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The Hindu
14-05-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Revisiting the gold foil letter that established trade links between Thanjavur and Denmark
When someone utters East India Company, you might quickly assume it to be British, but here's a story of two unlikely heroes — one from Thanjavur in South India and the other from Denmark, a medieval European kingdom. They were separated by vast oceans, but with a bit of fate, their lives intertwined 400 years ago in 1616 CE! The first protagonist Christian IV of Denmark was exploring ways to boost his kingdom's economy. Other European powers such as the Portuguese, Dutch and British had a thriving sea trade with India and Sri Lanka, particularly for black pepper. Wanting a share of this market, he established the Danish East India Company. Citizens and nobles invested, and five huge ships were outfitted for a voyage in search of great wealth to Sri Lanka, where the Danes hoped to establish a trading post, based on a promised treaty with a Sri Lankan king. The second protagonist was Raghunatha Nayak, who was ruling Thanjavur. His reign was marked by architectural achievements and careful political strategy. Wary of the increasing dominance of the Portuguese, who were trading heavily from Nagapattinam, and seeking to boost his kingdom's economy while limiting Portuguese control, he looked out for other trade partners. Now, who would string together the stories of the protagonists, who are on two ends of the world? Enter Captain Roland Crappé, the trade director of the newly-formed Danish East India Company. He was aboard the first Danish ship, the Øresund, and was ahead of the other four ships, after a gruelling 18-month sea journey, circumventing Africa. But, in the waters between India and Sri Lanka, Crappé captured a few Portuguese vessels, prompting a violent retaliation. The Portuguese navy wrecked the Øresund, and hung most of its crew. Captain Crappé, along with 12 survivors, escaped thanks to a local fisherman. And, landed in Thanjavur, where Crappé ended up meeting Raghunatha Nayak. The King saw a unique opportunity — why not allow the Danes to trade with his kingdom too? He not only agreed to Crappé's request for possible trade, he also formally granted the Danes permission to build a fort and establish a trading post in a port called Tharangambadi (later renamed Tranquebar by the Danes), near Thanjavur. As a diplomatic gesture, Raghunatha Nayak wrote a letter in ancient Tamil script on gold foil addressed to King Christian IV, inviting him to conduct trade in the port of Tharangambadi, and sent it along with gifts. Meanwhile, the other four Danish ships, led by Commander Ove Giedde, stayed on course and reached Sri Lanka. But, the Portuguese had already signed an exclusive trade agreement with the King. The crushed Danes also get to hear about the fate of the Øresund. Their massive investment and the long journey seem to be for nothing. But, a message from Captain Crappé cheer them up. 'The Tanjore King has agreed to trade with us. Make your way here soon.' Commander Giedde immediately travelled to Thanjavur. Soon, construction of a fortress named Dansborg began, and fortification walls were built around Tranquebar. From this base, the Danes exchanged goods across the world, engaged in trade and lived for over 200 years, until the trading post was sold to the British in 1845 CE. This relationship also left a legacy of historical sites and treasured artefacts, out of which the golden foil and the treaty are still preserved like the royal treasure it is in Copenhagen, the capital of Denmark. Historian R. Nagaswamy was the first to read and interpret the contents of the letter, though it is unclear if he got hold of the gold foil, or if he received an estampage or pictures of the foil for his study. And so, I travelled to Denmark for one reason — to see this artefact in person. After months, the approval came. Landing on a chilly autumn morning, I quickly reached the grand-looking Royal Library (Det Kongelige Bibliotek). In the quiet research reading room, a big box had been set aside for me. Inside it lay the legendary artefact I had long dreamed of having a peek at — the Thanjavur Gold foil letter, preserved carefully by the archival experts of Denmark. I got to touch a piece of global history, written in Thanjavur and still shimmering in Denmark. The delicate foil bore intricate Tamil letters of a bygone era. It measured 