page_title: Karthika Thirunal Lakshmi Bayi
section_title: Early years
hierarchical_section_title: Karthika Thirunal Lakshmi Bayi / Early years
caption_attribution_description: English: This is the photograph of the then Princess Karthika Thirunal lakshmi Bayi and Prince Uthradom Thirunal Marthanda Varma, taken in 1928.
context_page_description: Maharani Karthika Thirunal Lakshmi Bayi was the only sister of the last ruling Maharajah of Travancore, Sree Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma and of his successor, Sree Uthradom Thirunal Marthanda Varma. Under the matrilineal Marumakkathayam system of inheritance prevalent in the kingdom of Travancore, it was her children who were heirs to the throne. She therefore held a very special place in the Travancore court, superior to the Maharaja's wives, and was termed the Rani of Attingal in her own right. In 2013, her only surviving son duly succeeded his uncles as titular Maharaja of Travancore and is known as Moolam Thirunal Rama Varma.
context_section_description: Born as the only daughter of Queen Mother Sethu Parvathi Bayi and Sri Ravi Varma Koyi Thampuran of Kilimanoor, she married Lt. Col. G. V. Raja. According to Oneindia online daily she was a witness to major events in pre-independent and independent India, was an accomplished dancer, singer and a linguist as well. In accordance to the tradition, she was also the Chief of Attingal Fiefdom, known as Mootha Thampuran.
  Born as the only daughter of Sanskrit Scholar and aristocrat Sri Pooram Nal Ravi Varma Kochu Kovil Tampuran of Kilimanoor Kovilakam and Amma Maharani Moolam Thirunal Sethu Parvathi Bayi Of Travancore, on 17 September 1916, in the matrilineal Royal House of Travancore. She was educated by selected tutors and scholars. She mastered languages like Malayalam, Sanskrit, English, French etc. From her childhood itself, Karthika Thirunal was deeply interested in dance and music. Recognizing her interests, her elder brother, Maharajah Sree Chithira Thirunal, appointed Harikeshanelloor Muthaiyya Bhagavathar as her music teacher. In 1933, at the age of 16, Karthika Thirunal became the first from her family to undertake a sea voyage with her mother, against the then prevalent superstitious belief related to crossing the sea. She also participated in the All India Women's Conference of 1935, held in Trivandrum.
caption: Karthika Thirunal with her younger brother, future Maharaja Uthradom Thirunal Marthanda Varma.
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