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

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

A random inquiry on Facebook brought Australian national Ian Kendall to Pudukottai this week, where his grandfather, Sir Alexander Robert Loftus Tottenham, served as the princely state’s former administrator and Diwan from 1934 until his death in 1946.

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

Ian Kendall and his wife Helen Kendall at the grave of Sir Alexander Tottenham at Machuvadi in Pudukottai. | Photo credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

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

The couple attended the birth anniversary program of Rani Rama Devi Tondaiman, the erstwhile ‘Rajmatha’ of the then Pudukottai Samasthanam, organized by her son Vijaykumar Tondaiman in October.

Ian Kendall seen with a portrait of Sir Alexander Tottenham in Pudukottai. | Photo credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

Among Mr. Kendall’s cherished memories of his visit to Pudukottai is a photo shoot with Sir Alexander’s portrait in the collector’s bungalow.

Sir Alexander Tottenham’s obituary published by The Hindu on 14 December 1946 records that he joined the Indian Civil Service (ICS) in the Madras Presidency in 1897 and remained there until 1923. He served as a member of the Central Board of Revenue and took an active interest in the archeology of Pudukottai State. After retiring from the Indian Civil Service, he became the administrator of Pudukottai during the minority of Rajagopala Tondaiman. When the ruler assumed full power in 1944, he was assigned as Diwan and continued to administer until 1946.

The then Pudukottah Durbar paid tribute to Sir Alexander in a press release in 1946, saying, “But for 10 months in England during those 13 years, he was always in Pudukottah and had such love and affection for the people of Pudukottah that he often said that he would lay his bones only here.”

He was known for his work in reclamation of land affected by soil erosion and maintenance of irrigation systems in Pudukottai. The Tottenham system of official correspondence that he introduced is still used in government offices in India with an improved computerized version.

Family ties

The Kendalls became aware of Sir Alexander Tottenham when they were trying to get details of Mr Ian’s father Robert, who moved to Australia in the 1940s, and formalize the family tree.

While official records state that Sir Alexander was a bachelor, other biographical accounts of British administrators in India suggest that he had an Anglo-Indian husband and two sons, Robert and Ginger.

“Vijaykumar (Tondaiman) responded to my niece Simone’s inquiry about Sir Alexander on Facebook and sent her a book that had some of his history related to my father and his brother. That’s when we decided to visit Pudukottai. We feel quite humbled to have received so much attention in the short time we’ve been here,” Mr Kendall said.

“Alexander Tottenham left an endowment of ₹10,000, which he wished to use for charitable work after his death. Our family has managed this for several years. We are celebrating December 13 in Pudukottai as ‘Tottenham Day’ with a special prayer service in his memory and providing relief to those in need,” added Mr. Tondaiman.

Published – 02 Oct 2026 20:45 IST