MUNRO, always uncomfortable with his dual role, stepped down in 1814 to make way for an Indian Dewan, and Rani Lakshmi died in 1815. Fortunately, her thirteen-year-old sister Parvati continued her reforms.* She encouraged the cultivation of coffee beans and other industries to boost the economy, repealed discriminatory legislation and taxes based on caste or religion, and by her historic Rescript of 1817 placed at least two state-funded teachers in every school. Hers, Munro told the Company, was an ‘intelligent, liberal and ingenuous mind,’ and such was Parvati’s standing that two years later Travancore was allowed to raise an army for the first time since the troubled days of Balarama Varma.*
Parvati had always regarded herself as a Regent, and duly resigned the throne in favour of her nephew, Lakshmi’s son Swathi Thirunal, as soon as he turned sixteen in 1829.* He quickly capitalised on the efforts of his aunt and mother, to make Travancore one of the best-governed states of the whole Empire.
In 1804, Balarama Varma’s Dewan, Velu Thampi, cut spending on Travancore’s army, prompting a mutiny. The British quelled it, disbanded the army, and then demanded the Raja pay for British soldiers instead. Velu Thampi, who had been pro-British, feared loss of sovereignty and did not pay up; eventually he raised a revolt, which ended in defeat at Quilon in 1809.
Uthrittathi Thirunal Gowri Parvathi Bayi (1802–1853) ruled from 1815 to 1829, when she stood aside for her nephew Swathi Thirunal Rama Varma.
Swathi Thirunal Rama Varma (1813-1846) ruled from 1829 to his death.
Vaccination was a British invention. See Jesty and Jenner’s Jab.
Précis
After Queen Lakshmi died in 1815, her sister Parvati succeeded her. Though just thirteen, she drew on Munro’s experience to continue her sister’s reforms, abolishing discriminatory legislation and introducing state-funded teachers to Travancore’s schools. Parvati resigned the throne in favour of her nephew Swathi Thirunal, Lakshmi’s son, in 1829, who carried on the two Queens’ progressive policies. (57 / 60 words)
After Queen Lakshmi died in 1815, her sister Parvati succeeded her. Though just thirteen, she drew on Munro’s experience to continue her sister’s reforms, abolishing discriminatory legislation and introducing state-funded teachers to Travancore’s schools. Parvati resigned the throne in favour of her nephew Swathi Thirunal, Lakshmi’s son, in 1829, who carried on the two Queens’ progressive policies.
Variations: 1.increase the length of this precis to exactly 60 words. 2.reduce the length of this precis to exactly 50 words. 3.introduce one of the following words into the precis: about, despite, if, may, must, ought, unless, until.
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Word Games
Spinners Find in Think and Speak
For each group of words, compose a sentence that uses all three. You can use any form of the word: for example, cat → cats, go → went, or quick → quickly, though neigh → neighbour is stretching it a bit.
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
1 Cultivation. Ground. Two.
2 Appoint. Court. Vaccination.
3 Abolish. Almost. Tax.
Variations: 1. include direct and indirect speech 2. include one or more of these words: although, because, despite, either/or, if, unless, until, when, whether, which, who 3. use negatives (not, isn’t, neither/nor, never, nobody etc.)
Homonyms Find in Think and Speak
Each of the words below has more than one possible meaning. Compose your own sentences to show what those different meanings are.
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
1. Industry. 2. Base. 3. Left. 4. Stand. 5. Clear. 6. Ground. 7. Court. 8. Cousin. 9. Well.
Adjectives Find in Think and Speak
For each word below, compose sentences to show that it may be used as an adjective. Adjectives provide extra information about a noun, e.g. a black cat, a round table, the early bird etc..
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
1 Longest. 2 Best. 3 Older. 4 Left. 5 Liberal. 6 Wide. 7 Fortunate. 8 Long. 9 Better.
Variations: 1.show whether your adjective can also be used as e.g. a noun, verb or adverb. 2.show whether your adjective can be used in comparisons (e.g. good/better/best). 3.show whether your adjective can be used in attributive position (e.g. a dangerous corner) and also in predicate position (this corner is dangerous).
High Tiles Find in Think and Speak
Make words (three letters or more) from the seven letters showing below, using any letter once only. Each letter carries a score. What is the highest-scoring word you can make?
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