Martanda Bhairava Tondaiman
Encyclopedia
His Highness Raja Sri Brahdamba Dasa Raja Sir Martanda Bhairava Tondaiman GCIE
(26 November 1875 - 28 May 1928) was the ruler of the princely state of Pudukkottai
from 15 April 1886 to 28 May 1928.
, the Raja of Pudukkottai. Martanda was Brihadambal's third son.At an early age, Martanda was adopted by Ramachandra Tondaiman as he did not have any male heirs of his own.
Martanda was educated in private by Fredric Feilden Crossley, a Cambridge alumnus. Martanda excelled in sports and developed a liking for European culture and manners.
headed by the Diwan
, A. Seshayya Sastri governing the state in his minority.
Martanda assumed the reins of the government on 27 November 1894 when he attained majority and was invested with full powers by Lord Wenlock
, the Governor of Madras, himself. Soon after obtaining the management of the state, Martanda petitioned for the restitution of the Manovarti jagir. The Manovarti jagir consisted of four villages which had been designated by Vijaya Raghunatha Tondaiman in the early 19th century as the private property of his three wives. Since Martanda was unmarried and did not have wives of his own at the time, he desired that the jagir be restored to him. However, the government rejected his request.
During his reign, Martanda attended the Coronation Durbar at Delhi in 1903
and the coronation of George V
at Westminster Abbey
in 1911. In 1902, Martanda set up a representative assembly of 30 members on the pattern of the Mysore Assembly. The members of the assembly were nominated by heads of government departments and public institutions. The office of Councillor was created to assist the Diwan and the Diwan acting with the assistance of the Councillor was known as "Diwan-in-Council".
Martanda was made a Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire
in the 1913 New Year Honours' List.
where he met Australian socialite Molly Fink
at Hotel Majestic Mansions in Melbourne
. Martanda soon fell in love with her and followed her to Sydney
. In August 1915, Martanda proposed to Molly and she accepted. The couple were married on August 10, 1915 at the Regsitrar's Office in Melbourne. A son Martanda Sydney Tondaiman
was born to them on July 22, 1916. Martanda had been briefly engaged to an American woman prior to his marriage with Molly.
Right from the beginning, the British authorities in India were hostile to their marriage. They refused to recognise Molly Fink as Martanda's wife and accord her the privileges due to a "Maharani". Martanda returned to India
in October 1915 with Molly but barely stayed for five months. The couple moved to Australia where they stayed from 1916 to 1919 and then to London
and eventually, Cannes
, where they purchased a villa, La Favourite. In 1921, Martanda formally gave up his claim to the throne of Pudukkottai and nominated his brother Raghunatha Pallavarayar
to rule the state in his absence. Martanda settled down in France with Molly and Sydney. He died on 28 May 1928 at the age of fifty-two. His body was cremated and the ashes were interred at the Golders Green Crematorium
in London as the India Office
refused Molly's request to transport his body by air to India.
Martanda Bhairava Tondaiman was succeeded as the Raja of Pudukkottai by his nephew, 6-year old Rajagopala Tondaiman
, with Raghunatha Pallavarayar continuing as regent.
Order of the Indian Empire
The Most Eminent Order of the Indian Empire is an order of chivalry founded by Queen Victoria in 1878. The Order includes members of three classes:#Knight Grand Commander #Knight Commander #Companion...
(26 November 1875 - 28 May 1928) was the ruler of the princely state of Pudukkottai
Pudukkottai state
Pudukkottai was a princely state in the Madras Presidency which existed from 1680 to 1948. It was one of the five princely states that were under political control of the Government of Madras.- Location :...
from 15 April 1886 to 28 May 1928.
Early life
Martanda Bhairava Tondaiman was born on 26 November 1875 to Princess Brihadambal Rajammani Sahib of Pudukkottai and her husband M.R.Ry. Kolandaswami Pallavarayar Sahib Avargal. Princess Brihadambal was the eldest daughter of Ramachandra TondaimanRamachandra Tondaiman
Raja Sri Brahdamba Dasa Raja Ramachandra Tondaiman Bahadur was the ruler of princely state of Pudukkottai from July 13, 1839 to April 15, 1886.- Early life :...
, the Raja of Pudukkottai. Martanda was Brihadambal's third son.At an early age, Martanda was adopted by Ramachandra Tondaiman as he did not have any male heirs of his own.
Martanda was educated in private by Fredric Feilden Crossley, a Cambridge alumnus. Martanda excelled in sports and developed a liking for European culture and manners.
Reign
Ramachandra Tondaiman, the Raja of Pudukkottai, died on 15 April 1886 after a reign of fifty years. Martanda Bhairava Tondaiman was, therefore, crowned king at the age of eleven with a regencyRegency
Regency is the rule of a regent. It may also refer to:* Specific periods when a throne was vacant:** Regency in France, 1715–1723, a.k.a. Régence** British Regency, 1811–1820*The Hōjō Regency during the Kamakura shogunate in Japan.- Other:...
headed by the Diwan
Diwan
Dewan, Diwan or Divan may refer to:*The Arabic/Persian word Dewan or Divan , with a range of meanings:**"book"*** The Diwan or Girgam, a record of the Kanem Empire...
, A. Seshayya Sastri governing the state in his minority.
