Travancore royal family scion starts new business

Lakshmi Bayi, granddaughter of Maharani Kartika Tirunal of the Travancore royal family, has promoted a new business consulting company focused on crafting partnerships between international investors and Indian companies.

Lamok Business Advisory (P) Ltd has its headquarters in Thiruvananthapuram with associate offices in Gurgaon, Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai and Hyderabad.

The company expects to commence full-fledged operations in a span of six months. Currently, only its Thiruvananthapuram, Gurgoan and Hyderabad offices are under operation.

The focus on the south is not accidental. According to Lakshmi Bayi, "In the knowledge economy, south has the edge." Rather than fling its net in all directions, Lamok is concentrating on southeast Asia and the Middle East as sources of capital for such greenfield enterprises in India.

Lakshmi Bayi, an interior designer whose book of poetry was published two years ago in London, does not feel that there is anything eyebrow-raising about a royal princess turning to commerce. She points out that her family already manages the Aspinwall Group in Kochi, and that younger brother Aditya Varma began a bottling plant last year.

"For too long, we have ignored mind-capital in India. What Lamok seeks to do is bring together those with the vision and ability to actualise great business ideas with funding sources that are professional and ethical," she told Business Standard.