Maharaja Maharaja (also spelled Maharajah or Maharaj; ; feminine: Maharani) is a royal title in Indian subcontinent, Indian subcontinent of Sanskrit origin. In modern India and Medieval India, medieval northern India, the title was equivalent to a pri ...

Gangadahra Koviladhikarikal Sri Ravi Varma (1865–1946) was the

Cochin Kochi ( , ), formerly known as Cochin ( ), is a major port city along the Malabar Coast of India bordering the Laccadive Sea. It is part of the district of Ernakulam in the state of Kerala. The city is also commonly referred to as Ernaku ...

India India, officially the Republic of India, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, seventh-largest country by area; the List of countries by population (United Nations), most populous country since ...

in 1943–46. Ravi Varma was born on 29 November 1865, in Tripunithura, then part of British India. Maharaja Gangadahra Koviladhikarikal Sri Ravi Varma ruled Cochin from 1943 to 1946. He was the Elaya Raja (crown prince) until his brother Midukkan Thampuran died on 13 October 1943. He ascended the throne at the age of 78 years. Although his reign was short, he was very popular with the people of Cochin. He was known for his spirit of equality, and the way he got along with the common people despite the vast economic inequality prevailing in those times. A very well educated man for his time, he was fluent in English, Hindi, Malayalam, Sanskrit and to some extent Urdu. Maharaja Ravi Varma was admired for his painting skills and was very well versed in oil painting. Maharaja Ravi Varma was possibly also a famous player of Polo during his youth. Ravi Varma V was married to Kamakshi Nethiyar. They had four children: Balagopalan, Chandrasekharan, DevakiNandanan and UmaLakshmi Amma. Their daughter UmaLakShmi Amma married Rama Varma Thampuran and gave birth to Valia Thampuran of the Cochin Royal Family SaradaMani Varma. Maharaja Ravi Varma died of natural causes in 1946 at the age of 81 years (Makara 18th, 1121 M.E), in

Tripunithura Thrippunithura or Tripunithura (Malayalam:തൃപ്പൂണിത്തുറ) is a prominent historical and residential region in the city of Kochi in Kerala, India. Located about 7 km (4 mi) from the city centre, Tripunithura wa ...

. A 17 gun salute was given to him. His Maternal Cousin, Maharaja Sri Kerala Varma, popularly known as Ikyakeralam Thampuran ascended to the throne after his death.

External links

Rulers of CochinCochin
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ravi Varma 05 1865 births 1946 deaths Rulers of Cochin People from British India