Extensively researched and vividly rendered, The Ivory Throne conjures up a dramatic world of political intrigues and factions, black magic and conspiracies, crafty ceremonies and splendorous temple treasures, all harnessed in a tragic contest for power and authority in the age of empire.
This book is quite an astonishing achievement. The author Manu Pilllai is only 26 years and this is his maiden book. He has dug into the archives of the India Office at the British Library in London and waded through the long dispatches of British residents in Travancore. This book is In fact “three-books-in one”.
We have the chronicles of the life and times of Maharani Sethu Lakshmi Bayi who for seven years 1924-1931) was the ruler of the State of Travancore. She was beloved of her 5 million subjects who held her in high esteem.
Ivory Throne
Manu Pillai
Publisher: Harper Collins
Pages: 694
Price: Rs 699
Manu has recounted her sparkling reign on behalf of the minor Sri Chitra Thirunal. She was an able administrator who gave special attention to education, trade which led to the high social development of Kerala. She upheld the rights of the modern woman.
There was a regular war between Sethu Lakshmi Bayi and her sister Sethu Parvathi Bayi. The latter’s son ascended the throne in 1931. A second book is a clinical analysis of the theory and practice of the matrilineal system in Travancore.
The third book is a thorough study of the history of the social change in the 20th century leading inevitably to the vanishing of the way of life practised by Royalty and accepted by the subjects.
‘Ivory Throne’ begins with the dramatic entry of Vasco da Gama whose retinue was composed of “the scum of the earth” — convicts and criminals of Portugal. Driven by formidable ambition and undaunted spirit Gama landed on the shores of Kerala. The team was summoned by the Hindu Raja Manavikrama — the Zamorin of Calicut. The Portuguese were allowed as ordinary traders and got no special treatment. Cabral followed Gama and was thrown out by the Zamorin. Pillai gives a grand account of the role of the Zamorin and their loss of importance.
Trade was followed inevitably by Religion. Christianity established its first roots in Kerala after the landing in Cranganore of St. Thomas the Apostle. The emergence of a house known as “Kupaka” led to the carving up the south into small principalities among their various offshoots, with the extreme south in the hands of the Rajas of Travancore.
One Prince Martanda Varma dramatically revitalized the Kupaka dynasty resurrecting their pride. He emerged as the new fountain of power along the coast.
This book analyses the fascinating times from the era of Martanda Varma down to India’s liberation from colonial rule two centuries after his death. The story is recounted of one of the most distinguished rulers of Travancore in the modern period. Sethu Lakshmi Bayi, who was the penultimate ruler of Travancore.
The Queen occupied a riveting world of court intrigue and illicit conspiracies hatched not only by scheming politicians but also by ambitious members of her family in an all-engulfing contest for power. There was a regular war between Sethu Lakshmi Bayi and her sister Sethu Parvathi Bayi. The latter’s son ascended the throne in 1931.
Queen Sethu Lakshmi Bayi earned the unstinted admiration of both the colonial empire that had shaped the country’s past and of nationalists like Gandhi who were moulding its future. The Poet Laureate of Kerala, Ulloor Parameswara Iyer declared “that the days of Sethu Lakshmi Bayi’s government would be recorded in letters of gold by the future historian of Travancore”.
The book throws up a galaxy of interesting characters. Standing out like a sore thumb in the life of the Rani is the Diwan Sir C.P. Ramaswamy Iyer who was a latter-day Mephistopheles. By his sheer ruthlessness he created more enemies against royalty. Iyer strained to keep Travancore away from the India Union but physical attacks on him led to his ignominious exit from Travancore.
Another character who was larger than life was the painter Raja Ravi Varma who was responsible for bringing about a momentous change in the art scene in India. He used European realism to paint Indian mythological characters in natural surroundings.
This is a masterly work—indeed it is unputdownable work on the recent history of the State of Travancore. It is a labour of love and a result of solid scholarship. The number of pages of reference is a whopping 108 pages.
‘Ivory Throne’ begins with the dramatic entry of Vasco da Gama whose retinue was composed of “the scum of the earth” — convicts and criminals of Portugal. Driven by formidable ambition and undaunted spirit Gama landed on the shores of Kerala.