Martanda assumed the reins of the government on 27 November 1894 when he attained majority and was invested with full powers by Lord Wenlock
Richard Lawley, 4th Baron Wenlock
Lieutenant-Colonel Richard Thompson Lawley, 4th Baron Wenlock CB was a British Army officer who became the 4th Baron Wenlock and the 11th Lawley Baronet of Spoonhill in 1912.-Early life:...
, the Governor of Madras, himself. Soon after obtaining the management of the state, Martanda petitioned for the restitution of the Manovarti jagir. The Manovarti jagir consisted of four villages which had been designated by Vijaya Raghunatha Tondaiman in the early 19th century as the private property of his three wives. Since Martanda was unmarried and did not have wives of his own at the time, he desired that the jagir be restored to him. However, the government rejected his request.
During his reign, Martanda attended the Coronation Durbar at Delhi in 1903
Delhi Durbar
The Delhi Durbar , meaning "Court of Delhi", was a mass assembly at Coronation Park, Delhi, India, to mark the coronation of a King and Queen of the United Kingdom. Also known as the Imperial Durbar, it was held three times, in 1877, 1903, and 1911, at the height of the British Empire. The 1911...
and the coronation of George V
George V
George V was king of the United Kingdom and its dominions from 1910 to 1936.George V or similar terms may also refer to:-People:* George V of Georgia * George V of Imereti * George V of Hanover...
at Westminster Abbey
Westminster Abbey
The Collegiate Church of St Peter at Westminster, popularly known as Westminster Abbey, is a large, mainly Gothic church, in the City of Westminster, London, United Kingdom, located just to the west of the Palace of Westminster. It is the traditional place of coronation and burial site for English,...
in 1911. In 1902, Martanda set up a representative assembly of 30 members on the pattern of the Mysore Assembly. The members of the assembly were nominated by heads of government departments and public institutions. The office of Councillor was created to assist the Diwan and the Diwan acting with the assistance of the Councillor was known as "Diwan-in-Council".
Martanda was made a Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire
Order of the Indian Empire
The Most Eminent Order of the Indian Empire is an order of chivalry founded by Queen Victoria in 1878. The Order includes members of three classes:#Knight Grand Commander #Knight Commander #Companion...
in the 1913 New Year Honours' List.
Marriage and later life
In March 1915, Martanda travelled to AustraliaAustralia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
where he met Australian socialite Molly Fink
Molly Fink
Esme Mary Sorrett Fink , popularly known as Molly Fink was an Australian socialite and wife of Martanda Bhairava Tondaiman, the Raja of the princely state of Pudukkottai...
at Hotel Majestic Mansions in Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
. Martanda soon fell in love with her and followed her to Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
. In August 1915, Martanda proposed to Molly and she accepted. The couple were married on August 10, 1915 at the Regsitrar's Office in Melbourne. A son Martanda Sydney Tondaiman
Martanda Sydney Tondaiman
Martanda Sydney Tondaiman was the one and only son of Martanda Bhairava Tondaiman, Raja of Pudukkottai and his Australian wife Molly Fink.- Early life :...
was born to them on July 22, 1916. Martanda had been briefly engaged to an American woman prior to his marriage with Molly.
Right from the beginning, the British authorities in India were hostile to their marriage. They refused to recognise Molly Fink as Martanda's wife and accord her the privileges due to a "Maharani". Martanda returned to India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
in October 1915 with Molly but barely stayed for five months. The couple moved to Australia where they stayed from 1916 to 1919 and then to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
and eventually, Cannes
Cannes
Cannes is one of the best-known cities of the French Riviera, a busy tourist destination and host of the annual Cannes Film Festival. It is a Commune of France in the Alpes-Maritimes department....
, where they purchased a villa, La Favourite. In 1921, Martanda formally gave up his claim to the throne of Pudukkottai and nominated his brother Raghunatha Pallavarayar
Raghunatha Pallavarayar
Vijaya Raghunatha Pallavarayar Dorai Raja was an Indian civil servant and administrator and a member of the royal house of Pudukkottai...
to rule the state in his absence. Martanda settled down in France with Molly and Sydney. He died on 28 May 1928 at the age of fifty-two. His body was cremated and the ashes were interred at the Golders Green Crematorium
Golders Green Crematorium
Golders Green Crematorium and Mausoleum was the first crematorium to be opened in London, and one of the oldest crematoria in Britain. The land for the crematorium was purchased in 1900, costing £6,000, and was opened in 1902 by Sir Henry Thompson....
in London as the India Office
India Office
The India Office was a British government department created in 1858 to oversee the colonial administration of India, i.e. the modern-day nations of Bangladesh, Burma, India, and Pakistan, as well as territories in South-east and Central Asia, the Middle East, and parts of the east coast of Africa...
refused Molly's request to transport his body by air to India.
Martanda Bhairava Tondaiman was succeeded as the Raja of Pudukkottai by his nephew, 6-year old Rajagopala Tondaiman
Rajagopala Tondaiman
Raja Sri Brahdamba Dasa Raja Sri Rajagopala Tondaiman Bahadur was the ninth and last ruler of the princely state of Pudukkottai.- Early life :...
, with Raghunatha Pallavarayar continuing as regent.