Chithira Thirunal Maharaja

Chithira Thirunal Maharaja (His Highness "Padmanabha Dasa" Sri Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma Maharaja) (November 7, 1912–July 19, 1991) was the last ruling maharaja of the princely state of Travancore, in southern India. Chithira Thirunal Maharaja is famous for his Temple Entry Proclamation.

Accession

Maharaja of Travancore

Balarama Varma was the eldest son of HH Sethu Parvathi Bayi, Junior Rani of Attingal, by her consort, M.R.Ry Ravi Varma Kochu Koil Thampuran of Kilimanoor, a great-nephew of the celebrated painter Raja Ravi Varma. He was born on Deepavali day in 1912. Balarama Varma's mother was distantly related, by birth, to the royal house of Travancore in the direct female line. In 1900, following the absence of heirs in theTravancore Royal Family, she had been adopted by her maternal great-aunt. Thus, upon the death of his adoptive maternal uncle, Sri Moolam Thirunal Ramavarma, on August 7, 1924, Balarama Varma succeeded to the throne of Travancore under the Regency of his maternal aunt, the famous Maharani Sethu Lakshmi Bayi.  As was customary, he took the regnal name 'Sree Chithira Thirunal,' as he was born under the Chithiranakshatram or star.

Sree Chithira Thirunal reigned under the regency of his maternal aunt,Sethu Lakshmi Bayi, who was also his mother's first cousin. On November 6, 1930, upon his attaining majority, Sree Chithira Thirunal was invested with full ruling powers. He was instrumental in establishing the University of Travancore (now the University of Kerala) in 1937. He also had a beautiful palace built which is now a museum. He was able to secure the services of eminent statesmen such as C.P.Ramaswami Aiyar, who served as his chief minister for several years.

The period of HH Sree Chithira Thirunal Bala Rama Varma who took the reign of administration in 1931, witnessed many-sided progress. The promulgation of "Temple Entry Proclamation"(1936), was an act that underlined social emancipation. But the Punnapra - Vayalar massacre and government involvement at the time would represent the negative.During his rule it is believed that more than a thousand people were killed in the Punnapra-Vayalar uprising. Those who consider Travancore included in India as having contributed to its development would see the declaration of an Independent Travancore in 1947 also as a negative.

Later years

After British India became independent as two dominions in 1947, and after some initial hesitation, Sree Chithira Thirunal agreed to accede his state to the newDominion of India. Travancore was united with the neighbouring Cochin state and Sree Chitira Tirunal served as Rajpramukh of the Travancore-Cochin Union from July 1, 1949 to October 31, 1956, which was the entire duration of the existence of that political entity. On November 1, 1956, the state of Kerala was created by uniting the Malayalam-speaking areas of the Travancore-Cochin Union with those of neighbouring Madras State, and Sree Chithira Thirunal's office of Rajpramukh came to an end. On December 28, 1971, Sree Chitira Thirunal lost his privy purse and other privileges when the Indian government derecognized the rulers of the erstwhile princely states.

Sree Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma died at the Kowdiar Palace, Trivandrum in 1991, aged seventy-eight. He had ruled Travancore for 67 years and at his death, was one of the few surviving rulers of a first-class princely state in the old Indian Empire. He was also the last surviving Knight Grand Commander of both the Order of the Star of India and of the Order of the Indian Empire. He was succeeded as head of the royal house of Travancore by his brother, Uthradom Thirunal Marthanda Varma.

The government of India issued a stamp in 1991, commemorating the reforms that marked the rule of Sree Chithira Thirunal in Travancore. The Sree Chitra Thirunal Institute of Medical Sciences and Technology and the Sree Chitra Thirunal College of Engineering at Trivandrum were named after him.

Titles

• 1912-1924: Maharajkumar Bala Rama Varma III, Elaya Raja of Travancore
• 1924-1935: His Highness Sri Patmanabha Dasa Vanchipala Bala Rama Varma III, Kulasekhara Kiritapati Manney Sultan Maharaja Raja Ramaraja Bahadur, Shamsher Jang, Maharaja of Travancore
• 1935-1943: His Highness Sri Patmanabha Dasa Vanchipala Sir Bala Rama Varma III, Kulasekhara Kiritapati Manney Sultan Maharaja Raja Ramaraja Bahadur, Shamsher Jang, Maharaja of Travancore, GCIE
• 1943-1944: Major His Highness Sri Patmanabha Dasa Vanchipala Sir Bala Rama Varma III, Kulasekhara Kiritapati Manney Sultan Maharaja Raja Ramaraja Bahadur, Shamsher Jang, Maharaja of Travancore, GCIE
• 1944-1945: Lieutenant-Colonel His Highness Sri Patmanabha Dasa Vanchipala Sir Bala Rama Varma III, Kulasekhara Kiritapati Manney Sultan Maharaja Raja Ramaraja Bahadur, Shamsher Jang, Maharaja of Travancore, GCIE
• 1945-1946: Colonel His Highness Sri Patmanabha Dasa Vanchipala Sir Bala Rama Varma III, Kulasekhara Kiritapati Manney Sultan Maharaja Raja Ramaraja Bahadur, Shamsher Jang, Maharaja of Travancore, GCIE
• 1946-1991: Major-General His Highness Sri Patmanabha Dasa Vanchipala Sir Bala Rama Varma III, Kulasekhara Kiritapati Manney Sultan Maharaja Raja Ramaraja Bahadur, Shamsher Jang, Maharaja of Travancore, GCSI, GCIE

Honours

(ribbon bar, as it would look today)

   

• King George V Silver Jubilee Medal-1935
• Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire (GCIE)-1935
• King George VI Coronation Medal-1937
• Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Star of India (GCSI)-1946
• Indian Independence Medal-1947

Sethu Lakshmi Bayi

Maharani Pooradam Thirunal Sethu Lakshmi Bayi CI (1895–1985) was the ruler of Travancore (now part ofKerala, India) as regent for her nephew, Chithira Tirunal from 1924 until late 1931. She is known for continuing the progressive tradition of the Travancore rulers preceding her with many social and economic reforms.

