“And now, my Marian, from its shackles free, My wearied fancy turns for ease to thee; To thee, my compass through life’s varied stream, My constant object, and unfailing theme. Torn from the bosom of my soul’s repose, And self-devoted to surrounding woes, Oft o’er my solitary thoughts I brood— (For passing crowds to me are solitude)— Catch thy loved image, on thy beauties dwell, Improved by graces which no tongue can tell, The look which I have seen, by love endeared, The voice to love attuned, which I have heard. Or rapt in thoughts of higher worth, adore Thy virtues, drawn by mem’ry’s faithful store; Or court, as now obsequious at her shrine, The Muse, unkind on ev’ry theme but thine. ” – Warren Hastings
Majestic Shores of Carnatic Land
It was 17th century when Madras was officially given as treaty for EIC (East India Company) by Local Nayak who was under Vijayanagar Emperors. Dutch and Portuguese has already taken over Musilipatnam and Pondicherry. Francis Day, who was a chief of EIC council; He was not happy with the second site of EIC which was Durgarazpatnam, the low quality of cloth EIC was receiving from Durgarazpatnam made them change the location.Francis day carried out a voyage from first site which was Musilipatnam (currently it is named as Machilipatnam in Andhra Pradesh) to Pondicherry for identifying new location to build a company and port. Francis Day confirmed the location in middle of Carnatic land – Carnatic land is a combined land of Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu – at year 1639 for purchase. Francis Day asks Coogan to supervise the building Madras. Francis doesn’t know Madras was going to achieve these many records when it was built. This small five square kilometers in the coastal strip around the St George fort is named as George Town as fort opening day was coinciding with St George Day.Based on the treaty with Nayaks it was mentioned that the EIC Madras site has to be painted only in white, this made George Town to be referred as White town and surroundings of George Town as Black Town by locals and our ancestors. It could have been named based on discrimination but no proper proof for naming.Salesman to StatesmanGeorge Town later expanded its land space on regular intervals which made them to accomadate nearer villages like Mylapore, Adyar, Guindy, Thiruvottiyur and Etc before it hit century years old.After a century, in the mid of 18th century, Chennai was mostly raining compared to beginning of 18th century and end of 18th century. Chennai port had become secondary territory since Calcutta was considered as primary location for British EIC.The well-known governor of EIC was Robert Clive. He has seen an application from ex-employee of EIC, It was Warren Hastings who was a great student, literary person and great administrator and bold enough to take quick decisions and fight from front row. His intelligence and bravery impressed Robert Clive in the Battle of Plassey and the Battle of Buxar. Robert Clive even made Warren Hastings as Ambassador of EIC.
Duke of Grafton
In 1769, it was winter of the year which is beginning of the year in England. Warren hasting boarded into Duke of Grafton, a sailor ship which doesn’t know it was going to hold the famous love story and the famous governor in it when it was flagged off from the port. The wind surfing ships were the mode of transportation between countries. Sailing in the sea is not an easy task not even now then think about the rough travel at 18th century; Very tedious and unhealthy mode of transportation. The well-built and good conditioned ship like Duke of Grafton itself takes eight months to travel from England to India. Warren was a widower who actually married to a widower. Mary was victim from Black hole tragedy of Calcutta when and where the Warren Hasting was first imprisoned. Mary lost her husband in the black hole tragedy who was a commander and she later moved to refugee camp. After a year Warren also escaped to refugee camp in Fulta where he met Mary and married to her. It was a marriage on sacrifice but they led a happy life until Mary died at 1759. After ten years of singlehood and boring career in England Warren hasting boarded into ship with lot of dreams in India. There was another person in the same ship boarded with lot of dreams. Baron Imhoff, very famous family in German war land but Baron had different ideas. He was a good painter, after his marriage life the earnings was not enough for Baron in England and Germany. Baron decided to apply a job in EIC and boarded into same ship with his wife Baronese Van Imhoff (or) Anna Maria Apollonia Chapuset (or) Marian von Imhoff.
As initially mentioned sea travels are not as easy as it seems or luxurious in 18th century. Life was miserable in Sea. Food habits get changed; as a result of boredom people tend to eat more. Nothing to see outside, it is full of blue sea may be the sea color changes from place to place but all you can see is sea. Storms are no fun for the sailor boat. At times the sea is no calm. Travelling through three oceans is not a dream to live. In this hectic voyage whatever makes people happy they tend to do it.
