51-483: Sir Sri Moolam Thirunal Rama Varma VI GCSI GCIE FRAS (1857–1924) was Maharajah of the princely state of Travancore between 1885 and 1924, succeeding his uncle Maharajah Visakham Thirunal (1880–1885). Moolam Thirunal is considered as the first in India to implement the concept of public participation in governance through the formation of Travancore Legislative Council . Mulam Thirunal Rama Varma
102-534: A country house built specially 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 initially taught subjects such as history, geography, arithmetic and grammar. His great-grandmother was the Maharani Gowri Lakshmi Bayi of Travancore. The Travancore Legislative Council was established in 1888, three years after Moolam Thirunal became Maharajah. This
153-414: A depiction of the circlet (a circle bearing the motto) and the collar ; the former is shown either outside or on top of the latter. Knights Commanders and Companions were permitted to display the circlet, but not the collar, surrounding their arms. The badge is depicted suspended from the collar or circlet. Rani Lakshmi Bayi of Travancore Maharani Bharani Thirunal Lakshmi Bayi CI (c. 1848–1901)
204-475: A noble lady of sovereign race may attain in this country where even the lower classes are cultured, but the especial charm of the Maharanee lies in her benevolence and in a reserved and gentle sweetness... so before leaving I seek to impress her image on my mind, for her face does not seem to belong to our times, and it is only in old Indian miniatures that I have had a glimpse of such princesses. In October 1900
255-456: A regular profile, pure features and magnificent large eyes, in fact all the beauty of her race. In accordance with the tradition of the Nayar family her jet black hair is wound round her forehead. Enormous rings of diamonds and rubies hang from her earlobes and her naked arms, which are much bejeweled, are unconcealed by her velvet bodice... Oh! it is easy to imagine the degree of refinement to which
306-657: A son, the later Maharajah Moolam Thirunal . The royal family followed the Marumakkathayam system of matrilineal succession and the death of the Rani threatened the perpetuation of the dynasty. Thus, as in the previous five such incidents, it was decided to adopt from the Kolathunad family. Since members of the family were resident within Travancore the choice was made from amongst them. The Maharajah decided to adopt
357-558: A warm place in the hearts of His Highness' subjects.. T. Sankaran Thampi (1857 - 1930), the principal favourite and relative of the Maharajah, was the all-powerful Palace Manager, the power behind the throne. He belonged to Sankaramangalam Family, a branch of Cheruvallil Tharavad at Karicode in Quilon . His emergence as the leading favourite of the Maharajah limited the influence of another favourite Saravanai Ananda Narayana Aiyar. Thampi
408-662: The Great Seal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland , to institute, erect, constitute, and create, an Order of Knighthood, to be known by, and have for ever hereafter, the name, style, and designation, of "The Most Exalted Order of the Star of India" 19 persons were appointed Knights Companion at the creation of the Order: 12 additional Knights Companion were appointed over the next five years. On 24 May 1866,
459-741: The Khedive of Egypt , the King of Bhutan and the rulers of Zanzibar , Bahrain and Oman were also appointed to the Order. Like some rulers of princely states , some rulers of particular prestige, for example the Maharajas of the Rana dynasty or the Sultans of Oman, were usually appointed Knights Grand Commanders. Women, save the princely rulers, were ineligible for appointment to the order. They were, unlike
510-602: The Nair Marumakkathayam system of matrilineal 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 of Rani Lakshmi Bayi , two princesses, Sethu Lakshmi Bayi and Sethu Parvathi Bayi were adopted from the cousin Royal family at Mavelikara . Maharani Sethu Lakshmi Bayi succeeded Maharajah Moolam Thirunal Sir Rama Varma as Regent in 1924 till 1931, when her nephew & heir to
561-717: The Nizam of Hyderabad , the Maharaja of Mysore , the Maharaja of Jammu and Kashmir , the Maharaja of Baroda , the Maharajas of Gwalior , the Nawab of Bhopal , the Maharaja of Indore , the Maharajas of Singrauli, the Maharana of Udaipur , the Maharaja of Travancore , the Maharaja of Jodhpur and the Maharao of Cutch . Kashi Naresh Prabhu Narayan Singh of Benares and Sir Azizul Haque were appointed Knight Commander of
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#1732773132247612-1008: The Bath . It is the senior order of chivalry associated with the British Raj ; junior to it is the Order of the Indian Empire , and there is also, for women only, the Imperial Order of the Crown of India . Several years after the Indian Rebellion of 1857 and the consolidation of Great Britain's power as the governing authority in India, it was decided by the British Crown to create a new order of knighthood to honour Indian Princes and Chiefs, as well as British officers and administrators who served in India. On 25 June 1861,
