The story of a queen
The Raja Ravi Varma Heritage Foundation is currently hosting Daughter of Providence, an exhibition celebrating the life and work of Ravi Varma’s eldest granddaughter Maharani Sethu Lakshmi Bayi.
This rst-of-a-kind exhibition displays unseen work from the Travancore royal collection celebrating the life of the last ruling queen of Travancore, from the time she was a toddler till the last known photograph of her. Daughter of Providence was unveiled on the occasion of the 176th birth anniversary of the royal artist, which fell on April 29.
Conceptualised by the Raja Ravi Varma Heritage Foundation, the exhibition was supported by research and documentation by historian Manu S Pillai. The highlight of the exhibition is never seen before original oil painting of Maharani Sethu Lakshmi Bayi as a three year old child, painted by her grandfather Raja Ravi Varma.
The Sandeep & Gitanjali Maini Foundation was recognised as the o¨cial foundation for anything related to Raja Ravi Varma earlier this year.
The exhibition will also showcase a collection of photographs of the Maharani.
Towards the end of her life she gave up her royal titles, preferring to be addressed as Smt Sethu Lakshmi Bayi, relocating to Bengaluru where she died in 1985 as an ordinary citizen. During her reign, the Maharani brought about changes that were ahead of her time including eªorts to dismantle the caste system and the allowing of women to join the state’s legislature. She also lent her support to the Indian nationalist movement and met with leaders such Mahatma Gandhi.
The exhibition will be on display at the Raja Ravi Varma Heritage Foundation, Mezzanine Level, 38 Maini Sadan, till May 30.