Bhaskara Sethupathi

Bhaskara Sethupathy
Born	1868
Died	1903
Occupation	Raja of Ramnad

Bhaskara Sethupathy (Tamil: பாஸ்கர சேதுபதி) (Hiranyagarbhayaji Ravikula Muthuvijaya Raghunatha Bhaskara) (ஹிரண்யகர்பாஜி ரவிகுல முத்துவிஜய ரகுநாத பாஸ்கர) (3 November 1868 – 27 December 1903) was a Raja of Ramnad.^[1] He became the recognised proprietor of the Ramnad estate after his father's death in 1873 till 1895. From 1895, He assumed Managership of Rameswaram till 1901.

He was regarded as a pious, brilliant and generous ruler by his supporters. His supporters believed that he would regain control of Ramnad estate some day. He died suddenly at the age of 35 in 1903.^[2][3]

Sponsorship of Swami Vivekananda for Parliament of the World's Religions

In 1892, Swami Vivekananda stayed with Bhaskara when he visited Madurai^[4] and he sponsored Vivekananda's visit to Parliament of the World's Religions held in Chicago.^[5] During his stay, Swami Vivekananda had extensive discussions on Hindu philosophy with eminent scholars like Mahavidwan R. Raghava Iyengar.

Kamudi temple case against Nadars

Being the heridtary of Minakshi Sundareswara Temple in Kamuthi, he filed a lawsuit against fifteen Nadars on 14 May 1897 who had entered forcefully into the temple despite traditional customs which discouraged them. He sought compensation for the purification of the temple and establish that Nadars never have the right to enter temple. However, the Nadars were eventually allowed to enter temples built by higher communities due to new legislations and movements.^[6]

In popular culture

• Bhaskara Sethupathy was portrayed by Malayalam actor Mammootty in the 1998 film Swami Vivekananda.

References

1. Sir Roper Lethbridge (18 December 2001). The Golden Book of India: A Genealogical and Biographical Dictionary of the Ruling Princes, Chiefs, Nobles, and Other Personages, Titled or Decorated, of the Indian Empire. Adamant Media Corporation. p. 451. ISBN 978-1-4021-9328-6.
2. Frederick S. Mullaly. Notes on Criminal Classes of the Madras Presidency. p. 111.
3. Pamela G. Price (29 March 1996). Kingship and Political Practice in Colonial India. Cambridge University Press. p. 187. ISBN 978-0-521-55247-9.
4. Meena Agrawal (30 January 2008). Swami Vivekananda. Diamond Pocket Books. p. 49. ISBN 978-81-288-1001-5.
5. S C Bhatt and Gopal K Bharghava (ed.). Land and people of Indian states and union territories. 25. Tamil Nadu. Kalpaz Publications, Delhi. p. 21. ISBN 978-81-7835-381-4.
6. Lloyd I. Rudolph and Susanne Hoeber Rudolph (15 July 1984). The Modernity of Tradition: Political Development in India. University Of Chicago Press, Delhi. p. 41. ISBN 978-0-226-73137-7.