The Bologatty palace at Kochi, built in 1744 by a Dutch merchant is the oldest palace outside Holland. It was the residence of the Dutch governor. It was leased to the British in 1909 and became the residence of the British governors till 1947. The Pierce Leslie Bungalow, the fourth photo above, was the office of PL Company which was founded in 1862.
Currently it is a tourist spot with a Golf course, hotel, dining and swimming pool, located at the edge of an island in the backwater at Kochi.
It was while visiting the palace recently with friends, it occurred to Anna and me of the memories of our association with the palace for the last 14 years since we relocated to live in our cottage. About thirty kilometres away from our cottage, it was a regular place we visited on Sunday mornings for breakfast after the church service at the C.S.I cathedral in the Broadway.
Although our visits are infrequent now, it brings into memory occasions of happy family times spent with children and grand children. We experienced how the restaurant evolved into a place of attraction on Sundays for visitors because of the pleasant ambience it offered for a leisurely meal time with a wide view of the backwater with movements of boats on it!
It gave us another opportunity last week to be there one more time with our friends to recall its history and walk around appreciating the aesthetic way the walkways and garden are taken care of!
Being a heritage centre, it receives all the attention that it rightly deserves to retain its historic features!
India has evolved to be what it is through invasions and expeditions of different nations and rulers ! The 'nationality' spirit which has been infused into main stream thinking by a political ideology in the recent years belittles what we inherited from all the seasons of occupations of different rulers and dynasties. The first sixty years since independence the national governments attempted to integrate to create a convergence of cultures and traditions of the three centuries. But in the recent years, the ideology of marginalising that approach is dominant. We have been reduced to be people of different religions where the traditions of the majority religion receive attention and recognition! The fragile thread of integration is currently weaker than before!
Visiting the Dutch palace restored hope and aspiration! We are Indians and live among other nations and peoples.
I wish the president of the United States of America who announced
five days of cease fire in its war with Iran, will abstain from war and see the nations of the world as fraternal countries called to live inter- connectedly, cohesively and harmoniously!
M.C.Mathew ( text and photos except the first one)
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