This is a multi-part series focused on the royal house of Travancore in Kerala.
The history of the Travancore royal family goes back many centuries. There are bloody wars, conspiracies and plots in this story. There is devotion and faith to the presiding deity of Padmanabhaswamy. But above all, this family has been dedicated to the uplift and well being of the weaker sections of society. With its fair and just rulers, the Travancore royal family has helped define the modern state of Kerala.
A personal note
My personal interest in the Travancore royals started from a textbook I had for my 10th board exam. This book, “Dharma Raja”, written by C V Raman Pillai was a breathtaking novel covering the early days of Maharaja Ramavarma, who was known as Dharma Raja.
In later years, I would read more historical accounts of the family. Medieval and later Indian history taught in our classrooms, obsessed with the Mughals and the British, have conveniently skipped these gems. I hope these posts encourage you to read and understand more and appreciate the contributions of the Travancore royal family.
In the first few posts, we will see Travancore’s rise to power under Marthanda Varma. Subsequent posts will focus on Dharma Raja’s defense of Travancore from Mysore. And finally we will see the contributions of the great social reformer king, Balarama Varma.