Early life

In 1900 Rani Lakshmi Bayi formally petitioned Maharajah Moolam Thirunal that time had come for an adoption to perpetuate the ruling line and hence the two children were adopted. The adoption itself was met with some opposition from other branches of the Kolathunad family who nominated females from their families as also objections from the First Prince Chathayam Thirunal Rama Varma, but these were overcome and Sethu Lakshmi Bayi was adopted into the Travancore Royal Family as Junior Rani as Sethu Parvathi Bayi was First Princess.

Sethu Lakshmi Bayi was born on the 19th of November 1895 to Ayilyam Nal Mahaprabha Thampuratti of the Utsavamadhom Palace in Mavelikara. Her mother belonged to a branch of the Kolathunad Royal Family that had settled in Travancore towards the end of the 18th century and was the daughter of the celebrated artist Raja Ravi Varma. Her father Kerala Varma Koil Thampuran was a nephew of her grandfather from Kilimanoor palace. The Mavelikara family was closely associated with the Travancore Royal Family as Mahaprabha's direct aunts, Lakshmi Bayi and Parvathi Bayi had been adopted and installed as the Ranis of Travancore in 1858. This adoption, which was the 6th in the Travancore House, was without results as the Senior Rani Lakshmi Bayi, who was married to Kerala Varma Valiya Koil Thampuran was childless while the Junior Rani Parvathi Bayi had only sons. In the prevalent matrilineal system of inheritance known as Marumakkathayam, the presence of females to continue the line and dynasty was crucial. With the death of the Junior Rani in 1893, followed by that of the eldest of her three sons in 1895 the royal family came to consist solely of Maharajah Moolam Thirunal, Rani Lakshmi Bayi and her two nephews. The Rani now looked upon her nieces, Mahaprabha and Kochukunji of Mavelikara, to bring forth females who could subsequently be adopted into the royal family. The Rani, accompanied by her nieces, went on a pilgrimage to Rameswaram (Sethusamudram) and performed several religious ceremonies there in early 1895. Within months of their return, news reached her that Mahaprabha had conceived. Subsequently a daughter was born to her. Since her birth was believed to be a direct result of the Rani's pilgrimage to Sethusamudram, the child was namedSethu Lakshmi Bayi. The next year in 1896 Kochukunji gave birth to a daughter who was similarly named Sethu Parvathi Bayi.

Senior Rani

Within a year of the adoption in 1900 the two princes, Chathayam Thirunal and Aswathy Thirunal died followed by Rani Lakshmi Bayi herself in 1901. Thus at the age of six Sethu Lakshmi Bayi succeeded her as Senior Rani of Attingaland Travancore while Sethu Parvathi Bayi became Junior Rani. Kerala Varma Valiya Koil Thampuran was appointed the guardian of the Ranis and tutors were appointed to teach them. In 1906 when she was still ten years old the Senior Rani was married to Sri Rama Varma Valiya Koil Thampuran, a grandnephew of her guardian who belonged to the royal house of Haripad. Four years later in 1910 the marriage was consummated and the couple started living together, before which they were allowed to see each other only briefly for an hour every day. Meanwhile, after her adoption and subsequent separation from her family she was permitted to meet her relations only after 6 month intervals and this separation caused her to grow closer to her consort. In 1910 she was found to be pregnant but suffered a miscarriage. In 1912 having passed her minority the Maharajah granted her the rights to assume control of the Sreepadom Estate which consisted of revenues from Attingal and large landed properties traditionally held by the Senior Rani. Meanwhile the Junior Rani gave birth to her eldest son Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma, the last ruling Maharajah of Travancore. He was on birth proclaimed heir apparent to Moolam Thirunal and this greatly changed the position of the Junior Rani whose status was always thus far below that of the Senior Rani. The Junior Rani was granted a separate palace and establishment after her demand that the Sreepadom be granted to her could not be met. Sethu Lakshmi Bayi, in the meantime, it was found, was unable to conceive and bear a child. Gradually the relations between the two Ranis grew distant.

The Rani's chief counsellor after the death of her guardian in 1913 was her consort. The Maharajah objected to this and took a further disaffection to the Senior Rani on her refusal to entertain his principal favorite, a certain Sankaran Thampi, who was his consort Vadasseri Ammachi's first husband, and later, on her espousal by the Maharajah, married her sister. Thus he was closely related to the Maharajah and was further influential as the Comptroller of the Palace. In addition, her inability to bear an heir further strained her relations with the Maharajah, to whom the principal objective of the 1900 adoption was to ensure the continuation of the dynasty. The Senior Rani was increasingly confined to Trivandrum by the Maharajah and her meetings with her family members were further curtailed. At the same time the Junior Rani was allowed adequate liberty as she had borne two more children namely Karthika Thirunal Lakshmi Bayi in 1916 andUthradom Thirunal Marthanda Varma in 1922. Finally in 1923 Sethu Lakshmi Bayi became pregnant and gave birth to her elder daughter, Uthram Thirunal Lalithamba Bayi.

