Kingdom of Travancore

The Kingdom of Travancore is a Autonomous Constituent Princely State of the Hindustan Empire.

## History

### Early History

King Marthanda Varma inherited the small feudal state of Venad in 1723 and built it into Travancore, one of the most powerful kingdoms in southern India. Marthanda Varma led the Travancore forces during the Travancore-Dutch War of 1739–46, which culminated in the Battle of Colachel. The defeat of the Dutch by Travancore is considered the earliest example of an organised power from Asia overcoming European military technology and tactics. Marthanda Varma went on to conquer most of the petty principalities of the native rulers. Travancore became the most dominant state in Kerala by defeating the powerful Zamorin of Kozhikode in the battle of Purakkad in 1755.

In the early 19th century, the kingdom became a princely state of the British Empire. The Travancore Government took many progressive steps on the socio-economic front and during the reign of Maharajah Sri Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma, Travancore became a prosperous modern princely state in British India, with reputed achievements in education, political administration, public work, and social reforms. In 1903–1904 the total revenue of the state was Rs.1,02,01,900.

The last ruling king of Travancore was Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma, who reigned from 1931 to 1949. "His reign marked revolutionary progress in the fields of education, defence, economy and society as a whole." He made the famous Temple Entry Proclamation on 12 November 1936, which opened all the Kshetrams (Hindu temples in Kerala) in Travancore to all Hindus, a privilege reserved to only upper-caste Hindus till then. This act won him praise from across India, most notably from Mahatma Gandhi. The first public transport system (Thiruvananthapuram–Mavelikkara) and telecommunication system (Thiruvananthapuram Palace–Mavelikkara Palace) were launched during the reign of Sree Chithira Thirunal. He also started the industrialisation of the state, enhancing the role of the public sector. He introduced heavy industry in the State and established giant public sector undertakings. As many as twenty industries were established, mostly for utilizing the local raw materials such as rubber, ceramics, and minerals. A majority of the premier industries running in Kerala even today, were established by Sree Chithira Thirunal. He patronized musicians, artists, dancers, and Vedic scholars. Sree Chithira Thirunal appointed, for the first time, an *Art Advisor* to the Government, Dr. G. H. Cousins. He also established a new form of University Training Corps, viz. *Labour Corps*, preceding the N.C.C, in the educational institutions. The expenses of the University were to be met fully by the Government. Sree Chithira Thirunal also built a beautiful palace named *Kowdiar Palace*, finished in 1934, which was previously an old *Naluektu*, given by Sree Moolam Thirunal to his mother Sethu Parvathi Bayi in 1915.

However, his Prime Minister, Sir C. P. Ramaswami Iyer, was unpopular among the communists of Travancore. The tension between the Communists and Sir C.P. Ramaswami Iyer led to minor riots in various places of the country. In one such riot in Punnapra-Vayalar in 1946, the Communist rioters established their own government in the area. This was put down by the Travancore Army and Navy. The Prime Minister issued a statement in June 1947 that Travancore would remain as an independent country instead of joining the Indian Union; subsequently, an attempt was made on the life of Sir C.P. Ramaswamy Iyer, following which he resigned and left for Madras, to be succeeded by Sri P.G.N. Unnithan. According to witnesses such as K.Aiyappan Pillai, constitutional adviser to the Maharaja and historians like A. Sreedhara Menon, the rioters and mob-attacks had no bearing on the decision of the Maharaja. After several rounds of discussions and negotiations between Sree Chithira Thirunal and V.P. Menon, the King agreed that the Kingdom should accede to the Indian Union in 1949. On 1 July 1949 the Kingdom of Travancore was merged with the Kingdom of Cochin and the short-lived state of Travancore-Kochi was formed.

The State of Kerala came into existence on 1 November 1956, with a Governor appointed by the President of India as the head of the State instead of the King.  The King was stripped of all his political powers and the right to receive privy purses, according to the twenty-sixth amendment of the Indian constitution act of 31 July 1971. This had ended Travancore as a Kingdom.

### Blackout

The royal Family of Travancore (except for the Maharajah and his descendants) had died in the blackout. The reason behind their deaths was because they were attacked and executed by angry socialist Tamil people.

### Restoration

Travancore was restored during the age of the Blackout after the conquest of India by the Iranian Army. Maharajah Uthradom Thirunal Marthanda Varma was declared ruler of Travancore as a constituent state of Hindustan. Due to this the Maharajah abolished the Marumakkathayam law of matriarchy and created a traditional order of succession in which his son Ananthapadmanabhan Thampi became the Crown Prince. The Maharajah then died in 2013 in which Ananthapadmanabhan Thampi had then been crowned Maharajah Uthradom Ananthapadmanabhan Thampi Varma.

## Government

Under the direct control of the king, Travancore's administration is headed a Satrap who governs the land and is assisted by a Dewan who is appointed by the Satrap himself. The Dewan is assisted by the *Neetezhutthu Pillay* or secretary, *Rayasom Pillay* (assistant or under-secretary) and a number of *Rayasoms* or clerks along with *Kanakku Pillamars* (accountants). Individual districts were run by *Sarvadhikaris* under supervision of the Diwan, while dealings with neighboring states and Europeans was under the purview of the *Valia Sarvahi*, who signed treaties and agreements.

## Military

Travancore has an army that consists of 1,500 infantry divisions armed with Guns and Humvees with steamboat ships.