Marathi Manoos was the savior of Padmanabhaswamy Temple Treasure

These days the world is marveling at the treasure trove that was found in the dungeons of The Sri Padmanabhaswamy Temple in Kerala.  Though the Travancore Royal family has come in the limelight, the real savior of the treasure has been forgotten. His name was Raja Sir Tanjore Madhava Rao or Madhavrao Thanjavurkar, a Marathi Manoos from the former Maratha principality of Thanjavur (Tanjore) in present day Tamil Nadu!

T. Madhava Rao (as the Diwan of Travancore) initiated major reforms in that princely state… namely in education, legislation, public works, public health and agriculture. This laid the foundation for Kerala to be the most literate and progressive state in India today! A recent news report on Star Majha Channel clearly explained how T Madhava Rao ensured that the wealth of Travancore was retained in the Padmanabhaswamy temple instead of being carted away by the British.