Sree Chithira thirunal's hundredth birth day celebrated
The last Maharaja of erstwhile Travancore Kingdom, born on 7th November, 1912 (died on 20th July 1991), Sree Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma, was the person behind the development of Travancore and Kochi. The historical 'Temple entry declaration' was made by him which opened the temples to every body, irrespective of castes, for worship.He brought in several administrative reforms. For the first time in India he constituted a Constitutional Assembly and introduced popular voting system allowing everybody who have attained the prescribed age to vote. He constituted the two house system of Assembly.
He initiated several industries which include Trivandrum Rubber Works, Kundara Clay Factory, Aluminium Industries, Travancore Rayons Factory, Ogale Glass Factory, FACT, Vijaya Mohini Mills, State Bank of Travancore, Punalur Paper Mills, Kottayam Cement Factory, Aluva Forest Industries, PWD, Electrification of Trivandrum (and later Kottayam), Water distribution System, Trivandrum Aerodrome, Radio Station, Public Service Commission, Sree Chithra Arts Gallery, Swathy Thirunal Music College, Thiruvithancore University (which became later the Kerala University), Medical- Ayurveda- Engineering Colleges at Trivandrum and several other institutions.
When India became independent he was made Rajapramukh and continued in that position until the Republic was formed.