Maharani Regent of Travancore

“

No one who met her once could ever forget her. She stands as a shining example to womanhood as a great queen and a great woman - LordMountbatten on the Maharani

”

In 1924 while on a sojourn in Madurai, her first trip outside Travancore, the Senior Rani received news that Moolam Thirunal was critical due to septicemia. The Maharajah died after her return leaving behind the 12 year old Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma as heir to the throne. Since the boy Maharajah was still a minor it was decided that the Senior Rani should assume power and be Regent ruler until he came of age in 1930. Accordingly Sethu Lakshmi Bayi was proclaimed Maharani Regent of Travancore and commenced the regency in September 1924. Soon after this the Junior Maharani Sethu Parvathi Bayi represented to the Paramount Power that as she was the mother of the Maharajah, the regency should belong to her. However the Senior Maharani sent a clarification to the Government of India that under the Marumakkathayam system in the event of the minority of a male member, the Senior Rani, irrespective of her relation to the Maharajah, was by inherent right, to be the interim ruler. In fact when the regency was proclaimed, the title of the Senior Rani was read out as "...Rani Sethu Lakshmi Bayi Maharajah..." to imply that she reigned in her own right as Head of the royal house and not as wife or mother of a Maharajah.

The relations between the Junior and Senior Maharanis were further strained during the Regency. Often attempts were made to replace the Maharani's regency by establishing a Regency Council. However none of these propositions were accepted. In 1929 the Junior Maharani once again complained to the Viceroy regarding the regency but the same year Sethu Lakshmi Bayi was decorated with the Order of the Crown of India.

The Regency

The regency had opened amidst many troubles including a Satyagraha at Vaikom. Soon after in 1925 the Maharani was visited by Mahatma Gandhi. Their meeting resulted in a royal proclamation by which all the public roads and streets in Travancore were thrown open to all Hindus irrespective of caste. Mahatma Gandhi called it a "bedrock of freedom" in his Young India (26 March 1925) magazine while describing the Maharani thus:

“

My visit to Her Highness was an agreeable surprise for me. Instead of being ushered into the presence of an over decorated woman sporting diamond pendants and necklaces, I found myself in the presence of a modest young woman who relied not upon jewels or gaudy dresses for beauty but on her own naturally well formed features and exactness of manners. Her room was as plainly furnished as she was dressed. Her severe simplicity became an object of my envy. She seemed to me an object lesson for many a prince and many a millionaire whose loud ornamentation, ugly looking diamonds, rings and studs and still more loud and almost vulgar furniture offend the taste and present a terrible and sad contrast between them and the masses from whom they derive their wealth.

”

The regency was marked by many social reforms in Travancore. In 1925 less than a year after she assumed power, animal sacrifice was banned in Travancore. In 1926 the Maharani abolished the Devadasi system in temples. She broke an orthodox tradition of appointing upper-caste Brahmins and Nairs as Dewans and appointed M.E. Watts, a TravancoreAnglo Indian Christian as her Dewan in 1925. Amendments were brought about in the same year in the Travancore Nayar Act pertaining to the Marumakkathayam system of inheritance and family which was being found more and more unsuitable in modern times, and eventually in 1928 the system was altogether done away with, introducing patrilineal nuclear family system in Travancore. Also a law was passed in 1925 fostering and developing local self government in rural areas in the form of Panchayats. The Panchayats even held the power to act as juries in small and petty civil cases. In 1926 the Maharani passed a Newspaper Regulation to curb the misuse of press which became a controversial topic as it curbed many rights of the press. Meanwhile the College for Women in Travancore was raised to First Grade by the Maharani Regent and the Scouts movement was given impetus. The Medical Department was bettered and modernized so as to provide better services. The Maharani also appointed the first female doctor in Travancore as Durbar Physician and head of the Medical Department. In 1928 a Central Road Board was established and several new highways and roads were constructed across Travancore. The Quilon Ernakulam Railway was completed and Telephone services were thrown open for the public. In 1929 Trivandrum was lighted with electricity for the first time. The Maharani also began work on the establishment of a Travancore University, which was accomplished by Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma later. By the end of the regency, the Maharani was spending nearly 1/5 of the state's revenue on the Education Department.

Meanwhile owing to several complaints from the Junior Maharani pertaining to the Regent's refusal to permit her complete control over the Maharajah's Civil Listfunds, once again attempts were made to replace the Maharani's rule with a Regency Council. However, the Viceroy being satisfied with the regency of the Senior Maharani, did not permit any such changes. Amidst all this, in 1929 came an episode of Black Magic. The Maharani and the British resident received intelligence that secret ceremonies, involving animal sacrifice, were being performed in the Kowdiar Palace under the supervision of the Junior Maharani's brothers. The three brothers and the Junior Maharani's mother were thereafter asked by the Resident to leave the Palace and to seek prior permission from him before any further interaction with the Maharajah or Junior Maharani. Following this episode the Resident decided it would be prudent to send the Maharajah to Mysore for administrative training, without the Junior Maharani accompanying him. However by personally applying to the Viceroy the Junior Maharani was permitted to reside close to her son in Bangalore. Meanwhile the Travancore Government began work on developing Cochin Harbor and a special Banking Enquiry Committee was set up to look into providing rural credit facilities. In 1929 the Maharani was informed that the Maharajah would not accede to full powers on his 18th birthday in November 1930, but when he turned 19 and a half in May 1932. Thus the regency was extended for a period. However by mid 1931 it was decided that the accession should take place after the Maharajah's 19th birthday. Thus accordingly in November 1931, after almost 8 years the regency of Maharani Sethu Lakshmi Bayi terminated and Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma was proclaimed ruler of Travancore.

