Uthradom Thirunal Marthanda Varma

Uthradom Thirunal Marthanda Varma Biography

Uthradom Thirunal Marthanda Varma was the titular Maharaja of Travancore. Though monarchy rule is abolished His Royal Highness Uthradom Thirunal Marthanda Varma, the head of the Travancore Royal family deserves a special position of hearts of his subjects till now. He is the younger brother of Maharajah Chithira Thirunal Rama Varma, the last ruler of the Kingdom of Travancore. He has been associated with all cultural events of the capital city of Kerala since the death of his elder brother in 1991 and died on December 16, 2013 aged 91. Padmanabha Swamy temple, world’s richest temple is currently run by a trust headed by the royal family of Travancore. He has been associated with all cultural events and processes of the recent declaration of shrine’s assets. Kings of Travancore are fully dedicated to Lord Padmanabha.

He was born in Uthradam star as the younger son of Maharani Sethuparvathi Bayi and Ravi Varma Koyi Thamapuran on March 22, 1922. He was educated in the palace by a group of 14 tutors in various subjects. He later graduated in Economics, Politics and History in the year 1943 from Kerala University, then known by the name Travancore University. He was the recipient of the Moncombu Aandi Iyer Gold Medal for the best student in Sanskrit and was respected for his erudition. He was a person with varied interests and has won many trophies as an amateur horse rider at various places in the country. Tennis, hockey, golf, football and polo are his other interests. He was a talented photographer also and has shared many beautiful photos from his personal album to the public and magazines.

Uthradom Thirunal became head of the Travancore royal family after the death of his elder brother in 1991. Chithira Thirunal Rama Varma was the last ruler of Travancore. Though he doesn’t have any administrative power, was a popular figure in Travancore and has been seen in many cultural events of the city as well as Padmanabha Temple. He also maintained his ritual position at the Padmanabhaswamy Temple as the custodian of the temple. His consorts are Panapilla Amma Shrimathi and Radha Devipilla Kochamma. With his death, a huge pillar of Kerala Culture and Travancore princely state, who has witnessed many reforms of the state, has vanished in horizon.

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Updated: September 24, 2017