TOUCH CONTACT WITH LAST MAHARAJAH OF TRAVANCORE

Sree Chithira Thirunal Balaramavarma Maharaja's name has been recorded in golden letters in the annals of Indian history He was the last ruling Maharajah of Travancore in south India untill 1949:and Titular Maharajah of Travancore untill 1991.

He enacted the famous Temple Entry Proclamation ,allowing untouchables to enter all Travancore Hindu temples. The University of Travancore in 1937, The Trivandrum Internatonal Airport, KSRTC, Pallivasal hydroelectric project, FACT, etc are some of his innumerable contributions still existing in good condition in developing Kerala .

I only heard about the nobility of Sree Chithira Tirunal Maharajah untill I had a touch contact with him in 1991, when he was admitted in Sree chitra Tirunal medical centre, which was also his contribution initially and later brought under Govt. Of India as An Institute Of National Importance . The Maharajah had stroke in 1991, which was not very serious in the beginning but had difficulty in walking as his one side was paralysed. His speech and comprehension were very good . I heard about him from my grand father, who was his ardent worshiper and lived many years in his reign. My grand father kept on admiring him for his heroism ,simplicity, and welfare mind towards his subjects. I heard that my grand father and his friends walked for fifty miles to have a glimpse at the Maharajah, while he passed through Kottayam.

Therefore, naturally, you can imagine what surprise he would have in his mind when he came to know that , I , his grandson , being in close contact with the Maharajah in connection with physiotherapy. My grand father , filled with tears in his eyes, said,. "" Mone, ( son, / bachu..) what a fortune God has bestowed you to touch that imaculate king's body, while I walked fifty miles to just have a glimpse at him.""In fact, to be honest , I could not percieve or borrow the mindset of my 85 year old grandfather, when he shed tears because I did not have an experience in a king ruled empire.But the love , respect and worship of the old subjects of Maharajah ,mechanically made me respectful towards him in the beginning. He was treated also like a Maharajah in our hospital . But ,in course of time, my concept about a Maharajah with arrogance and laxury melted away with my constant contact with him. It was he who bowed and said , "" namasthe""before I did when I entered his room for physiotherapy.That was his simplicity and nobility. As a part of physiotherapy, I took his paralysed hand and shoulder on my shoulder and tried to make him stand for weight bearing on affected side, I knew the first weight bearing and mobilisation would be stressful. Still, that was inevitable. I saw his agonising face, while bearing the unbearable stretch pain, with out uttering a word of rejection, but only a grimace. I told him, ""Thampurane,(My Lord,)I know that you are capable of procuring any costly medicine from any corner of the universe by next flight, if available, but the only remedy in the world to regain walking is our joint effort, bearing pain.""He politely replied,"" I shall bear any pain and stress, you can choose any physical modality. He was very co operative all through out the course of physiotherapy for two weeks and started walking with simple support.My grand father was in ecstasy, hearing his improvement. He said that it was God's decision that I should be instrumental for the part of his treatment. But an ambition sprouted in his mind. He said,""Son, I have an ambition in my mind to see the Kowdiar palace of Maharajah, before I die"". The palace is an architectural art piece in Kerala and public visit is prohibited. Still, I put forward my grand fathers ambition in front of Maharajah. The Maharajah readilly agreed and told his elder sister Karthika Thirunal Thampurati to permit my grand father to see the palace, excluding some interiors.My grandfather was in inexplicable happiness and counted days to see the palace and also if possible see Maharajah .

But, it was shocking and sad to say, Maharajah fell in to coma by cerebral haemorrhage, no medicine responded for nine days and expired on 20th July1991. The whole Kerala was in an ocean of bereavement. It was a strong blow to my grand father also.He got rid of his desire to see the palace . He too bid farewel to this world in two months....