In negotiations with the English at Madras, he secured two of the company's troops and stationed them at the fort. He succeeded in the fight against Tipu and expelled him from the borders of Travancore and even his retreat did not give him peace of mind. He followed Tipu until the soldiers travelled a long distance and took heavy lives.[24]
His tenure of Diwanship ended with the demise of Dharma Raja Karthika Thirunal in 1798. Balarama Varma, his successor aged sixteen became the crown prince who was too young in the hands of Jayanthan Sankaran Nampoothiri.[27] Raja Kesavadas was proclaimed as a traitor and kept under house arrest which helped Jayanthan Sankaran Nampoothiri to usurp the post of Diwan. Later his family assets were confiscated and were poisoned to death on 21 April 1799.[28] [29]