You might be familiar with Meghan Markle, the American-born actress who married into the British royal family. But before Meghan, there was another woman of the same colour in Britain’s royalty, and her story is all but forgotten. Her name was Victoria Gowramma, and she was an Indian princess.
A Princess from Coorg
Victoria Gowramma was born in 1841 to a royal family in Coorg (now part of Karnataka, India). Her father, Chikka Veerarajendra, was the last king of Coorg. But when the British annexed his kingdom, there was no other option for him but to leave India and shift to England hoping that perhaps he might gather some support and sympathy from none other than Queen Victoria herself. But when he went, he was not alone, he took along his daughter Gowramma, who was young at the time.
The Queen’s Special Interest
Queen Victoria was simply awed when she initially met Gowramma. She was impressed by the child’s etiquette, grace, and charisma. Queen Victoria wanted her to be her goddaughter. Queen Victoria then converted Gowramma to Christianity, had her baptized, and gave her the name Victoria after herself.
The Queen even had lofty aspirations, he hoped Princess Gowramma would assist in showing Britain that individuals from colonies such as India were capable of being “civilized” and being integrated into British society.
The Tough Times
Although she was residing among the royal circles and within close proximity of Queen Victoria, British society did not welcome Gowramma. They saw her skin colour and her origins first. They saw her as a curiosity rather than as a full-time member of the royal circle.
The Queen attempted to wed Gowramma off to yet another Indian prince in Britain Maharaja Duleep Singh but that too didn’t happen. Gowramma eventually married an Englishman named Colonel Campbell. Unfortunately, the marriage turned out to be a blunder. He ill-treated her and exploited her riches.
A Sad and Early End
A long way from home and with scant backup, Princess Gowramma died at the age of 23. She had a single daughter, but her tale gradually disappeared from people’s minds. Few people today remember that there was ever a time when there was an Indian princess who lived in Buckingham Palace, under the watchful eye of Queen Victoria herself.
The Tale To Be Remembered
Gowramma’s life was no fairy tale, it was a whispered tragedy. She lived between two worlds: The Indian royalty and The British empire. She attempted to enter the world of British upper class, but however well turned out or well mannered she was, her colour made the others despise her.
Her life matters because it teaches us how race, power, and colonialism impact real individuals not only in war and politics, but also in the personal lives. She was not a name in history books. She was a hopeful young woman, who attempted to create a life for herself in a world that didn’t know her worth.
As we speak more today of representation and inclusion, Princess Victoria Gowramma’s story is a reminder that these fights have been going on for centuries, sometimes in secret, or sometimes in front of the world, so let’s honour her, let’s remember and lets tell her story to everybody out there.