40 cm in length and 2.5 cm in width. The content in Tamil read: 'Raudra varusham chithirai naal 20 Raghunatha nayakkar Dhinamark raasavinavargal vaasal kaariyappaerkku…' The letter starts with the Hindu calendar date which corresponds to April 16, 1620, in the Gregorian calendar. It was amusing to see how some words were 'Tamilised' — Dhinamark for Denmark and Ulandheesu for Holland. There was a 'Roolangkalappai Karppithaar' too — Captain Roland Crappé. Just like any Tamil inscription from the past, there were no word-spacing or punctuation marks, not even a period at the end of a sentence. The letter goes on to say that the people of Denmark were permitted to settle down and conduct trade in Tharangambadi. 'We, the Royal Highness Srimad Raghunatha Nayak, send this message to the ambassador of the King of Denmark, on the 22nd day of Chithirai in the year Raudri. We are prospering here. Kindly despatch the news about Your Highness' prosperity. We are pleased to learn the news of that place brought to us by Captain Roeland Crappe and the Holland General. Since we have agreed that we should not draw a distinction between Your Highness and ours and have agreed to live as one, we have honoured the Holland General and Captain Roeland Crappe with palanquins and permitted the subjects of that country to come and settle here. We order the creation of a port named Tarangampadi here…' Raghunatha Nayak concludes by listing out the generous royal gifts for the Danish King — two silk pithambarams, a tuppatti (shawl), two pachavadams, and a variety of intricately crafted swords and Kataari daggers. The whereabouts of these artefacts are unknown. There was another captivating sight. On the right side of the foil, surrounded by Tamil script, stood a signature — in Telugu. The signature of Raghunatha Nayak! Etched in gold, a royal hand's seal on a serendipitous international alliance centuries ago. The writer is an AI professional and a history and heritage enthusiast.
Indian Express
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Daily subject-wise quiz: History and Culture MCQs on Danish colonies, Revolt of 1857, 20th century literature and more (Week 109 and week 110)
Are you preparing for UPSC CSE Prelims? UPSC Essentials brings to you its initiative of daily subject-wise quizzes. These quizzes are designed to help you revise some of the most important topics from the static part of the syllabus. Attempt today's subject quiz on History and Culture to check your progress. 🚨 Click Here to read the UPSC Essentials magazine for April 2025. Share your views and suggestions in the comment box or at With reference to history of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, consider the following statements: 1. It was the Danish East India Company which first attempted to colonise the islands in 1755. 2. In the years before Independence, several of the most radical and active freedom fighters, including Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, Barindra Kumar Ghosh, and Batukeshwar Dutt, were incarcerated at the cellular jail in Port Blair. 3. Immediately after the Partition, large tracts of land in the islands were allotted to Partition refugees. Which of the above given statements is/are true? (a) 1 only (b) 2 and 3 only (c) 2 only (d) 1, 2 and 3 Given its strategic importance, it was the Danish East India Company which first attempted to colonise the islands in 1755. The Nicobar Islands were turned into a Danish colony, first named New Denmark and later as Frederick's Islands. With the Dutch consolidating power in the East Indies, their presence in the Andaman Islands became crucial for the British to control trade networks in the region. The islands remained in British control until the Independence of India, when it was transferred to the Government of India and installed as a Union Territory. In the years before Independence, several of the most radical and active freedom fighters, including Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, Barindra Kumar Ghosh, and Batukeshwar Dutt, were incarcerated at the cellular jail in Port Blair. When they were released during Independence, they were received amid much publicity and celebration by the press, even though very little attention was given to the aboriginal Andaman Islanders. Immediately after the Partition, the Andaman Islands were chosen as a place for resettling displaced Hindu families from East Pakistan. Accordingly, large tracts of land in South and Middle Andaman were