Meet Victoria Gowramma, Indian princess raised inside Buckingham Palace
The article recounts the life of Victoria Gowramma, the daughter of the last Raja of Kodagu, who was raised in Buckingham Palace under the guardianship of Queen Victoria. She became the first Indian royal to convert to Christianity.
Why it matters
It provides historical context on the British colonial impact on Indian royalty and the cultural assimilation policies of the 19th century.
The British imperial dream had far more consequences than just the expansion of the empire. It left many lives destroyed, kingdoms stolen and people homeless with nowhere to go. Among these was Chikka Veerarajendra, the last Raja of Kodagu (Coorg) who was deposed by the British on 24 April 1834 CE after losing the Coorg War against the East India Company.Under the orders of army officer James Stuart Fraser, the kingdom was annexed to British India and the king was taken as a political prisoner to Benaras.
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