Moolam Thirunal Rama Varma

Moolam Thirunal Rama Varma
Titular Maharajah of Travancore (monarchy abolished)
Reign 16 December 2013 -
Coronation 03 Jan 2014
Predecessor HH Sri Uthradom Thirunal Marthanda Varma
Spouse Ammachi Panapillai Amma Srimathi Girija Thankachi (m.2002) [1]
Issue none
Full name
Sree Padmanabhadasa Sree Moolam Thirunal Rama Varma
Regnal name
His Highness Sree Padmanabhadasa Vanchipala Sree Moolam Thirunal Rama Varma Kulasekhara Kiritapathi Manney Sultan Maharaja Raja Ramaraja Bahadur Shamsher Jang, Maharajah of Travancore (Titular)
Kulasekhara Venad Swaroopam
Father Lt. Col. Godavarma Raja of Kanjiramattom Palace, Poonjar
Mother H.H. Maharani Karthika Thirunal Lakshmi Bayi of Travancore Royal Family
Born 12 June 1949
Travancore-Cochin
Religion Hinduism
Occupation Managing Director of Aspinwall Ltd & Heriditary Head Trustee of Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple
Kingdom of Travancore
Part of History of Kerala
Travancore Kings
Anizham Thirunal Marthanda Varma 1729–1758
Dharma Raja 1758–1798
Avittam Thirunal 1798–1810
Gowri Lakshmi Bayi 1810–1815
Gowri Parvati Bayi‡ 1815–1829
Swathi Thirunal 1813–1846
Uthram Thirunal 1846–1860
Ayilyam Thirunal 1860–1880
Visakham Thirunal 1880–1885
Moolam Thirunal 1885–1924
Sethu Lakshmi Bayi‡ 1924–1931
Chithira Thirunal 1924–1991
(1971–1991 titular)
Uthradom Thirunal Marthanda Varma 1991–2013 (Titular)
Moolam Thirunal Rama VarmaVI 2013–Present (Titular)
‡ Regent Queens
Capitals
Padmanabhapuram 1729–1795
Thiruvananthapuram 1795–1947
Palaces
Thevally Palace
Padmanabhapuram Palace
Kilimanoor palace
Kuthira Malika
Kowdiar Palace

Sree Padmanabhadasa Sree Moolam Thirunal Rama Varma (born 1949) is the current titular Maharajah of Travancore.[2] He is the youngest of the four children of the former Titular Maharani of Travancore, H.H. Sree Padmanabhasevini Maharani Karthika Thirunal Lakshmi Bayi and her husband, Prince Consort Lt. Col. G. V. Raja of Poonjar Royal House.

Sree Rama Varma is the only nephew of the last reigning King of Travancore, Sree Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma and succeeded the late Titular King of Travancore, H.H. Sree Padmanabhadasa Sree Uthradom Thirunal Marthanda Varma. He is also the Managing Director of the spice trading company, Aspinwall Ltd. As the head of the royal family, he along with his wife, moved to Thiruvananthapuram in 2013 and has settled down at Kowdiar, in order to keep up with the ritual duties of the Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple.[3][4]

After the interim judgement by the Supreme Court on Padmanabhaswami Temple case, Moolam Thirunal Rama Varma remain the trustee of the temple and does the ritual duties as the Maharajah Of Travancore (Titular) but currently has no administrative power regarding the temple management.[5][6] The Supreme court bench comprising justice R. M. Lodha and justice A. K. Patnaik ordered a temporary change in administration by forming a 5-member committee and appointing Vinod Rai as auditor. The committee will include Thiruvananthapuram District Sub Judge K.P. Indira, Thantri and Nambi of the temple and two members to be decided in consultation with the Government of Kerala and the Travancore Royal Family. Additionally one IAS officer and a former administrator of the temple were appointed as executive officers.[7]

Early life

Sree Rama Varma is the youngest son of H.H. Maharani Karthika Thirunal Lakshmi Bayi of Travancore and her husband, Prince Consort Lt. Col. G. V. Raja, and was born on June 12, 1949 in Thiru-Kochi. His siblings are the late Crown Prince (Elayarajah) Sree Padmanabhadasa Sree Avittom Thirunal Rama Varma (died at the age of 6 due to rheumatic heart disease), Princess Pooyam Thirunal Gowri Parvathi Bayi and the writer, Princess Aswathi Thirunal Gowri Lakshmi Bayi. Like his father, Lt. Col. G. V. Raja, Sree Rama Varma is also an avid sports and book lover. He was educated privately by selected tutors in various subjects. He later graduated from Mar Evanios College, Thiruvananthapuram, with Physics as his selective subject. Then he moved to Kolkatta & worked there for some years. He then went to England to learn business management and worked there for a year.[8]

