Mounted Police Carried – Special Cover

Gandhiji’s visit to Kowdiar palace – 1925 and 1937

In 1925, at the height of the Vaikom Satyagraha agitation in Travancore princely state, Gandhiji visited the Kowdiar Palace seeking the support of the young prince Sri Chithira Thirunal Balarama Verma against backward caste oppression. The prince promised that he would allow all backward casts entry into temples when he became the Maharaja. True to his word, on ascending the throne of Tranancore, he issued the Temple Entry Proclamation in 1936. Once again, Gandhiji made what he called “a pilgrimage” to the Kowdiar Palace 1937 to thank the Maharaja whom he called “The Real Maharaja”. This mounted police-carried special cover is issued to mark the meetings between these two legends at the Kowdiar Palace.