But what is really surprising is the deep involvement of the royalty. Generally the ladies of royal household do not come outside and participate in public functions. However the present queen of Marthanda Varma differs- she is an accomplished MohiniAttam artiste and holds her own in independent dance concerts. Her forebears were interested in dance and her mother in law Rani Lakshmi Bhai, her elder sister Rani Gowri Bai have conducted dance programmes at the Maharaja Girls College. This royal lineage has not hesitated to adapt themselves to the changing circumstances.
Her Highness, Gopika Varma, the Queen of the Travancore Samasthanam (kingdom) took her first steps in dance with Bharatha Natyam at the age of 3 years and graduated on to Mohini Aattam, the traditional dance of Kerala. She learnt the art at Kala MANDALAM at Tiruppunitura, a small hamlet in the state. There was a ban on Mohini Aatam during the Portuguese period of rule around the 19th century. However during His Highness Swathi Tirunal's period there was again renewed recognition and enthusiasm.
Gopika Varma loves to handle textiles; she is also is the proud owner of a boutique, the Royal Touch. Her mother helps her out with the embroideries on screens and bedspreads. Initially there was just a single loom. Now there are more than forty people working on more than 20 looms. Physically challenged people are given preference in employment here.
Five years after opening the boutique, Gopika and her industrialist-shipping magnate were blessed with a son. She considers it as a blessing of her employees, whom she treats as her own family.
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