: Named After Victoria, This Indian Princess Was One Of The First ‘Royals of Colour’ #IndiaNEWS #History The Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s interview with Oprah put a spotlight on Britain’s colonial

Named After Victoria, This Indian Princess Was One Of The First ‘Royals of Colour’ #IndiaNEWS #History
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s interview with Oprah put a spotlight on Britain’s colonial history. As Meghan Markle expressed the palace’s concerns around her then-unborn son Archie’s skin colour, several took a stand to express their shock at the racism she experienced at the hands of the British media, and how the royals “failed to empathise??? with these aspects.
In this context, it becomes important to recognise a long forgotten ‘princess of colour’ whose struggles have slowly and steadily been erased from the pages of history. Yet, her existence plays an equally important role in highlighting Buckingham Palace’s treatment of non-white persons. In a piece written for The Quint, historian of Victorian royalty Dr Priya Atwal said that parallels can be drawn from the racial undertones of Meghan’s life and the story of Victoria Gouramma, the daughter of Chikavira Rajendra and the last king of the Kodagu (Coorg).
Princess Gowramma was adopted by Queen Victoria (Source)
‘Royals of colour’
On 24 April 1834 CE, Chikavira Rajendra was deposed after losing the Coorg War against the British East India Company. Under Army officer James Stuart Fraser’s orders, the kingdom was annexed to British India, and the king was taken as a political prisoner in Benaras. The king spent around 14 years there, and in 1852, travelled to London with 11-year-old Gouramma to demand the British government return his ancestral wealth, and that his daughter be provided care and a secure future under Christianity. The two became the first Indians to arrive on Britain’s turf. He was accompanied by his good friend Dr Willian Jeafersson, who advised the king to first bring up matters surrounding Gouramma’s future and then fight his case for his rightful property.
A report by the Illustrated London News on their arrival in 1852 stated, “The ex-Rajah of Coorg is one of the native princes whose kingdoms have fallen by their own internal dissensions and weakness into power of this countryThe Princess Gouramma is the offspring of one of his Highness’s favourite Ranees, a native of the Coorg country. The Princess was born at Benaras on a Sunday in February 1841, and her mother died two days afterwards; a circumstance which seems to have led to an increased affection for the child on part of the ex-Rajah, who having forfeited his native caste, determined that his favourite daughter should be reared in the principles of the Christian religion, and hence, his Highness’s visit to England. ???
The report also highlighted how the “Hindoo faith??? was being “abandoned for the truths of the Christian religion??? and that Princess Gouramma was described as a “pigeon among crows??? and the “fairest of the clock???.

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