Centenary recalls the life and times of Raja Rajagopala Thondaiman, the last king of Pudukottai

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HISTORY & CULTURE Nahla Nainar JULY 08, 2022 18:50 IST UPDATED: JULY 21, 2022 13:13 IST

R Rajagopal Thondaiman, the heir to the former ruler, takes us through the palace in Tiruchi, highlighting the simplicity of his adoptive father to mark his centenary
Yellow highlights the compound walls of the Pudukottai Palace in the heart of Tiruchi’s residential Cantonment area. The gates lead down wooded driveways, each bordered by a heritage building. As the fragrance of lunch wafts up from the kitchen wing, alert dogs set up a chorus, announcing the presence of visitors.
The reception hall of the palace, built in 1892, is imposing, with antique furniture and wainscot walls. A small shrine framed in with massive ivory tusks at the mantelpiece draws the eye to the portrait of Raja Rajagopala Thondaiman, the ninth and last ruler of the princely state of Pudukkottai.
R Rajagopal Thondaiman with his wife Sarubala R Thondaiman, the former Mayor of Tiruchi, at Pudukkottai Palace in Tiruchi. | Photo Credit: M Moorthy
The centenary of the erstwhile king was celebrated over four days from June 23 with state honours in Pudukottai. The former ruler had given his palace, measuring 99.9 acres in Pudukottai Town in deference to a request from the late Chief Minister M Karunanidhi for establishing the District Collectorate when Pudukottai was created as a separate district in 1974. So the announcement of a government memorial-cum-museum for Rajagopala Thondaiman coming up in Pudukottai has brought much cheer to local residents
“We are really thankful to the Tamil Nadu government for this gesture, as it would be a great way to commemorate my father,” says R Rajagopal Thondaiman, the present heir to the former ruler.
Early years
Born on June 23, 1922, to Rajkumar Ramachandra Thondaiman and Janaki Rajayi, Rajagopala Thondaiman succeeded Marthanda Bhairava Thondaiman as Raja of Pudukottai at the age of six, on November 19, 1928.
His official title was His Highness Sri Brahdamba Dasa Raja Rajagopala Thondaiman Bahadur.
Due to the prince’s young age, administrator and Pudukottai royal family member Vijaya Raghunatha Pallavarayar Dorai Raja served as the regent until February 1929, after which the princely kingdom was governed by a council of regency appointed by the British until 1944.
Archival documents show that Rajagopala Thondaiman was privately tutored in academic subjects, and was a polyglot who was fluent in Tamil, English, Malayalam, Telugu, Sanskrit, Arabic and French. His coronation ceremony, according to palace records, cost ₹1,982, 15 annas and 9 paise.
The young ruler had three sisters (Rajkumari Kamalambal Aayi, Rajkumari Mathurambal Rajayi and Rajkumari Brihadambal Rajayi) and two brothers (Rajkumar Radhakrishnan Thondaiman and Rajkumar Vijayaraghunatha Thondaiman).
Joining the mainstream
As part of the merger of 562 princely states with the nation after August 15, 1947, Rajagopala Thondaiman acceded his kingdom to the Government of India in 1948. At the time, Pudukottai was one of five princely states in the then-Madras Presidency, the others being Travancore, Cochin, Banganapalli and Sandur.
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