During the regency the Senior Maharani had been drawing Rs. 200,000/- per annum for expenses. The revenues of Travancore had risen to more than Rs. 250,00,000/- during this period. Since the Senior and Junior Maharanis were on bad terms with each other, to protect her interests Sethu Lakshmi Bayi applied to the Viceroy to allow her to retain her allowance and all the dignities and privileges that she had enjoyed as Maharani Regent. However these were not met and the Maharani was retired on a pension of Rs. 75,000/- per annum, given by the Maharajah who had full rights to withdraw this allowance as well.

After the Regency

After the regency the Maharani retired from active involvement in the affairs to the state. She continued to look after affairs of the Sreepadom estate for sometime after which in 1939 the Maharajah assumed control of the estate and placed it in a trust from which all the female members of the royal family would receive allowances. Thus the traditional holdings of Sethu Lakshmi Bayi as Senior Rani of Attingal were taken away. Complaints to the Viceroy were met with no benefit to her. Similarly the Maharajah initiated a move to secure the Maharani's summer estate at Peermade which however did not succeed due to the timely intervention of the Resident. In 1935 and 1937 respectively the Maharani received the King George V Silver Jubilee Medal and the King George VI Coronation Medal respectively. Around this time all the official papers and records of the Travancore Government pertaining to the regency were destroyed in a mysterious fire.

The Maharani spent only a few months at her palace in Trivandrum (Satelmond Palace). She preferred otherwise to reside at her "country residence" on the banks of the Vellayani lake, Lalindloch Palace. The monsoons were spent at Halcyon Castle on the beach at Kovalam and for the summers she retired to her estate in Peermade. Her husband also owned a villa at Pothencode where the family lived sometimes.

The Maharani thus spent her time until 1947 in Travancore with her husband and two daughters. Her second daughter, Karthika Thirunal Indira Bayi was born in 1926. In 1936 the Maharani was informed that her allowance would be withheld as she was failing to make courtesy calls on the Maharajah from time to time. The Maharani replied that as the eldest member in the royal family, it was her nephew, the Maharajah who should be calling on her and not the other way round, yet she conceded to do as she was asked to. She was asked to return to Satelmond Palace in Trivandrum which was under the control of the Maharajah. In 1938 her elder daughter Princess Lalithamba Bayi was married to Sri. Kerala Varma Avargal of Kilimanoor. In 1940 her eldest granddaughter, Bharani Thirunal Rukmini Bayi (Rukmini Varma) was born. Later in 1945 her younger daughter Princess Indira Bayi was married to a member of the Haripad family who, however, died in 1949. Thereafter in 1952 she was married to Kerala Varma of Kilimanoor, a cousin of her brother in law.

After Independence

After Independence in 1947 and the creation of Travancore-Cochin in 1949, Lalithamba Bayi moved away to Bangalore and settled there with her children. In the early 1950s even Indira Bayi settled in Madras and the Maharani was alone in Trivandrum. Slowly she started disposing the many properties and palaces she privately owned and by the late 1950s was greatly lonely and contemplating moving to Bangalore to be with her daughter and grandchildren. This was hastened in 1957 by her servants in the Palace forming a Union and creating problems. While it was strictly controlled and put down initially, it resurfaced in 1958 and the servants went on strike. About this time the Maharani suffered a mild heart attack as well. Thereafter it was decided that she should stay with her family members in Bangalore. Thus in 1958 the Maharani arrived in Madras after leaving Trivandrum hastily, and by early 1959 moved to Bangalore where she constructed a bungalow for herself close to her daughter's house and took up residence there. She never came back to Travancore.

The Maharani lived in Bangalore for more than 25 years. Her consort, the Valiya Koil Thampuran, occasionally visited Kerala where he had his own properties and estates. In 1971 the Government of India abolished the Privy Purse in India given to former rulers and their families and thus the Maharani stopped receiving her allowances. However after a prolonged legal battle, a few years before her death, the pension granted her after the regency was reinstated. Since many years she had been bedridden and ill in Bangalore and in February, 1985 the Maharani died in Bangalore. She was at that time the last surviving member in the Order of the Crown of India. Prominent among her descendants are artists Rukmini Varma and Jay Varma, writers Shreekumar Varma and Dr. Lakshmi Raghunandan. The Malayala Manorama describes the reign of Sethu Lakshmi Bayi as follows:

“

The reign of Setu Lakshmi Bayi was the Golden Age of Travancore. At the time these words echoed through the land: "When the Rani of Vanchi rules, there is everlasting Thiru Onam in Vanchinadu"

”

Every year the Maharani Setu Lakshmi Bayi Memorial lecture is held in Trivandrum. In 1995, on her 100th birth anniversary, her biography At the Turn of the Tidewas published by the Maharani Setu Lakshmi Bayi Memorial Charitable Trust, Bangalore.

