Even though I had eulogised the personal character of Martanda Varma in my earlier Commentary written in 2013 (See Part 1 of the Volume), there is something more I would like to state here. This comes from reading Malabar Manual by William Logan.

It is true that he was great in many ways. However, at the ends of the day, he was also just an individual who sees the world through the feudal language verbal codes. This is very much seen in the way he treated the Dutch. He made ‘gentlemen’s’ agreements with the Dutch. However, the Dutch trusted in his words and let down their guard. When it became apparent that they were no more powerful, Martanda Varma simply treated them in the way when lower indicant words are assigned to a person who has fallen. The change is from Adheham / Avar to Avan/Oan.