Diwans of Travancore

■ Arumukham Pillai (1729–1736)

Arumukham Pillai served as the Dalawa (Prime Minister) of Travancore Kingdom from 1729 to 1736. He was a lead administrator under King Marthanda Varma during the early years of the king's efforts to expand and consolidate the Venad province into an independent princely state of Travancore. Pillai passed away in 1736. Following his death, he was briefly succeeded by his brother, Thanu Pillai.

■ Thanu Pillai (1736–1737)

Thanu Pillai took over the administration from his elder brother, Arumukham Pillai and he served as dalawa from 1736 to 1737 during the reign of Marthanda Varma. He served briefly under the travancore king helping to consolidate the early administrative and military expansions of the Kingdom of Travancore.

■ Ramayyan Dalawa (1737–1756)

Ramayyan was born in a Brahmin family in a village called Ervadi near Valliyur. When he was about six years old, Ramayyan's father moved to Travancore with his family. He lived in Thiruvattar for some time. After his father's death, Ramayyan spent some time in Thiruvananthapuram with Athiara Potti of Vanchiyoor as a dependent. One night, the Maharaja was taking Amrit at the Potti's house. Seeing that the lamp was slightly dimmed, the Maharaja looked at one of the lamps. Immediately, Ramayyan understood the matter and went near the lamp, took a wick that was not lit in it, lit it, placed it in his left hand, and with his right hand, he removed the coal from the wick and lit the lamp. After that, Ramayyan went back to his original position. The Maharaja felt that Ramayya was a clever man who, knowing his intentions from his gaze, had taken the necessary precautions and had not been harmed. 

From the next day, Maharaja Ramayyan was given a small job in the palace. Ramayyan did not have much education. But due to his intelligence, punctuality, etc., he gradually got promotions in the job. When the Dalawa Thanu Pillai died, Ramayyan was made Dalawa. Later, he was Dalawa for about 20 years until his death. Ramayyan played a big role in all the wars during the reign of Maharaja Marthanda Varma - the wars with Kollam and Kayamkulam, the war of Colachel, the wars with the states of Chembakassery, Thekkumkur and Vadakkumkur. After the battle of Purakattu, Karapuram was captured. Ramayyan and his army rushed to Kochi. If the Maharaja did not call him back, he would have captured Kochi too. He knew when to fight and when not to. Sometimes he did not hesitate to bribe the enemies. Ramayyan was as skilled in administrative matters as in war. Ramayyan represented Travancore in the treaty signed with the Dutch at Mavelikkara. Ramayyan also played a role in implementing new methods (mulakumadishshila, kandezhuthu) to increase the exploitation of the country. In short, it should be remembered that Ramayyan faithfully served Maharaja Marthanda Varma in all aspects of expanding Travancore, establishing peace in the country, and implementing new reforms.

■ Martandan Bagavathi Pillai (1756–1763)

Following the Ramayyan's demise, Martandan Bagavathi Pillai (also called as Martanda Pillai) administered the position of dalawa of travancore from 1756 to 1763, aiding the transition to Marthanda Varma's nephew, Karthika Thirunal Rama Varma (Dharma Raja) and focused on internal stability, temple patronage, and defensive alliances.

■ Subbayyan Dalawa (1763–1768)

Also called Warkala Subbayyan Iyer managed the early challenges under Karthika Thirunal Rama Varma, including fiscal administration amid post-conquest integration.

■ Krishna Gopalayyan Iyyer (1768–1776)

Krishna Gopalayyan Iyyer served as the Dalawa of Travancore Kingdom from 1768 to 1776. He succeded Warkala Subbayyan during a crucial period of expansion and consolidation for the Travancore Kingdom. His term followed the aggressive military expansions of Marthanda Varma. Krishna Gopalayyan's administration focused on maintaining the stability and governance of the recently consolidated kingdom before the onset of the later Mysore invasions.

■ Vadiswaran Subbrahmanya Iyer (1776–1780)

■ Mullen Chempakaraman Pillai (1780–1782)

■ Nagercoil Ramayyan (1782–1788)

■ Krishnan Thampi (1788–1789)

■ Raja Kesavadas (Kesava Pillai) (1789–1798)

Raja Kesava Dasan was an eminent minister of Karthika Thirunal Maharaja. He was the first minister to be given the title of "Diwan". The people called him "Valiyya Diwanji". Raja Kesava Dasan, who was the Diwan of Travancore, was given the title of Raja by Lord Mornington, the British Governor-General. His real name was Kesava Pillai. Kesava Pillai, who accepted the title of 'Raja', gave up his caste name in deference and loyalty to his king Dharmaraja. Instead, he added 'Dasan' to his name. Thus he became Raja Kesava Dasan. He developed 'Kottar' in Travancore into an important trading town. In 1773, a comprehensive revenue survey was conducted and the rights over the land were classified. 

He built the Alappuzha port, the Chala market and the Nedumkotta in Thrissur. Raja Kesavadas is considered the architect of the Alappuzha town. Raja Kesavadas established a timber depot in Alappuzha and gave a wealthy Christian merchant named Mathu Tharakan the monopoly to collect and sell timber from northern Travancore at that depot. It was Kesavadas who negotiated the treaty between Travancore and the English East India Company in 1795. However, during the reign of Dharmaraja's successor, Balarama Varma, he was placed under house arrest. Kesavadas died in prison in 1799.

