A 8

Regent of Travancore Royal Family Rani Laxmi Bai had given an island to Col. Munroe in order to do productive activities that would fund the educational facilities in the CMS College. The untimely demise of the Rani Laxmi Bai had made Rani Parvathi Bai as the Regent. By the year 1814 Col. Munroe had resigned from the Diwanship of Travancore, however he remained as an advisor to the Regent Rani Parvathi Bai. She used to extend supports to the missionaries for building chapels and educational institutions. Rani Parvathi Bai used to give huge financial support to the CMS College. She also gave two boats for the missionaries to travel from place to place.

Venkitesh’s relief sculpture deals with this historical matter in a collage of images. The bestowing of land and money for the missionaries by the Rani of Travancore is done as if the occasion was photographed for the future use. Col. Munroe and the Rani are looking and smiling at the people/camera outside the sculptural panel. There is an imaginary audience out there, which shows that this historical moment is being witnessed. The richness of the Travancore kingdom and its ability to supply money, land and transportation for establishing an educational is described through the surrounding images.