Kerala Revolts

Kerala Revolts

Anchuthengu Revolt (1697)

The Anchuthengu Rebellion was the first unorganized struggle against the British in Kerala. The rebellion was triggered by the British opening a fort and a military depot in Anchuthengu, which they had received from the Rani of Attingal (Umayamma Rani) in 1684 to build an industrial factory.   The British acquired the monopoly of the pepper trade and granted the English more privileges in Anchuthengu, which angered the locals. They attacked the factory in Anchuthengu. The attack failed.

Attingal Revolt (1721)

The Attingal Rebellion was the first organized popular uprising against British rule in Kerala. In April 1721, the locals of Attingal attacked the British factory there and killed 140 Company soldiers. They then captured Anchuthengu Fort. The massive corruption of the English and the Company's manipulation of the price of pepper were the reasons behind the opposition of the locals. There was a provision that the British should give an annual gift to the Queen of Attingal. This gift was given through the agents of the local rulers, the Pillai. However, the British decided to bypass these agents and hand over the gift directly to the Queen. On 15 April 1721, the headman of Anchuthengu Fort (Gayford) and 140 Company soldiers set out to give the gift to the Queen. The locals turned against this and killed all the British on the way. They also besieged Anchuthengu Fort for six months. It is said that this rebellion took place with the connivance of the Attingal Rani. This was the first planned rebellion against the British in India. After the Attingal Rebellion, the British East India Company and Marthanda Varma signed the Treaty of Venad in 1723. This was the first treaty signed by the British East India Company with an Indian king. In this treaty, the King of Travancore agreed to build a fort at Colachel for the English at his own expense.

Kerala under Mysore rule (1766 - 1792)

The Mysore Sultans were the undisputed and powerful Muslim rulers of South India in the latter half of the 18th century. Hyder Ali established an independent state centered in Mysore, using his intelligence and military prowess, and by 1761 AD, he had become a powerful ruler. Hyder Ali first came to Malabar at the request of the Palakkad king Komu, to help him in his war against the Zamorin king. Later, in 1766, Hyder Ali launched a direct attack on Malabar. On the invitation of the then Arakkal king of Kannur, Hyder Ali conquered North Malabar and Kozhikode with the help of the Mappila Muslims. Hyder Ali established a trading post in Vadakara and took control of Malabar's trade and exports. The Zamorin king, unable to pay the annual tribute to the Mysore Sultans and realizing that he would lose his power, committed suicide. Hyder Ali returned to Mysore, appointing his tax collector' Madanna' as the governor of Malabar. In A.D. 1768, he returned to Malabar and attempted to attack Travancore, but was defeated by the British army. In A.D. 1773, Hyder Ali captured the whole of Malabar and in A.D. 1776, Thrissur. But before long, the English army liberated the whole of North Malabar from Mysore rule and returned it to the old rulers.

Tipu was the son of Hyder Ali. Tipu Sultan, who arrived in Malabar with an army in November 1782, clashed with the English at Ponnani. While preparing for a large-scale attack, Tipu had to return to Mysore after hearing the news of Hyder Ali's death. After the Second Anglo-Mysore War, Malabar came under Mysore again under the Treaty of Mangalore in March 1784. As a result of anti-Mysore rebellions in Malabar, Tipu took over the rule of Malabar directly. In 1788, Tipu reached Malabar through Wayanad with a large army. All the local kings surrendered to Tipu. In December 1789, Tipu's army attacked Nedunkotta in the north of the Travancore kingdom. At this time, the British sent a British army to Travancore and attacked Mysore. Tipu returned to save his own country. In 1792, Tipu Sultan and the British signed the Treaty of Srirangapatna. Through this, the Malabar region, which was under Tipu's control, was given to the British. Commissioners were appointed to organize the administration of this region.

Pazhassi Revolts

The Pazhassi Rebellion was one of the most serious rebellions against the British in South India. The wrong tax policy of the British, who had established their dominance in Malabar, paved the way for this rebellion. Kerala Varma Pazhassi Raja was a member of the Kottayam dynasty of Malabar. The relationship between the British and Pazhassi was initially friendly. He had helped the British in the Mysore wars. In return, the British promised to give the Pazhassi Raja the power to collect taxes from the people. However, when Malabar came under their control, the British forgot this promise. They gave the power to collect taxes to Pazhassi's uncle, the King of Kurumbranadu. He, on the other hand, collected high taxes from the people and used all kinds of harsh methods to collect taxes. It was in this situation that the Pazhassi Raja prepared to rebel against the British.

First Pazhassi Revolt (1793 - 1797)

The Pazhassi Rebellion had two phases. The first phase of the rebellion was from 1793 to 1797. The Pazhassi king started the rebellion by preventing the collection of taxes for the British. Pazhassi's army, which consisted of Muslim-Nair farmers and tribal Kurichyas, put up a fierce resistance against the company's forces. He also requested the help of Mysore to drive the British out of Wayanad. After suffering repeated defeats, the British withdrew from Wayanad in 1797 and signed a peace treaty with the Pazhassi king. With this, the first phase of the rebellion ended.

Second Pazhassi Revolt (1800 - 1805)

The second phase of the Pazhassi rebellion began in 1800. The British attempt to occupy Wayanad was the cause of the second Pazhassi rebellion. The Pazhassi king, with the help of the Kurichyas and Kurumbars, who were the main faction of his army, strongly opposed this move of the British. The Pazhassi king, who was preparing for a final battle against the British, was defeated by the British army led by Colonel Wellesley. Finally, Thomas Harvey Baber, the Sub-Collector of Thalassery, attacked Pazhassi at Pulpalli with the help of the Kolkars (a local army). The Pazhassi king was killed in an encounter at Mavilathodu in Wayanad on 30 November 1805.

Thomas Harvey Baber, the Sub-Collector of Thalassery, was entrusted with the task of suppressing the Pazhassi rebellion. He carried the body of the Pazhassi Raja in his own palanquin and brought it to Mananthavady and buried it with all the rituals. In his report to the Chief Collector, Baber portrays Pazhassi Raja as a heroic hero. Baber also says in his letter that the people had a respect for Pazhassi Raja that could not be erased even by death.

Nair Army Mutiny (1804)

Dharmaraja and his minister Keshavadas, who were then in power, sought the help of the British to stop Tipu Sultan's Mysore attack on Travancore. They agreed to help. For this, an agreement was made between the Company and Travancore. Company agreed to protect Travancore from its enemies and in return, Travancore agreed to pay six lakhs per year to the British for military needs. Tipu attacked Travancore. The Travancore army also fought against Tipu's army. Travancore won the battle. The Company, which was obliged to help Travancore according to the agreement, did not help. However, the tribute was paid regularly. During the reign of Balarama Varma, the tribute was stopped due to lack of money in the treasury. Inorder to give the money, the benefits of the Nair army were reduced. The soldiers did not like the reduction in pay. They got together and discussed. The soldiers stationed in various parts of the country gathered together and revolted. The fact that the soldiers who were supposed to maintain peace in the country were preparing to revolt disturbed the then dalawa, Veluthampi. He received the help of Macaulay, who was the British Resident at that time. Thus, the army mutiny was suppressed.

Kundara Proclamation (1809)

Veluthampi Dalawa was a brave patriot who led a revolt in Travancore against British misrule. Veluthampi was born on 6 May 1765 in a house in Talakkulam near Nagercoil. He was a minister of Balarama Varma, who ruled Travancore from 1798 to 1810. Veluthampi, who opposed the British for their unnecessary interference in the administration and trade of Travancore, formed a secret alliance with the Prime Minister of Cochin, Paliathachan.

They made a secret pact with the aim of 'Expelling the British from Travancore and Cochin! 'This was in the early 19th century. Along with loyal soldiers like Chembil Arayan, Paliaththachan attacked the British Residency at Bolgatty in Cochin in 1808. However, Lord Macaulay, who was there, got information about the attack in advance through spies and escaped by ship. The English settled this feud by attacking Cochin. They captured Paliaththachan and exiled him.

Kundara Proclamation was declared by Veluthampi on 11 January 1809 as a call against foreign rule. Veluthampi Dalawa's ' Kundara Proclamation ' was a public call to take action against the British. ' The company army, which we are feeding under the pretext of protecting Travancore, is stealing the wealth of the country and committing injustice. If these foreigners who are plundering the country are not expelled as soon as possible, this country, blessed by Sri Padmanabhan, will perish. Royalists and patriots should take up arms against British atrocities' was the gist of the proclamation.

At Kollam, the company army defeated the army of Veluthampi Dalawa. Balarama Varma also turned against Thampi because he had angered the British. He issued an order to capture Thampi. Veluthampi escaped with his loyal followers. The British army, having learned about Thampi hiding in the Mannadi temple through spies, reached there. When the enemy army surrounded him, Veluthampi committed suicide on 28 March 1809.