Full Title

As Senior Maharani of Travancore, Sethu Lakshmi Bayi's full title was: Her Highness Sree Padmanabha Sevini Vanchi Dharma Vardhini Raja Rajeshwari Rani Pooradam Thirunal Sethu Lakshmi Bayi, Attingal Mootha Thampuran, Companion of the Imperial Order of the Crown of India, Maharani of Travancore.

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Mulam Thirunal Rama Varma

Mulam Thirunal Rama Varma was the ruling Maharajah of the Indian state of Travancore between 1885 and 1924, succeeding his uncle Maharajah Visakham Thirunal (1880–1885).


Early life and education

Mulam Thirunal Rama Varma was born on the 25th of September 1857 to Prince Raja Raja Varma of theChanganassery Royal Family and Maharani Lakshmi Bayi of Travancore, niece of the illustrious Swathi ThirunalMaharajah. He lost his mother when he was only a few days old. The Maharajah had an elder brother, Hastham Thirunal. After the usual vernacular Malayalam studies the two princes were placed under the tutorship of Annaji Rao B.A. and later under Raghunath Rao B.A. at a special country house built for the purpose. Hastham Thirunal soon had to stop his studies owing to ill health and so Rama Varma remained the only pupil under the tutor. He was taught subjects such as History, Geography of the world, Arithmetic and Grammar initially. His great grandmother was the illustrious Maharani Gowri Lakshmi Bayi of Travancore.

Chief Reforms
In 1886 a Proclamation was passed relieving the people from payment of penalties on documents executed on unstamped government cadjan leaves (Paper was not in common use yet in Travancore). In 1887 the penalty on non payment of stamp duty was reduced as it was found to be a huge burden. Likewise in the same year another Royal Proclamation was passed relinquishing the right of the Government in property left by a person under theMarumakkathayam matrilineal system of inheritance when a person died without heirs. Likewise under the then system, when a tenant of a Jenmi or landlord died heirless instead of the land passing in entirety to the landlord, it passed with sovereign right to the Government who auctioned it later. This was abolished.

The Travancore Legislative Council was established under a Regulation in the year 1888, three years after Rama Varma became the Maharajah succeeding his uncle Visakham Thirunal who died in 1885. This was the first Legislative Council for a Native state in the whole of India. It was later succeeded by Sree Moolam Popular Assembly the first legislature in Indian history to have elected members.

In 1888 the Anchal System of post was improved and postage stamps of new values were introduced. His reign also saw major changes in the transport sector in Travancore. The first bus services of the native state were started in 1908 in two routes starting from Trivandrum. The first bus on the Trivandrum-Nagarcoil route was started by Arumana Narayanan Thampi, son of Visakham Thirunal, and the first bus on the Trivandrum-Kollam route was started by Joseph Augusti Kayalackakom, a textile merchant of Trivandrum. Ten years later in 1918, the first train reached Trivandrum as the Chenkotta-Quilon railway line was extended to Trivandrum.

Several other reforms were also brought in by Moolam Thirunal Rama Varma in the fields of education, medicine, law and order, civil service etc. Sanitary Departments were opened and female education progressed. Changes were brought in the management of prisons and the Public Works department was reorganised. Life Insurance system was introduced by the Maharajah. For these, the British recognised him by granting him a personal salute of 21 guns in 1898.

Dewans

All through the reign of Maharajah Sir Rama Varma he was assisted by able men as Dewans or Prime Ministers. These most illustrious personalities included:

• Dewan V. Ramiengar (1880–1887)
• Dewan T. Rama Rao (1887–1892)
• Dewan S. Shungrasoobyer C.I.E. (1892–1898)
• Dewan K. Krishnaswamy Rao (1898–1904)
• Dewan V. P. Madhava Rao (1904–1906)
• Dewan P. Rajagopalachari (1904–1914)
• Dewan M. Krishnan Nair (1914–1920)

Family and Demise
Since the Royal House of Travancore followed the Nair Marumakkathayam system of matriarchal inheritance the presence of females was very essential in the family. Since the family had failed to exist in the female line, on the suggestion ofRani Lakshmi Bayi, two princessess including the Maharani Sethu Lakshmi Bayi were adopted from the cousin Royal family at Mavelikara. Sethu Lakshmi Bayi succeeded Moolam Thirunal Sir Rama Varma in 1924 as Regent till 1931, when her nephew Maharajah Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma took over as Maharajah and became the last Maharajah of independent Travancore.

Maharajah Sir Rama Varma married twice, both noblewomen of the Thampi clan of the Nairs as tradition. His first wife (married in 1880) was Nagercoil Ammachi Panapillai Amma Srimathi Kunjulakshmi Pillai Anantha Lakshmi PillaiKochamma, of the Nagercoil Ammaveedu Family, whose aunt was the consort of Ayilyam Thirunal. She died prior to the Maharajah's accession to the throne in 1882 giving birth to an only son, Nagercoil Sri Narayanan ChempakaramanThampi, who remained aide de camp to his father till his death. Following this the Maharajah remained single for more than a decade. The Maharajah's second wife was Vadasseri Ammachi Panapillai Amma Srimathi Lakshmi Pillai Karthyayani Pillai Kochamma, of the Vadasseri Ammaveedu family.