■ Odiery Jayanthan Sankaran Nampoothiri (1798–1799)

■ Velu Thampi Dalawa (1799–1809)

Veluthampi Dalawa is a great man who declared a strike against the British almost half a century before the 1857 anti-British struggle, which historians call India's first freedom struggle. Veluthampi, who was the Dalawa of Travancore before the national freedom struggle even began in 1808, issued a strike against the British through the 'Kundara Vilambaram'. Born in 1765, Veluthampi became the Dalawa of Travancore at the age of 37. Veluthampi was able to implement many development projects and maintain law and order throughout the country. 

In 1805, when Veluthampi was the Travancore Dalawa, the British signed a treaty of amity with the Raja of Travancore. According to this, the Resident was given the power to interfere in the internal affairs of the country. With this, Travancore lost its political independence. Macaulay began to interfere unnecessarily in the affairs of the administration. He insisted that the tribute due to the Company be paid immediately, regardless of Travancore's financial difficulties. Macaulay also canceled Veluthampi Dalawa's order to confiscate the properties of Mathutharakan, who had incurred heavy tax arrears. These developments prompted Veluthampi to organize an armed rebellion against the Company.

Veluthampi Dalawa reached a secret understanding with Paliathachan, the Prime Minister of Cochin, who was hostile to Macaulay. They secretly contacted the French in Mauritius and the Zamorin of Calicut and sought support in the fight against the British. In 1808, an army led by both of them attacked Macaulay's residence in Cochin. The Resident escaped on a British ship. Veluthampi reached Kundara while the rebellion was going on. He issued a proclamation on 11 January 1809 calling on the people to join the fight against the British. This came to be known as the 'Kundara Proclamation' (the Kundara Proclamation is considered an epoch-making document in the anti-colonial struggle in South India).

The British retaliated strongly. They attacked Kochi. Paliathachan withdrew from the rebellion by making peace with the British. The Travancore king, who gave in to the British threat, deposed Veluthampi and appointed Umminithambi as the new Dalawa. The new Dalawa ordered Veluthampi to be captured. He also announced a reward for those who captured him. Veluthampi took refuge in a house in Mannadi. When the Travancore-British forces arrived there and surrounded the house, he committed suicide. He did not want to be captured alive and humiliated. This marked the end of the brave and adventurous resistance against the British in Travancore. Today, there is a Veluthampi memorial in Mannadi, Adoor. On May 6, 2010, India honored him by releasing a postage stamp of Veluthampi Dalawa.

■ Oommini Thampi (1809–1811)

■ Col. John Munro (1811–1814)

■ Devan Padmanabhan Menon (1814–1814)

■ Bappu Rao (acting; 1814–1815)

■ Sanku Annavi Pillai (1815–1815)

■ Raman Menon (1815–1817)

■ Reddy Row (1817–1821)

■ T. Venkata Rao (1821–1830)

■ Thanjavur Subha Rao (1830–1837)

■ T. Ranga Rao (acting; 1837–1838)

■ T. Venkata Rao (second time; 1838–1839)

■ Thanjavur Subha Rao (second time; 1839–1842)

■ Krishna Rao (acting; 1842–1843)

■ Reddy Row (second time; 1843–1845)

■ Srinivasa Rao (acting; 1845–1846)

■ Vemuri Krishna Rao (1846–1857)

■ T. Madhava Rao (1858–1872)

■ A. Seshayya Sastri (1872–1877)

■ Nanoo Pillai (1877–1880)

■ V. Ramiengar (1880–1887)

■ T. Rama Rao (1887–1892)

■ S. Shungrasoobyer (1892–1898)

■ K. Krishnaswamy Rao (1898–1904)

■ V. P. Madhava Rao (1904–1906)

■ S. Gopalachari (1906–1907)

■ P. Rajagopalachari (1907–1914)

■ M. Krishnan Nair (1914–1920)

■ T. Raghavaiah (1920–1925)

■ M. E. Watts (1925–1929)

■ V. S. Subramanya Iyer (1929–1932)

■ Thomas Austin (1932–1934)

■ Muhammad Habibullah (1934–1936)

■ Sir C.P. Ramaswami Iyer (1936–1947)

Sir Chetput Pattabhiraman Ramaswami Iyer, popularly known as Sir C.P., was a prominent Diwan of Travancore. He excelled in various fields such as law, politics, state administration, education, philanthropy, literature and intellectualism. C.P. Ramaswami Iyer rendered great service in the positions of Advocate General of the Madras State from 1920 to 1923, Member of the Executive Council for Legal Affairs of the Governor of Madras from 1923 to 1928, Member of the Executive Council for Legal Affairs of the Viceroy from 1931 to 1936, and Diwan of Travancore from 1936 to 1947. The 'Temple Entry Proclamation', which allowed all Hindus, regardless of caste or religion, to enter government-owned temples, was issued by the Maharaja of Travancore, Chithira Thirunal, at the instigation of C.P. Ramaswami Iyer. His introduction of 'American model' administrative reforms in Travancore created controversies. In addition, Sir C.P. Ramaswami Iyer's proposal for an independent Travancore led to strong protests. In 1946, the order to shoot several people who were protesting in Vayalar and Punnapra also led to massive protests against the CP. When India gained independence, the British rule over Travancore ended. However, it was under the influence of the CP that Sree Chithira Thirunal decided to keep Travancore independent by not joining the Indian Union. When India became independent on August 15, the announcement that Travancore would also become an independent state paved the way for turbulent developments. There was also an attempt to assassinate Sir C.P. Finally, the Diwan had to leave the travancore.

■ P. G. N. Unnithan (1947–1948)