imported>DrKay at 19:13, 28 April 2021

2021-04-28T19:13:52Z

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{{EngvarB|date=July 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2016}}
{{Infobox royalty
| name = Ramachandra Tondaiman
| title = Raja of Pudukkottai
| image = Ramachandra Tondaiman.jpg
| caption = Ramachandra Tondaiman, [[Raja]] of [[Pudukkottai state|Pudukkottai]] seated in his palace, 1858
| reign = 13 July 1839 – 15 April 1886
| coronation =
| predecessor = [[Raghunatha Tondaiman II]]
| successor = [[Martanda Bhairava Tondaiman]]
| consort =
| issue = Kamalambal Rajammani Bayi Sahib,<br/>Mangalambal Rajammani Bayi Sahib,<br />Sivarama Raghunatha Tondaiman,<br />Brihadambal Rajammani Bayi Sahib
| royal house = [[Pudukottai]]
| father = Raghunatha Tondaiman
| mother = Rani Kamalambal Ayi Sahib
| birth_date = {{Birth date|df=yes|1829|10|20}}
| birth_place = [[Pudukkottai]], [[Pudukkottai state]]
| death_date = {{Death date and age|df=yes|1886|04|15|1829|10|20}}
| death_place = Pudukkottai
| place of burial=
}}

'''Raja Sri Brahdamba Dasa Raja Ramachandra Tondaiman Bahadur''' (20 October 1829 – 15 April 1886) was the ruler of [[Pudukkottai state|princely state of Pudukkottai]] from 13 July 1839 to 15 April 1886.

== Early life ==

Ramachandra Tondaiman was born in [[Pudukkottai]] on 20 October 1829 to [[Raghunatha Tondaiman]], the [[Raja]] of Pudukkottai and his second wife, Rani Kamalambal Ayi Sahib.{{cn|date=June 2020}} He was educated in private and succeeded to throne at the age of nine on the death of his father with the British political agent at Pudukkottai acting as the [[regent]].{{cn|date=June 2020}}

== Reign ==

Pudukkottai was administered by a regent in the early years of Ramachandra's reign. Soon after his accession, Ramachandra was awarded the style of "[[Excellency|His Excellency]]" by the British government.{{cn|date=June 2020}} In 1844, Ramachandra, formally, assumed control of the government.{{cn|date=June 2020}}

Ramachandra's administration was allegedly marked by extravagance and financial mismanagement.<ref name="thehindu_20000409">{{cite news|title=The architect of Pudukkottai|work=The Hindu|url=http://www.hinduonnet.com/2000/04/09/stories/1309078a.htm|date=9 April 2000}}</ref> He was punished by the British government who twice revoked the permission to use the style "His Excellency" in 1859 and 1873.{{cn|date=June 2020}} In 1878, at the advice of [[Sir T. Madhava Rao]], the Madras government appointed [[A. Seshayya Sastri]], former [[Diwan (title)|Diwan]] of [[Travancore]] as the Diwan of Pudukkottai.<ref name="thehindu_20000409" /> Sastri reformed the administration and rebuilt the city of [[Pudukkottai]] as per modern principles of town planning. The Pudukulam and Pallavankulam tanks in the city were renovated and a Post and Telegraph Office was inaugurated in 1884.<ref name="thehindu_20000409" /> At Sastri's suggestion, Ramachandra renovated many Hindu temples in the state. In 1881, Ramachandra officially adopted the hereditary title "Brihadambadas" with the consent of Sastri.<ref>{{cite book | title=Criminal Gods and Demon Devotees: Essays on the Guardians of Popular Hinduism| editor=Alf Hiltebeitel |editor-link=Alf Hiltebeitel | first=Joanne Punzo|last=Waghorne| chapter=From Robber Baron to Royal Servant?|year=1989| pages=405–426| publisher=SUNY PRESS| isbn=0-88706-981-9}}</ref>

Ramachandra was awarded the style "[[His Highness]]" on 16 May 1884 along with an 11-gun salute.{{cn|date=June 2020}} He was awarded the [[Prince of Wales]] medal in 1875 and the [[Empress of India Medal]] in gold in 1877.{{cn|date=June 2020}}

== Family ==
[[File:HH Subbamma Bai Sahib Rani of Pudukottai.jpg|thumb|200px|HH Subbamma Bai Sahib Rani of Pudukottai,consort of Ramachandra Tondaiman]]

Ramachandra Tondaiman married Rani Brihadambal Rajammani Bayi Sahib on 13 June 1845.{{cn|date=June 2020}} The couple had two daughters.

* Kamalambal Rajammani Bayi Sahib (d. 24 January 1903)
* Mangalambal Rajammani Bayi Sahib (d. 1873)

Ramachandra married for a second time, to Janaki Subbammal, the eldest daughter of the ''[[zamindar]]'' of [[Neduvasal]] on 31 August 1848.{{cn|date=June 2020}} The couple had a son and a daughter

* Sivarama Raghunatha Tondaiman (died 1867)
* Brihadambal Rajammani Bayi Sahib (1852–1903)

Since Sivarama Raghunatha Tondaiman, Ramachandra Tondaiman's only son predeceased him, Ramachandra adopted [[Martanda Bhairava Tondaiman]], son of his daughter Brihadambal, and designated him heir-apparent to the throne.{{cn|date=June 2020}}

== Patronage of music ==

Ramachandra Tondaiman patronised music and organised Carnatic music concerts in his palace.<ref name="indianmusicp79">{{cite book|title=Glimpses of Indian music|first1=Gowri|last1=Kuppuswamy|first2=Muthuswamy|last2=Hariharan|publisher=Sundeep|year=1982|page=79}}</ref> Ramachandra Tondaiman, himself, was a prolific composer and set his drama ''Kuruvaji Nataka'' to music and had it enacted at the [[Viralimalai Murugan temple]].<ref name="rajagopalan">{{cite book|title=Another Garland: Biographical Dictionary of Carnatic Composers & Musicians, Book II|first=N.|last=Rajagopalan|pages=77–78|year=1992|publisher=Carnatic Classicals|chapter=Cradles of Music II}}</ref>

== Notes ==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:1829 births]]
[[Category:1886 deaths]]
[[Category:Hindu monarchs]]
[[Category:Indian Hindus]]
[[Category:Pudukkottai state]]

Ramachandra Tondaiman - Revision history

imported>DrKay at 19:13, 28 April 2021