Jewish Copper Plate
Encyclopedia
Jewish Copper Plate was a copper plate grant given to Jews by Kulasekhara
(Later Chera dynasty) king Bhaskara Ravi Varman I (962-1019 A.D.), immortalizing himself in Kerala history. This inscription conferred on a "Jewish Chief Joseph Rabban
, the rights of the Anjuvannam and 72 other properietary rights."
During the visit of Ariel Sharon
to India in 2003, the then Tourism minister of Kerala
, K.V. Thomas presented Sharon with a replica of the copper plate issued by the Bhaskara Ravi Varman II , king of Cochin, to "Ousepp Irabban" (interpreted to be Joseph Rabban
, the leader of the Jewish community of Cochin state), with permission to own, inhabit, trade and prosper in an exclusive island on the port of Kodungallur
, (referred to as muziris
by western authors including Pliny the Elder
). The Cochin Jews had a peaceful existence, free from persecution ( the only two notable exceptions being the brief periods of Portuguese
and Dutch
colonial rule over Cochin) in coastal towns like Kodungallur, Mala
, paravoor (also referred to as North parur, and Jew town near Mattancheri.
The text of the Sasanam translates as follows: "We have granted to Joseph Rabban the village of Anjuvannam together with the 72 proprietary rights, tolls on boats and carts, the revenue and title of Anjuvannam, the lamp of the day, a cloth spread in front to walk on, a palanquin, a parasol, a Vaduga (i.e., Teluge) drum, a trumpet, a gate way, a garland, decoration with festoons, and so forth.
"We have granted him the land tax and weight tax; moreover, we have sanctioned with these copper plates that he need not pay the dues which the inhabitants of the other cities pay the Royal palace, and that he may enjoy the benefits which they enjoy. To Joseph Rabban the Prince of Anjuvannam and to his descendants sons and daughters and to his nephews, and to the sons-in-law who married his daughters in natural succession. So long as the world and moon exist, Anjuvannam shall be his hereditary possession. Hail."
Kulasekhara
Kulasekhara or Later Chera dynasty was a classical Hindu dynasty founded by the saint King Kulashekhara Varman. The dynasty ruled the whole of modern Kerala state , Guddalore and some parts of Nilgiri district and Salem - Coimbatore region in southern India between 9th and 12th centuries AD...
(Later Chera dynasty) king Bhaskara Ravi Varman I (962-1019 A.D.), immortalizing himself in Kerala history. This inscription conferred on a "Jewish Chief Joseph Rabban
Joseph Rabban
Joseph Rabban was a Jewish merchant, possibly from Yemen, who came to the Malabar Coast in the mid eighth century. According to the traditions of the Cochin Jews, Joseph was granted the rank of prince over the Jews of Cochin by the Chera ruler Bhaskara Ravivarman II.He was granted the rulership...
, the rights of the Anjuvannam and 72 other properietary rights."
During the visit of Ariel Sharon
Ariel Sharon
Ariel Sharon is an Israeli statesman and retired general, who served as Israel’s 11th Prime Minister. He has been in a permanent vegetative state since suffering a stroke on 4 January 2006....
to India in 2003, the then Tourism minister of Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
, K.V. Thomas presented Sharon with a replica of the copper plate issued by the Bhaskara Ravi Varman II , king of Cochin, to "Ousepp Irabban" (interpreted to be Joseph Rabban
Joseph Rabban
Joseph Rabban was a Jewish merchant, possibly from Yemen, who came to the Malabar Coast in the mid eighth century. According to the traditions of the Cochin Jews, Joseph was granted the rank of prince over the Jews of Cochin by the Chera ruler Bhaskara Ravivarman II.He was granted the rulership...
, the leader of the Jewish community of Cochin state), with permission to own, inhabit, trade and prosper in an exclusive island on the port of Kodungallur
Kodungallur
Kodungallur is a municipality in Thrissur District, in the state of Kerala, India on the Malabar Coast. Kodungallur is located about 29 km northwest of Kochi city and 38 km Southwest of Thrissur, on National Highway 17 . Muziris the ancient seaport at the mouth of the Periyar River was...
, (referred to as muziris
Muziris
Muziris is an ancient sea-port in Southwestern India on the Periyar River 3.2 km from its mouth. The derivation of the name Muziris is said to be from "Mucciripattanam," "mucciri" means "cleft palate" and "pattanam" means "city". Near Muziris, Periyar River was branched into two like a...
by western authors including Pliny the Elder
Pliny the Elder
Gaius Plinius Secundus , better known as Pliny the Elder, was a Roman author, naturalist, and natural philosopher, as well as naval and army commander of the early Roman Empire, and personal friend of the emperor Vespasian...
). The Cochin Jews had a peaceful existence, free from persecution ( the only two notable exceptions being the brief periods of Portuguese
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
and Dutch
Dutch people
The Dutch people are an ethnic group native to the Netherlands. They share a common culture and speak the Dutch language. Dutch people and their descendants are found in migrant communities worldwide, notably in Suriname, Chile, Brazil, Canada, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, and the United...
colonial rule over Cochin) in coastal towns like Kodungallur, Mala
Mala, Kerala
Mala is the name of a small town in Thrissur district of Kerala, south India. K. Karunakaran, the former Chief Minister of Kerala, represented Mala constituency from 1965 to 1995. The famous Malayalam film actor Mala Aravindan is also a native of Mala. There is a Jewish synagogue at Mala town ). ...
, paravoor (also referred to as North parur, and Jew town near Mattancheri.
The text of the Sasanam translates as follows: "We have granted to Joseph Rabban the village of Anjuvannam together with the 72 proprietary rights, tolls on boats and carts, the revenue and title of Anjuvannam, the lamp of the day, a cloth spread in front to walk on, a palanquin, a parasol, a Vaduga (i.e., Teluge) drum, a trumpet, a gate way, a garland, decoration with festoons, and so forth.
"We have granted him the land tax and weight tax; moreover, we have sanctioned with these copper plates that he need not pay the dues which the inhabitants of the other cities pay the Royal palace, and that he may enjoy the benefits which they enjoy. To Joseph Rabban the Prince of Anjuvannam and to his descendants sons and daughters and to his nephews, and to the sons-in-law who married his daughters in natural succession. So long as the world and moon exist, Anjuvannam shall be his hereditary possession. Hail."