Queen Mochikabbe of Kasaragod

A medieval  (13th century) stone inscription of Talangere village in Kasargod town of Kerala in southern India  tells us about a philanthropic queen who helped cure a drought and help the subjects in her own way.

Mochikabbe's husband, king Jayasimha wanted to hive her a present and asked her to name a wish. She asked for a piece of barren land, full of rocks and thorns, which nobody wanted and nobody visited. The king accordingly granted such a property, in a far way place from the capital.

Mochikabbe got the land cleared, and diverted a water stream to the property.  She arranged for water conservation, and turned the property into cultivatable and habitable area. Orchards and tile-roofed houses were built, and she donated it to public use.

The inscription further suggests that the place became a temporary shelter for criminals because, the queen provided a temporary amnesty to those who committed crimes like murder and robbery, without fear of punishment.  The inscription says that the queen understood the human nature that caused such crimes and wanted a place for the criminals to realize their mistake and repent. The inscription says that criminals then surrendered themselves to royal authorities, and commends the queen on helping maintain law and order in the kingdom.

See Also:

• Tracing History through Illustrated Memorials
• Stories the Stones Tell
• Kerala -- God's Own Country