Kurichya Rebellion (1812)

After suppressing the Pazhassi rebellion, the British turned against the Kurichyas and Kurumbars. The Kurichyas and Kurumbars were tribals of Wayanad. They had fought alongside the Pazhassi Raja against the British. The British decided to suppress the Kurichyas and Kurumbars. The British seized all the small lands they owned. They were also not allowed to practice their traditional method of agriculture in the forests. The British also angered the Kurichyas when they demanded that taxes be paid in cash. In March 1812, the Kurichyas revolted under the leadership of Ramanambi (Rama Moopan). They attacked and routed the British forces in Wayanad, but the revolt failed. By May 1812, the British suppressed the revolt. Plaka Chandu, Aiyarveetil Konthappan, Ramanambi and others were killed in the encounter and another prominent leader, Venkalon Kelu, was hanged. Although the Kurichya rebellion was a tribal rebellion, it was supported by different sections of the society who opposed colonial exploitation.

Channar Agitation (1813 - 1859)

The Channar agitation, one of the earliest social justice movements, took place in southern Travancore. It is often referred to as the Melmundu movement. Women belonging to the Channar community did not have the right to wear a melmundu. When Colonel Munro was the Diwan, an order was issued allowing Channar women who had converted to Christianity to wear melmundu. The Travancore government, which had granted this right only to converted Channar women, denied this right to Hindu Channar women, which led to further unrest. On 26 July 1859, Uthradam Thirunal Marthanda Varma issued an order allowing all Channar women to wear jackets and wear melmundu made of coarse cotton cloth. The order was issued by the King of Travancore on the instructions of Lord Harris, the Governor of Madras.

Achipudava Strike (1858)

At that time, only the upper castes had the right to dress well. Upper caste women wore a double-layered cloth called achipudava, which reached up to the ankles. When an Ezhava woman walked around in Panniyur near Kayamkulam wearing achipudava, the upper castes tore it off. Knowing this, the Velayudhapanicker dressed a few Ezhava women in achipudava and held a parade in Panniyur. Then, the Panicker went on strike in Arattupuzha and surrounding areas for the right to wear decent clothes for all women. Agricultural work, cattle herding, coconut climbing, etc., stayed away from all work. Seeing that things were not going well, the upper castes finally agreed to a compromise. The women of those areas also got the right to wear achipudava.

Mookuthi Strike (1860)

In 1860, a young woman from the Avarna caste came to the market in Pandalam, Pathanamthitta district, wearing a gold nose ring. At that time, women from the Avarna caste were not allowed to wear gold ornaments. The upper caste elders tore off the nose ring. Upon hearing this, the Arattupuzha Velayudapanikar, despite the opposition of the upper caste, came to the Pandalam market the next day with gold nose rings. He called the Avarna girls together and asked them to wear the nose rings. They wore the gold nose rings.

Pandarapattom Proclamation (1865)

There were two types of property in Travancore - janmiwaka and pandarapattam. In this, janmiwaka properties belonged to the janmis (large landowners) and pandarapattam properties belonged to the government. The vast majority of the land was pandarapattam. No one was allowed to divide or sell the pandarapattam land except by cultivating it and taking income from it. The government could evict them from the property whenever it pleased.  However, in 1865, during the reign of Ayilyam Thirunal Maharaja, the Diwan Sir. T. Madhava rao issued an order granting the land they cultivated to the tenants of the government.

Janmi Kudiyan Proclamation (1867)

The Janmi-Kudiyan Proclamation of 1867 gave stability to the right to occupy the Janmi property. Before this proclamation, the Janmi could evict the tenants from the property whenever they wanted. According to the Janmi-Kudiyan Proclamation, the tenants could enjoy the property if they paid the surplus to the Janmi properly. The Pandarapatta Proclamation removed the conditions of those who enjoyed government land. Similarly, the Janmi-Kudiyan Proclamation protected the rights of those who enjoyed the Janmi property. Both these proclamations were great blessings for the farmers. As a result, agriculture in our country prospered greatly.

Aruvippuram Movement (1888)

One day, Sree Narayana Guru visited Aruvippuram on the banks of Neyyattinkara with his disciples. The Guru thought of building a temple on the banks of the beautiful Neyyar. When the Guru shared his idea with his disciples, they were also happy. The first thing he did was to clear a forest on the southern bank of the Neyyar and build a small pavilion. He decorated the pavilion with coconut and mango trees. He imagined a rock as a pedestal and began preparations to perform the installation. The Guru entered the river in meditation and moved to the deep part of the river. He held a rock close to his chest and immersed himself in the river. The Guru, wearing a robe and carrying the rock, stood in meditation for a long time. Then he installed the rock. The news that the Ezhavan had performed the Shiva installation at Aruvippuram spread throughout the country. The upper castes came to Aruvippuram and questioned the Guru and his disciples. The Guru, who faced the questions of the upper castes with a smile, said, "We have not installed your Shiva. We have installed Ezhava Shiva." (There is also a strong argument that we installed our Shiva). Those who came in anger had no choice but to bow their heads and go back. This incident was also described as the Aruvippuram Revolution.

Malayali Memorial (1891)

The "Malayali Memorial " is a petition submitted by the locals to the Maharaja of Travancore, expressing their anger over the appointment of foreign Tamil Brahmins to high positions in Travancore. The initiative was taken by Barister G.P. Pillai, who was the originator of the idea of ​​" Travancore for Travancoreans", K.P. Sankara Menon and C.V. Raman Pillai. The petition submitted to the Maharaja was signed by more than 10,000 people in Travancore. The petition was against the denial of a significant job to the natives in the administration of the country and, in particular, their deliberate exclusion from high positions in the government service. The petitioners demanded that a system be introduced to provide more jobs to the locals than to those outside Travancore. The main demands were that locals be given priority in job appointments, regardless of caste or religion, and that there should be proportional representation in appointments.

Ethir Memorial (1891)

A memorial signed by people from various sections, including Tamil Brahmins, Hindu Malayalis, and Christian Malayalis, was submitted to the Raja of Travancore, Sri Moolam Thirunal, on June 3, 1891, with the intention of demolishing the Malayali Memorial. This is known as the Ethir Memorial.

Villuvandi Strike (1893)

The chariot, which was tied to two white bulls, galloped along the roads where the lower castes did not even have the right to walk, ringing its bell. As usual, there were not a savarna in the chariot. On the contrary, he was a great revolutionary who faced the savarnas. He wore a round cap on his head, a half-length banyan, a headdress, and a headdress that extended to his toes.... His attire was like that of an upper caste. He kept a dagger in his lap to confront those who turned the chariot around and asked him to change his headdress. The upper caste people who saw the chariot went to beat that great man. But when they saw him get out of the chariot with his dagger drawn, they turned back in fear. He took a tour of the city from Venganur to Kowdiar Palace in the chariot and challenged the landlords. He organized the youth and made the procession widespread. The journey, which went ahead in the face of opposition from the upper castes, continued until the King of Travancore issued an order allowing freedom of movement for the lower castes on public roads. The Villuvandi movement was a strong reaction against the injustice shown by the upper castes to the lower castes. Ayyankali is a social reformer who fought very hard for the untouchables. Backward classes were not allowed to travel in Villuvandi at that time. Ayyankali defied that ban and traveled from Venganur to Thiruvananthapuram in a Villuvandi. The ' Villuvandi Yatra ' he conducted in 1893 was a major blow to the upper caste system.

Ezhava Memorial (1896)

Despite constituting one-fifth of the total population of Travancore, the Ezhavas had no even nominal representation in government jobs. Many members of the Ezhava community, who had endured many hardships and obtained higher education, had to go abroad in search of jobs. Subsequently, a petition signed by 13,176 people called Ezhava Memorial was submitted. The petition pointed out that the reason for the social backwardness of the Ezhavas was their lack of representation in government service. But travancore government rejected the petition. When Viceroy Lord Curzon visited Travancore in 1900, ezhava memorial was once again submitted. However, he took the decision that Britain was not interested in interfering in the native affairs of the princely states.

Nair Ezhava rebellion (1904)

A strong struggle was led by T.K. Madhavan to admit children from the backward classes to the Haripad Government School in Travancore. This led to the Nair-Ezhava riot. Following this, the Nair-Ezhava riot spread to the southern parts of Travancore, mainly in Kollam and Paravur. But in the end, Madhavan himself was victorious. Admission was allowed on the instructions of the school's superior. Thus, the backward children were admitted there.