663-510: The Maharajah refused to permit this and constrained her in her palace. At the same time from all quarters she was pressurized to leave Kerala Varma and accept a new consort. The Rani, however, completely refused in absolute terms to even listen to any such suggestion. In order to compel her to give up her marriage, her allowances were cut off by the Maharajah. The Rani however refused to budge and somehow managed her basic expenses with loans taken from influential people of Trivandrum . The support of
714-681: The Order of the Indian Empire (KCIE) in 1892 and 1941 respectively, Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire (GCIE) in 1898, and Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Star of India (GCSI) for his services in the First World War in the 1921 New Year Honours. Rulers of other nations in Asia and the Middle East, including the Emir of Kuwait , the Maharajas of the Rana dynasty ,
765-534: The Order of the Star of India The Most Exalted Order of the Star of India is an order of chivalry founded by Queen Victoria in 1861. The Order includes members of three classes: No appointments have been made since the 1948 New Year Honours , shortly after the Partition of India in 1947. Following the death in 2009 of the last surviving knight, the Tej Singh Prabhakar , Maharaja of Alwar ,
816-558: The Order of the Star of India did not incorporate crosses, as they were deemed unacceptable to the Indian princes appointed to the Order. Members of all classes of the Order were assigned positions in the order of precedence. Wives of members of all classes also featured on the order of precedence, as did sons, daughters and daughters-in-law of Knights Grand Commanders and Knights Commanders. (See order of precedence in England and Wales for
867-482: The Order was expanded to additional ranks. All surviving Knights Companion were elevated to Grand Commander. Additional appointments were made to the Order in the ranks of Grand Commander, Knight Commander, and Companion. These include The last appointments to the Order were made in the 1948 New Year Honours , some months after the Partition of India in August 1947. The Order of the Indian Empire , founded in 1877,
918-534: The Order. The next most senior member was the Grand Master, a position held ex officio by the Viceroy of India . When the order was established in 1861, there was only one class of Knights Companion, who bore the postnominals KSI. In 1866, however, it was expanded to three classes. Members of the first class were known as "Knights Grand Commander" (rather than the usual "Knights Grand Cross") so as not to offend
969-464: The Rani's adoptive uncle, Maharajah Ayilyam Thirunal succeeded to the musnud . Both Ayilyam Thirunal and his brother Visakham Thirunal were initially close to Kerala Varma. However sometime into the 1870s there occurred a palace conspiracy, involving Visakham Thirunal, Kerala Varma and the Dewan T. Madhava Rao and the three got alienated from the Maharajah. Matters took a turn for the worse when, with
1020-515: The Rani's life with her husband were happy, marred only by their childlessness and the deaths of her nephews. Her sister, the Junior Rani Parvathi Bayi, had four sons and one daughter. The daughter died within months of her birth and two of the four sons were also dead by 1895. The Junior Rani also died in 1893, and once again the royal family faced the problem of a succession crisis due to the absence of female members to continue
1071-460: The Sovereign, members attending formal events wore the order's collar over their military uniform, formal day dress, or evening wear. When collars were worn (either on collar days or on formal occasions such as coronations), the badge was suspended from the collar. At less important occasions, simpler insignia were used: Unlike the insignia of most other British chivalric orders, the insignia of
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#17327731322471122-678: The Trivandrum-Nagercoil route was started by Arumana Narayanan Thampi, son of Visakham Thirunal while 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 was extended to Trivandrum. Several other reforms were also brought in by Moolam Thirunal in fields including education, medicine, law and order and
1173-732: 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
1224-437: The children. The elder one would in 1924 become Regent of Travancore while the son of the younger one would be the last Maharajah of Travancore , Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma . Pierre Loti during his visit to Travancore in the year 1900 described the "Maharanee" thus: The Queen holds her receptions in a room on the first floor... but she herself in national costume, looks like a charming personification of India. She has
1275-461: The civil service. Sanitary departments were opened and female education progressed. Changes were brought in the management of prisons and the public works department was reorganised. A life insurance system was also introduced by the Maharajah. In 1898, in recognition of his accomplishments, the British rewarded Moolam Thirunal with the grant of a personal salute of 21 guns. In 1886, Thirunal allowed
1326-614: The construction of a paper mill in Punalur to be built by T.J. Cameroon. Upon completion, it became India's oldest paper mill. By the time of Raja's demise, the India Security Press had been a customer for the mill. All through the reign of Maharajah Sir Rama Varma he was assisted by able men as Diwans or Prime Ministers. These most illustrious personalities included: Since the Royal House of Travancore followed
