TV
Luck has the power to transform lives in the blink of an eye, and for B. Rathnakaran Pillai, a farmer from Kilimanoor, Thiruvananthapuram, fate had more than one surprise in store. Pillai first struck fortune in 2018 when he won the Kerala Christmas bumper lottery worth Rs 6 crore. With part of the prize money, he fulfilled his long-cherished dream of owning farmland. But destiny wasn’t done showering him with riches. While ploughing his newly bought land, he stumbled upon a hidden treasure that made him a double winner.
The Astonishing Discovery
While preparing the soil to cultivate tapioca, Pillai’s plough hit a hard object. Digging further, he unearthed an earthen pot filled with an extraordinary treasure. The pot contained 2,595 ancient copper coins weighing about 20.4 kilograms. The coins, heavily oxidised with time, were later confirmed to be over 100 years old.
Coins from the Travancore Era
Experts from the Kerala State Archaeology Department revealed that the coins belonged to the princely state of Travancore, dating back to the reigns of Sree Mulam Thirunal Rama Varma (1885–1924) and Sree Chithira Thunal Bala Rama Varma (1924–1949). Many bore inscriptions in Malayalam and English, while others carried the royal insignia “RV” (Rama Varma) and emblems like the conch. These coins are considered an invaluable window into Kerala’s numismatic and cultural history.
Law and Legacy
As per the Kerala Treasure Trove Act, 1968, such discoveries must be handed over to the government. Pillai immediately informed the authorities, and the coins were sent to the Regional Conservation Laboratory in Thiruvananthapuram for cleaning and preservation. Reportedly, Pillai was to be compensated proportionately for the find after experts assess their value.
Double Fortune
For most, winning the lottery is a once-in-a-lifetime stroke of luck. For Rathnakaran Pillai, lightning struck twice- first with Rs 6 crore in prize money, and then with a buried treasure trove that connects him to Kerala’s royal past. His story is a rare blend of fortune and heritage, reminding us that sometimes destiny rewards in ways beyond imagination.
