The Ivory Throne - Chronicles Of The House Of Travancore

Title: The Ivory Throne - Chronicles Of The House Of Travancore

Author: Manu S. Pillai

Pages: 694

Genre: Non Fiction/History

Rating : 5/5

There are books that are a good read, you finish the book happy to have read it and you look forward to your next read. Then there are books that you can't put down, you spend every waking moment itching to pick it up, start reading right where you were forced to stop and get lost in it. You miss it terribly once it's over and you just can't get over it. This book is one that falls in the latter category.

The Ivory Throne records the history of Travancore in the most thrilling manner that could be written. The book, as it mentions, is a chronicle of the fascinating times, from the era of Martanda Varma to India's liberation from colonial rule, two centuries after his passing. Above all, the book tells the tale of a female monarch, who served her people during one of the most crucial periods and brought about quite a few reforms and policies, which played a crucial role in laying the right foundation for the Kerala that we see today, winning the approval and love of her subjects, even amidst much opposition and backstage politics to make her step down. Though the book records the life and tales of the house of Travancore, the book focuses majorly on the life and story of the Regent Maharani, Sethu Lakshmi Bayi, whose tales you tend to hear very rarely when you hear about the stories of the Travancore royal family. A lady whose efforts and service to the people have not been given the due credit that it required, a lady who has not been given her due share of glory that she deserved. The book traces the life of the Regent Maharani from the time she was adopted to the Travancore royal family at the age of 5 along with her cousin, Sethu Parvathi Bayi (Junior Maharani, and mother to the subsequent ruler, Chithira Thirunal Maharaja) until her death. Along with the book, you will live the whole life of Sethu Lakshmi Bayi from the time she was adopted, to the time she ruled and served five million people, stepping down from the throne when the minor Chithira Thirunal Maharaja came of age, her later life after stepping down as the Regent Maharani and the harassment she faced from her own family, to leaving everything behind and leading a life that was a total contrast to her royal life, and her insignificant death.

The book, running to 694 pages, is huge but the size really doesn't matter. It is a well-researched (the footnotes and references itself runs to more than 100 pages) and very well articulated. In fact, it is really hard to believe that this is the author, Manu Pillai's first book and even harder when you know that he was just about 25 years when he published the book. Much respect and even more admiration!

This is one of those books that you don't want to keep down. I stayed away from all chores, even going to the extent of hiding from the husband and kid as well (in fear of being called for any help!), eagerly reading and looking forward to the next page. In fact, it was so difficult to put the book down that even the little one's bedtime story was replaced by this book that he now calls the 'Princess book'. At the risk of sounding weird, whenever he wanted to hear/read a story, we opened this book and I read this out loud to him just because I found it really difficult to keep it down. By the time I was done reading, I had mixed feelings - happy to have known about the other side of the royal family that I so rarely have heard about and a sense of missing not knowing or having met anyone from this side.

It is definitely one of my best reads and I can go on and on about how much I loved the book. I spoke to anyone who would spare me a little time about the book and I am sure this book is going to be my favourite gift to anyone who loves books and history. I would really love to have a long discussion with anyone who found the book as interesting as I did! 

This book is a must read for anyone who loves non-fiction and Indian history as well as for anyone else who wants to get hooked to reading or would love to read a good thriller story. I am not someone who likes to re-read a book, but I'm sure this book will be an exception to that!

P.s: You can click the link below to buy the book!