The auspicious event that took place at Thevarathu Koyikkal within the precincts of the Thiruvananthapuram fort last Sunday morning is an important incident for the state of Travancore. The auspicious moment referred to is the royal marriage of the eldest princess, whom the reigning King Sri Moolam Thirunal Raja Varma had adopted to have his household blessed with children so that his lineage would remain unbroken. This auspicious event is reflective of the Travancore subjects’ loyalty and the state’s felicity. The importance of this royal wedding is centred on the prospect of remedying the absence of a male heir to the throne after the death of the present king. It further amplifies the hope of the subjects that the royal family, which has vowed to rule over the country, caring unfailingly for the commonwealth of the people will not deviate from it in future as well. The prayer of the subjects that they be blessed with a male child at the right moment, who will be a paragon of virtue, is also ingrained in this marriage.

The subjects and the king have every right to remain content about the marriage ceremony, which was observed with pomp and gaiety after a gap of forty five years. The people of Travancore, who hoped for the peaceful culmination of this auspicious marriage, which is touted to be the basis of the state’s future growth and prosperity, have wished the newlyweds long life, happiness, and health. This gala marriage ceremony, at the cost of a huge sum of money, has benefits as well as disadvantages with the latter exceeding the former on account of squandering too much money on it. On top of that, people who have come from distant places to watch and take part in the grand marriage will be put to many difficulties, not to mention the troubles faced by officials with unquestioned loyalty to the king quarrelling over issues related to appeasing the hunger and thirst of the guests. Despite all these drawbacks, it is due to the people’s concern for the destiny of the nation that they are delighted and especially interested in the marriage celebrations. The subjects of the kingdom implore that all necessary arrangements and precautions be taken to secure the future of the couple who are at the start of a new yet arduous life, which cannot be out of place and context.

Troubles created by deceitful servants will be more numerous in royal palaces than they are in ordinary houses. The more the qualifications of the servants, maidservants, teachers, and administrative staff to be posted at the service of this couple are vetted, the better. One need not enumerate the disadvantages and undesirable consequences arising out of appointing the mischievous ‘lesser Brahmins’ and those who live on doles handed out by the palace as their officers. Most royal families have been found to have fallen prey to many vices as they have either their dwellings built in the vicinity of the houses of superstitious foreign Brahmins or are surrounded by them living in close proximity. We do not think it necessary to list the vices here; all that the people desire is timely action on the part of the king in keeping the wicked elements away from, let alone giving them access to, the affairs of the royal palace. Let it be known that the new couples are to be educated and trained, until they attain maturity in administration on their own, by excellent teachers and administrators who are against superstitions and will make every effort to inculcate the values of exemplary behaviour and morals in them. It may be desired that if they are groomed under the guidance and tutelage of Europeans with proven credibility and integrity, they will not be exposed to the vices, which are otherwise open to the vulnerable. We also could have complimented the royal wedding by saying a few flattering words about the grand event and saved our face; but it is out of our concern for the future stability of the state that we attempted to say a few unsavoury words about the undesirable consequences of the royal wedding. We hope to comb through the subject yet again at a later date.