Kerala

   

Kerala (or Keralam, കേരളം ) is a state in South India. It is known for being the most literate state in India with a literacy rate greater than 90%. It is also the only state in India with a sex ratio of more than 990 females/1000 males according to the 2001 census.

Kerala
Image:IndiaKerala.png
CapitalThiruvananthapuram
Area 38,863 km²
Population
 - Total (2001)
 - Density
31,838,619
819/km²
Sex ratio1058 (2001)
Literacy rate (2001):
 - Total
 - Male
 - Female
90.92%
94.20%
87.86%
Date of formationNovember 1, 1956
Latitude8°18'N to 12°48'N
Longitude74°52E to 72°22'E
Width35 - 120 km
Length580 km
Governor R. L. Bhatia
Chief Minister Oommen Chandy

History

Legends say that Kerala was reclaimed from the Sea God 'Varuna' by Parasurama, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu, by throwing his battle-axe into the sea. Varuna retreated to the point where the axe fell. The reclaimed land was distributed to 64 Brahmins and Parasurama went back to continue his penance. In the older days, Kerala was known as the 'Cheranadu'. The prehistoric inhabitants belonged to the Negrito race. Their successors are still living on some hilly areas of Kerala. The Negritos were replaced by the wandering Proto-Australoids who settled on the plains. The powerful Mediterranean race, the predecessors of Tamils, replaced them during BC 700. By the advent of Aryans, caste system also formed in Kerala. From times of Sumerian civilization, Chinese, Mesopotamians and other Arabs arrived in Kerala for Trade. In 1000BC, King Solomon's ships arrived here for ivory, sandalwood and spices. The epics of Ramayana and Mahabharata mention the existence of Kerala in them. The documented records indicate that Kerala was under Mauryas (BC322- BC270). During the Sangham Age (1st-5th centuries AD) Kerala was part of Tamil Country. The original language was Tamil and through centuries Malayalam evolved into a full-fledged language. During the Sangham era, mainly three political powers reined Kerala. The southern region was under the Ay kings while Ezhimala Kings ruled the northern region. The area between these two kingdoms was the early Chera country. From the beginning of the Christian era, the Cheras were prominent. They ruled Kerala for 250 years. After the Sangham age, during the 7th and 8th centuries, the history of Kerala is in the dark. By 9th century AD, Cheras again came to power. Their rulers were known as 'Kulashekharas'. By 1102 AD, their rule came to an end. During their reign arts, culture, literature etc. flourished. The renowned Sage Adi Shankara, the advocate of Adwaita in Hinduism was a contemporary of one of these rulers. After the decline of Cheras, the kingdom broke into smaller regions under local chieftains. This led to the formation of provincial states. Venadu, Kolathunadu, Kochi and Kozhikode were prominent among them. With the arrival of Vasco da Gama in 1498, a new era started in the history of Kerala. The Dutch and the British followed the Portuguese. The Europeans cashed in on the rivalries of the local rulers and ultimately took the power from them. In 1766 Hyder Ali of Mysore conquered Kochi and Kozhikode and his son Tipu Sultan continued the conquest. The British did not like the idea of Tipu becoming powerful. They teamed up with local rulers and defeated Tipu. According to the treaty of Srirangapatna in 1792, Malabar, Kochi and Coorg became part of East India Company. By the treaty of 1805, Travancore also started paying Rs. 800, 000 as tribute to the British accepting their supremacy. By the early 19th century, the control over Travancore was also complete. There was resentment among people about the way British handled matters. In not so organized scale, movements were staged against the British. Pazhasi Raja of Kottayam and Veluthampi Dalava of Travancore were among those who gave their lives in these freedom struggles. Kurichya Movement and Mappila Movement are a few among the freedom movements staged in Kerala. After Independence, Malabar was attached to Madras. Travancore and Cochin stood as independent princely states. By regrouping princely states in 1949, the state of Travancore-Cochin was formed. In 1956, Nov.1, when states were reorganized based on languages, Kerala was formed with Kasargode from Mysore, Malabar from Madras, Travancore and Cochin. A governor was appointed as the head of state in the place of 'Rajapramughan'.

Administration

The State of Kerala was formed by amalgamation of three regions: Kingdom Thiruvithaamkoor (Travancore), Kingdom of Kochi (Cochin), and Malabar Province. Thiruvithaamkoor and Kochi, former princely states, were merged to form Thiru-Kochi on July 1, 1949. Malabar was merged with Thiru-Kochi to form the State of Kerala on November 1, 1956.

Kerala is divided into 14 districts. They are (from north) Kasargod, Kannur (Canannore), Wayanad (Wynad), Kozhikode (Calicut), Malappuram, Palakkad (Palghat), Thrissur (Trichur), Ernakulam, Idukki, Alappuzha (Alleppey), Kottayam, Pathanamthitta, Kollam (Quilon) and Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum)


Thiruvananthapuram is the capital of the state.

