Visakham Thirunal Rama Varma FRAS (19 May 1837 – 4 August 1885) was the Maharaja of the erstwhile Indian kingdom of Travancore from 1880 to 1885 AD. He succeeded his elder brother Maharajah Ayilyam Thirunal to the throne of Travancore.
Early life
Vishakham Thirunal Rama varma was born on 19 May 1837 to Rani Gowri Rukmini Bayi and her husband Punartham Thirunal Rama Varma Koil Thampuran of the Royal Family of Thiruvalla. His mother died when he was barely two months of age leaving him and his elder siblings to the care of their father. His Highness was grandson to Maharani Gowri Lakshmi Bayi and nephew of Maharajah Swathi Thirunal.
As a prince he received his early education from his father, Rama Varma. This was basic training in vernacular Malayalam language and Sanskrit which were essentials for members of the Royal family. At the age of nine he started his English education under Subba Row, who later became Dewan of Travancore. The prince took a keen interest in English composition and his first work, Horrors of war and benefits of peace, was well acknowledged. Some of his compositions were also published in "Madras Athenaeum". He also wrote in The Statesman and the Calcutta Review.
In 1861 the prince visited Madras and met with the Governor, Sir William Denison, upon whom he made such a favourable impression that the Governor remarked that "He is by far the most intelligent Native I have seen; and if his brother is like him, the prospects of Travancore are very favorable." The prince was soon appointed a Fellow of the University of Madras, a rare honour conferred on natives in those days. While he was still a prince he was also offered a seat in the Viceroy of India's Legislative Council which he, however, declined owing to ill health. He had a special aptitude for botany and agriculture. This paved way to introduction of tapioca and rubber cultivation in Travancore.
He was an erudite scholar and had in his court learned Brahmins, known as Tharka Sastry and used to take their advice in settling cases that were referred to him. There is a story about his asking a question on the Mahabharata and only two in the group of Tharka Sastrys answered. One was Gopala Iyer and according to his request his son, K G Sesha Iyer, was made a Munsiff who later became a famous Judge. The other was Gopala Sastry at whose request the Maharajah took up with the British resident to get the son of Gopala Sastry appointed the Sub-Registrar at Tiruchendur.
Both Gopala Iyer (Kadayam) and Gopala Sastry (Mela Cheval) were Vadadesa Vadama Brahmins from Tirunelveli.
Chief compositions
The Horrors of War and Benefits of Peace
A Political Sketch of Travancore, Madras Athenaeum
Lectures on "Human Greatness", "The relation between nature and art", "Our Morals" and "Our Industrial Status" etc. A Native Statesman, Calcutta Review Observations on Higher Education
Accession
The Maharajah's elder brother, Ayilyam Thirunal, died after ruling Travancore for twenty years from 1860 to 1880. As per the Marumakkathayam law, Prince Visakham Thirunal Rama Varma succeeded to the Travancore throne in 1880. He introduced a number of reforms including changes in the education system, police department, justice and judiciary etc. He furthered the cultivation of Tapioca which became so popular and commonly available that it came to be known as the poor man's meal in Travancore.
Agricultural contributions
The Maharajah was instrumental in development of tapioca cultivation and rubber cultivation in Travancore. His highness was a keen botanist and he got to know about the tapioca/cassava from Lord Napier, Governor of Madras and Colonel Olcott of Theosophical Society Adyar. On realizing the potential of this newfound crop he introduced cultivation of the same within premises of palace at present day Jawahar Nagar near Kowdiar on 31 July 1883. His highness took keen interest in promotion of tapioca and he even issued proclamation detailing his subjects about how to cook tapioca. The cultivation of newfound crop spread across the country and it received boost from administrators like CP Ramaswami Iyer. Later during World War II when the fall of Burma stressed rice imports, the tapioca cultivation helped Travancore survive a massive famine.