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

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.

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.

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.