Ayyankali Agricultural Strike (1909)

The first organized farmer struggle in Travancore began in 1909 under the leadership of Ayyankali. Ayyankali approached the Travancore Diwan with a request to allow the backward classes to enter schools, but received a reply that the government had already issued such an order in 1907. Realizing that this order was being withheld, Ayyankali and his group approached the school authorities and demanded school admission. However, the school authorities' stance was that the children of the untouchable castes, who were agricultural labourers, could not be educated along with the children of the upper castes. In protest against this, Ayyankali declared that they would not go out to work in the fields unless their children were admitted to the schools. The struggle, carried out with the slogan ' If our children are not educated, we will cut down all the fields we see', aroused great enthusiasm among the backward classes. The agricultural labourers united behind Ayyankali. The landlords tried to suppress the struggle through repression. However, the strike intensified. The strikers remained firm in their stance that they would not withdraw from the strike until their demands were met. The landlords did not give in. Ayyankali contacted the fishermen of Vizhinjam to resolve the unemployment of agricultural workers. There was a partial solution to the unemployment. Following a petition submitted to the Diwan by the Sadhu Jana Paripalana Sangham demanding an end to the stagnation in the agricultural sector, the landlords agreed to take a favorable stance on freedom of movement, school admission, and higher wages for the workers as a result of discussions held with both sides under government mediation. Thus ended the year-long strike.

Nedumangad Market Revolt (1912)

Nedumangad was a major trading center in the hilly region of Thiruvananthapuram. The underprivileged were not allowed to enter the Nedumangad market. They were allowed to sell the produce they brought from their farms outside the market. The nobles paid only a low price for their products. A group of people led by Ayyankali questioned this social injustice, which resulted in a major riot. Ayyankali then won the rights of the underprivileged to sell their products in the Nedumangad market and nearby markets. This is known as the Nedumangad market riot. After this riot, the underprivileged did not face any obstacles in the Nedumangad market.

Kayal Sammelanam (1913)

No one gave the Pulayars a place to hold meetings on land. The Maharaja of Cochin also did not allow the untouchables to hold meetings on their own land. To solve this, with the support of Pandit Karuppan, they found a way out. They tied many logs together, tied boats together and spread planks on top to prepare a stage on the lake. The first Pulaya Maha Sammelan was held on April 21, 1913, at the junction of the Kochi Lake and the Arabian Sea. The revolutionary view that the sea in Kochi had no caste was behind this conference, which became known as the Kayal Sammelanam. The guidelines for the conference were given by K.P. Karuppan. Krishnaadi Asan presided over the conference. K.P. Vallon, who was thirteen at the time, also attended the conference as a spectator. The conference also decided to submit a petition to the Maharaja for permission for the downtrodden to enter the towns.

Kallumala Samaram (Perinad Uprising)(1915)

The time when caste could be identified through dress and attire. Pulaya women wore red glass beads around their necks. Reformers like Ayyankali called for abandoning these uncivilized practices. They called for meetings and campaigned against the stone necklace. Accordingly, women started giving up the stone necklace. The abandonment of the caste-based stone necklace angered some upper castes. They staged a counter-protest to allow Pulaya women to wear the stone necklace. The problem worsened when some upper caste leaders attacked a Pulaya grand gathering. This angered the Pulayas. Tensions between the upper castes and the Pulayas spread throughout the country. Leaders from both communities started trying to resolve the problem. As part of this, a joint meeting was called near the Kollam railway station. The women arrived by gathering all the abandoned stone garlands and wearing them. Viera Saip, who was the Chief Secretary to the government at that time, was also present at the conference venue. When the conference started, the Pulaya leaders spoke against the uncivilized practice of wearing stone garlands. They asked the women to tear off the stone garlands from their necks and throw them away. One by one, the Pulaya women came to the front of the venue and threw away the stone garlands. Within a short time, the stone garlands piled up like a four-foot-high hill near the presiding officer. Thus ended the stone garland protest.

Thonnuramandu Lahala (Ooruttambalam Revolt)(1915)

Ayyankali led the Thonnuramandu Lahala (Pulaya Lahala) or the Ooruttambalam movement. It was known as the Thonnuramandu Lahala because it took place in the year 1090 ( 1915). Ayyankali's attempt to enroll children in the Ooruttambalam school was blocked by the upper castes. The school was burned down that very night. This led to the uprising.

Thali Temple Agitation (1917)

In 1917, the Zamorin issued an order prohibiting the movement of Avarnas on the road around the Thali temple premises in Kozhikode. At that time, the road was under the jurisdiction of the municipality. Therefore, the chairman of the municipality, C.V. Narayana Iyer, rejected the Zamorin's order. Thoran, who became the Malabar Collector, installed a untouchability notice board on the Thali road on  1 November 1917 as per the Zamorin's wish. C. Krishnan openly violated the ban on the movement of Avarnas on the road around the temple premises. He challenged the ban by traveling on the road in a horse-drawn carriage along with Brahmin and famous lawyer Manjeri Rama Iyer. He was also supported by Mathrubhumi founders K.P. Kesava Menon and K. Madhavan Nair. The Thali temple agitation was the first protest against untouchability in Kerala.

Malabar District Congress (1916-1920)

The emergence of the Indian National Congress attracted the attention of the people of Malabar. Although there was no organized political activity at that time, delegates from Malabar participated in the early annual sessions of the Congress. Although a District Congress Committee was formed in Malabar in 1908, it was only during the First World War that people took notice of it. The Congress started organizing annual political sessions in Malabar from 1916 to raise the problems and grievances of the people of Malabar. The first session of the Malabar District Congress was held in Palakkad in 1916 under the leadership of Annie Besant. The second session was held in Kozhikode in 1917 under the presidency of C.P. Ramaswamy Iyer. The third session was held in Thalassery in 1918 under the presidency of Asim Ali Khan. The fourth session was held in Vadakara in 1919 under the presidency of K.P. Raman Menon. The fifth was held in 1920 at Manjeri, also under the chairmanship of Kasthuriranga Ayyankar. The five district conferences held from 1916 to 1920 made Congress politics in Malabar lively. At that time, K.P. Kesava Menon, Muhammad Abdurahman Sahib, K. Madhavan Nair, E. Moithu Maulavi, M.P. Narayana Menon and others led the Malabar District Congress activities.

Poura Samathwa Vada Prakshobham (1919)

The Poura Samathwa Prakshobham was a movement that started in Travancore with the aim of achieving equality for all people. Although the movement was initiated by the backward people of the Hindu community, it had the support of the Christian and Muslim communities. The movement was led by leaders like A.J. John, T.K. Madhavan and N.V. Joseph. Muslims and Christians were not appointed in the Land Revenue Department in the Travancore kingdom. The reason given for this was that the administration of the temples, which were denied entry to backward Hindus etc. Then a petition was submitted to the government. As a result of a memorandum submitted by the Civil Rights League, the Devaswom was separated from the Revenue Department in April 1922. The Land Revenue Department was divided and two departments, Revenue and Devaswom, came into existence. It was declared that the castes and non-Hindus were eligible for appointment in the new Revenue Department.

Mappila Riots

During the Mysore period, the system of collecting taxes directly from the farmers in Malabar was in place through officials. However, with the arrival of the British, the practice of farmers paying taxes directly to the government treasury was discontinued and instead, landlords were appointed to collect taxes from the farmers. The new landowning class and the middlemen, the landlords, adopted an anti-tenant approach. The main indigenous Mappilas of Malabar were tenants. At the same time, the local Hindu kings were appointed as landlords and tax collectors. The dissatisfied Mappilas organized themselves against this injustice under local leaders like Attan Kurikkal and Unni Musa and organized protests against the British government. Between 1836 and 1919, about 32 Mappila riots were reported in Eranad, Valluvanad and Ponnani taluks. The increasing tax burden and the threat of unexpected displacement led to rebellions. The major Mappila rebellions were the Angadipuram rebellion ( 1849), the Manjeri rebellion ( 1849), the rebellions against the Valluvanad king's steward Komumenon in 1851, the Mattannur rebellion against Kalathil Kesavan Thangal in 1852, the Kulathur rebellion ( 1879), and the Mankada rebellion ( 1919).

Mappila Uprising Commissions

T.L.Strange Commission

The British government appointed the T.L. Strange Commission in 1852 to investigate the Mappila riots that had spread in the Malabar region. The commission was headed by T.L. Strange, a judge of the Sadar Adalat. The commission of inquiry asked the government to enact specific legislation on the following issues:

■ Turn over to the government the properties of rebels who die without heirs.

■ Impose fines on rioters in the riot-affected district.

■ Deport suspects.

■ Restrict the possession of weapons, everyday items, construction materials, and the construction of mosques.

■ Form a special police force to deal with riots

■ Post-riot measures served to increase agrarian discontent in the region.