The beautiful ship sails in the ocean along with other ships when Warren hasting saw the beautiful couple in the ship. Yes, as expected it was Mr and Mrs Imhoff. Young and beautiful twenty two years old woman, with the shine in the skin which her age gave and the brunette hair which her family gave she glowed like a moon. No wonder that anyone can fall for her but not for gentle English man. Warren hasting maintained his dignity towards the couple but time and loneliness can turn anyone upside down. Middle aged Warren hasting slowly developed relationship with Mrs Imhoff.
The charmer Warren hasting. He was well known for his literary work in Persian also he had love towards languages like Urdu, Presian and English. He was also known as man of letters. His words were heart melting and poetic. Well girls fall for poems even in twenty first century, when there was no internet or any media, poets are heroic that too a well-known councilor in EIC. Now a days leaving a group of people in a house where no facility of entertainment other than talking to each other. Television companies make people to watch how their mood swings and how their behavior changes time to time. It is just hundered days think about eight months of travel in the sailor ship where nothing to see other than water. Lot of flirty chats and love stories at times cheat stories arouse. Sneaking around in the ship to make love, they try utilizing every possible situation to kill their frustration. Warren hasting sees that Imhoff couples were not very happy. Baron Imhoff was not giving a damn when Mrs Imhoff is hanging around Warren. Marian was an intelligent woman and her intentions towards Warren was not only infatuation or flirty chats. Warren would have said about his worthy history in Calcultta which he started more than a decade before. His excellence towards administration and his contirbutions towards the battle ground with Clive. His ex-wife and his kids and their tales, All these would have made an impression on him but Warren doesn’t have anything else apart from Imhoff was beautiful, isn’t it enough to fall for her. At that time, the world was man made world and mostly women are considered based on their beauty. But Warren and Marian is not just fairy tale, it was complicated. 18th century was not easy to fall for married woman when 21st century is not ready for that. After the long conversations they made, their flirty talks changed to deep conversions over their family and marriage life. Baron has no regard to Marian actually he doesn’t have his own regard. He was not seemed very bothered about Warren’s closeness with Marian. To add up oil on burning fire, Warren fell seasick and Imhoff volunteered to nurse him through his sickness with her husband’s consent.
Madras Patnam
In monsoon of year 1769, Duke of Grafton reached the shores of Carnatic coastal strip. Breezing shores of George Town, waves hit harder on the sandy shores of madras patnam with no big buildings hiding the beauty of elegant seashore. From St George fort the total busy port can be viewed. From Bay of Bengal St George fort is very visible, which was standing tall to give belief to their dreams. St Geroge fort was old days “Madras corporation welcomes you” board. With good monsoon rain, sand in the shore produces cold air to breath and feel. The darker tone in the sand of the shore added more beauty, Warren was in Calcutta but the fresh look in the port of Madras with wind surf boats and cargo ships and passenger ships. Warren Marian relationship is not just friendship; they know the depth of it. It reassured when they decided to stay together.The conservative Capital The first caste fight happened in Madras was way before Warren Hasting arrival. Entire EIC knows Warren is staying with Imhoff family. Madras had zero tolerance in caste, culture and rituals. Untouchability and suppression based on man-made inequality with Caste, Pride and Gender. In Warren and Marian case, but Madras seems to be pretty okay. No history evidence of making fuzz over relationship between Warren and Marian may be because Hicky was not in Madras. James Augustus Hickey who was an Irish man and first person to publish printed newspaper on the name of Bengal Gazette. His daring articles were a huge nightmare in later part of Warren’s life. Now back to Warren and Marian story. None of the organization raised a cultural concern on Warren’s relationship may be because they are not daring to fight against the council member or Madras native people thought it is pretty common for English people. From George fort the gorgeous seashore worn Ships and Boats as ornaments can make anyone fall in love with the Madras but for Warren it is not only love on the shore but also made him remember Marian every now and then. Warren would have definitely taken Marian to the beach. No lovers in Madras can ignore the Marina either its 18th century or 21st century. The couples hadn’t have missed the rural greenery of St Thomas Mount and Traditional beauty of Mylapore and River Banks of Adyar. Either tall and lean palm trees or old and large pupil trees along the sides of Madras roads with the breeze from Bay of Bengal would have added a pleasant memory to Warren and Marian.