Demographics

More than 95% of the people in Kerala speak Malayalam.

The major religions followed in Kerala are Hinduism (58%), Islam (21%), and Christianity (21%). Kerala also has a tiny Jewish population, said to date from 587 BC when they fled the occupation of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar. The state has many famous temples, churches, and mosques. The synagogue in Kochi is the oldest one in India.

Geography

Kovalam Beach - tourists and fishermen
Enlarge
Kovalam Beach - tourists and fishermen

Kerala occupies a narrow strip of India's southwestern coast. It is bounded by the Arabian Sea on the west and the Western Ghats in the east.

Many places in Kerala have become tourist attractions. These vary from beaches to hill stations. Central Kerala's backwaters (inlets of the sea connected by canals) are major tourist attractions. One of the premier tourist attractions is Kovalam, which is 20 minutes by taxi from Thiruvananthapuram. Western tourists lounge on the beach while fishermen pull in their nets with the catch.

The states of Karnataka in the north and Tamil Nadu in the east are Kerala's immediate neighbours. A part of the union territory of Pondicherry, Mahe, also shares a land border with Kerala.

Freedom Fighters from Kerala

  • K. Kelappan - K. Kelappan popularly known as 'Kerala Gandhi' was born in an ordinary Nair family in Muchukunnu Village of South Malabar in 1889. He graduated from Madras University and became a teacher in the S.B. High School, Changanacherry. While in Changanacherry, he took up social work and was one of the founders of the Nair Service Society and became its first president. Resigning from S.B. High School, he became the Headmaster of the first school started by Nair Service Society. Later, he went to Bombay for legal studies, but left the law-college during the Non-Cooperation Movement. Returning to Malabar he started active congress work. During the Moplah Rebellion, he played a very heroic role disregarding his personal safety and tried to bring about peace and communal harmony. He participated in Vaikom Satyagraha and was imprisoned. He took special interest in Gandhian programmes like uplift of the untouchables, propagation of Khadi and Hindi. For sometime he was editor of the 'Mathrubhumi'. It was he who led the famous Guruvayur Satyagraha. On his release from prison after Quit India Movement, he became President of KPCC and ceaselessly worked for organising Congress activities in the whole of Kerala.Due to disagreement with the Congress leadership he, along with some colleagues, joined the Kisan Masdoor Praja Party(KMPP) led by Acharya Kripalani. In the general elections of 1952 Kelappan contested on KMPP ticket and was elected from Ponnani LokSabha seat. After the five-year term in the Lok Sabha, he left active politics and became a Sarvodaya worker and was actively associated with Bhoodan Movement in Kerala. He established the 'Rural Institute' at Thavanoor in Ponnani Taluq and was president of Harijan Seva Sangh and Sarvodaya Sangh in Kerala. He expired in 1970.
  • A.K. Gopalan
  • V.K. Krishna Menon - Vengalil Krishnan Krishna Menon was born on May 3, 1896 at Panniyankara in Calicut, Kerala. The third son of a successful lawyer of the Calicut bar, Komath Krishna Kurup, Menon grew up in a modestly well-to-do family. Menon had his early education in Tellicherry. He took his B.A. degree from Madras Presidency College. While in College, he started taking an active interest in the national movement. While studying in the Madras Law College, he became actively associated with Annie Besant and the Home Rule Movement. He was a leading member of the 'Brothers of Service', founded by Annie Besant who spotted his gifts and sent him to England in 1924. In London, Menon bloomed into a passionate fighter for India's freedom. He founded the India League in 1928 and made it the nerve centre of nationalist propaganda and activity in England. The Labour Party was influenced considerably by Krishna Menon who became on of its very effective spokesmen. In 1934, he was elected as St. Pancras Borough Councilman on the Labour ticket. He was elected again and again till be became India's first High Commissioner in Britain. St. Pancras conferred on him the Freedom of the Borough, the only other person so honoured being Bernard Shaw. Krishna Menon became a barrister and took up cases of the poor.In 1932, he inspired a fact-finding delegation headed by Ellen Wilkinson, Labour M.P., to visit India. Menon served as its Secretary and edited its report entitled 'conditions in India'. In the thirties he also edited the Twentieth Century Library. The close freindship between Nehru realised the significance of the battle which Krishna Menon carried on in England and the tole played by him in bringing about the peaceful transfer of power. From 1952 to 