She originally belonged to the Kaipally family of Palkulangara but was adopted before marriage to the Maharajah into the Vadasseri Ammaveedu in 1899. She was born to Krishnan Nair (Nagercoil Ammaveedu) and Lakshmi Amma. She was the sister of play writ and author, Vadasseri Krishnan Thampi, who also was the Principal(1917 to 1934) of Sanskrit College in Trivandrum. Her other two sisters were Kalyani Pillai Kochamma and Bhageerathi Pillai Kochamma. She was first married to T.Sankaran Thampi, Palace Manager, from which marriage she had a son, V. Sri Velayudhan Thampi in 1898. From her marriage to the Maharajah she had a daughter, Vadasseri Shrimathi Kartyayani Pillai Bhagavathi Pillai Kochamma, in June 1901. Her elder son was also adopted by Moolam Thirunal (This was not the first instance of a Maharajah espousing an already married woman. Moolam Thirunal's uncle Ayilyam Thirunal's consort was also already married before she became royal consort in 1862). Ulloor S. Parameswara Iyer writes about the Maharajah's consort in "Progress of Travancore Under HH Sree Moolam Thirunal":

“

..Katyayani Pilla Kochamma by birth belongs to a very ancient and highly respected Nair family inTrivandrum and is a lady of remarkable culture and attainments, a gifted pianist, musician and artist. Her many lovable and ennobling qualities have won for her a warm place in the hearts of His Highness' subjects..

”

Official full name

Officially he was also known with his full name, style and honours: Colonel His Highness Sri Patmanabha Dasa Vanchipala Moolam Thirunal Sir Rama Varma Kulasekhara Kiritapati Manney Sultan Maharajah Raja Ramaraja Bahadur Shamsher Jang

Visakham Thirunal Rama Varma

Visakham Thirunal Rama Varma GCSI FRGS FRAS(19 May 1837 - 4 August 1885) was the Maharaja of the erstwhile Indian kingdom of Travancore from 1880-1885 AD. He succeeded his elder brother Maharajah Ayilyam Thirunal to the throne of Travancore.

Early life

Vishakham Thirunal Rama varma was born on the 19th of May 1837 to Rani Gowri Rukmini Bayi and her husbandPunartham Thirunal Rama Varma Koil Thampuran of the Royal Family of Thiruvalla. His mother died when he was barely two months of age leaving him and his elder siblings to the care of their father. His Highness was grandson to Maharani Gowri Lakshmi Bayi and nephew of Maharajah Swathi Thirunal.

As a prince he received his early education from his father, Rama Varma. This was basic training in vernacularMalayalam language and Sanskrit which were essentials for members of the Royal family. At the age of nine he started his English education under Subba Row, who later became Dewan of Travancore. The prince took a keen interest in English composition and his first work, Horrors of war and benefits of peace, was well acknowledged. Some of his compositions were also published in "Madras Athenaeum". He also wrote in The Statesman and theCalcutta Review.

He was an erudite scholar and had in his court learned Brahmins, known as Tharka Sastry and used to take their advice in settling cases that were referred to him. There is a story about his asking a question on the Mahabharataand only two in the group of Tharka Sastrys answered. One was Gopala Iyer and according to his request his son, K G Seah Iyer, was made a Munsiff who later became a famous Judge. The other was Gopala Sastry at whose request the Maharajah took up with the British resident to get the son of Gopala Sastry appointed the Sub-Registrar at Tiruchendur.

In 1861 the prince visited Madras and met with the Governor, Sir William Denison, upon whom he made such a favorable impression that the Governor remarked that "He is by far the most intelligent Native I have seen; and if his brother is like him, the prospects of Travancore are very favorable." The prince was soon appointed a Fellow of theUniversity of Madras, a rare honour conferred on natives in those days. While he was still a prince he was also offered a seat in the Viceroy of India's Legislative Council which he, however, declined owing to ill health. He had a special aptitude for botany and agriculture.

Both Gopala Iyer (Kadayam) and Gopala Sastry (Mela Cheval) were Vadadesa Vadama Brshmins from Tirunelveli.

Chief Compositions

• The Horrors of War and Benefits of Peace
• A Political Sketch of Travancore, Madras Athenaeum
• Lectures on "Human Greatness", "The relation between nature and art", "Our Morals" and "Our Industrial Status" etc.
• A Native Statesman, Calcutta Review
• Observations on Higher Education

Accession
Family and demise

The Maharajah's elder brother, Ayilyam Thirunal, died after ruling Travancore for twenty years from 1860 to 1880. As per theMarumakkathayam law, Prince Visakham Thirunal Rama Varma succeeded to the Travancore throne in 1880. He introduced a number of reforms including changes in the education system, police department, justice and judiciary etc. He furthered the cultivation of Tapioca which became so popular and commonly available that it came to be known as the poor man's meal inTravancore.

The Maharajah fell ill towards the end of July in 1885 at the age of 48 and died on the 4th of August 1885. His Highness was married in 1859 to a noblewomen of the Arumana Ammaveedu ofTrivandrum with which family more than one of his ancestors had been related through marriage, Arumana Ammachi Panapillai Amma Srimathi Lakshmi Pillai Kochamma (educated privately and in English by the Church of England Zenana Mission in Trivandrum since 1865. Within the royalty and nobility of Trivandrum, she was the first lady to commence English Education), descendant of Maharajah Balarama Varma and Dharma Raja. The Maharajah chose his own consort, causing displeasure to his uncle and the then Maharajah, Uthram Thirunal.From this marriage the Maharajah had issue four children. His eldest and only son, Sri Narayanan Thampi, who started the first bus services in Travancore (Trivandrum-Nagercoil route), was born in 1865.