allotted to thousands of Partition refugees, often coming into conflict with local Jarawa territories. Consequently, there exists at present in Andaman, a very large community of Bengali speakers. Therefore, d is the correct answer. (For more, refer: Andamanese Hindi: how Andaman and Nicobar Islands came to embrace a unique linguistic identity and take pride in it by Adrija Roychowdhury, The Indian Express.) Match the following leaders of the Revolt of 1857 with the regions they led: Select the correct match: (a) A-3, B-1, C-4, D-2, E-5 (b) A-1, B-3, C-5, D-4, E-2 (c) A-2, B-4, C-1, D-5, E-3 (d) A-3, B-2, C-4, D-1, E-5 The rebellion of 1857, also known as India's first war of Independence, began on May 10, 1857. In the revolt, Indian sepoys rose up against the might of the British officers of the East India Company. This revolt witnessed an extraordinary amount of violence unleashed by both sides. It ended the rule of the East India Company on India by an Act of Parliament known as the Queen's Proclamation of 1858. With this, the rule of the Indian empire was taken over by the British crown. Leaders across the northern region rose to provide the leadership. Nana Sahib, the adopted son of Peshwa Baji Rao II, assumed leadership in Kanpur, Begum Hazrat Mahal took control over Lucknow, Veer Kuwar Singh was the chief organiser from the Bhojpur region of Bihar, Khan Bahadur Khan in Rohilkhand, and Rani Lakshmibai appeared as the leader of the sepoys in Jhansi. After the outbreak of the mutiny in Meerut, the rebels reached Delhi, and Mughal emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar was declared the Emperor of Hindustan. Bahadur Shah Zafar was, however, imprisoned and was later brought back as a prisoner to Shahjanabad. Later, he was exiled to Rangoon after a trial against him for sedition against his own empire. Many of the royal princes and princesses lost their lives either while trying to escape or died in poverty. Therefore, a is the correct answer. (For more, refer: Knowledge Nugget: Why is the Revolt of 1857 important for UPSC? by Khushboo Kumari, The Indian Express.) With reference to the Doctrine of Lapse, consider the following statements: 1. It denied the right of an adopted heir to succeed to the throne of a princely state. 2. It was applied to annex the territories of Satara, Punjab, Sambalpur, Jhansi, and Nagpur. 3. The policy was introduced during the tenure of Lord Canning. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (a) 1 only (b) 1 and 2 only (c) 2 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3 The 'Doctrine of Lapse' was introduced by Lord Dalhousie, who was the governor-general of India (1848–56). The adopted heir to the throne was not allowed to acquire the state, and the state automatically 'lapsed' into British dominion if the ruler died without any natural, biological heir. This was applied to annex the territories of Satara (1848), Punjab (1849), Sambalpur (1850), and Jhansi and Nagpur (1854). Therefore, b is the correct answer. (For more, refer: Knowledge Nugget: Why is the Revolt of 1857 important for UPSC? by Khushboo Kumari, The Indian Express.) Which of the following Danish colonies in India was known as New Denmark or Frederick's Islands? (a) Oddewe Torre (b) Serampore (c) Tranquebar (d) None of the above Given its strategic importance, it was the Danish East India Company which first attempted to colonise the islands in 1755. The Nicobar Islands were turned into a Danish colony, first named New Denmark and later as Frederick's Islands. With the Dutch consolidating power in the East Indies, their presence in the Andaman Islands became crucial for the British to control trade networks in the region. Therefore, d is the correct answer. (For more, refer: Andamanese Hindi: how Andaman and Nicobar Islands came to embrace a unique linguistic identity and take pride in it by Adrija Roychowdhury, The Indian Express.) What is true about Amar Jiban (My life) published in 1876 ? 1. It was the first-ever full-scale autobiography written by an Indian indentured labour. 