Logan Commission

The Logan Commission was another commission appointed by the British government to investigate the ongoing Mappila riots. The commission was headed by William Logan, the Collector of Malabar. Logan pointed out that the root cause of the Mappila riots in Malabar was agrarian problems related to feudalism.

Malabar Special Police

The Malabar Special Police (MSP) is one of the armed forces of the Kerala Police. It is the second oldest paramilitary force in India. In 1884, the British Army formed a special force called the Malappuram Special Police, including Malabars. On 30 September 1921, the Malappuram Special Police was renamed the Malabar Special Police. The idea of ​​forming a special police force including Malabars to suppress the Mappila Rebellion was the idea of ​​the South Malabar Police Chief Richard Hitchcock. The MSP was the first police force in India to participate in a military operation alongside the army. The MSP played a major role in the success of the Hyderabad Operation in 1948. In 1956, the Malabar Special Police was divided into two parts, one for Madras State and the other for Kerala. After the Indo-China War in 1962, the forces were also deployed in Nagaland. Today, the Malabar Special Police (MSP) is a paramilitary force of the Kerala State Police. The MSP is headquartered in Malappuram. 

Malabar Rebellion (1921)

The first organized and visible attack during the Malabar Rebellion was at Pookottoor. This attack, which took place in August 1921, was attended by 3000 rioters. The encounter began when the police came to arrest Muhammad, the secretary of the Khilafat Committee of Pookottoor, on a charge of theft. The riot spread rapidly within a short time. District Magistrate Thomas sought the help of the army to suppress the riot. Arrangements were also made to bring the warship Comus to the port of Kozhikode. It was calculated that the appearance of the warship would break the morale of the rioters. However, hundreds of people were killed in the Pookottoor encounter.

Wagon Tragedy (1921)

A tragedy that shook the history of Kerala's freedom struggle! Our country has never seen anything like it before or since. The ' Wagon Tragedy ' is one of the tragic chapters in the history of the Indian freedom struggle itself. The tragic incident, planned by the British to suppress the protests of the locals against British rule, took place on November 10, 1921. About a hundred prisoners of Ballari Jail were sent into a freight wagon and taken from Tirur to Coimbatore. When they reached Pothannur and opened the wagon, almost a quarter of them had suffocated to death. The news of the tragedy later became a topic of discussion all over the world. A four-member inquiry commission, chaired by the then Malabar Special Commissioner A.N. Knapp, was appointed to investigate the wagon tragedy.

Vaikom Satyagraha (1924)

The Vaikom Satyagraha was a movement that began with the aim of allowing freedom of movement for the Avarnas along the 100- meter roads around the Vaikom Mahadeva Temple. The movement, which began on March 30, 1924, by three young men from the Pulaya-Ezhava-Nair community, Kunjappi, Govindapanikkar, and Bahuleyan, lasted for 603 days. Every day, the aim was for three people from the Avarnas and Savarnas communities to cross the boundary of the board that said that Avarnas are not allowed to enter the temple. However, the police stopped them and asked them about their caste, and after arresting all three, they were imprisoned. This procedure was repeated every day. T.K. Madhavan, K. Kelappan, C.V. Kunhiraman, K.P. Kesava Menon and others led the satyagraha. Subsequently, it became the first organized movement against untouchability in India. Gandhiji came on his second visit to Kerala with the aim of finding a solution to the Vaikom Satyagraha movement. Subsequently, Gandhiji's interventions played a crucial role in ending the Satyagraha. After a long 603- day Satyagraha, the Satyagraha was ended on 23 November 1925 on the condition that the prohibitory orders issued by the government would be withdrawn. From that day onwards, the streets of the Vaikom temple, except the eastern gate, were opened to all irrespective of caste and religion. Following the Vaikom Satyagraha, a proclamation was issued in 1928 to open all the temple streets of Travancore to everyone.

Savarna Jatha (1924)

The Vaikom Satyagraha was a satyagraha against the ban on the 100- meter roads around the Vaikom Mahadev Temple. The Savarna Jatha was one of the most notable activities related to the Vaikom Satyagraha. The Savarna Jatha was organized on the instructions of Gandhiji to find a solution to the Vaikom Satyagraha. On November 1, 1924, a procession of the upper castes, in support of the Vaikom Satyagraha, left Nagercoil and Vaikom simultaneously and reached Thiruvananthapuram. Then, under the leadership of Mannath Padmanabhan, the Vaikom Memorial was dedicated to Maharani Sethu Lakshmibai. The procession from Vaikom reached Thiruvananthapuram on November 12, 1924. The Savarna procession from Kottar in Nagercoil to Thiruvananthapuram was led by Dr. M.E. Naidu, and the Savarna procession from Vaikom to Thiruvananthapuram was led by Mannath Padmanabhan.

Gandhiji's visit to Kerala

Gandhiji, who visited Kerala five times during the freedom struggle - in 1920, 1925, 1927, 1934, and 1937 - traveled across the state and met with people from community leaders to workers.

Gandhiji first arrived in Kerala on August 18, 1920. He came to Kozhikode with Khilafat leader Shaukath ali to campaign for the Khilafat movement. Seeking support for the Khilafat movement, he gave a speech on the Kozhikode beach that evening. About a quarter of a lakh people gathered to hear Mahathmaji's speech.

Gandhiji's second visit to Kerala was on March 8, 1925. The aim was to find a solution to the Vaikom Satyagraha. During his second visit to Kerala, he visited Sivagiri and visited Sree Narayana Guru and the Kowdiyar Palace and met Rani Sethu Lakshmi Bai.

As part of his South Indian tour, Gandhiji reached Kerala for the third time on October 9, 1927. The Harijan Sammelan held under the chairmanship of Gandhiji in Kozhikode made C. Krishnan the president and Kelappan the secretary. The Kerala Antya Janodharana Sangham was formed. Later, this group worked under the name Adi Keralaodharana Sangham. He visited the Vivekodayam Vidyalaya in Thrissur and participated in the Khadi campaign.

Gandhiji's fourth visit to Kerala to collect Harijan funds was on January 10, 1934. During his fourth visit to Kerala, a teacher named Kaumudi gave her gold ornaments for the upliftment of the Harijans at the Basel Mission School grounds in Vadakara. Gandhiji honored this donation by giving an autograph saying, "Your sacrifice is your greatest ornament. "

Gandhiji's fifth and last visit to Kerala on 12 January 1937 in the context of the temple entry proclamation. The visit was described as ' a pilgrimage'. During his fifth visit to Kerala, he met Ayyankali at Venganur. Gandhiji described Ayyankali as ' Pulayaraja '.

Aluva Sarvamatha Sammelanam (1924)

The first all-religious conference in India was held in Kerala. This conference was organized by Sree Narayana Guru, known as the ' Eternal Man of Kerala ', at the Advaita Ashram in Aluva. The Guru's aim was to exhort the people that the essence of all religions is the same. This conference, which can be said to be the first in Asia, was convened by Sree Narayana Guru on the day of Shivaratri in 1924. T. Sadasiva Iyer, a judge of the Madras High Court, presided over the conference. The main message of the first all-religious conference held at the Advaita Ashram in Aluva was not to argue and win, but to know and inform.

Kalpathi Strike (1924 - 1925)

The chariot festival held every year in the month of Thulam at the Kalpathi Shiva temple in Palakkad district attracted people. However, avarnas were not only allowed to enter the temple, but also in the streets surrounding the temple to walk there. Under the leadership of the Arya Samaj, the youth from the lower castes, breaking the rules and entering the street outside the temple to watch the chariot festival, led to a conflict. Since there was no obstacle for those who converted to Islam, Buddhists or Christians and walked on the street, many people thought of taking that route. The fact that many people changed their religion and changed their name and walked on the Kalpathi.

Suchindram Satyagraha (1926)

The Suchindram Satyagraha was a satyagraha for freedom of movement in South Travancore, inspired by the Vaikom Satyagraha. It was led by Dr. M.E. Naidu, a Gandhian leader in the Congress. In 1926, the Suchindram Satyagraha Committee was formed at a meeting held at M.E. Naidu's residence. M.Subramanya Pillai was the president of the committee and M.E. Naidu was the secretary. The satyagraha was started with the aim of allowing the avarnas to move freely and enter the temple through the roads around the Suchindram temple in South Travancore. However, the Suchindram Satyagraha was suppressed by the upper castes and was not successful. Later, Gandhi Raman Pillai, who had participated in the first satyagraha, took over the position of captain of the satyagraha. He was arrested when he tried to walk with other Satyagrahis on a public road in Suchindram. Later, after a favorable verdict was given in a petition filed in the High Court, the public roads there were opened for them.

