Moolam Thirunal is considered as the first in India to implement the concept of public participation in governance through the formation of Travancore Legislative Council.

Hastham Thirunal soon had to stop his studies owing to ill health and so Rama Varma remained the only pupil under the tutor.

In 1886 a proclamation was issued relieving people of the requirement to pay of penalties on documents executed on unstamped government cadjan leaves (paper was not yet in common use in Travancore).

Several other reforms were also brought in by Moolam Thirunal in fields including education, medicine, law and order and the civil service.

These most illustrious personalities included: Since the Royal House of Travancore followed the Nair Marumakkathayam system of matrilineal inheritance the presence of females was very essential in the family.

[citation needed] Maharajah Sir Rama Varma married twice, both noblewomen of the Thampi clan of the Nairs as tradition.

She died prior to the Maharajah's accession to the throne in 1882 giving birth to an only son, Nagercoil Sri Narayanan Chempakaraman Thampi, who remained aide de camp to his father till his death.

[citation needed] She originally belonged to the Kaipally family of Palkulangara but was adopted before marriage to the Maharajah into the Vadasseri Ammaveedu in 1899.

She was the sister of play writ and author, Vadasseri Krishnan Thampi, who also was the Principal (1917 to 1934) of Sanskrit College in Trivandrum.

Ulloor S. Parameswara Iyer writes about the Maharajah's consort in Progress of Travancore Under HH Sree Moolam Thirunal: ..Karthyayani Pilla Kochamma by birth belongs to a very ancient and highly respected Nair family in Trivandrum and is a lady of remarkable culture and attainments, a gifted pianist, musician and artist.

Her many lovable and ennobling qualities have won for her a warm place in the hearts of His Highness' subjects..[full citation needed]T. Sankaran Thampi (1857 - 1930), the principal favourite and relative of the Maharajah, was the all-powerful Palace Manager, the power behind the throne.

[3] Officially he was also known with his full name, style and honours: Colonel His Highness Sri Padmanabhadasa Vanchipala Sree Moolam Thirunal Rama Varma Kulasekhara Kiritapathi Manney Sultan Maharajah Raja Ramaraja Bahadur Shamsher Jang, Maharajah Of Travancore.