1953 and from 1954 to 1962 Krishna Menon led the Indian delegation to the United Nations. In evolving the policy of non-alignment he played a very important role. He made diplomacy a dynamic instrument for world peace, socialism and national liberation. He took an active role in resolving the Korean and Suez crises. Krishna Menon became a member of the Rajya Sabha in 1953. On February 3, 1956, he joined the Union Cabinet as Minister without Portfolio. In 1957 he was elected to the Lok Sabha from Bombay and in April of that year, he became Defence Minister. He worked tirelessly to modernise the defence forces and initiated a number if measures of far-reaching significance. Krishna Menon resigned from the Cabinet in 1962, soon after the border-conflict with China. But he continued his activities on the national and international planes. He passed away on October 6, 1974.
  • K. Madhavan Nair - K. Madhavan Nair was the most prominent of such early freedom fighters of Kerala. Born in an ordinary family of Manjeri in South Malabar in 1882 he took his degree from Madras University and taught for some time in M.G.M. High School, Thiruvalla in the erstwhile Travancore State. In 1909, Madhavan Nair took his law degree from Trivandrum Law College and started practice in Manjeri. He shifted his residence and practice to Calicut in 1915. Closely associated with the Home Rule league, Madhavan Nair became an active Congress worker. He was one of the four persons in Malabar to court imprisonment during Non-Cooperation Movement and organised relief work in Calicut for the refugees after the Moplah rebellion in 1921. After Nagpur Congress session, when Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee was formed, he was elected as its first secretary and later its first president in 1925. He participated in all agitations including the Civil Disobedience Movement, boycott of foreign cloth, prohibition and Simon Commission Boycott. He took active interest in Vaikom and Guruvayur Satyagraha and served as Director of Guruvayur Temple Entry Referendum besides serving for a term as a member of Madras Assembly. Along with his close associates, Madhavan Nair founded the 'Mathrubhumi' newspaper and was its first managing director. Gandhiji had often praised his earnestness, frankness, simplicity, public spirit and integrity. Madhavan Nair expired on September 28, 1933.
  • K.P. Kesava Menon - Grandson of Raja of Palghat, K.P. Kesava Menon was born in Tharoor village of Palghat in 1886. He took B.A. degree from Madras University and Bar-at-law from Middle Temple. After setting up practice in Calicut, he joined the Indian National Congress in 1915 and served as the Secretary of the Malabar branch of the Home Rule League. He was a member of the Home Rule League Deputation under the leadership of Annie Besant which proceeded to London to present a memorandum to the Secretary of State in 1917. He gave up practice to join the Non-Cooperation Movement in 1921. He became the Secretary of K.P.C.C. and did active relief work during Moplah rebellion. In 1923, he became the Founder-Editor of the 'Mathrubhumi'. He led the famous Vaikom Satyagraha in 1924 and was imprisoned for six months in Trivandrum Central Jail. Due to financial difficulties as a result of full-time political activities, he went to Malaya in 1927 to set up practice there. While in Malaya, he worked for the amelioration of the conditions of estate labourers of Indian origin. When Ras Behari Bose organised the Indian Independence League in 1942, Kesava Menon became a member of its action committee. After Subhas Chandra Bose assumed the leadership of the Indian Independence League and INA and formed 'Azad Hind Government', Kesava Menon parted ways from INA due to difference of opinion with Subhas. Kesava Menon resisted the Japanese attempt to exploit the Indian freedom fighters in Malaya for their own benefit. Hewas arrested by the Japanese at Singapore, confined to solitary imprisonment and released after the Second World War . In October 1946, he returned to India and resumed the editorship of the 'Mathrubhumi'. Soon afterwards, he was appointed Indian High Commissioner in Ceylon,but he resigned the post due to difference of opinion. worked for the formation of unified Kerala State in his capacity as president of the Aykya Kerala Committee. Author of several books in Malayalam, Kesava Menon returned the Sahitya Academy Award. He was the first Executive president of Kerala Sahitya Academy and was honoured by the President of India with the 'Padma Vibhushan'. He was considered and respected by all as the 'Grand Old Man ' of Kerala. Till his death on November 9, 1978 Kesava Menon served as the Chief Editor of the 'Mathrubhumi'.