Patience on Delay Once they decided to get marry Warren had a deal meeting with Baron. Baron was almost threatened to leave Marian Imhoff. He had a big money deal with Baron for applying divorce. By the time Baron’s dream of saving money through painting was almost completed because he had painted atmost possible big shots in Madras Patnam. He had been applied for transfer to Calcutta. Baron already knew that Warren and Marian were deeply in love and He is also not interested in his martial life. He has accepted the deal and applied divorce. But Karma plays its game anyway, either you are true to love or not. Baron was transferred to Calcutta along with Marian Von Imhoff.
“I shall sail again with this Night’s Tide,
and if I find myself within Reach of Calcutta in the next,
I intend to finish my Voyage to morrow in the Feelchehra.
Possibly my Apprehensions may be less gloomy when I
have quitted this weary scene, but of One Thing I am
certain, that no Time nor Habits will remove the Pressure
of your Image from my Heart, nor from my Spirits, nor
would I remove it, if I could, though it prove a perpetual
Torment to me.
Yesterday as I lay upon my Bed, and but half asleep,
I felt a sensation like the Fingers of your Hand gently
moving over my Face and Neck, and could have sworn
that I heard your Voice. O that I could be sure of such
an Illusion as often as I lay down ! And the Reality
seerns to me an Illusion. Yesterday morning I held in
my Arms all that my Heart holds dear, and now she is
separated from me as if She had no longer Existence. O
my Marian, I am wretched; and I shall make you so
when you read this.” – Warren Hastings
The split made them devastated and most particularly Warren. By the time Warren had proposed an idea to combine all three sites – Calcutta, Madras and Bombay – of EIC under one ruler; the most important metropolitan cities by then and now. The idea seems to be approved and executed. Meanwhile separation with Marian made Warren more emotionally weaker and poetically stronger. Warren couldn’t stop thinking about his days with Marian, all these two years his life was heaven. Warren appreciated her beauty and caring nature. Well, men didn’t allow women to do other than taking care of men. So Warren had nothing else to appreciate about Marian. His days and night were spent with equal longings and time consuming. Now a days, couples can’t wait for more than one or two years to marry their loved ones but this couple had waited two years in their relationship to know that they are okay to get marry. His own idea of creating a single ruler policy made him as the first governor general of Calcutta. Now Warren has a relief to see Marian. Warren lived with her letters and posted in wishes and desires in words. His empty bedroom with ample amount of memories about Marian and fragrance of German woman killed his soul and tormented him on daily basis. If you are a boyfriend/lover/husband then you may know how little actions and reactions of your beloved woman can keep haunting you when you miss them. His memories with her in the beach, river or mount and the fort nevertheless epic love story scenes. Warren was a person who fall in love with languages, is it hard for him to fall for Marian. Like a well-organized and rhythmic poem stays forever in the heart Marian has been pasted in his heart. This lovely couple had to wait for eight years. Warren has funded the entire divorce case for throughout the eight years. Though Warren moved to Calcutta they couldn’t officially bring out their love of life until Baron Imhoff divorced Marian.
“Ah me! no Gods, nor Angels now descend, The sons of men in pity to befriend! My sufferings else might some kind spirit move To give me back on terms the wife I love: And more than half my life would I resign, For health, her purchase, and herself, for mine, Borne by the Pow’rs of Air, or she should rise, Or I rejoin her through the distant skies. No more my thoughts in solitude should mourn My sweet companion from my presence torn; Nor rigid duty force me to remain, And see her sails diminish on the main. To her my destined hours, though few, I’d give, And while I lived, a life of bliss I’d live.” – Warren Hastings
No couple can sustain a year of wait time in recent days but Warren and Marian had to wait for eight years. No one can judge them because Marian was married woman. Their love sustained till their life end, they have celebrated their marriage like festival in Calcutta. This beautiful and controversial love story may be started in the sea but grown strong and decided to marry in the sands of southern Carnatic coastal strip called as Madras Patnam.
Love prevails
References
Old and New tales of MadrasLetters of Warren HastingHastings written by MacaulayWarren Hastings poems
