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{{Use Indian English|date=June 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2017}}
{{Short description|Raja of Pudukkottai from 1886 to 1928}}
{{Infobox royalty
| name = Martanda Bhairava Tondaiman
| type = monarch
| succession = Raja of Pudukkottai
| image = Raja Sri Brahdamba Dasa Raja Sir Martanda Bhairava Tondaiman.png
| caption = Martanda Bhairava Tondaiman in 1921
| reign = 15 April 1886 – 28 May 1928
| reg-type = Diwans
| regent = [[A. Seshayya Sastri]],<br />[[S. Venkataramadas Nayudu]],<br />[[Raghunatha Pallavarayar]]
| coronation = 15 April 1886
| predecessor = [[Ramachandra Tondaiman]]
| successor = [[Rajagopala Tondaiman]]
| spouse = [[Molly Fink]]<br>(m. 1915 - 1928; his death)
| issue = Prince Martanda Sydney Tondaiman
| royal house = Pudukkottai, kallar
| royal anthem =
| father =
| mother = Princess Brihadambal Rajammani of Pudukkottai
| birth_date = {{Birth date|df=yes|1875|11|26}}
| birth_place = [[Pudukkottai]], [[Pudukkottai state|Kingdom of Pudukkottai]]
| death_date = {{Death date and age|df=yes|1928|05|28|1875|11|26}}
| death_place = [[Cannes]], [[France]]
| burial_place = [[Golders Green Crematorium]]
}}

'''Raja Sri Brahdamba Dasa Raja Sir Martanda Bhairava Tondaiman''' {{postnominals|country=GBR|GCIE}} (26 November 1875 – 28 May 1928) was the ruler of the [[Pudukkottai state|princely state of Pudukkottai]] from 15 April 1886 to 28 May 1928.{{cn|date=June 2020}}

== 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.{{cn|date=June 2020}} Princess Brihadambal was the eldest daughter of [[Ramachandra Tondaiman]], the Raja of Pudukkottai. Martanda was Brihadambal's third son.{{cn|date=June 2020}} At an early age, Martanda was adopted by Ramachandra Tondaiman as he did not have any male heirs of his own.{{cn|date=June 2020}}

Martanda was educated in private by Fredric Feilden Crossley, a [[Cambridge University|Cambridge]] alumnus. Martanda excelled in sports and developed a liking for European culture and manners.<ref name="younger">{{cite book|title=Wicked women of the Raj|first=Coralie|last=Younger|chapter=Molly Fink|pages=115–137|publisher=Harper Collins|year=2003|isbn=978-81-7223-454-6}}</ref>

== Reign ==

Ramachandra Tondaiman, the Raja of [[Pudukkottai State|Pudukkottai kingdom]], 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 [[regent|regency]] headed by the [[Diwan (title)|Diwan]], [[A. Seshayya Sastri]] governing the state in his minority.<ref name="imperialp232">{{cite book|title=[[Imperial Gazetteer of India]]|volume=20|publisher=Clarendon Press|year=1908|page=232}}</ref>

Martanda assumed the reins of the government on 27 November 1894 when he attained majority and was invested with full powers by [[Richard Lawley, 4th Baron Wenlock|Lord Wenlock]], the [[Governor of Madras]], himself.<ref name="imperialp241">{{cite book|title=Imperial Gazetteer of India|volume=20|publisher=Clarendon Press|year=1908|page=241}}</ref> Soon after obtaining the management of the state, Martanda petitioned for the restitution of the Manovarti ''[[jagir]]''.<ref name="dirksp350">[[#Dirks|Dirks]], p 350</ref> 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.<ref name="dirksp350" /> Since Martanda was unmarried and did not have wives of his own at the time, he desired that the ''jagir'' be restored to him.<ref name="dirksp350" /> However, the government rejected his request.<ref name="dirksp350" />

During his reign, Martanda attended the [[Delhi Durbar|Coronation Durbar at Delhi in 1903]] and the [[Coronation of George V and Mary|Coronation of George V at Westminster Abbey in 1911]].{{cn|date=June 2020}} In 1902, Martanda set up a representative assembly of 30 members on the pattern of the Mysore Assembly.<ref name="trichinopolyp364">{{cite book|title=Trichinopoly|first=F. R.|last=Hemingway|year=1907|publisher=Government Press|page=364}}</ref> 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".<ref name="trichinopolyp364" />

Martanda was made a [[Order of the Indian Empire|Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire]] in the 1913 New Year Honours' List.{{cn|date=June 2020}}

== Marriage and later life ==
[[File:The grave of the Rajah of Pudukota, Golders Green Crematorium.jpg|thumb|330px|The grave of the Rajah of Pudukota, Golders Green Crematorium, London]]
In March 1915, Martanda travelled to [[Australia]] where he met Australian socialite [[Molly Fink]] at Hotel Majestic Mansions in [[Melbourne]].<ref name="younger" /> Martanda soon fell in love with her and followed her to [[Sydney]].<ref name="younger" /> In August 1915, Martanda proposed to Molly and she accepted. The couple were married on 10 August 1915 at the Regsitrar's Office in Melbourne.<ref name="younger" /> A son Martanda Sydney Tondaiman was born to them on 22 July 1916.<ref name="younger" /> Martanda had been briefly engaged to an American woman prior to his marriage with Molly.<ref name="younger" />

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".<ref name="younger" /> Martanda returned to [[India]] in October 1915 with Molly but barely stayed for five months.<ref name="younger" /> 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.<ref name="younger" /> 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.<ref name="younger" /> Martanda settled down in France with Molly and Sydney.

He died on 28 May 1928 at the age of fifty-two.<ref name="younger" /> His body was cremated and the ashes were interred in the Columbarium at the [[Golders Green Crematorium]] in London as the [[India Office]] refused Molly's request to transport his body by air to India.<ref name="younger" />

Martanda Bhairava Tondaiman was succeeded as the Raja of Pudukkottai by his nephew, 6-year old [[Rajagopala Tondaiman]], with Raghunatha Pallavarayar continuing as [[regent]].{{cn|date=June 2020}}

== Notes ==

{{reflist|2}}

== References ==

* {{cite book | title=The Hollow Crown: Ethnohistory of an Indian Kingdom| last= B. Dirks| first=Nicholas| year=1993| publisher=University of Michigan|isbn=978-0-472-08187-5|ref=Dirks}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Tondaiman, Martanda Bhairava}}
[[Category:1875 births]]
[[Category:1928 deaths]]
[[Category:Hindu monarchs]]
[[Category:Knights Grand Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire]]
[[Category:Pudukkottai state]]
[[Category:People cremated at Golders Green Crematorium]]

Martanda Bhairava Tondaiman - Revision history

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