Ellora

Ellora એલોરા તાજ જમીન
Realm Dominion of Tiperyn
Flag Insular Penant Coat of Arms
Motto(s):  પરસ્પરોપગ્રહો જીવાનામ્ Parasparopagraho Jivanam 𐌷𐌰𐌻𐌳 𐌰𐌻, 𐍇𐌹𐍀𐍅𐌴 𐌰𐌻 Hâld Al, Tsjinje Al "Love All, Serve All"
Capital	Tasmanshaven
Official languages	Gujarati and Tipsprek
Recognised	Anglic, Skepasa
Religion	Jainism and Marianism
Demonym(s)	Elloran
Government	democratic presidential dependent territory under a constitutional monarchy
• Empress	Aletta I
• Governor-General	Jorrit Radmer
• Vanadar	Artharavan Roychand
Legislature	Rajya Parishada
Area
• Total	812 km2 (314 sq mi)
Population
• 2024 estimate	208786
• 2020 census	196321
• Density	80.4/km2 (208.2/sq mi)
Currency	Satamana (₴) (ELS) pegged to the Tiperyn Crown (₢)
Date format	2547-mm-dd dd-mm-yyyy
Driving side	right

Ellora, officially the Realm Dominion of Ellora, (Gujarati: એલોરા તાજ જમીન, Ēlōrā Tāja Jamīna; Tipsprek: , Rykshearskipij fan Elere), is an island nation and realm dominion of Tiperyn located off the coast of southeastern Kesh. The dominion covers a total of 812 sq km spread across the the eponymous main island and several smaller islands. The capital and most populous city is Tasmanshaven. Ellora is home to over 196,000 permanent and non-permanent residents. Gujarati and Tipsprek are the official languages, though Gujarati and the creole language Skepasa predominate.

Etymology

Ellora is a diminished form of the Sanskrit term एलापुर Elapura, meaning "place of cardamom", referring to the abundance of native Elettaria cardamomum growing on the island. The islands were also previously known as Kadmatam by the indigenous population.

Tiperyn explorers from Artemia reached the region in the late sixteenth century and indicated the islands on early maps as Stilstrânsee or "calm harbor". Later Tiperyn maps identified the islands as Eilannen Vaanekar from the Vaniyakara Kingdom.

History

Archaeological digs along the coastal areas around Kandivali in northern Ellora suggest that the Anantashakya Islands have been inhabited since at least 450 BCE. The earliest peoples to settle Ellora were Dravidian speakers from Adivasi. These populations continue to form an indigenous minority known as the Kadamba.

The islands were ruled by various Kadamba chiefdoms until being invaded and unified by the Navsarikas under Dharavarsha I in 1327 CE. The Navsarika were overthrown in 1502 by Vikramavarman, chief minister of the state, who established the Silahara Kingdom.

A number of natural disasters, famines, disease, and civil unrest devastated Ellora between 1598 and 1612, with the population of the island declining by 60% or more. The Silahara were reduced in power to only the confines of their capital in Lakkundi and received only nominal recognition from the now independent districts.

A pirate fleet, under the command of a Ramayan captain named Sengalang, captured the islands in 1618 and established the Santubong Republic. Sengalang used the large harbour and strategic location of Ellora to raid and terrorise local shipping and coastlines throughout all of southern Kesh. The Santubong engaged in the slave trade and would pass over a quarter of a million human beings through their docks and markets by the end of the 17th century

Government and politics

Ellora is a realm dominion or self-governing and semi-autonomous entity within the Holy Tiperyn Realm. Under the terms of the Articles of Dominion, Tiperyn oversees the external affairs of Ellora such as military and trade policy, while internal affairs and administration are ceded to the local government.

The head of state and supreme authority of the dominion is the monarch of Tiperyn, currently Empress Aletta. While the monarchy retains the historic powers of appointment and legislative consent, the introduction of constitutional rule removed the crown from direct administration of Tiperyn's overseas possessions. Instead, the government now appoints a Governor General, currently Jorit Radmer, to exercise the crown's prerogatives, represent Tiperyn's interests in the region, and oversee the international affairs of Ellora.