Later life and marriage

After finishing his higher education & working in England for a year, in 1972 Sree Rama Varma returned to India and at his uncles' advise, joined the spice trading company Aspinwall Ltd in Mangalore. Sree Rama Varma then married Ammachi Panapillai Amma Srimathi Girija Thankachi of Vazhuthacadu, alias Dr. Girija Rama Varma, former radiologist based in London. The couple after their wedding in 2002 used to live in Mangalore till 2013. After he assumed the Titular Maharajah's position, the couple moved to Kowdiar, Trivandrum, and has settled down there.

Sree Rama Varma served as a consultant and in various executive positions like, Additional Director (2004-2005), Director of Planning (2005-2007), Executive Director Aspinwall & Co Travancore Ltd (since 2005), Member of Aspinwall Promoter Group (since 2005), Managing Director of Aspinwall and Co Ltd in Mangalore (since 2008).[9]

Titular[2] Maharajah Of Travancore

Sree Rama Varma became the Elayarajah of Travancore when Maharajah Sree Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma died in July 20, 1991. And when Sree Uthradom Thirunal Marthanda Varma died on December 16, 2013, he became the Titular Maharajah Of Travancore. He was anointed after a function called Thirumudikalasam, as the head of the Travancore Royal Family on 03 Jan, 2014, was held at Kalasamandapam near the Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple. After rituals and traditional procedures, Tharananalloor Parameswaran Namboodiripad, the temple Tantri (high priest), poured 'punyajalam' (holy water) over Sree Rama Varma, making him the new head of the royal family. The anoinment function was a very private affair and only the closest family members and priests took part in it. Rama Varma, as of now, is also the Supreme Guardian or Custodian of Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple, Thiruvananthapuram. After his installation, he arrived at the Kulasekhara Mandapam of the temple where the Ettara Yogam presided over by the Pushpanjali Swamiyar held a meeting. The Yogam recognised Rama Varma as Chirava Mooppan and Thrippappoor Mooppan, and the Swamiyar signed on the neettu. His full title is : His Highness Sree Padmanabha Dasa Vanchipala Sree Moolam Thirunal Rama Varma, Kulasekhara Kiritapati Manney Sultan Maharajah Raja Ramaraja Bahadur, Shamsher Jang, Maharajah of Travancore (Titular).[10]

See also

References

  1. ↑ The consort of the ruler was known as the Ammachi with the title of PanaPillai Amma.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 MAHIR, HANEEF (Dec 17, 2013). "'His Highness' isn't unconstitutional: Kerala High Court - "Though by the 26th amendment to the Constitution, Article 363 was repealed whereby the rights and privileges of the rulers of Indian states were taken away, still the name and title of the rulers remained as such and unaffected in so far as names and titles were not contemplated as rights or privileges under the repealed Articles 291 and 362 of the Constitution."". THE TIMES OF INDIA. Retrieved 11 February 2014.
  3. ↑ "Moolam Thirunal anointed as head of Travancore royal house". The Deccan Chronicle Website. Deccan Chronicle. 3 January 2014.
  4. ↑ "Moolam Tirunal Rama Varma is Travancore royal family head". The Hindu Website. The Hindu. 4 January 2013. Retrieved 2014-01-13.
  5. ↑ Utkarsh, Anand. "Remedial measures must be taken: SC". The Indian Express. Retrieved 25 April 2014.
  6. ↑ J., VENKATESAN. "SC permits Rama Varma to be temple trustee". THE HINDU. Retrieved 25 April 2014.
  7. ↑ "SC entrusts Padmanabhaswamy temple to five-member committee". The Hindu. Retrieved 24 April 2014.
  8. ↑ Swantham, Lekhakan(Malayalm). "British Malayali - A Comprehensive Newsportal For UK Malayalees". Retrieved 11 February 2014.
  9. ↑ Buyers, Christopher. "TRAVANCORE-India/SALUTE STATES-royalark.net". Retrieved 25 February 2014.
  10. ↑ PRESS TRUST, OF INDIA (January 3, 2014). "Moolam Thirunal anointed as head of Travancore royal house". Business Standard. Retrieved 11 February 2014.

External links