  • George Joseph - George Joseph was one of the earliest Congressmen from the Christian Community in India. Born in a Syrian Christian family of Chengannur in erstwhile Travancore in 1887, George Joseph graduated from Madras University and then took his M.A. and Bar-at-law from England. He set up practice as a lawyer in Madras and later in Madurai. Joining the Home Rule League, he soon became one of its leaders. He was a member of the Home Rule League Deputation to England which was turned back from Gibraltar by the British Government. and later also participated in the Non-Cooperation Movement. He took over the editorship of the 'Independent' daily of Allahabad from by Motilal Nehru. For his sharp criticism of the British Government, in the columns of the ;Independent', George Joseph was arrested and imprisoned for sometime. After the release, he served as the Editor of 'Young India', as Gandhiji was then in jail. He also took part in Vaikom Satyagraha and was imprisoned. George Joseph was elected to the Central Assembly on Congress ticket from Madras presidency and earned recognition as an able parliamentarian. He lead the Abstention Movement of Travancore, and also helped the agitation for responsible Government in the State. George Joseph expired on March 6, 1938.
  • Smt.A.V. Kuttimalu Amma - Smt.A.V. Kuttimalu Amma was a top ranking Congress leader of Kerala and a fearless freedom fighter. Born in Anakkara Vadakkath family of Ponnani taluq,S. Malabar, in 1905, Amma was drawn into the freedom movement in her youth. She and her husband K. Madhava Menon (former KPCC President and Minister in Madras State) actively participated in all movements of the Congress. Kuttimalu Amma began her public life as an active Khadi and Swadeshi worker in 1930. She led batches of women volunteers and successfully conducted picketing of foreign cloth-shops in Calicut in 1931. During the Civil Disobedience Movement, holding her two month old baby in her arms, she led a procession of women, breaking the ban order in Calicut and was arrested and convicted for two years imprisonment. When she reached the jail with her baby, authorities did not allow her to take the baby with her. Kuttimalu Amma insisted that she had every right to take her baby with her into the jail, quoting relevant rules. Finally, the authorities had to accede to her demand. In 1936, she was elected to the Madras Assembly. During individual Satyagraha in 1940, Kuttimalu Amma was arrested and imprisoned for a year. During Quit India Movement, she was detained for two years in the Presidency jail for women. After her release in 1944, she took up the task of organising Congress in Malabar and became KPCC President for a term. Kuttimalu Amma had also served as a member of AICC and the Congress Working Committee.In 1946, she was again elected as a member of Madras Legislative Assembly. She was Director of the 'Mathrubhumi' Calicut for some time. She expired in 1986.
  • Muhammad Abdur Rahiman - Muhammad Abdur Rahiman was born at, Azhikode, Kodungallur in 1898, in the erstwhile Cochin State. He was educated at Veniyambadi, Calicut, Madras and Aligarh. He discontinued his studies at Aligarh University to participate in Non-Cooperation and Khilafat movements in Malabar. After the Moplah rebellion of 1921, he tried to establish peace in affected areas. Despite his efforts to pacify Moplah rebels, he was arrested by British authorities in October 1921 and sentenced to two years imprisonment. For breaking Salt law on Calicut beach during Salt Satyagraha in 1930, he was brutally lathicharged by police, sentenced to nine months rigorous imprisonment and lodged in Cannanore Central Jail. Abdur Rahiman edited a nationalist daily ÔAl-AmeenÕ from 1929 to 1939 from Calicut. The paper had to close down in 1939 due to repressive measures of the Government. Abdur Rahiman was a member of Calicut Municipal Council from 1931 to 1934 and the Malabar District Board from 1932. He was elected to Madras Legislative Assembly in 1937. He became President of KPCC and a member of AICC in 1939. Being an admirer of Subhas Chandra Bose, Abdur Rahiman associated himself with the Forward Block formed by Subhas. When Second World War broke out, he was arrested and kept in jail as a detenue from 1940 to 1945. After the release from jail, he returned to Calicut and started active participation in Congress activities. But he, untimely, expired on November 22, 1945 just after addressing a public meeting. Muhammad Abdur Rahiman always opposed the two nation theory of the Muslim League. An able orator and writer, he was a tower of strength to freedom fighters.
