The Ivory Throne by Manu S. Pillai : A review by Fathima Shirin

 

         Baahubali' producers to adapt Manu Pillai's 'The Ivory Throne' for screen | 'Bahubali' producers to adapt Manu Pillai's 'The Ivory Throne' for screen| The Ivroy Throne

Every land has a story to tell. Everybody is a story by themselves and it takes a good observer to ponder the less explored magnificent secrets of the lives we have seen. Author Manu S. Pillai, on that account, has succeeded in giving a very intense and descriptive narration of the history of Kerala, the lesser-known secrets of Travancore royal family, and the women who owned the throne. 

The book Ivory Throne: Chronicles of the House of Travancore begins by introducing the history when Vasco da Gama set foot in Kerala. Travancore as the principal subject in the book begins with the rise of Martanda Varma. There is a brief narration of Ravi Varma’s growth as an artist, followed by the journey of Sethu Lakshmi Bayi and her cousin Sethu Parvathi Bayi (granddaughters of Raja Ravi Varma), who were adopted by the royal family to become senior and junior maharanis respectively, in order to continue the royal lineage as per Kerala’s matrilineal society. 

                                            Sethu Lakshmi Bayi - Wikipedia

The saga unfolds around the life of Sethu Lakshmi Bayi, the last queen of the House of Travancore. The book clearly shows the extensive research done by the author to find the stories about an eminent woman who was long forgotten by the course of time. Cutting through the politics inside the Royal family around the same time as that of the freedom struggle, the book constructs family drama, conspiracy, hatred, power, and evolution of history from a matrilineal society to patriarchy, all mixed up and in order at the same time. 

Some stories are difficult to tell. Some, even harder when there are multiple layers that are too sensitive to touch. That could be the reason why this book would stand out for taking a neutral approach. Taking the readers through history not in chronological order but based on incidents and themes of neglected importance is a very brave style of narration. This makes its reading rather interesting though it could create certain negligible confusion regarding the timeline. 

                Built in 1915 the Kowdiar Palace is the official residence of the Travancore Royal family- located in Trivandrum city | Palace, Kerala, Indian architecture 

In short, the book takes its readers through a journey of an ancient modern society, stories revolving around the throne, hidden secrets, and open treasures of lives molded with power, love, and lust. 

 

Manu S. Pillai is a historian and writer of Historical fiction books. Given below is a list of his works: 

•             The Ivory Throne

•             Rebel Sultans: The Deccan from Khilji to Shivaji

•             The Courtesan, the Mahatma, and the Italian Brahmin: Tales of Indian History

•             Bhutan Echoes

 


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