The proposed research aims to probe the hydrological relationship between the rulers, their subjects, and religion - taking the case of the princely state of Travancore (encompassing areas that are part of the present-day states of Kerala and Tamilnadu), from the mid-eighteenth to mid-twentieth centuries - from the establishment of modern Travancore to the abolition of monarchy and the linguistic reorganisation of Indian states in 1956. The work will elucidate the ways in which water became a tool in the process of state-building in Travancore. It will analyse the role of water in giving theocratic legitimacy to the state through rituals concerning water and other related traditions. This is apart from the varied ways in which water resources were managed and distributed. There will be considerable focus on the agency of the people amidst their historical experiences related to agriculture, folk traditions, and disaster resilience. Particular attention will be given to the contestations between the princely state and the colonial state over water resources in a condition of political asymmetry.
The thesis will explore these issues making critical use of a variety of sources - including the colonial and princely state’s records - available in different archives; and published primary and secondary sources including magazines, newspapers, and popular literature - in English, Malayalam and Tamil. The work will also draw upon religious records like the Mathilakom Records, and folk traditions with regard to traditional management of water resources.
The thesis through the ‘water-system approach’ will view water as a significant actor to probe into the diverse aspects of the relationship between water and society. It will also approach water studies with a cultural lens which will eventually bring out how water and society interacted and transformed each other.
In sum, this work will aim to examine Travancore in terms of a hydraulic state and society.