Sethu Lakshmi Bayi

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Sethu Lakshmi Bayi (1895 – 1985) was the ruler of Travancore as regent for her nephew, Chitra Tirunal from 1924 until 1931.

Born in Mavelikkara, she abolished animal sacrifice and replaced the matrilineal system of inheritance with the patrilineal one. She was known for making Travancore a very progessive state.

Following the failure of heirs in the Travancore royal family, she and her sister had been adopted by her maternal grand-aunt in 1900. She moved into the royal palace in Trivandrum. Five years later, when she was 10 years old, she was married to Rama Varma Valia Koil Thampuran of Ananthapuram Palace.

[edit] References

• Raghunandan, Lakshmi (1995) At the turn of the tide : the life and times of Maharani Setu Lakshmi Bayi, the last queen of Travancore Maharani Setu Lakshmi Bayi Memorial Charitable Trust, Bangalore ;
• Gandhi, Mohandas Karamchand Young India

[edit] External links

• Varma, Shreekumar (5 February 2006) "Benign presence" The Hindu Chennai (Madras), India;
• Varma, Shreekumar (2 March 2006) "Women On Top" The Sunday Express India;