Executive power is vested in the Vanadar ("President"), currently Artharavan Roychand, and the presidentially-appointed members of the Tejasvi Orado ("Cabinet") known as Pradhan ("Ministers") and Vadilo ("Elders"). The Vanadar, and members of the Rajya Parishada ("legislature") known as Salakhara, are elected simultaneously for five year terms. The Rajya Parishada is made of 60 seats elected by a party list proportional system in multi-member districts

Prior to 2005, Ellora did not have a democratically elected government. The position of Vanadar was functionally hereditary and passed between members of the Sabarkhantha Sanghvi family responsible for the upkeep of the Ambikavijaya Tirth. Sanghvi Vanadars administered the state through decrees and consensus amongst village headmen and prominent business and religious leaders. Following the 2004 economic crisis and devastation from Cyclone Belimbing, mass protests overwhelmed the country. To avoid bloodshed and intervention by Tiperyn, and reportedly to escape retribution for mismanagement and corruption, the Sanghvis accepted exile abroad in Tiperyn. A caretaker government was put in place and a constitution establishing democratic elections was adopted.

Tasmanshaven, also known as Tasmanashraya or Port Tasman, is named after Captain Sjoerd Tasman who aided in the overthrow of the Vaniyakara Kingdom.

Economy

Ellora was established as a safe and duty-free harbour for merchants of Tiperyn in the 16th century and grew to become one of the most prominant colonial entrepots in the southwest Tethys. Shifting economic trends throughout the 17th century however, pushed markets and trade routes further north to mainland ports in Kodeshia and Akiteiwa. The subsequent drop in population and economic activity saw plantation agriculture become the dominant sector and source of employment on the island, particularly cash crops like saffron, opium, and coffee; and textile crops like cotton and flax. The industrial production of luxury textiles and decorative crafts exploded in the mid 18th century with the introduction of more efficient looms and rise of orientalist trends in Artemia.

Modern Ellora is considered a developing economy with an annual gross domestic product (GDP) of $675 million and one of the lowest per capita incomes in the region. Agriculture and agricultural processing continues to dominate the island and still employ a third of all residents, but slumps in global commodity prices and a catastrophic 1962 hurricane have forced the Elloran government to pursue diversification of the economy. In 1973 the government announced a public, private, and military partnership to develop Antheapura - a 5 km sq government funded district and neighbourhood on the outskirts of Tasmanshaven dedicated to the medical sciences, industry, and education. Exports in opiates and medical supplies and equipment now account for 5% of the national GDP, and both its civilian and military medical corps are deployed across the globe to disaster and conflict zones.

Since the 1980s, tourism has emerged as a primary sector of the Elloran economy and is projected to overtake agriculture as the chief source of income on the island by 2025. Cultural attractions as well as Ellora's well-preserved marine ecosystems and beach resorts attract a million visitors each year.

While difficult to quantify, government studies estimate that Naval Base Tasmanshaven and spending by Tiperyn personnel and the services that cater to them account for 8% of all economic activity in the capital.

Demographics

The 2020 Realm Census, conducted globally in all Tiperyn possessions, reported a permanent resident population of 196,321 and a non-permanent temporary resident population of 23,618 - primarily Tiperyn military and government personnel.

The island has an atypical male to female sex ratio of 1.08/1.00 due to the large military presence on the island.

Religion

Niganthism is the largest religion in Ellora and is practiced by over 72% of all residents according to the 2020 Census. The majority of Elloran Niganthis belong to the Vidhimarga denomination, specifically the Shasana school which is native to the island. Small minorities belong to the iconoclastic Kamnarisey school and other reformist schools such as Vosarada. There is also a small following of Balakara Niganthis amongst recent immigrants from Adivasi.

The constitution affords Jainism a preeminent position in state affairs as the "universal paramount creed and foundation of the sangh", while still enshrining freedom of religion and pluralistic coexistence for all citizens.

The Shasana school was founded by Acharya Ishvaramati in 1753. While adhering closely to mainline Vidhimarga beliefs, Shasanis disagree with other sects on monastic practices and espouse the full equality of nuns and lay women in the community. Shasanis are also distinguished by a greater reverence for the prophet Mallinatha and a more extensive canon of stories, treatises, and poetic scripture.

Messianism is the second largest religion in the country and is practiced by 14% of the population. The First Apostolic Church of Tiperyn is the dominant Messianist community and authority on the island and claims over 21,000 congregants. Other denominations such as Sigricianism and

Minamangunism is practiced by 5% of the population predominantly amongst Ellorans with Senoi Ramay ancestry.

Ethnic Groups

Ethnic groups of Ellora
Ethnic groups			percent
Elloran			57%
Dokla			24%
(East Kesh group)			8%
Eilanner Tiperyn			6%
Other			5%