  • C. Kesavan - C. Kesavan (1891-1969) was one of the Triumvirate of Travancore State Congress leadership, the other two being Pattom Thanu Pillai and T.M. Varghese. Born in an ordinary Ezhava family of Mayyanad near Quilon on May 23, 1891,he studied in Quilon, Ernakulam and Trivandrum. For some time he worked as a teacher and then took a law degree from Trivandrum and started practice in Quilon. He was influenced by the teachings of Sri Narayana Guru, Gandhiji and Karl Marx. He worked for temperance and eradication of untouchability and served as General Secretary of SNDP Yogam. From 1933 he was one of the prominent leaders of the Abstention movement of Travancore. Because of a speech he made at a public meeting in Kozencherry he was arrested on June 7, 1935, tried for sedition, and sentenced to two years imprisonment. Kesavan took an active part in organising Travancore State Congress and became a member of its Working Committee. During the agitation for responsible government in Travancore, he was arrested several times. During Quit India Movement in 1942 Kesavan was sentenced to one year simple imprisonment and was released on July 19, 1943. After Independence Kesavan was elected to Travancore Assembly and became a member of the first cabinet headed by Pattom Thanu Pillai, but resigned after few months. Kesavan became Chief Minister of Travancore-Cochin in 1951 and was elected to State Assembly in 1952. He expired on July 7, 1969 at Mayyanad.
  • T.M. Varghese - T.M. Varghese was born at Pallikkal, Mavelikkara in erstwhile Travancore State in 1886. He was an eminent lawyer who was drawn into the agitation for responsible government. A prominent leader of the Abstention movement of Travancore, he was elected from Pathanamthitta Constituency to the Travancore. Legislative Assembly and becameits Deputy Speaker. He pressed for the demand of responsible government in Travancore Assembly in 1938. As a founder and Working committee member of the State Congress, Vargese guided its activities for a decade. During 1938-1943 he was arrested several times. After Independence, Varghese became a member of the Cabinet headed by Pattom Thanu Pillai. With integration of Travancore and Cochin he became speaker of Travancore-Cochin Assembly in July 1949. He later became a Minister in the Cabinet headed by A.J. John .Varghese breathed his last on December 31, 1961.
  • E.Ikkanda Varrier - E.Ikkanda Varrier was born in 1890 in a feudal family of Edakkanni Variyam ,Ollur, near Trichur. He was the grand-nephew of Dewan Sankara Varrier , the 'Builder of Modern Cochin'. While studying in Madras Law College, Ikkanda Varrier met Gandhiji and the meeting proved to be a turning point in Varrier's life. After taking Law degree Varrier started practice in Trichur. As Chairman of Trichur Municipal Council, Varrier did a lot to improve the civic life of Trichur. He was elected to the Cochin state Legislative Council for four terms. As the second president of the Cochin State Prajamandal, he worked strenuously for establishing responsible government in Cochin State. An active Khadi worker he led the campaign for foreign cloth boycott and participated in all the movements under the auspices of the Congress. He was imprisoned for an year during the Quit India Movement. In 1948 elections, he again became the leader of Prajamandal Legislature Party and was appointed Prime Minister of Cochin. An able administrator, Varrier worked for the improvement of agriculture in Cochin state and was responsible for starting many irrigation and power projects in the state. After Travancore-Cochin-integration, Varrier continued as Food and Agriculture Minister of State. Later he resigned his post and left active politics. He became a Sarvodaya worker and was active in Bhoodan Movement. He expired on June 7, 1977.
  • S. Neelakanta Iyer - Born in a poor Tamil Brahmin family of Chittoor in old Cochin State in 1889, Neelakanta Iyer graduated from Madras University and was later employed in the Revenue Department at Madras. His meeting with Gandhiji in 1915 was a turning point in his life and he resigned from his government job and according to Gandhiji's advice took B.T. degree and started teaching. While serving in various schools in Cochin and Malabar he was associated with the freedom movement. Whenever Gandhiji toured Kerala, Neelakanta Iyer accompanied him. In 1930, he participated in Salt Satyagraha and was arrested at Calicut during Civil Disobedience Movement and imprisoned for six months. When the Cochin State Prajamandal was formed, he was elected as its first president and worked in that capacity for many years. He was arrested by Cochin Government and imprisoned in 1941. During Quit India Movement, Iyer was arrested while addressing a public meeting in Trichur for breaking the ban order and was imprisoned in Viyyur Central Jail for several months. He became president of the Prajamandal for the second time when Prajamandal merged into the Indian National Congress. Neelakanta Iyer worked as the organising Secretary of Harijan Seva Sangh and participated in the agitation for temple entry.He established the Vyasa College of Wadakkancherry . Neelakanta Iyer expired on June 1, 1971.

