Lady Rama Varma of Cochin ..
Parukutty Nethiyar amma was Maharaja Rama Varmas consort (madrasil theepetta thampuran )
The Maharaja became king of Cochin by destiny as his predescor abdicated and ruled from 1914 to 1932
But the king was more intrested in snake bite cures and gawli sasthras ie language of lizards he hardly had time for his state .
Nethyar amma who had married him when she was 12 years old took over the nitty gritty of an almost bankrupt Cochin .
The British were waiting on the wings to get enough reason to take over the state then .
She not only was efficient enough to administer it wel ,she got all dues to state paid,discovered newer ways to make money for the state and in time Cochin cleared all debts and became a model state.
The British were fair enough to recognise skills and talent when they saw one.
They awarded her Kaiser i Hind which was the highest one they did in 1919 and she was popularly known as Lady Rama Varma .
The only other person who got the award was Mahatma Gandhi himself .
The state also got a 17 gun salute .
Nethyar amma belonged to a very aristocratic family in Thrissur from her mothers side and palghat from her fathers side .
Later she was active in congress party snd freedom struggle
She lived her old age partly in Ratnam palace in Thrissur or in Coonoor where she had a tea estate .
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