After relinquishing the position of Commander-in-Chief of the palace, his father returned to Kashi after accepting asceticism and the entire burden of the family fell on Kesavapillai's head.

Although he was not properly educated, Poovat Pokumusa Maraikkar, a local businessman, hired Keshav Pillai to look after the accounts in his shop.

At about twenty-four years of age, Kesava Pillai was appointed as a rayasam (writer) in the palace under the Samprathi (the State Secretary).

[7] After the Battle of Kulachal, he came to terms with Marthanda Varma, who became the Commander-in-Chief of Travancore, became acquainted with officers such as Dutch Captain Delanoy, mastered war tactics and learned languages such as Portuguese and English.

Impressed by Kesava Pillai's intelligence, patriotism and devotion to God, the Maharaja promoted him to the rank of Rayasam in 1765.

[9] As Diwan, Raja Kesavadas was responsible for shifting the capital of Travancore from Padmanabhapuram to Thiruvananthapuram.

He learned the Dutch and Portuguese languages under General D’Lanoy and the Persian and Hindustani under the Pattan officers.

His all-time contribution is finding an ideal location and constructing a well-planned port city at Alappuzha.

[15] He constructed two parallel canals for bringing goods to port and offered infrastructural facilities to merchants and traders from Surat, Mumbai and Kutch to start industrial enterprises, trading, and cargo centres.

Kesavadas built three ships for trade with Calcutta and Bombay, and Alleppey afforded a convenient depot for the storage and disposal of goods produce in the east.

Chalai Market was officially established towards end of 18th century by Raja Kesavadas with an intention to make this bazaar a central point for the supply of commodities to the Travancore kingdom.

He succeeded in the fight against Tipu and expelled him from the borders of Travancore and even his retreat did not give him peace of mind.

[27] A new contribution called Nilavary, upon Sircar pattam lands was raised which yielded a good round sum of money.

Dewan succeeded in clearing away the greater part of the State-debt incurred in consequence of many wars and other emergencies.

Balarama Varma, his successor aged sixteen became the crown prince who was too young in the hands of Jayanthan Sankaran Nampoothiri.

[28] Raja Kesavadas was proclaimed as a traitor and kept under house arrest which helped Jayanthan Sankaran Nampoothiri to usurp the post of Diwan.