Civil Disobedience Movement in Kerala

In 1930, the Civil Disobedience Movement was started in the country on the instructions of Gandhiji. When the Civil Disobedience Movement spread throughout the country, the British government declared the Congress an illegal organization. As part of the national movement, the Civil Disobedience Movement was also held in Kerala. Hundreds of people in Malabar participated in the Civil Disobedience Movement. They violated the ban on meetings and processions. They boycotted foreign goods, picketed liquor shops, distributed khadi, and defied the salt laws. The Civil Disobedience Movement was formally withdrawn by Gandhiji in May 1934 and was withdrawn in Kerala as well.

Salt Satyagraha in Kerala (1930)

The Salt Satyagraha, which was started by Mahatma Gandhi on 12th March 1930 as part of the national movement, had its strong repercussions in Kerala as well. The Salt Satyagraha procession led by K. Kelappan returned from Kozhikode on 13th April and reached Payyannur on 21st April. On 23rd April, salt was produced in violation of the salt law. A similar procession led by T.R. Krishnaswamy Iyer from Palakkad reached Payyannur to perform the Satyagraha. One of the other processions that reached Payyannur and violated the salt law was led by Muhammad Abdul Rahman and E. Moithu Maulavi. K. Madhavan Nair, T.V. Sundaraiyar, P. Achuthan, Kondattil Raman Menon, K.A. Keralayan, P. Krishna Pillai, K. Kunjappanambiar, P. Kesavan Nambiar, P.C. Kunhiraman Nambiar, Moyyarat Sankaran, Moidu Moulavi and others were all at the forefront of the struggle.

Yachana Yathra (1931)

One of the most notable activities for social reform during the Renaissance was the Yachana Yathra led by V.T. Bhattathiripad in 1931. The aim of this seven-day walking campaign from Thrissur to Chandragiripuzha in Kasaragod was to raise funds for the education of poor students and create conditions for them to study. The march began on March 13, 1931. This march, which was carried out to provide assistance to boys and girls who were unable to study due to poverty, inspired many later revival marches in Kerala.

Guruvayur Satyagraha (1931-1932)

In the history of Kerala's renaissance, there have been major struggles against the great stigma of untouchability. The Vaikom Satyagraha was a legendary struggle against untouchability. Beyond that, the Guruvayur Satyagraha was another struggle that took place during 1931-32. The Guruvayur Satyagraha aimed to allow Hindus of all castes to enter the Guruvayur temple, one of the most important places of worship for Hindus. It was decided to hold a struggle against Theendal and other untouchability at the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee held in Kozhikode. Subsequently, it was decided to hold a struggle in Guruvayur and K. Kelappan was chosen as the leader.

K. Kelappan, Mannath Padmanabhan, A.K.G., P. Krishna Pillai, Subramanian Thirumumbu and others led the protest committee. After the protest was declared, the protestors traveled to many places. There was great hope that the oppression and injustices that had been imposed on the people for ages would at least come to an end. A.K.G. and Subramanian Thirumumbu held huge marches in the northern regions. It was in a march held in Payyannur that A.K.G., the leader of the poor, had to suffer the first brutal physical torture in his political life. From such marches held across the country, people began to understand the great mistake of Theendal. Thus, a committee was formed for the Guruvayur Satyagraha. A.K.G. was the captain of the Satyagraha volunteers. Then a camp was built near the Guruvayur temple for the Satyagraha. At the same time, some people on the other side were strongly opposing it. Because the most important question was whether everyone could enter the Guruvayur temple. In this way, the temple authorities also made huge preparations to prevent this. They built a fence with barbed wire around the temple. They threatened to beat and kill everyone who participated in the protest. In this way, the Guruvayur Satyagraha became a topic of discussion in most places. Subsequently, in a discussion held on October 18, it was decided to start the Satyagraha on November 1.

A group of volunteers led by Subramanian Thirumumba started their journey from Kannur to Guruvayur on October 21. A.K.G. was the captain of this group. Then the satyagraha began on November 1. People from many places declared their solidarity with the satyagraha. Then this incident became an all-India issue, and places where freedom of movement was not possible until then were opened to the Harijans. But there were no changes from the Zamorin, who was the trustee of the Guruvayur temple. Then most of the participants in the satyagraha were arrested. The strike became more intense. P. Krishna Pillai rang the bell in front of the shrine, breaking the rule that non-Brahmins except Brahmins should not touch it. Then P. Krishna Pillai was also subjected to severe beatings. But the enraged satyagrahis beat up the temple staff. Then the staff locked the temple and sought refuge inside. As part of the problems, the temple was closed until January 28. When it opened on January 29, the satyagraha resumed. Determined to achieve a goal in such a long-running satyagraha, K. Kelappan decided to start a hunger strike until his death. The hunger strike began on September 21, 1932. K. Kelappan's fast became a topic of discussion throughout the country. Then, on the tenth day of the fast, Gandhiji's request to stop the fast was accepted and the fast was ended. In a poll conducted to gauge public opinion on temple entry, 80 percent of the people were in favor of temple entry. This is considered the success of the Guruvayur Satyagraha.

Nivarthana Agitation (1932)

The Nivarthana Agitation was a movement organized by the Ezhava, Christian and Muslim communities to get fair representation in the Legislative Assembly and government appointments in Travancore. The inventor of this expression was the famous scholar I.C. Chacko. The agitation started against the administrative reforms implemented in Travancore, demanding that the Ezhavas, Christians and Muslims should get seats in the Legislative Assembly and offices in proportion to their population. For this purpose, an organization called the All Travancore Joint Political Conference (Samyuktha Rashtriya Samiti) was formed on 17 December 1932. N.V. Joseph, T.M. Varghese, C. Kesavan and P.K. Kunju led the agitation in the forefront.

After the agitation that had stirred up the politics of Travancore, the government accepted the demands of the agitators. Subsequently, the government appointed Dr. E. D. Knox, a judge of the Travancore High Court, as a special officer in 1934 to examine the issue of recruitment in detail. The special officer was tasked with studying the possibilities of forming a Public Service Commission for recruitment and submitting a report. Knox was also tasked with classifying the people in a convenient manner for arranging community representation. According to Knox's report submitted on 14 March 1935, the government decided to provide the benefit of communal representation to all communities having a numerical strength of at least two percent of the total population. The government appointed the Public Service Commission to ensure fair representation of the backward communities in government services. The right to vote was expanded by making concessions in the matter of land ownership. A specific share of jobs was reserved for Ezhavas, Christians, and Muslims.

Pattini Jatha (1936)

In July 1936, a group of 32 volunteers led by A.K. Gopalan led a ' Pattinijatha ' to Madras. The march was led to bring the problems of agricultural labourers, unemployment and hunger in Malabar to the attention of the people and to persuade the Madras government to find a solution. The march, which was led by A.K. Gopalan and was attended by 32 people, reached Madras on foot from Kannur. The marchers received an enthusiastic welcome throughout the 750 miles.

Karshaka Sangham (1935)

The Karshaka Sangham was an organization formed in 1935 in present-day Kannur district to find solutions to problems such as agricultural labor problems, unemployment, and hunger as part of the freedom struggle. Vishnu Bharathiyan was the president and K.M.Keraleeyan was the secretary. The organization was formed to mobilize farmers against the atrocities of landlords and against the British Empire. 

The Abhinav Bharat Yuvak Sangh, formed as a result of the efforts of A.V. Kunjambu, played a major role in the formation of the Karshaka Sangh in Karivellur. Many Karshaka Sanghs were formed in Kerala to help the farmers who were being exploited by the landlords and the local authorities. Karshaka Sangh activists participated in the hunger march and the Amaravathy agitation led by AKG. For organizational activities among the farmers, an organization called Akhila Malabar Karshaka Sangh was formed in 1937 with P. Narayanan Nair as the president and K.A. Keraleeyan as the secretary. The Kolacherry Karshaka Sangh is another important Karshaka Sangh formed in Kerala.

Kozhencherry Speech (1935)

As part of the Nivarthana agitation, C. Kesavan arrived at the civil equality meeting organized by the Christian Mahasabha in Kozhenchery on May 13, 1935, as a friendly representative. He attacked Sir C.P. Ramaswamy Iyer, who was the legal advisor to the Maharaja of Travancore at that time, in a speech. The speech went like this: "I am referring to Sir C.P. This man will not do any good to the Ezhavas, Christians or Muslims. We do not want that animal. Travancore started getting a bad name only after this gentleman came. Until this man leaves, nothing good will happen to this country..." The Kozhenchery speech created a stir. The government found it to be seditious and conducive to fostering rivalry between communities. C. Kesavan was arrested on June 7, 1935. T.M. Varghese appeared in court on his behalf. The Kollam Sessions Court sentenced him to two years of rigorous imprisonment. Upon his release from prison on August 25, 1937, he became a popular leader who captured the hearts of Travancore.