2. It is a text inspired by Vaishnavite traditions. Which of the above given statements is/are true? (a) 1 only (b) 2 only (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2 Rashsundari Devi frequently refers to herself as a 'caged bird'. Her words critiquing her life in an affluent, upper caste family in Bengal were of great significance as it was for the first time that a woman in India was writing about herself. Amar Jiban (My life) published in 1876 was the first-ever full-scale autobiography written by an Indian woman. A text inspired by Vaishnavite traditions One has to read Rashsundari's account of her life also in the context of the religious churning going on in Bengal in the 19th century and how that impacted the lives of women. Bengal in the late 19th century was experiencing a revival of ardent Vaishnavism. In her book, Rashsundar explains that it was her irrepressible urge to read a particular sacred text, the Chaitanya Bhagabat, that made her go through the struggle to read. This was the first Bengali biography of Chaitanya, the Vaishnava saint of medieval Bengal, well-known for his maddening love for Krishna. Therefore, b is the correct answer. (For more, refer: Amar Jiban, the story of a Bengali woman whose desire to read led to a feminist revolution, The Indian Express) He largely followed the footsteps of the Chinese pilgrim Hiuen Tsang (Xuanzang) and in his two tours as director-general of the ASI he explored a great part of North India. He was the first to excavate Harappa but failed to recognise its cultural content or significance. Among his other major achievements were the identification of Bairat, Kosambi, Nalanda, Shravasthi, Taxila and Vaishali. He in the above lines refer to: (a) Mortimer Wheeler (b) James Princep (c) Alexander Cunningham (d) John Marshall By 1851, the British government in India saw the need for a systematic archaeological survey of the country. By then the basic nature of the monuments and historical sites of India was well understood. Consequently, the ASI was established in 1861. Alexander Cunningham, a protege of Princep, was appointed as the first director-general of ASI. Cunningham was appointed to undertake a systematic survey of ancient and medieval monuments and sites in India. He largely followed the footsteps of the Chinese pilgrim Hiuen Tsang (Xuanzang) and in his two tours (1861-65 and 1871-85) as director-general of the ASI he explored a great part of North India. Archaeologist Amalananda Ghosh in his work, An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology (1990), notes that Cunningham was the first to excavate Harappa but failed to recognise its cultural content or significance. Among the other major achievements of Cunningham were the identification of Bairat, Kosambi, Nalanda, Shravasthi, Taxila and Vaishali. The ASI was abolished in 1865 and reopened again in 1870 with Cunningham as its director-general once again. He retained the post till he retired in 1885. During this period he produced 24 reports containing a trove of information on the structures of historical significance in India. Therefore, c is the correct answer. (For more, refer: From Asiatic Society to Archaeological Survey of India: The long journey to map the historicity of subcontinent, The Indian Express.) With reference to Vatsun or Vakhs, consider the following statements: 1. These are associated with stone carving traditions in southern states which dates back to 2nd century BC. 2. It is also known as venditeegapani in Karimnagar district of Telengana. Which of the above given statements is/are correct? (a) 1 only (b)2 only (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2 Lalleshwari (1320-1392),also known as Lal Ded,is the creator of the mystic poetry called Vatsun or Vakhs,literally meaning speech. Known as Lal Vakhs,her verses are the earliest compositions in Kashmiri language and are an important part of the history of Kashmiri literature. The Vakhs have also been translated into English. Therefore, d is the correct answer. Consider the following Indian artistes: 1. Bhanu Athaiya 2. Satyajit Ray 3. Resul Pookutty 4. Gulzar 5. A R Rahman Who among the above mentioned names have won the Academy awards (Oscars) in different categories over the years? (a) 2 and 3 only (b) 1, 2, 3 and 5 only (c) 2, 3, 4 and 5 only (d) 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 Indian movies have not had a great run at the Academy Awards since their inception in 1929. However, various artistes have won the award in different categories over the years. Bhanu Athaiya: It was her work in Gandhi (1982) that won her the award for Best Costume Design, India's first Oscar. Satyajit Ray: He was awarded an Academy Honorary Award in 1992, 'in recognition of his rare mastery of the art of motion pictures, and of his profound humanitarian outlook, which has had an indelible influence on filmmakers and audiences throughout the world.' Resul