The British “Brother” and the Travancore Sister
Reading Colonial Diplomacy in Archived Letters
Keywords:
Travancore, South Asian history, Letters, Domesticity, Discourse, Colonial diplomacyAbstract
The aim of this study is to engage in a critical discourse analysis of an archival letter written by the Travancore regent, Rani Gowri Parvati Bayi, to the British Resident, Colonel McDowell, conveying her condolences on the death of King George III. An examination of the macrostructure of the letter reveals that it is primarily political rather than personal, despite the emotive language used. The linguistic strategies employed by the regent demonstrate how the discourse of domesticity is used to facilitate diplomatic relations with the British. Secondary sources also suggest that the relationship between the resident and the regent is characterised by mutual respect and benefit. The paper argues that the familial tone used by the regent served a broader political purpose of maintaining both the stability of the kingdom and her own political autonomy. The letter serves as a case study in the domain of colonial diplomacy and gendered language.
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