Temple Entry Proclamation (1936)

The Temple Entry Proclamation is a proclamation issued by Maharaja Sree Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma, allowing entry to the temple for Hindus of Travancore, regardless of caste or religion. This proclamation was issued by Sree Chithira Thirunal on his 25th birthday, i.e. on 12 November 1936. The reason for issuing the Temple Entry Proclamation was the instigation of Sir C.P. Ramaswamy Iyer in the Maharaja. This proclamation became a very important milestone that paved the way for socio-cultural progress in Travancore and later in the entire Kerala. It has also been described as the ' Magna Carta ' of Kerala and modern Travancore. 

Electricity Protest (1936)

The Electricity Protest (1936) was a popular protest against the Cochin government's decision to hand over the electricity supply to a private company (the Madras-based Chandrika Company). The public strongly protested against the move to hand over the monopoly of electricity supply to this company, which was run by a dependent and foreigner of Diwan. Ikkanda Warrier, Dr.A.R.Iyyunni, C.R.Iyunni, C.Kuttan Nair came to the forefront. Later, the Thrissur Corporation took over the electricity supply.

Kallara Pangode Strike (1938)

An agitation against the unjust tax collection carried out by revenue officials, policemen and landlords' goons at the Kallara market in Thiruvananthapuram district and against the rule of C.P. Ramaswamy Iyer. The police attacked farmers who did not pay the extra tax. The violent farmers attacked the Pangode police station. Many people were killed in the attack by the police and goons. Pattalam Krishnan and Kochappipillai, who led the Kallara-Pangode protest, were hanged in 1940.

Responsible Government Movement (1938)

The popular demand arose to bring timely changes in the princely states in line with the administrative reforms implemented in the provinces of British India under the Government of India Act of 1935. As a result, the Responsible Government Movement was an event that stirred up the politics of Travancore, and it was organized under the auspices of the Travancore State Congress. The movement began in August 1938. In May 1938, the State Congress registered and sent a memorial to the Maharaja. The content of the memorial was a description of the need to allow Responsible Government and the administrative shortcomings of Dewan C.P. Ramaswami Iyer. The civil disobedience movement was started under the leadership of a committee formed with the name of Dictator (Sarvadhithi) instead of the post of President of the State Congress. There was a provision to nominate in advance the person who would take over the post if a dictator was arrested. Pattom Thanu Pillai was the first dictator. When Pattom was arrested, N.K. Padmanabha Pillai (brother of the patriotic K. Ramakrishna Pillai) became the second dictator. When he was arrested on August 31, people protested against his arrest in his native Neyyattinkara. The people set fire to several vehicles, including the police commissioner's car and a transport bus, and a man named Raghavan died in police firing. As the leaders were being arrested, R. Vasudeva Pillai, A.J. John, Mrs. Kuruvila, P.K. Kumaran, N.V. Chacko, Pandalam K.P. Raman Pillai, Kadakkavoor N. Kunhiraman, M.P. Philippos, K. Ramakrishna Pillai and Akkamma Cherian held the position of dictator one after the other. Other parts of Kerala also actively participated in the responsible governance movement in Travancore. Expressing sympathy for the agitation, as per the decision of the KPCC, a procession consisting of 28 people led by A.K. Gopalan left Kozhikode on September 10. A huge public meeting was held on the Kozhikode waterfront on September 9 to send off this procession. Kozhikode Madhava Menon, V.R. Nayanar, K.A. Damodara Menon. KPCC President Abdul Rahman and U. Gopala Menon participated. The procession reached Ernakulam on September 16. The procession was stopped in Aluva and the leaders were arrested (September 19) and sent to Alappuzha jail. The procession, which left from Madurai under the leadership of Sivarajapandian, entered Travancore via the Red Fort (October 6). The procession was arrested by the police there. Sivaraja Pandian died in the lock-up after being beaten by the police. (October 8). Ganapathi Kammat led the southern Karnataka procession. K.K. Warrier led the Cochin procession. On October 23, 1938, during the King's birthday celebrations, the historic Rajdhani March was held under the leadership of Akkamma Cherian, the twelfth dictator of the Responsible Governance Movement. In December, the State Congress temporarily suspended the strike. Although the strike was resumed later, the strike came to a standstill with the outbreak of World War II in 1939 and the imprisonment of leaders including the State Congress during the Quit India Movement in 1942.

Travancore State Congress

Political struggles had begun in Travancore, which was under the monarchy, from the very beginning of British rule. Popular movements for the establishment of responsible governance in Travancore began to gain strength around 1927. Travancore witnessed a brilliant political movement in 1932. This was known as the Nivarthana Prakashobham. In 1938, a new organization called the Travancore State Congress was formed. Pattom A. Thanupillai was the first president of the organization. The organization's objective was to achieve responsible governance in Travancore. For this purpose, the party started a civil disobedience movement. A huge demonstration was also held in Thiruvananthapuram under the leadership of Akkamma Cherian.

Rajdhani March (1938)

Akkamma Cherian was a young woman who led a procession as part of the Responsible Movement in Travancore on October 23, 1938. In Gandhiji's language, she was the "Jhansi Rani of Travancore". It was the Maharaja's birthday. Akkamma led a procession of about twenty thousand volunteers who marched towards the capital demanding the release of imprisoned leaders and the granting of responsible rule. When the procession reached the fort gate, a cavalry unit led by a British army chief named Colonel Watson came to stop it. The horses rushed forward, trampling the marchers who were standing there. Brutal beatings took place. When the army chiefs shouted that they would shoot if they did not disperse, Akkamma repeated: "I am leading the procession. First shoot me in the chest". The army chief did not have the courage to pull the trigger. The Maharaja had to sign the release of political prisoners. The Rajdhani March led by Akkamma Cherian, who is known as the ' Joan of Arc ' of Kerala, was successful. She wrote about this incident in her autobiography  : "I knew the seriousness of the task assigned. I also knew the consequences. But still I took it on."

Vattiyoorkavu Conference (1938)

The Vattiyoorkavu conference was organized by the State Congress on 22 December 1938, overcoming the challenges of the then Travancore Diwan C.P. Ramaswamy Iyer. Following the responsible governance agitation, C.P. Ramaswamy Iyer declared the State Congress and the youth organization Youth League illegal. Following this, the State Congress decided to form a state-wide protest in Thiruvananthapuram. Following the conference, the State Congress President Pattom Thanupillai was arrested. Following this, it was decided to hold the state annual conference in Vattiyoorkavu, Thiruvananthapuram in the fourth week of December under the chairmanship of A. Narayana Pillai. After learning about the conference, the District Magistrate declared a prohibitory order for two months from 13 December. The Vattiyoorkavu area was surrounded by police and army. However, on December 22, 1938, A. Narayana Pillai attended another meeting in Thampanoor to distract the police. Meanwhile, tens of thousands of people who had come from different directions pushed aside the police and the army and reached the Vattiyoorkkavu conference. A. Kunjannadar presided over the conference and read out A. Narayana Pillai's speech. Then, the first annual conference was held by passing a resolution. Since the conference was held in Vattiyoorkkavu in violation of the government's prohibitory order, the state police immediately arrested the organizers of the conference on charges of conducting illegal activities. The Vattiyoorkkavu conference was also a milestone in the struggles of the freedom struggle in Travancore.

Kochi Rajya Prajamandalam

A new political organization named Kochi Rajya Prajamandalam was formed on 26 January 1941 with V.R. Krishnanezhuthachan as the president. The organization was formed for responsible governance with adult voting rights in Kochi. Most of its members were Indian National Congress members who had left the Cochin Congress due to the acceptance of the dual system. The Kochi Rajya Prajamandalam was founded by S. Neelakantha Iyer and V.R. Krishnanezhuthachan. The main leaders were Ikanda Warrier, Panampally Govinda Menon, K. Ayyappan, etc. In January 1942, it was decided that the first session of the Kochi Rajya Prajamandalam would be held in Irinjalakuda. However, A.F.W. Dickson, who was the then Diwan of Cochi, banned this session. However, the leaders of the organization went ahead with the decision to hold the session. The leaders of the organization, including S. Neelakantha Iyer, were imprisoned. However, the conference was held despite the prohibitory order. During the Quit India Movement, the Kochi Rajya Prajamandalam activists organized numerous conferences and activities. The Prajamandalam observed July 29, 1946, as Responsible Governance Day. As a result of the activities of the Kochi Rajya Prajamandalam for responsible governance, a government was formed in Kochi on August 14, 1947. Subsequently, Panampally Govinda Menon became the first Prime Minister of Kochi. One of the most notable ideas promoted by the Prajamandalam activists was that the farmer should get agricultural land. As a result, the enactment and implementation of the Land Reforms Act could not be postponed.

