Sethu Lakshmi Bayi

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Kingdom of Travancore
Part of History of Kerala
Travancore Kings
Rajah Rama Varma 1721-1729
Marthanda Varma 1729-1758
Dharma Raja 1758-1798
Balarama Varma 1798-1810
Gowri Lakshmi Bayi 1810-1815
Gowri Parvati Bayi 1815-1829
Swathi Thirunal 1829-1846
Uthram Thirunal 1846-1860
Ayilyam Thirunal 1860-1880
Visakham Thirunal 1880-1885
Moolam Thirunal 1885-1924
Sethu Lakshmi Bayi 1924-1931
Chithira Thirunal 1931-1949

‡ Regent Queens

Capitals
Padmanabhapuram 1721-1795
Thiruvananthapuram 1795-1949
Palaces
Padmanabhapuram Palace
Kilimanoor palace
Kuthira Malika
Kowdiar Palace edit

Sethu Lakshmi Bayi (18951985) was the ruler of Travancore as regent for her nephew, Chithira Tirunal from 1924 until 1931. She abolished animal sacrifice and replaced the matrilineal system of inheritance with a more balanced one. She was known for making Travancore a very progressive state.

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 - Lord Mountbatten on the Maharani

Sethu Lakshmi Bayi was born in Mavelikkara, the granddaughter of famous painter Raja Ravi Varma and was adopted from the Mavelikkara Royal Family, which originated from the Kolathunadu Royal House from Malabar. Until she was five years old lived with her family in Mavelikkara. In 1900, following the failure of heirs in the Travancore royal family, she and her sister were adopted by her maternal grand-aunt, and 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.

In 1924, Moolam Thirunal, the Maharaja of Travancore, died, and Sethu Lakshmi Bayi became regent for her nephew, Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma. Mr M.E. Watts the first full time non Hindu Dewan held the office of Prime Minister during this period.

Raja Ravi Varma's There comes Papa: Lady with Child. The lady in the picture Rani Mahaprabha of Mavelikara, mother of Maharani Sethu Lakshmi Bayi of Travancore
Raja Ravi Varma's There comes Papa: Lady with Child. The lady in the picture Rani Mahaprabha of Mavelikara, mother of Maharani Sethu Lakshmi Bayi of Travancore

[edit] Reforms

By a royal proclamation in 1925, Sethu Lakshmi Bayi introduced the Panchayat system in villages to encourage rural self government. Besides, a number of highways were opened along the state including in the high ranges. The College for Women was raised to first grade. Also the traditional Devadasi or Kudikkari system was abolished by the Maharani. The most important reform however was the Nair Regulation of 1925 which allowed the partition of property among the branches of a Nair Tharavadu or joint family which was followed by another reform in 1928 by which individual shares could be obtained in ancestral property. This marked the demise of the ancient Marumakkathayam or matriarchal system of the Nairs which had stifled progress towards modern society. Animal sacrifice in temples was also abolished.

[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
  • A Survey of Kerala History, Sreedhara Menon, page 345 and 346

[edit] External links