Movements in Kerala

  • Civil Disobedience Movement - The second phase of the civil disobedience movement, started by Gandhiji with his famous Salt March in March 1930, found enthusiastic response from all parts of Kerala. In several places, particularly at Payyannur and Kozhikode, salt laws were broken and hundreds of agitators courted arrest. A Youth League was formed in Travancore which was able to enlist the dedicated services of quite a good number of spiritual and radical minded young men who later became the prop of the Travancore State Congress. In the wake of the Civil Disobedience Movement, a parallel movement for responsible Government had begun in Travancore and Kochi. In Travancore, the Nivartana (Obstention) movement began as a protest against the inadequacy of the constitutional reforms of 1932. The Ezhavas, the Christians and the Muslims apprehended that the new reforms, owing to the provisions for restricted franchise on the basis of possession of property and other qualifications, would secure for them far less number of seats in the enlarged legislature than the Nairs. They therefore demanded that the seats be apportioned on the basis of population strength. The Government, however, did not view their demands favourably. The abstentionists then organized a Joint Political Congress to exhort the voters to abstain from voting. Since the three communities together formed about 70 per cent of the population, their agitation had the characteristics of a mass movement. The Government at first adopted a repressive policy but later yielded to the demands of the abstentionists to some extent. In the election held in 1937, most of the candidates fielded by the Joint Political Congress were elected. The Haripura Session of the Indian National Congress (1938) had resolved that the Congress as such would keep itself aloof from involvement in the affairs of the princely States. The struggle for responsible Government in the States would therefore, be the responsibility of the people of the respective States themselves. It was in this context that the leaders of the Joint Political Congress decided to form a new organization, merging the identity of the Joint Political Congress. Thus, the Travancore State Congress came into being in February 1938. It was pledged to the goal of achieving full responsible Government for the people of Travancore. In neighbouring Kochi, the Kochi State Congress was formed.
  • Quit India Movement
  • I.N.A. Volunteers
  • Royal Indian Navy Mutiny - Indian support for the Allies in World War II went with the tacit agreement that the move towards independence would go ahead when the war was over, although no timescale was agreed. The way in which British had offhandedly informed India that the country was now at war with Germany had rankled deeply with India's political leaders. Rather than offer loyal support, Nehru and Gandhi demanded a statement of Britain's post-war intentions towards India. The Muslim leader Jinnah, however, promised Muslim support for Britain. As the Congress moved away from the British, the Muslim League supported the war effort. Churchill, fearing a Japanese invasion of India, sent Sir Stafford Cripps, a socialist and friend of Nehru, to India in 1942 with a proposal that India would move to full Dominion status after the end of the war. There was also a proviso that the Muslims might wish to opt out. Nehru and Gandhi would not agree to it and Cripps returned empty-handed. Field Marshal Lord Wavell, viceroy from 1943 to 1947 brought India's government under martial control for the duration of the war, but was unable to heal Hindu-Muslim differences. Talks at Shimla in June 1945 collapsed, and shortly afterwards Attlee replaced Churchill as the British Prime Minister. It became clear that some solution had to be found to the Hindu-Muslim conflict so that Britain could withdraw. The Royal Indian Navy Mutiny, a spontaneous expression of impatience, was one of those events which served to remind Britain that it would not be able to keep the lid on the cauldron that was India and that a solution was needed sooner rather than later. It was in February 1946 that the Royal Indian Navy went on strike in Bombay. The strike spread to other cities, and was joined by the Air Force and local police forces. The striking sailors fought a brief armed battle with government, finally surrendering on 23 February. The Navy Mutiny saw Hindus and Muslims protesting together, and this was echoed in supporting demonstrations which included a one-day general strike in Bombay. The national leaders, including Gandhi, expressed their opposition to the strike. Any upsurge which might have been caused by the Navy Mutiny died down. The point, however, had been well made.
  • Malabar Rebellion - The non - co - operation movement was in full swing during this period of time. It was particularly strong in Malabar, where the Moppilas were agitated over the Khilafat issue. The Gandhian movement had a tremendous impact in Kerala, with large numbers joining the satyagrapha campaign. Gandhiji visited Malabar in 1921, giving a further impetus to the movement. Khilafat Committees sprang up in large numbers and the fraternity between the Hindus and Muslims, through the work in Congress - Khilafat Committees, was a truly remarkable feature of the non-co-operation movement in Kerala, in its early stages. The speed with which the Khilafat agitation spread, especially in the Eranad and Valluvanad taluks, created alarm in official circles. A perplexed officialdom clamped down prohibitory orders in the two taluks. Meetings were banned and many people were arrested in the name of law and order. A tragic episode then ensued, namely the Moppila Rebellion or the Malabar Rebellion of 1921. Police attempted to arrest the secretary of the Khilafat Committee of Pokottur in Eranad on a charge of having stolen a pistol. A crowd of 2000 Moppilas from the neighbourhood foiled the attempt. The next day, a police party in search of Khilafat rebels entered the famous Mambaram mosque at Tirurangadi. They seized some records and arrested a few Khilafat volunteers. A rumour spread that the mosque was desecrated. Hundreds of rustic Moppilas converged on Tirurangadi and besieged the local police station. The police opened fire. The mob reacted in a mad fury. Violence spread and engulfed Eranad and Valluvanad taluks and neighbouring areas for over two months. Congress leaders tried in vain to check the violence. Towards the later stages of the rebellion, owing to unfounded rumour of Hindus having helped the police or sought police help, there were instances of atrocities perpetrated on Hindus. This marred the relations between the two communities. Meanwhile British and Gurkha regiments were rushed to the area. Martial law was clamped. A series of repressive measures followed and by November, the rebellion was practically crushed. Relief operations in the ravaged areas, undertaken mostly by voluntary agencies which received help and funds from Gandhiji, lasted for over six months.
  • Goa Liberation Movement
  • Mahe Liberation Movement
  • Punnapra- Vayalar Agitation
  • M.S.P. Strike of 1946
  • Cochin Police Strike of 1972
  • Karivallur Agitation
  • Kavumbai Agitation
  • Kayyur Agitation
  • Malappattam Agitation
  • Kuttamkulam agitation
  • Chengannur Riot Case
  • Kadakkal Riot
  • Kallara-Pangode Case
  • Aaron Mill Strike- Pappinisseri
  • Chethuthozhilali Strike at Anthikad
  • Koothali Strike
  • Teachers Struggle in Malabar
  • Vaikom Sathyagraha
  • Anti-Imperialistic Procession on 12.12.1946 at Kankole
  • Vattiyurkave Conference*
  • Anti-Independent Travancore Movement that took place during 1946-47
  • Morazha Struggle

Politics

List of political parties in the state

Kerala gained the distinction, in 1957, of having the first democratically elected Communist government anywhere in the world. Kerala has a reputation as being one of the most left wing states in India. Today the political life of Kerala is dominated by two fronts, the United Democratic Front (led by the Indian National Congress) and the Left Democratic Front (led by CPI(M)). Currently UDF holds the government.

