An homage to Ramarayar

A first-time visitor to the capital city is sure to get bombarded by names like Dalawa, Madhavarayar or Ramarayar from the localites. A short trip along the main thoroughfare from Statue Junction to LMS Junction would resolve its mystery quickly. Beginning from the statue of Velu Thampi Dalawa inside the Secretariat campus and Madhava Rao’s at Statue Junction, the road leads to a traditional ornate lamp post situated almost in the middle of the road, rooted on a beautifully landscaped median that deviates towards Museum and Sasthamangalam on one side and PMG Junction-Pattom on the other.

Compared to the other two, T. Rama Rao or Trivandrumites’ dearest Ramarayar’s memorial is a lamp, with only his name to be seen etched on a metallic plate stuck beneath the hanging bulbs. It was installed as a memorial to this Dewan of erstwhile Travancore during the reign of Sri Moolam Tirunal. Upon the request of ‘Udarashiromani’ Padmanabha Rao, his son, the lamp came into being during the rule of the last Maharaja of Travancore, Sri Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma.

Rama Rao, born in Thiruvananthapuram, was ensconced to the position in 1887. He was instrumental in setting up a Legislative Council in 1888 and as the Dewan Peishkar of Kottayam, he owns the credit for having laid the foundation of Kottayam town.

Don’t just stop at the marvel of the lamp, if taken the route towards Museum, you’d find Hillview, the Dewan’s favourite residence along the Vellaya mbalam-Vazhuthacaud stretch.