Pookutty: Ian Tapp, Richard Pryke and Resul Pookutty were the joint awardees for their work in Slumdog Millionaire (2008) for Best Sound Mixing. A R Rahman: 'Mozart of Madras' A R Rahman became the first Indian to win Academy Awards in two categories, both for his work in Slumdog Millionaire – Best Original Song (for 'Jai Ho') and Best Original Score. Gulzar: Veteran poet-lyricist Gulzar shared the prize with Rahman, as the recipient of the Academy Award for Best Original Song, for his work as a lyricist on 'Jai Ho' from Slumdog Millionaire. Therefore, d is the correct answer. Match the following literary works with their authors: (a) A-3, B-4, C-2, D-5, E-1 (b) A-4, B-3, C-2, D-1, E-5 (c) A-2, B-5, C-3, D-4, E-1 (d) A-3, B-2, C-5, D-1, E-4 Divyachakshu by Ramanlal Vasantlal Desai Char Adhyay by Rabindranath Tagore Ganadevata and Panchagrama by Tarasankar Bandopadhyay Pather Debi by Sharatchandra Chattopadhyay Premasharam by Premchand Therefore, a is the correct answer. (For more, refer:Historical Tidbits– Freedom struggle, 20th century literature and Premchand) With reference to Kabir, consider the following statements: 1. The Bijak contains works attributed to Kabir and is argued by historians to have been written in the 17th century. 2. Instead of God being an external entity that resided in temples or mosques, Kabir argued that God existed inside everyone. Which of the above given statements is/are true? (a) 1 only (b) 2 only (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2 The Bijak contains works attributed to Kabir and is argued by historians to have been written in the 17th century. Instead of God being an external entity that resided in temples or mosques, Kabir argued that God existed inside everyone. 'Why look for Me anywhere else, my friend, When I'm here, in your possession?…He is the very breath of our breaths.' Therefore, c is the correct answer. Subscribe to our UPSC newsletter and stay updated with the news cues from the past week. Stay updated with the latest UPSC articles by joining our Telegram channel – IndianExpress UPSC Hub, and follow us on Instagram and X. Manas Srivastava is currently working as Senior Copy Editor with The Indian Express (digital) and leads a unique initiative of IE - UPSC Essentials. He majorly writes on UPSC, other competitive exams and education-related projects. In the past, Manas has represented India at the G-20 Youth Summit in Mexico. He is a former member of the Youth Council, GOI. A two-time topper/gold medallist in History (both in graduation and post-graduation) from Delhi University, he has mentored and taught UPSC aspirants for more than four years. His diverse role in The Indian Express consists of writing, editing, anchoring/ hosting, interviewing experts, and curating and simplifying news for the benefit of students. He hosts the YouTube talk show called 'Art and Culture with Devdutt Pattanaik' and a LIVE series on Instagram and YouTube called 'You Ask We Answer'.His talks on 'How to read a newspaper' focus on newspaper reading as an essential habit for students. His articles and videos aim at finding solutions to the general queries of students and hence he believes in being students' editor, preparing them not just for any exam but helping them to become informed citizens. This is where he makes his teaching profession meet journalism. He is also the editor of UPSC Essentials' monthly magazine for the aspirants. He is a recipient of the Dip Chand Memorial Award, the Lala Ram Mohan Prize and Prof. Papiya Ghosh Memorial Prize for academic excellence. He was also awarded the University's Post-Graduate Scholarship for pursuing M.A. in History where he chose to specialise in Ancient India due to his keen interest in Archaeology. He has also successfully completed a Certificate course on Women's Studies by the Women's Studies Development Centre, DU. As a part of N.S.S in the past, Manas has worked with national and international organisations and has shown keen interest and active participation in Social Service. He has led and been a part of projects involving areas such as gender sensitisation, persons with disability, helping slum dwellers, environment, adopting our heritage programme. He has also presented a case study on 'Psychological stress among students' at ICSQCC- Sri Lanka. As a compere for seminars and other events he likes to keep his orating hobby alive. His interests also lie in International Relations, Governance, Social issues, Essays and poetry. ... Read More