Following is the chronological list of Chief Ministers of Kerala

Arts

Kerala has a rich tradition in Arts, both classical and folk. In addition to the classical uppercaste art forms like Koodiyattom (UNESCO Human Heritage Art), Kathakali, Mohiniyaattam and Ayappan Thiyatu, Kerala has numerous folk art forms performed by non-uppercastes in various regions of the state. Both classical and folk art forms have become artefacts of the past as contemporary art forms weave their own identity according to the contemporary needs. Mimicry and Parody are two of the most popular entertainments in Kerala now. Though at times very insensitive to women and subalterns, the mimicry artists dare to expose any luminary in Kerala's social life.

Malayalam Cinema is another form of creativity, and films from Kerala are very distinct from films made in Bollywood or Hollywood.

Social scene

Munnar Mountain and Tea estates view
Munnar Mountain and Tea estates view

Kerala ranks highest in India with respect to "social development parameters" such as primary education and healthcare. Kerala was declared the world's first "baby-friendly state" under WHO-UNICEF's Baby Friendly Hospital initiative. The state is known for Ayurveda, a traditional system of medicine, which finds great market in the growing tourist industry now.

Literacy in Kerala, at higher than 90%, and unemployment rate, at higher than 40%, are the highest among Indian states. This is mainly due to the policies of earlier governments, which made these services available free of cost to Keralites who would not otherwise have access to them. Education and early influences of arabs and portugese has also made Kerala one of the most secular states in India. Ironically, Kerala is also noted as the state with the highest suicide rate in India.

Kerala has an ancient solar calendar called as the Malayalam calendar which is used by various communities only for religious functions. Kerala has its own form of Martial arts, Kalaripayattu. Theyyam is the most outstanding ritual art of Northern part of Kerala known as North Malabar. Poorakkali is another popular ritual art in North Malabar.

Onam associated with the legend of Mahabali is declared the State festival, but Keralites celebrate many other religious and secular festivals.

Economy

Kerala's economy can be best described as a socialistic welfare economy.

However, Kerala's emphasis on social welfare also resulted in slow economic progress. Kerala possesses few major industries, and its per capita GDP is lower than the nation's average of 360 USD per year (1998). Remittances from Keralites working abroad, mainly in the Middle East, make up over 60% of the state's GDP.

Agriculture is the most important economic activity. Coconut, Tea and rubber are grown extensively. Coir (Coconut fiber), Cashew, and Spice are among the most important products.

Tourism, too, plays an important role in the state's economy. Kerala is a popular tourist destination for both domestic and foreign travellers. Kerala has great beaches (Kovalam , Varkala), serene hill stations, national parks (Thekady and Munnar) and beautiful inwaters Kumarakom.


Notable praises

Following are few notable praises/sayings about Kerala and Malayalis

  • National Geographic society described Kerala one of the 50 must see destinations of a lifetime.
  • 'State of Enlightenment' a Title for Kerala in a National Geographic traveller essay (2001)- by Anthony Weller with Photographs by Macduff Everton.
  • By tourism department, Kerala is quoted as God's Own Country
  • Kerala is one of the most politically conscious state in India, to the extent that you will find heated political discussions even in remote village teashops. Kerala is one of the states in the world, if not the only one where right wing political alliance and the leftists are democratically elected to power. The political sensibility of Kerala is the result of decades of political movements, people is participation and, historically, the nobility who were committed to reforms and changes in society.
  • On 16th March 1957 for the first time in the history of the world, the Communists had come to power through democratic means with the first legislative Assembly of Kerala, with E.M.Sankaran Nampoothiripad as the chief minister.
  • It is the state in India with the highest rate of literacy.
  • The quality of health care available is competent with many European countries.
  • More significantly it is one of the few states in India where people's movements and empowering initiatives at the grassroots level are part of day to day life.
  • Malayalis are often known to be available throughout the world. A parody which is popular in Kerala says Neil Armstrong was served chaya (Tea) in moon by a Malayali (which means Malayalis were already there at moon!).
  • Wherever Malayalis go, they yearn to come back , settle down and raise their children back home .To "Go abroad, make some money and come back" seems to be ingrained into the malayalee psyche.
  • It is also common to refer Malayalis as educated and clean twice bath takers.
  • A matriarchal society where Malayali women are seen as the most intelligent in all of India
  • Malayalis are widely known for running many Tea shops around the world. It is also common to refer Tea shop as Nair shop and chaya kada in India.
  • Malayali culture is the only Indian culture where there is no respectable words shared between two different level of people.
  • Malayali culture is more liberal than other Indian culture.
  • Once in reference to the cast system, Swami Vivekananda called Kerala as "Brantalayam". Now Kerala is the number one State in India, where the people not considering the cast system much. Thanks to Communists, Sree Narayana Guru, Ayyankali and so many other social activists.