1377-501: The crown prince (the future Visakham Thirunal) was also a relief for her. In 1880, Maharajah Ayilyam Thirunal died and was succeeded by Visakham Thirunal. He immediately ordered the release of Kerala Varma. Thus, after a period of five years, the Rani was reunited with her husband. In gratitude to the Maharajah, Kerala Varma wrote the Visakhavijaya . He also authored the famous masterpiece Mayura Sandesam (the peacock messenger),
1428-460: The end of the 18th century when Tipu Sultan invaded their territories in Malabar . While some members of the Kolathunad family returned, three sisters stayed back in Travancore and established the royal houses of Mavelikara, Ennakkad and Prayikkara . In 1857 the then Rani of Travancore, HH Pooradam Thirunal Lakshmi Bayi , the niece of Maharajah Uthram Thirunal died soon after giving birth to
1479-577: The exact positions.) Knights Grand Commanders used the post-nominal initials "GCSI", Knights Commanders "KCSI" and Companions "CSI". Knights Grand Commanders and Knights Commanders prefixed "Sir" to their forenames. Wives of Knights Grand Commanders and Knights Commanders could prefix "Lady" to their surnames. Such forms were not used by peers and Indian princes, except when the names of the former were written out in their fullest forms. Knights Grand Commanders were also entitled to receive heraldic supporters . They could, furthermore, encircle their arms with
1530-508: The famous artist Raja Ravi Varma . The Rani picked the brother of the Rajah of Parappanad, whose family had also settled in Travancore at Changanassery , namely Kerala Varma Valiya Koil Thampuran . Raja Ravi Varma later went on to marry her youngest sister Bhageerathi Amma Thampuran of Mavelikara. The marriage of the Rani and Kerala Varma was very happy in all respects, except that they were childless. In 1860 Uthram Thirunal died and his nephew,
1581-790: The following proclamation was issued by Queen Victoria : The Queen, being desirous of affording to the Princes, Chiefs and People of the Indian Empire , a public and signal testimony of Her regard, by the Institution of an Order of knighthood , whereby Her resolution to take upon Herself the Government of the Territories in India may be commemorated, and by which Her Majesty may be enabled to reward conspicuous merit and loyalty, has been graciously pleased, by Letters Patent under
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1632-506: The habit of many other orders, admitted as "Knights", rather than as "Dames" or "Ladies". The first woman to be admitted to the order was Nawab Sikandar Begum Sahiba, Nawab Begum of Bhopal; she was created a Knight Companion at the Order's foundation in 1861. The order's statutes were specially amended to permit the admission of Queen Mary as a Knight Grand Commander in 1911. Members of the Order wore elaborate costumes on important ceremonial occasions: On certain " collar days " designated by
1683-455: The land passing in entirety to the landlord, it passed with sovereign right to the government who auctioned it later. This was abolished. In 1888 the Anchal post system was improved with stamps of new values introduced. Moolam Thirunal's reign also saw major changes in the transport sector in Travancore. The first bus services began in 1908 on two routes starting from Trivandrum. The first bus on
1734-730: The late Junior Rani's youngest son, Prince Aswathy Thirunal Marthanda Varma died causing much pain to the Rani. On 6 June 1901 the heir apparent and only surviving son of the late Junior Rani, Elayarajah Chathayam Thirunal Rama Varma died as well. The Rani was by then too ill to even grieve, as her husband noted in his diary. She died on 15 June 1901, barely a week after her nephew's death. As her husband noted in his diary that night, My angel, my life, my darling, my all and all, my love, my pride, my idol, my sweetheart- alas! and what not- expired quietly at 8 pm. Her Highness Sri Padmanabha Sevini Vanchi Dharma Vardhini Raja Rajeshwari Rani Bharani Thirunal Lakshmi Bayi, Attingal Mootha Thampuran , Companion of
1785-406: The line after Rani Lakshmi Bayi. The Rani now looked upon her nieces, the children of her youngest sister by the artist Raja Ravi Varma to bring forth girls who could be adopted into the ruling line. For this purpose she went on a pilgrimage of Sethusamudram in 1894 accompanied by her nieces. In 1895 her elder niece, Ayilyam Nal Mahaprabha Thampuran gave birth to a daughter Sethu Lakshmi Bayi and
1836-408: The next year her younger niece, Thiruvadira Nal Kochukunji Thampuran gave birth to Sethu Parvathi Bayi. In 1900 the Rani officially petitioned her adoptive brother, Maharajah Moolam Thirunal, who ascended the musnud after the death of Visakham Thirunal in 1885 and accordingly the two girls were adopted and installed as Junior Rani and first princess of Attingal respectively. The Rani was very attached to
1887-686: The non-Christian Indians appointed to the Order. All those surviving members who had already been made Knights Companion of the Order were retroactively known as Knights Grand Commander. Former viceroys and other high officials, as well as those who served in the Department of the Secretary of State for India for at least thirty years were eligible for appointment. Rulers of Indian Princely States were also eligible for appointment. Some states were of such importance that their rulers were almost always appointed Knights Grand Commanders; such rulers included