Kadakkal Agitation (1938)

The Kadakkal agitation was a courageous struggle by farmers against the British colonial rule and the unfair collection of taxes at the Kadakkal market in 1938 as part of the Indian freedom struggle. On September 21, 1938, the police lathi-charge and firing at a meeting organized by the Travancore State Congress infuriated the patriotic residents of Kadakkal. The farmers, who were frustrated by the unfair collection of taxes at the Kadakkal market, held a meeting at the next day. On September 26, 1938, they held a parallel market without paying taxes. The contractor's goons and the police confronted the locals but were defeated. The peasant youth gathered against the misrule of the Naduvazhi and its protectors, the British colonial rule. Raghavan Pillai, known as ' Kadakkal Franco ', led the agitation. The popular resistance ended with the demolition of the police station on September 29, 1938. The people subsequently declared Kadakkal an independent state. A few days later, the police, on the orders of Sir C.P., unleashed a brutal crackdown to reclaim the people's state.

Morazha Strike (1940)

On the call of the Left-led KPCC, a ' Anti-Coercion Day ' was observed in Malabar against the government's repressive policies. The Communist Party also participated in the protest. Two people died in firing in Thalassery. Police and a mob clashed in Morazha. SI Kuttikrishna Menon was killed. KPR Gopalan was sentenced to death in this case, which came to be known as the Morazha incident. Due to the intervention of national leaders including Gandhiji, the death sentence was commuted to life imprisonment in 1946.

Kayyur Strike (1941)

This was a protest against feudalism by farmers led by the Communist Party in Kayyur in Kasaragod district. On March 28, 1941, farmers who were protesting in Kayyur, protesting against the arrest and torture of the farmers' association members by the police, clashed with a policeman named Subbarayan. Subbarayan jumped into the river and drowned. Subsequently, a reign of terror by the police began in Kayyur village. Following the Kayyur protest, 61 people were arrested. Four of those charged by the police were sentenced to death. On March 29, 1943, activists Mathathil Appu, Koithattil Chirukandan, Pallikkal Abdubacker and Pedora Kunjampunayar were hanged in Kannur jail.

Keezhariyur Bomb Case (1942)

The Keezhariyur bomb case is a famous bomb case that took place in Malabar in connection with the Quit India Movement in 1942. In connection with the Quit India Movement, protest took place throughout Malabar and schools, colleges and courts of justice were picketed. As the government adopted a policy of repression, the movement became involved in underground activities. Some of the young Congress workers joined the movement as a socialist wing under the leadership of Dr. K.B. Menon. They decided to carry out a bomb blast in Keezhariyur. In a secret meeting held by Dr. K.B. Menon and his colleagues, November 9 was declared as the day of destruction. However, since the bomb was not completed on November 9, it was postponed to November 17. The plan was to shock the British by detonating bombs on government buildings, railway tracks and bridges without any casualties. The explosions took place on November 17, 1942. Although the plan to detonate bombs everywhere failed, bombs exploded simultaneously in various places. After the incident, the British police registered the Keezhariyur bomb case, making twenty-seven people, including Dr. K.B. Menon and Kunhirama Kida, as accused. Dr. K.B. Menon and twelve others were sentenced to long terms of imprisonment and sent to jail. During the Quit India movement, the newspaper ' Swatantra Bharatam ' secretly printed and published this incident. This was to inform the people about the true nature of the events.

The letter written by Subash Chandra Bose to K.B. Menon to inquire about the Keezhariyur bomb case, which was discussed at the all-India level, is famous. The book ' Irumpazhikkullil ' written by V.A. Kesavan Nair is the authoritative book on the Keezhariyur bomb case.

Quit India Movement in Kerala (1942)

In October 1940, the echo of Gandhiji's personal satyagraha against the British rule reached Kerala. In 1942, many Congress workers participated in the Quit India movement in Kerala and were arrested. 

Koothali Strike

The Koothali agitation was a protest by farmers in the 1940s and 50s against the Malabar Collector taking the agricultural land of the farmers in the Koothali Estate on lease. The area of ​​the estate was 30,000 acres. Of this, 20,000 acres of land was suitable for Punam cultivation. The acquisition of agricultural land put the farming families, who made Punam cultivation their main source of livelihood, in dire straits. Following this, the farmers' group in Koothali came to the aid of the farmers who were left without income and food and did not know what to do. The farmers' group entered the estate and started farming. Preparations were started to dig up the Koothali hillside and cultivate it. Following this, the government deployed a large police force and repelled the farmers' group. In 1946, farmers started a strike in Perambra Balussery in Kurumbranad taluk, raising the slogan of giving wasteland for cultivation. As the strike intensified, a truce was signed to return the leased land of the farmers. In 1947, the government agreed to release 1500 acres of land for Poonam cultivation. But the strike continued again. The farmers of Koothali got full rights to their leased land during the EMS ministry in 1967. The strikes mostly took place in areas like Chakkitta Para, Koorachund and Chengaroth taluk.

MSP Strike (1946)

The Malabar Special Police is the second oldest paramilitary force in India. In 1884, the British Army formed a special force called the Malappuram Special Police. When the Malabar Rebellion broke out in 1921, the Malappuram Special Police was renamed the Malabar Special Police to suppress it. In 1932, the MSP was reorganized into four companies. During World War II, it was increased to 16 companies. In 1946, the officers of the Malabar Police went on strike, demanding an increase in the salaries and other benefits of the Malabar Police. The strike was suppressed by the Madras Government on 24 April 1946. The strike lasted from 16 April to 24 April 1946. After this strike, the British Government disbanded about 645 policemen. After the strike, the MSP was reduced to 12 companies. The policemen who lost their jobs and livelihood were denied pensions and benefits. After independence, the MSP movement was recognized as a freedom struggle. 

Punnapra Vayalar Strike (1946)

The independent Travancore movement and the subsequent announcement of the American model of governance by Dewan C.P. Ramaswamy Iyer culminated in the Punnapra-Vayalar strike. In 1946, the Communist Party, the Congress Left and the Socialist Party strongly opposed the independent Travancore movement. On September 24, 1946, workers went on strike in many parts of Alappuzha district. With this, on October 1, Dewan C.P. banned the Communist Party and trade unions. As part of the general strike, clashes broke out between the strike supporters and the army in places like Punnapra and Vayalar. Many people were killed as a result of the firing. As the news of this tragedy spread throughout the country, the Dewan's rule had to be terminated based on public opinion. In the meantime, an assassination attempt was made against Dewan C.P. Ramaswamy Iyer. With this, the Dewan resigned. The protest was led by M.N. Govindan Nair, K.C. George Pathrose, Kumarapanikkar, T.V. Thomas and others.

Karivellur Strike (1946)

The Karivellur agitation was an important peasant movement in 1946 in Karivellur, Kerala, by agricultural workers and artisans against the feudal system. Food supplies were not available due to black marketing and hoarding during World War II. In addition, despite the loss of lives due to cholera, the landlords of Chirakkal Kovilakam did not see any such damage. However, they were not ready to reduce the rent and income received from the tenants. In addition, the Chirakkal Raja smuggled the paddy grown by the common people in weekly, monthly and forced collections and stored it in his own warehouse. The starving farmers demanded that the paddy should not be smuggled and that it be distributed through fair price stores. The Abhinava Bharat Yuvak Sangh, the Karshaka Sangh and the Communist Party mobilized the people against this hoarding. The leaders stopped the paddy being transported from Karivellur to Chirakkal Kovilakam and distributed it to the villagers. But Chirakkal Thampuran's assistants, along with the police, came to transport the paddy with the support of goons and the MSP. A clash broke out between the police and the people. The MSP opened fire with a gun. Many farmers were shot and injured. The leaders Thidil Kannan and Keeneri Kunjambu became martyrs.

Kuttamkulam Strike (1946)

The Kuttamkulam strike was a strike that took place in 1946 after the Avarnas were denied freedom of movement on the road around the Koodalmanikyam temple in Thrissur. The Kuttamkulam strike is also known as the Vazhinadakkal strike. Despite the issuance of a temple entry proclamation, entry into the Koodalmanikyam temple, which was part of the old Cochin kingdom, was prohibited. Theendal was observed at that time with the permission of the District Magistrate. The Magistrate's Theendal board was also installed in the temple premises. This strike was mainly organized to get the Theendal board replaced and the footpath in front of the temple opened for the Avarnas. About twenty-five people led by M.K. Kattuparamban set out from Chalakudy to enter the Kuttamkulam road and were stopped by the police at the city limits. In the ensuing discussion, the procession was disbanded on the condition that the Temple Entry Committee would take over the strike. However, on June 23, following the freedom of movement declaration meeting held at Ayyankavu Maidan, hundreds of protestors reached Kuttamkulam Road. The procession led by protest leaders like P. Gangadharan and K.V. Unni was stopped by the police near Kuttamkulam Road and the procession members were brutally beaten by the police.