List of famous Keralites

  • Abu Abraham - cartoonist, worked in The Guardian
  • Abraham Kovoor - Rationalist and Atheist
  • Adi Sankara - 8th century saint, poet, thinker, reviver of Hinduism in India
  • Adoor Gopalakrishnan - film maker
  • Ajitha-former naxalite and woman's rights activist
  • A. K. Gopalan
  • Anita Nair - An internationally published contemporary Indian Writer
  • Anju George - First Indian woman to win a bronze medal at the World Athletics Championships. She won the medal in Paris, 2003.
  • G.Aravindan - Film maker
  • Arundhati Roy - Booker Prize, 1997 for The God of Small Things
  • Ayyankali -Social activist who fought for dalit rights
  • Chandu Menon -Author of the first Malayalam novel 'Indulekha'.
  • Changanpuzha Krishna Pillai - (1911-48),poet
  • Chembai Vaidyanatham Bhagavathar-Carnatic vocalist
  • E. M. S. Namboodiripad - Thinker, communist, and the first Chief Minister of Kerala who came to power through ballot in 1957.
  • George Sudarsan - physicist
  • Hariharan - singer, ghazal, film and pop songs; record-breaking album Colonial Cousins
  • Jayan - Film actor
  • Jyesthadeva, 1500-1575, mathematician
  • Jassie Gift - Musician
  • Jimmy George- Volleyball player
  • John Abraham- film maker,'Amma ariyan','Agraharathil Kaluthai' are some of his films
  • K. Kelappan
  • Kumaran Asan-Poet
  • K.S. Chitra - playback singer
  • Kamala Surayya, also known as Madhavikutty - poetess, Asian Poetry Prize, 1964, Kent Award, 1965
  • V.R Krishna Iyer-Judge,human rights activist.
  • M.C.Joseph - Rationalist, founder editor of Yukthivadi
  • M Krishnan Nair- critic famous for his column 'sahithyavaraphalam'
  • V K Krishna Menon- Former Defence Minister of India and renowned Statesman.
  • K. J. Yesudas - singer, devotional and film songs, exponent of Carnatic music
  • K R Narayanan - President of India (1997-2002)
  • M.T.Vasudevan Nair - Writer and Cinema personality, popularly known as M.T
  • Madhava - 14th century mathematician
  • Manoj "Night" Shyamalan - Hollywood film director, The Sixth Sense, Unbreakable, Signs, The Village
  • Madhavan Nair -Chaiman, ISRO
  • Mammootty - film actor. Three-time winner of the Best Actor prize at the (Indian) National Film Awards: 1990 (for Mathilukal and Oru Vadakkan Veera Gaatha), 1995 (for Ponthan Maada and Vidheyan) and 2001 (for Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar)
  • Menon,V.P - The bureaucrat who helped Sardar Patel in the formation of the Indian Union.
  • Mohanlal - film actor. Two-time winner of the Best Actor prize at the (Indian) National Film Awards: 1992 (for Bharatham) and 2000 (for Vaanaprastham)
  • Mrinalini (Swaminathan) Sarabhai - danseuse. Wife of Late Indian Physicists, Dr. Vikram Sarabhai and mother of Mallika Sarabhai.
  • M Mukundan -Novelist
  • Sree Narayana Guru - social reformer, teacher and founder of the SNDP (Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana Yogam), created for the upliftment of the low-caste communities of Kerala.
  • Narayana Pandit, 1340-1400, mathematician
  • Nilakantha Somayaji, 1444-1544, astronomer
  • Nithya Chaitanya Yati - Scholar,Monk
  • K.C.S Panikkar - Painter and founder of Kalagramam in Cholamandalam
  • K.M Panikkar - Historian
  • Padmarajan - film maker
  • Pazhassi Raja - Feudal lord who fought the British and was martyred.
  • Prem Naseer or Prem Nazir - leading Malayalam cinema actor of the 60's and 70's. At one time he was considered to have acted in the lead role in more movies than any other actor.
  • Raj,K.N - Economist who played a key role in India's first five year planning and was also behind the excellence f Delhi School of Economics,
  • Raja Ravi Varma - Painter.
  • Sir. Sankaran Nair,C The ony malayalee to have become the president of Indian National Congress.
  • Sankaran,Mattanoor -Chenda player
  • Shaji N Karun - film maker
  • Shanker - cartoonist.
  • Shashi Tharoor - novelist, Commonwealth Writers Prize, 1991; Under- Secretary-General (Communication and Public Information) of the United Nations
  • Shobhana - Bharathanathyam Dancer and Film actress.
  • Vallathol Narayana Menon - Poet
  • Vaikom Muhammad Basheer - writer, philosopher.
  • P.T.Usha - Indian Athletics Legend.
  • Vayalar Rama Varma-Poet lyricist
  • Varghese - Naxalite leader
  • Dr Verghese Kurien - architect of India's Milk Revolution.
  • B.G Verghese-Journalist
  • O.V.Vijayan - Novelist, cartoonist.
  • Mata Amritanandamayi-A self-proclaimed godwoman.

External links


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