'Received phone call yesterday, had no idea about Padma nomination'; Aswathy Thirunal on receiving Padma Shri

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Travancore royal family member Aswathy Thirunal Gowri Lakshmi Bayi said she had no idea about being nominated for the prized Padma awards.

“One person called me by Thursday noon to ask consent and it was then I knew my name was also on the list. I even repeatedly asked the person whether he got it wrong or not. Everything is the grace of Padmanabhaswamy and I also thank the media” Aswathy Thirunal said.

This is the first time that a member of the Travancore royal family is conferred with the prestigious Padma Shri award. Born in 1945 as the daughter of Karthika Thirunal Lakshmi Bayi and Lieutenant Colonel Godavarma Raja, Aswathy Thirunal Gowri Lakshmi Bayi is an alumnus of the government women's college where she graduated with a degree in Economics but later decided to devote her life to literature and philanthropy.

Her first work in writing was a collection of poems in English which was titled ‘Thirumulkazhcha’. The poem is replete with memories of her childhood around the revered Padmanabhaswamy temple. Aswathy Thirunal distributed all the profit she earned from her books to the needy in society.