Dutch Ambassador to India, Alphonsus Stoelinga, launched today the English version of the website www.dutchinkerala.com.
The dutchinkerala.com is a history-cum-information website on Kerala.
The Malayalam version's immense popularity has prompted us to come with an English version. www.dutchinkerala.com in Malayalam has been viewed by more than 1.5 lakh online users so far since its launch three years ago.
The Ambassador said considering the immense demand from history enthusiasts from and outside the country, we are now launching an English version of the website created by noted journalist Malayinkeezhu Gopalakrishnan (M S Gopalakrishnan).
The dutchinkerala.com presents the major events occurred in Kerala since the arrival of European powers, their tug of war for power and its consequent impact in the history of the world in detail.
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Kerala, located in the southern tip of Indian peninsula, has an eventful history compared to many other states in India.
According to records, the state enjoyed trade relations with many foreign countries since BC. Major European powers, who reached the shores of the state through the sea route during the 15th century in search of the rich reserves of spices of the land, altered the history of Kerala.
The arrival of the Portuguese sailor Vasco da Gama who reached the Kappad beach, located in the present Kozhikode district in north Kerala, coined a new chapter not only in the history of the state, but in the history of the world itself.
Later, the other major European powers of the period like the Dutch, the English, the Denmark and the French reached the land through the new sea route back-to-back.
An elaborated account on the administration of the British, who won the final battle for the supremacy in Kerala, India's freedom movement, the formation of the unified Kerala and the coming up of a democratic government under the newly compiled Indian constitution are the major highlight of the website.
The Dutch took over the power of the Central Kerala (Kochi) from the Portuguese. They ruled the state from 1663 to 1795. The website takes the readers through the significant episodes of the history of Kerala, India and the world during the period.
It also depicts the significant contributions of the Dutch in various fields of the state. A brief note and pictures on HortusMalabaricus, the botanical account on the state flora which is considered as one of the greatest contributions of the Dutch to the land, is also included in the site.
The 12 volume-book was printed from Amsterdam during the period 1678-1701. It was the first book in which the Malayalam letters had appeared for the first time.
Veteran journalist MalayinkeezhuGopalakrishnan (M S Gopalakrishnan) is the editor of the bi-lingual website, which has been launched with the support of the Dutch Embassy in New Delhi.
Dr B Shobhanan, former Head of the Department of History, Kerala University, serves as the consulting editor.
A group of eminent persons including historians, journalists and academicians, also serves as content advisers of the website.
