A trip down memory lane for Australian grandson of Pudukottai’s former Diwan

Ian Kendall, left, and Helen Kendall at the birth anniversary of Rani Rama Devi Tondaiman, the erstwhile ‘Rajmatha’ of the then Pudukottai Samasthanam. | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

A chance query on Facebook brought Australian national Ian Kendall this week to Pudukottai, where his grandfather Sir Alexander Robert Loftus Tottenham served as the erstwhile princely state’s Administrator and Diwan from 1934 until his demise in 1946.

“We were overwhelmed by the friendly manner in which we were received in Pudukottai, and to find out about the work of Sir Alexander. We were not aware that he was so warmly appreciated by the people here,” Mr. Kendall told The Hindu over phone on Friday.

Over the past few days, Mr. Kendall, 73, and his wife Helen, visited Sir Alexander’s grave in Machuvadi and the Collectorate premises in Pudukottai.

The couple attended the birth anniversary programme of Rani Rama Devi Tondaiman, the erstwhile ‘Rajmatha’ of the then Pudukottai Samasthanam, hosted by her son Vijaykumar Tondaiman on October 1.

Among Mr. Kendall’s cherished memories of the Pudukottai visit is being photographed with the portrait of Sir Alexander at the Collector’s Bungalow.