HISTORY, LEGENDS & MYTHOLOGY

Jewish community honours royal family of Kochi

     Kochi: A Jewish delegation from the US, on a visit to the country, has felicitated the erstwhile royal family of Kochi for providing a safe haven to their community during the Nazi persecution before the Second World War. Currently there are around 52 members of the Jewish community in Kerala. The seven-member team headed by Kenneth Robbins visited the Royal family of Kochi to felicitate and present them with the B'nai Brith Distinguished Humanitarian award for their hospitality and magnanimity during the days of Second World War. The award was presented to Ramavarma Kochaniyan Thamburan, the eldest member of the Kochi Royal Family. The award is a 'Shofar' mounted on a plaque, with a brass strip carrying the lines of appreciation. Head of the delegation, Kenneth Robbins said that Kerala has a glorious 2000-year-old history of accepting Jews and Judaism. He added that very few countries have welcomed Jews as lovingly as India even amidst struggle and conflicts. "In the history of the world, reception of Jews in Kerala is unique. When we tell people they don't believe us," said Robbins. He added: "We see a real family here. A family that walked with us for the past 2000 years, gave refuge to Jews. Jews are accepted as individuals in Kochi, as a group not to be tortured but to be assimilated." Ramavarma Kochaniyan, the eldest member of the royal family, of Kochi was thrilled to receive the award. He said: "I'm very much delighted and happy to receive this honour by the Jewish community." B'nai Brith will be honouring the rulers and the people who protected Jewish settlements in various pockets of India especially in the Konkan, including areas like Janjira and Malvan. These settlements were protected by the Maratha rulers.
-Feb 24, 2005    

Previous File                             Current File