He married a daughter of Irayimman Thampi who was also of royal descent. In 1873 the Maharajah and his wife had their eldest daughter Bhagavati Pillai Kochamma who married Sri Rajaraja Varma Avargal of the Mavelikara Royal family. Their next daughter was born in 1876, Rukmini Pillai Kochamma who married Sri Kerala Varma Thirumulpad. The Maharajah's youngest daughter, Bhageerathi Pillai Kochamma was born in 1877 and was married to Sri Rama Varma of the Royal Family of Poonjar. The Thali Kettu Kalyanam of the Maharajah's daughters was conducted on the 18th of May 1883 in a grand public ceremony with the above mentioned husbands, as recorded by the French Ambassador in the Travancore Court.

Successors

Under the Marumakkathayam law of matriarchy the Maharajah was succeeded not by his own children but by those of his sisters. The Maharajah had only one sister and was succeeded by her younger son, Maharajah Moolam Thirunal Sir Rama Varma GCSI, GCIE. This King reigned from 1885 till his demise in 1924. His nephew, Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma was the last independent Maharajah of Travancore before ceding his state to India in 1947.

Official full name

Officially he was also known with his full title: His Royal Highness Sri Padmanabha Dasa Vanchi Pala Visakham Thirunal Rama Varma Kulasekhara Kiritapathi Manney Sultan Maharajah Raja Ramaraja Bahadur Shamsher Jang

Uthram Thirunal Marthanda Varma

Sri Padmanabha Dasa Vanchi Pala Uthram Thirunal Marthanda Varma Kulasekhara Kiritapati Manney Sultan Maharaja Raja Rama Raja Bahadur Shamsher Jung (26 September 1814 - 18 August 1860) was the Maharajah of Travancore state in southern India, succeeding his elder brother Maharajah Swathi Thirunal in 1846 till his demise in 1860. Known for his progressive rule, he abolished slavery in the kingdom. He was succeeded by his nephew Maharajah Ayilyam Thirunal in 1860. His mother was Her Highness Maharani Gowri Lakshmi Bayi. He was married to Thiruvattar Ammachi Panapillai Amma Srimathi Madhavi Pillai Kochamma of the Thiruvattar Ammaveedu, who died in 1860, a few months before the Maharajah's death. She was the younger sister of Maharajah Swathi Thirunal's consort. The Maharajah's daughter was married by his nephew and heir Maharajah Ayilyam Thirunal.
The Maharajah also adopted Bharani Thirunal Lakshmi Bayi and Bharani Thirunal Parvathi Bayi from the related Kolathiri royal house in 1857 after the death of his niece to perpetuate the royal line.


Ayilyam Thirunal Rama Varma (1832 – 1880) was the ruler of the princely state of Travancore in India from 1860 to 1880. His reign was highly successful with Travancore gaining the appellation of "model state of India". Ayilyam Thirunal was the nephew ofUthram Thirunal and Swathi Thirunal and grandson of the celebrated Gowri Lakshmi Bayi.

Early life

Ayilyam Thirunal was born on the 14th of March, 1832 to H.H. Rani Rukmini Bayi, the only sister of Maharajahs Swathi Thirunal andUthram Thirunal. In the Travancore Royal Family inheritance and primogeniture was determined by the Marumakkathayam system i.e. through the female line. With the accession of Uthram Thirunal in 1846 and his elder brother's exclusion from the line of succession due to imbecility, Ayilyam Thirunal became the Elaya Rajah or heir apparent of Travancore State. Of the seven children born to Rukmini Bayi, only four, including a daughter, Rani Lakshmi Bayi, survived and the eldest and third son were declared unfit to rule owing to mental incapacity. Ayilyam Thirunal's youngest brother Visakham Thirunal was therefore to be his successor.
Ayilyam Thirunal's early education was provided privately and later T. Madhava Rao was appointed tutor to the Elaya Rajah and his brother in 1848. Madhava Rao eventually rose in service and was appointed by Uthram Thirunal in 1857 as Dewan of Travancore and remained in that capacity during the initial decade of Ayilyam Thirunal's reign, until, owing to personal disaffection, he was retired in 1872. In 1854 Ayilyam Thirunal was married to his uncle's daughter, Panapillai Madhavi Pillai Lakshmi Pillai Kochamma of theThiruvattar Ammaveedu. His consort however died a few years later. In 1860 Maharajah Uthram Thirunal died and Ayilyam Thirunal ascended the musnud as Maharajah.

 Maharajah of Travancore

Dewan Rajah Sir T. Madhava Rao

The accession of Ayilyam Thirunal ushered in a new era in Travancore. Assisted by his Dewan T. Madhava Rao, the Maharajah implemented many reforms and changes in Travancore, which were all agreeably beneficial for the state. At the time of his accession, the Travancore Government was struggling with its many debts and mismanaged financial department. Nevertheless, many monopolies, taxes and cessations were abolished by the government. In 1863 the Dewan finally declared that Travancore no longer had any public debt. Gradually salaries of public servants were raised by more than 50% and its efficiency was bettered. A great deal of development in Education, legislation, public works, medicine, vaccination and public health, agriculture etc. was made. Year after year Travancore was commended by the Madras Government. Important proclamations such as the Jenmi-Kudiyan Proclamation of 1867 were made. In 1866 the Maharajah was admitted into the Order of the Star of India while his Dewan was admitted into the Order of the Indian Empire. In the same year the British Government officially granted the title of Maharajah to Ayilyam Thirunal, who was in formal communications so far addressed only as Rajah. By 1872 Travancore was in a prosperous state with a surplus revenue of 4 million rupees. However by now the relations between the Maharajah and his Dewan, now styled Rajah Sir T. Madhava Rao had turned sour and the latter was retired on a lavish pension of Rs. 1000 per mensem. Seshayya Sastri was now appointed Dewan, a position he held until 1877. The new Dewan concentrated on the development of roads and infrastructure in the state. In 1874 the Maharajah's College in Trivandrum started a Law class and other developments in the education department were made. In 1875 the first systematic census of Travancore was taken by the government. in 1877 Seshayya Sastri was retired on a pension of Rs. 500 per mensem. In accepting this liberal pension, the outgoing Dewan said:

“

In service, Your Highness made me affluent by the grant of a high salary, out of service, Your Highness makes me comfortable with a liberal pension and a generous donation. The bread thus given will not be eaten in ungratefulness or sulky discontent. The brightest chapter in my life is my service under Your Highness. The little name and fame I have acquired is in reality but the light reflected on the servant by an illustrious master, to serve whom, even for a brief period, has been my pride and privilege

”

Seshayya Sastri was later admitted into the Order of the Star of India. He was succeeded by Dewan Nanoo Pillai, a native of Travancore. During his premiership which lasted until 1880 irrigation was expanded in Travancore, museums and other institutions were established, surveys of land and agriculture etc. were taken and several other legislative and judicial reforms were passed. With the death of Ayilyam Thirunal in 1880, Nanoo Pillay was retired by his successor, Visakham Thirunal. Prior to this Ayilyam Thirunal had been admitted into the Order of the Indian Empire.

 Personal life

After the death of Thiruvattar Ammachi, his first consort, the Maharajah married again in 1862 Kalyanikutty Amma of Mathruppillil, a prestigious family of Nadavarambu, Irinjalakuda,Thrissur in the neighboring state of Cochin. She was born in 1839 as the only daughter of Nadavarambathu Kunju Krishna Menon, a former Dewan of Cochin and his wife Mathruppillil Lakshmi Amma. She was first married to Punnakkal Easwara Pillai Vicharippukar. Kalyanikutty Amma was a woman of renowned beauty and the first commission given to Raja Ravi Varma by Ayilyam Thirunal was for her portrait. In 1865 after their marriage, she was adopted by the Maharajah into the Nagercoil Ammaveedu after which her full title became Nagercoil Ammachi Panapillai Amma Srimathi Lakshmi Pillai Kalyanikutty Pillai Kochamma. Nagercoil Ammachi was also a scholar of Sanskrit and a poet in her own right, having authored Rasa Krida, Satya Panchakam, Pativrataya Panchakam, Ambarishacharitram and other works. She died in 1909. The Maharajah had no children of his own from either marriage. However along with his consort he adopted two nieces and nephew of hers, one niece Panapillai Ananthalakshmi Pillai Kochamma, who married in 1879 the Maharajah's nephew Moolam Thirunal, the other niece married to a Thirumulpadu and a son Nagercoil Achyuthan Thampi. The Maharajah was also a poet having authored the Meenaketanacharitram and Bhasha Sakuntalam.

The first decade of the Maharajah's reign was happy and peaceful but several problems arose after the dismissal of Dewan Madhava Rao. The Maharajah's relationship with Kerala Varma Valiya Koil Thampuran, the consort of his niece, the Rani Lakshmi Bayi (who was adopted in 1857 soon after the Maharajah's sister of the same name died giving birth to Moolam Thirunal) turned sour and subsequently he was imprisoned in Haripad in 1875 where he stayed until his release in 1880 after the Maharajah's death. Ayilyam Thirunal's own brother, Visakham Thirunalwas also on bad terms with him until his death. However in the last week before his demise, the brothers reconciled. Maharajah Ayilyam Thirunal died on the 30th of May 1880. The Gazette of Fort St. George of the British Government makes the following comment on the Maharajah's reign:

“

His Highness ascended the musnud on the 19th of October 1860 and his reign has been marked by the development of wise and enlightened principles of administration which have placed Travancore in the first rank of Native States

”

 Titles

• 1832-1847: Prince Balarama Ayilyam Thirunal
• 1847-1860: Maharajkumar Ayilyam Thirunal Balarama Varma, Elaya Raja of Travancore
• 1860-1866: His Highness Sri Padmanabha Dasa Vanchi Pala Ayilyam Thirunal Rama Varma, Kulasekhara Kiritapati Manney Sultan Maharajah Raja Rama Raja Bahadur, Shamsher Jang, Raja of Travancore
• 1866-1877: His Highness Sri Padmanabha Dasa Vanchi Pala Sir Ayilyam Thirunal Rama Varma Kulasekhara Kiritapati Manney Sultan Maharajah Raja Rama Raja Bahadur, Shamsher Jang, Maharaja of Travancore, GCSI
• 1877-1878: His Highness Sri Padmanabha Dasa Vanchi Pala Sir Ayilyam Thirunal Rama Varma Kulasekhara Kiritapati Manney Sultan Maharajah Raja Rama Raja Bahadur, Shamsher Jang, Maharaja of Travancore, GCSI
• 1878-1880: His Highness Sri Padmanabha Dasa Vanchi Pala Sir Ayilyam Thirunal Rama Varma Kulasekhara Kiritapati Manney Sultan Maharajah Raja Rama Raja Bahadur, Shamsher Jang, Maharaja of Travancore, GCSI, CIE