2990) Did You Know Series (82): Major General Claude Martin (05.01.1735-13.09.1800), Founder of the Martiniere Colleges in Calcutta (present day Kolkata - India), Lucknow (India) and Lyon, (France): Remembering his legacy on the 223rd Founders Day - 13.09.2023:
About Major-General Claude Martin (05.01.1735 - 13.09.1800) -Founder's Day - 13.09.2023:
In 1751, as a young man of 16, born in Lyon, France, Claude Martin decided to seek his fortune abroad and signed up with the French Compagnie de Indies.
Coming from a modest background, his mother told him when he was leaving for India that he should not return from enlisting as a soldier until he was coming back "in a carriage".
He started his military career as a dragoon (a member of a cavalry regiment) and also served under Governor General of French India Joseph Dupleix.
He fought in the Carnatic Wars against the British East India Company 1752-56, the Battle of Plassey in 1757 when the French allied with Nawab Siraj-ud-Daula, but when the French lost their colony of Pondicherry in 1761, the English during negotiated settlements with the French saw his capabilities as a stateman/diplomat and encouraged him to join the Bengal Army of the East India Company, where he rose to the rank of Major-General.
- At this time, the East India Company was interested in expanding the river trade into the territories of the Nawab of Awadh.
- He was sent to negotiate a deal with Nawab Asaf-ud-Daula (1748-1798), who was 13 years younger to him. He immediately became a trusted confidante of Asaf-ud-Daula, who saw in him a person, essential to off-set the East India Company's influence.
In 1776, Martin being totally devoid of political ambition was appointed as the Superintendent of the Arsenal for the Nawab of Awadh Asaf-ud-Daula at Lucknow, while retaining his rank with the East India Company.
- As a diplomat, he walked the tight-rope between the Nawab and the EIC and he was trusted by both.
He resided in Lucknow from 1776 until he passed away in 1800. It was the 'Reign of Terror' during the French Revolution that prevented him from returning home to Lyon "in a carriage".
More about Claude Martin:
He was a perfectionist and possessed a keen sense of observation and developed a plethora of interests in various fields.
He became a great Surveyor, an architect, manufacturer of cannon, amminition, bells and coins, even though he had no formal training in these areas.
He experimented with Hot Air balloons, indigo plantations, and even had a banking system.
As a Surveyor:
When in the Service of the Bengal Army of the British East India Company, he surveyed and drew maps of several uncharted territories including Undwannala, Chunargarh, the River Teesta and Cooch Behar. His maps were accepted in the Bengal Atlas by the BEIC (British East India Company).
As an Architect:
He became a great architect for Asaf-ud-Daula, the Nawab of Awadh and together they designed many of Lucknow’s historical buildings.
Some of the buildings of Lucknow which have Martin's distinctive touch are - Chattar Manzil, Farhad Baksh, Asafi Kothi, Bibiapur Kothi, Barowen and of course the "Constantia" - which is believed to be named after his first love "Constance", which is the grandest buildings of all he built.
Constantia is described as a "wedding cake in brick", which was completed after he passed away.
Most of Martin's buildings were unique and were copied extensively by other designers keeping in mind their defence against military attack.
The last building which he completed as an architect was the Raj Bhawan at Lucknow in 1798 which is celebrating its 225 Anniversary this year.
An Art Connoisseur:
- He had a prized collection of over 650 paintings of birds and a few of himself and his close friend Antoine-Louis Polier. He used the services of European painters like Rinaldi, Hodges and Zoffany, whenever they visited India, and he also had several paintings by local painters whom he encouraged to make exceptional paintings.
- One painting from his collection is now with the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York while another is now exhibited in the British Library in London.
- In 1973, I did a lot of research on Claude Martin for a post on him for the "Martiniere Post" (the College Bulletin).
As part of my research, I visited Martin Purwa (a village settled on the Martiniere Estate). The youngsters who swarmed me were very intrigued by my visit, when I told them that I was collecting some information on "Martin Saab".
I was ushered to a hutment, where I met an old gentleman whose Great Great Grandfather had worked on the furnishings and interior decorations of "Constantia" building. He had an old original painting of "Martin Saab" which he was rather proud of. My interaction with the villagers revealed that quite a few of them were working as cooks, servants, gardeners etc and above all Lucknow Golf Club caddies.
