Today I was granted an audience with the last King of Kerala, Sree Padmanabha Dasa (his title), H.H. Marthanda Varma (his name). Pattom Palace, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala (where he lives). When democracy came to India it left his family without any governmental power much like Queen Elizabeth of England. In his case he is the last of his blood line so when he dies the Monarchy will end. He's 86 years old, a Rotarian and full of life. He shared many stories which I hope to write about on my return. Two women who visited him at the palace over the years of which he spoke, Eleanor Roosevelt and Agatha Christie (the author). The people in the group photo are from left to right: Matt Kumar (my contact in Kerala, the King, me, a famous local musician (his name is unknown to me presently), the friend of Matt's family who set up the meeting with the King (name unknown at the present).