Tholviraku Strike (1946)

The Tholviraku agitation that started in the Cheemeni Estate in November 1946 was one of the important struggles led by women. The area under Cheemeni was under the Thazhakad Mana of T. Subramanian Thirumunp, who had come from a landlord family to the national movement. The women farmers used to collect firewood, hides, leaves, grass for grazing, etc. from the Cheemeni forest. The Cheemeni Estate was their only source of fuel for cooking and feeding their animals. In the meantime, Subramanian Thirumunp handed over this estate to John Kottukappally. John Kottukappally banned the collection of forest resources. The women who had been dependent on the Cheemeni forest for ages felt this as a violation of their rights. They planned an organized protest under the leadership of the Karshaka Sangh. Since Subramanian Thirumunp was the former landlord of the Cheemeni Estate, he did not participate in this protest directly. Instead, his wife Karthayani Amma led the people in organizing them. In 1946, more than a hundred women organized a protest march to Cheemeni Estate using the lines written by K.A. Keraleeyan, ' Tholum Virakum Njangaledukkam Kalan Vannuthaduthalum....... ' as their slogan. Although they were arrested by the police, they did not give up their struggle until their rights to hides and firewood were restored. This protest came to be known as the Tholviraku Struggle.

Paliyam Satyagraha (1947-1948)

The struggle for the expulsion of untouchables in Kerala continued even after independence. The Paliyam Satyagraha was one such struggle. The Avarnas were denied entry to the temples and streets in front of the houses of some upper caste Hindus in Kochi. The Avarnas tried to walk on the street in front of the Chendamangalam house of Paliathachchan, the Prime Minister of Kochi, which caused major clashes. It was in this context that the Paliyam Satyagraha began.

The Paliyam Satyagraha was organized by organizations like Cochin State Prajamandalam, Communist Party, and S.N.D.P. Yogam. They decided to start the satyagraha in front of the Paliyam family to open the roads for everyone. C. Kesavan inaugurated the satyagraha on 4 December 1947. The government adopted a policy of repression to deal with the satyagrahis. When one of the satyagraha leaders, A.G. Velayudhan, was killed in police firing, the satyagraha was temporarily suspended (March 1948). In April 1948, the government issued an order allowing entry to temples in Cochin. With this, both the Avarnas and non-Hindus were free to travel along the Paliyam road.

Mahe Liberation Movement (1948-1954)

In June 1948, India and France decided to hold a plebiscite on the independence of the French-occupied territories in India. In the plebiscite held on October 21, 1948, the French government and the minority Mayyazhi people who supported them tried to defeat the nationalists. The liberation movement was led by the Mayyazhi nationalist movement ' Mayyazhi Mahajana Sabha '. The movement was led by I.K. Kumaran Master, who was called ' Mayyazhi's liberator ' and ' Mayyazhi Gandhi '. After numerous blockades and clashes, the soldiers and the people gathered near Mahe Palam on July 14, 1954. The conference, chaired by K. Kelappan, decided to march to Mahe under the leadership of I.K. Kumaran. The French administration announced that it was relinquishing power after the crowd joined the volunteers who marched carrying the tricolor flag and shouting anti-French slogans. On July 16, 1954, Mayyazhi became a part of India when I.K.Kumaran, the president of the Mayyazhi Mahajana Sabha, became the new administrator of Mayyazhi.

Orana Strike (1958)

The Orana strike was a protest against the increase in boat fares in Kuttanad, Alappuzha district, led by the Kerala Students Union (KSU). The protest was against the action of the EMS government, which had increased the boat fare from one anna ( 6 paise) to ten paise. The strike, which began on July 4, 1958, escalated into a strike and violence. Students and police clashed at many places. As the strike turned violent, Section 144 was declared in Alappuzha, Ernakulam and Kottayam districts. Finally, the strike ended on August 3 as per an agreement reached between the protesters and the government. The government accepted all the legitimate demands of the students.

Liberation Struggle (1959)

The reforms of the Communist ministry led by EMS were strongly opposed by opposition parties and caste-religious community organizations. The land reforms act and the new education policy were what disturbed a section. With this, opposition parties and caste-religious organizations started a struggle against the government's policies. This is known as the liberation struggle. The liberation struggle began on March 25, 1959. On the basis of a report submitted to the center by Governor B. Ramakrishna Rao that the law and order situation had broken down, the state government was dismissed on July 31 under Article 356 of the Constitution. This was the first state ministry in India to be dismissed under Article 356. As part of the liberation struggle, it was Mannathu Padmanabhan who led the ' Jivashikha ' march from Angamaly to Thiruvananthapuram and submitted a memorandum against the government to the governor.

Amaravathy Agitation (1961)

The government forcibly evicted the migrant farmers of Ayyappan Kovil, which was located in the water catchment area of ​​the Idukki Hydropower Project, using the police and setting them down in the forests of Amaravathy, about sixty kilometers away. Each family was given one acre of rocky land. In addition, one quart of rice was given as ration for a week. Malaria, dysentery, and other epidemics spread in the Amaravathy camps. Efforts were made under the leadership of Father Vadakkan to bring the plight of the farmers to the attention of the government, but they were unsuccessful. It was at this time that A.K. Gopalan, who was touring various states, interrupted his tour and reached Amaravathy on June 1, 1961.

People including Father Vadakkan joined the AKG and the AKG started an indefinite hunger strike. The demand was for the farmers to be provided with suitable land for cultivation, compensation, adequate ration and medical treatment. By the ninth day, AKG's health deteriorated and he was shifted to Kottayam Medical College. With this, the strike gained nationwide attention. With this, the government intervened and started settlement talks under the leadership of C.K. Govindan, K. Kelappan and EMS and all the demands of the farmers were sympathetically considered and resolved. Thus, the Amaravathy Satyagraha became a success.

Chaliyar Agitation (1974)

The Chaliyar agitation was a protest that began in the 1970s against the pollution of the Chaliyarpuzha river by the waste from the Gwalior Rayons Pulp Factory in Mavoor. The factory, which was given the freedom to take maximum water from the Chaliyarpuzha for industrial purposes, also discharged the waste into the same river. Following this, as the pollution problem increased, the coastal residents organized and protested against the factory. The Chaliyar Protection Committee was formed under the leadership of environmentalist K.A. Rahman. As the protest intensified, on December 16, 1974, Ramanilayam signed an agreement with the factory in the presence of the then Home Minister K. Karunakaran. However, after the factory violated this agreement, which restricted the discharge of waste into the river, the people remained steadfast in their protest. As a result of the increasing protests and demonstrations, the Kerala State Pollution Control Board ordered the closure of the factory and the factory was completely closed in 2001.

Plachimada Strike (2002)

The Plachimada agitation was a protest that began with the demand that the Coca-Cola soft drink manufacturing unit in Plachimada be shut down as it was affecting the water resources of the area and causing acute water scarcity and pollution. The Plachimada agitation began in Perumatty panchayat in Palakkad district of Kerala in 2002. The Plachimada anti-Coca-Cola agitation was led by Mayilamma of Plachimada village. When the wells were polluted due to the operation of the Coca-Cola factory, an anti-Coca-Cola agitation committee was formed under the leadership of Mayilamma. The locals all started the agitation by declaring their support for the anti-Coca-Cola agitation committee. Finally, the Coca-Cola factory was closed in 2004.

Muthanga Strike (2003)

The tribals, led by tribal leader C.K. Janu, protested in front of the secretariat for 48 days, demanding that land be given to the landless tribals. The protest was then withdrawn based on the agreement made with the government. The agreement was that the tribals would be given five acres of land each for cultivation. However, due to the government's failure to provide agricultural land, on January 5, 2003, the tribals, led by the Tribal Mahasabha, encroached on land in Muthanga, Wayanad. It was only after 45 days that the police took action. On February 19, a policeman and a tribal were killed in an encounter between the tribals and the police who had encroached on the forest. This is known as the Muthanga incident. C.K. Janu and M. Geethanandan, who went into hiding following this incident, were later arrested by the police. After years, the tribals' 162- day long protest in front of the secretariat in 2014, demanding that the land issue of the tribals be resolved, succeeded in getting the government to take a decision. The government has ordered to provide one acre of land each to the landless people who participated in the Muthanga protest.

Chengara Land Struggle (2007)

The Chengara land struggle was a protest by the tribals of Chengara demanding land and housing. On August 4, 2007, the protesters led by the Sadhujana Vimochana Samyukta Vedhi and Laaha gopalan began the protest by building a hut in Harrison Estate in Chengara, Pathanamthitta. On October, 2009, the protest ended following a compromise discussion between the representatives of the Sadhujana Vimochana Samyukta Vedhi and a team led by the Chief Minister.