Martin as a member of the Awadh Aristocracy:
- He was treated as a member of the Aristocracy and amassed a huge fortune from the buildings he constructed and became a trust-worthy money-lender and banker to the aristocracy.
He also gave loans to several poor people and if they could not repay he would call his accountants to write off the loans. Several of these people he settled in Martin Purwa.
Martin's Legacy and Charitable nature:
Martin's Will exhibits his charitable nature -
He "owned" a lot of servants, both male and female (as was the practice in those days) - whom he freed and made provisions for their welfare/providence in his Will, after he passed away.
Claude Martin never married and he left no heirs.
- Having lived in India, which had become his home, he left his wealth for the children and people of India. He was more of an Indian than a Frenchman.
He left the greater part of his wealth to several charities.
He was a self-made man, and he left a substantial legacy in the form of his writings, buildings and educational institutions that were founded posthumously.
Being almost entirely self-educated, he realised the value of a formal education and in his will, he set aside a large portion of his estate for the founding of schools at Calcutta (present day Kolkata), Lucknow and Lyon (France), the city of his birth, which are his most eloquent monuments.
- In fact there are now seven schools named after him - two in Lucknow, two in Kolkata and three in Lyon.
The residue of his estate after bequests had been made was to be used for the maintenance of these schools.
Sunset Days:
In 1798, when Nawab Asaf-ud-Daula passed away and a new Nawab – Saadat Ali Khan became the ruler of Avadh/Oudh, Martin spent the last days of his life in Constantia where he passed away.
His close friend, Antoine-Louis Polier left India to return to France, where he was stabbed to death during the French Revolution.
Martin never formally gave up his nationality as a Frenchman, but definitely intended to, towards the end of his life.
He was laid to rest as per his instructions written in his Will.
The epitaph in the vault which is Claude Martin’s final resting place in Constantia and which was penned by him himself reads:
"Arrived in India as a common soldier
and died at Lucknow on 13th September,
1800, as a Major General.
He is buried in this tomb.
Pray for his soul."
The anniversary of Claude Martin's passing is celebrated by Martiniere Schools as "Founder's Day".
I have always wondered as to why the day of Martin's passing is "celebrated". The answer is amply clear to me now.
If you ever go to Martin's last resting place in the Constantia building, you will feel a very positive energy pervading the room. It is as if he is blessing the young students and visitors from over two centuries ago and guiding you to follow his example and become a successful charitable man or woman.
Also he is forever present with us through - "The La Martiniere Coat of Arms":
Claude Martin personally, designed The La Martinière Coat of Arms and he wanted it to be represented in the schools (later Colleges) which were to come up later on so that his legacy will live on forever.
The Coat-of-Arms is supported by seven flags, each bearing the design of a fish, taken from the Emblem of Oudh.
The devices on the Escutcheon (shield or emblem bearing a Coat of Arms) appear to epitomise Claude Martin's life.
The ship recalls his voyage to India where he established his fortune. The lion with the pennant represents his career as an officer in the East India Company and with the Nawab of Oudh.
The setting sun behind the castellated building to the right of the shield points to the sunset of his days and the large part which the building of "Constantia" played in his later years.
The coat of arms and the accompanying motto "Labore et Constantia" are now shared by all the schools founded by Martin.
Whenever one wears a Martiniere badge or sees the Martiniere crest/flag, it is as if he is there personally/eternally telling you his life story.
Vimal Dikshit has commented:
ReplyDelete"बहुत अच्छी जानकारी। तुम्हारी पोस्ट तुम्हारे वॉल पर जाकर सुकून से पढ़ने वाली होती हैं। तभी उसका आनंद है।"
Thank you so much, Vimal for visiting this post and your encouraging comment.
DeleteRaj Kumar Srivastava has commented:
ReplyDelete"An interesting post enhancing our knowledge about old Awadh culture too😍"
Thank you so much, Raj. Today was the day, when Martin passed away. All Martinians - students and alumni of the Martiniere Colleges celebrate this day as "Founder's Day".
DeleteRajan Trikha has commented:
ReplyDelete"Very interesting historical facts 👍👍"
Thank you so much Trikha sahab.
DeleteKapil Kaul has commented:
ReplyDelete"A damned good piece on Martiniere. A lot of it has been penned by Darymple in his books."
Thanks, Kapil.
Delete