1938-528: The order became dormant. The motto of the order was "Heaven's Light Our Guide". The Star of India emblem , the insignia of order and the informal emblem of British India, was also used as the basis of a series of flags to represent the Indian Empire . The order was the fifth most senior British order of chivalry, following the Order of the Garter , Order of the Thistle , Order of St Patrick and Order of
1989-407: The penalty for non payment of stamp duty was reduced as it was found to be a huge burden. The same year, another royal proclamation was passed relinquishing the right of the government in property left by a person under the Marumakkathayam 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
2040-543: The sanction of the Paramount Power, who were apprised of facts, Kerala Varma was arrested by the Maharajah in 1875 and imprisoned at Alapuzha in north Travancore. After two years he was placed under house arrest at his family home in Haripad . The Rani's entreaties to the Maharajah to forgive her husband were met with no sympathy. When she asked for his release it was refused and so she proposed to go with him. But
2091-399: The theme of which is the separation between his wife and himself. When the Rani's strong will and refusal to abandon her husband, amidst all pressures and tribulations, reached the ears of Queen Victoria , she admitted her in 1881 into the Order of the Crown of India . Kerala Varma Valiya Koil Thampuran was later in 1895 decorated with the Order of the Star of India . The remaining years of
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2142-592: The throne, Maharajah Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma attained the legal age and became the last Maharajah of 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 Pillai Kochamma , of the Nagercoil Ammaveedu family, whose aunt
2193-661: The two eldest daughters of Bharani Thirunal Amma Thampuran of Mavelikara namely Lakshmi Bayi (b. 1848) and her younger sister Parvathi Bayi (b. 1850). In November 1857 the adoption was sanctioned by the Paramount power and the two girls were adopted into the royal family and installed as the Senior and Junior Ranis of Attingal , the traditional position held by females of the Travancore family. Lakshmi Bayi now became HH Rani Bharani Thirunal Lakshmi Bayi. In 1859 three suitable boys from chosen families were presented to her, including
2244-572: 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 : ..Karthyayani Pilla Kochamma by birth belongs to a very ancient and highly respected Nair family in Trivandrum 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
2295-514: Was born on 25 September 1857 to Prince Raja Raja Varma of the Changanassery Royal Family and Maharani Lakshmi Bayi of Travancore, niece of Maharajah Swathi Thirunal . His mother died 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
2346-497: 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
2397-599: Was intended to be a less exclusive version of the Order of the Star of India; consequently, many more appointments were made to the latter than to the former. As the last Grand Master of the Orders, Louis Mountbatten, 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma was also the last known individual to wear publicly the stars of a Knight Grand Commander of both Orders, during the Silver Jubilee of Elizabeth II celebrations in 1977. The British Sovereign was, and still is, Sovereign of
2448-732: Was often referred to as Sree Moolam Thirunal's Piers Gaveston . Sankaran Thampi was closely associated with C. V. Raman Pillai . Two of Thampi's brothers were Tahsildars. Thampi survived the Dewanship of VP Madhava Rao, who tried to displace him. He remained powerful until the Maharaja's demise in 1924. Officially he was also known with his full name, style and honours: Colonel His Highness Sri Padmanabhadasa Vanchipala Sree Moolam Thirunal Rama Varma Kulasekhara Kiritapathi Manney Sultan Maharajah Raja Ramaraja Bahadur Shamsher Jang, Maharajah Of Travancore. Knight Grand Commander of
2499-666: Was the Senior Rani of Travancore from 1857 till her death in 1901. Her consort was the famous poet and writer, styled the father of Malayalam literature, Sri Kerala Varma Valiya Koil Thampuran . Lakshmi Bayi was born in about 1848 as the daughter of Bharani Nal Amma Thampuran of Mavelikara . Her mother's family was a branch of the Kolathunad royal family which was directly related to the Travancore Royal Family . The family had settled in Travancore towards
2550-430: 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 Chempakaraman Thampi, 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
2601-555: Was the first Legislative Council for a native state in the history of India. It was later succeeded by the Sree Moolam Popular Assembly , the first legislature in Indian history to have elected members. In 1886 a proclamation was issued relieving people of the requirement to pay of penalties on documents executed on unstamped government cadjan leaves (paper was not yet in common use in Travancore). In 1887,
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