NATIONAL MOVEMENT IN KERALA: Struggle in Cochi

The struggle for independence and responsible government in Cochi had its second
phase during the two decades of 1930 -1950.The state people’s conference held at
Ernakulam in 1928 had put forward the demand for responsible government in the
state.The Congress workers from Kochi had already taken part in the civil disobedience
movement in Malabar.The Congress workers in the state organised boycott of foreign
goods and conducted wolunteer camps. It was a period of economic unrest in Kochi.
The electricity agitation was the most sensational event of the decade. It was the
policy of the Diwan Shanmukham Chetty to entrust the work of distribution of electricity
in Trichur town to a private agency that led to the agitation.The people of Cochi wanted
the government to entrust the work to Trichur Electricity corporation, a company of their
own.The agitation was led by such leaders as Dr. A.R. Menon, E. Ikkanda Warrier and
C.R. Iyyunni.The government tried to suppress the agitations.Ultimately the agitation
fizzled out.The electricity agitation is important as a people’s revolt, although it was
confined to a limited area. It brought the Christians of Cochin in to the national
movement.

TEMPLE ENTRY PROCLAMATION (1936).

The Temple Entry Proclamation issued by the Maharaja of Thiruvitamkur on 12th
November 1936 was the crowning achievements of the movement for temple entry to the
Avarnas.Sri Chithira Thirunal issued this historic proclamation, opening the holy shrines
in the state of Thiruvithamkur to all Hindus irrespective of caste and creed.It is a sacred
document of History.It declared that there should henceforth be no restriction placed on
any Hindu by birth or religion on entering and worshipping at the temples controlled by
‘us and our government’.
The Proclamation is important as the first of its kind in India.Gandhiji hailed it as a
‘miracle of modern times’ and as a Smrithi which is the people’s charter of spiritual
emancipation’.It brought about a silent and bloodless revolution in Hindu society.However
it took more than one year to introduce the reforms in Kochi and Malabar.The Temple
Entry Authorisation Proclamation II of 1947 opened the temples of Kochi to Hindus of all
castes.This reform was further extended to the Malabar area by the Madras Temple Act
1947.With the dawn of independence untouchability has been abolished by legislation
through out Kerala.Thus the historic movement for the eradication of untouchability and
temple entry for the Avarnas in Kerala succeeded.

GURUVAYUR SATYAGRAHA (1931-32)

The Guruvayur Satyagraha was a memorable episode in the history of organised
agitations against untouchability.It was organised under the auspices of the Congress.The
Vatakara conference has decided to launch a campaign for eradication of untouchability on
an all Kerala basis.Guruvayur Temple became the venue of this Satyagraha.The
Satyagraha was aimed at opening the Guruvayur temple to all Hindus including the
Avarnas.The Satyagraha began on 1
st November, 1931 with the blessings of Gandhi.
Kelappan was the leader of the movement.The prominent leaders of the Satyagraha were
A.K. Gopalan, Mannath Padmanabhan and N.P. Damodaran.The uncompromising attitude
of the trustees of the temple.Viz. Zamorin led to the closure of the temple for a short
while, Guruvayur captured all India attention and the Zamorin was requested to concede
the demands of the Satyagrahis, but of no avail.
The Satyagraha entered a crucial stage when Kelappan began an indefinite fast unto
death in front of the temple on 21st September, 1932.It lingered on up to 2
nd October, 1932
when he was persuaded by Gandhiji to end up the fast and withdraw the movement.A high
light of the G. Satyagraha was the Guruvayur Referendum.A limited referendum was held
in the Ponnani Taluk to ascertain the views of the Hindus as to whether they favoured
temple entry for the Avarnas. The majority of the people approved the proposal for temple
entry.The Guruvayur Satyagraha failed to achieve its immediate objective, namely temple
entry for the Avarnas.However it created an atmosphere in favour of the eradication of
untouchability.Taking note of the sentiment in favour of temple entry. P. Subharayan gave
notice of a Bill on temple entry to be moved on the Madras Legislature.

VAIKOM SATYAGRAHA (1924-25).

The Vaikkam Satyagraha was the first major struggle for the eradication of
untouchability.The main leaders of the Satyagraha were T.K. Madhavan.K.P.Kesava
Menon, Mannath Padmanabhan, C.V. Kunhiraman and K. Kelappan.The Satyagraha was
part of a movement, which demanded temple entry for the untouchables.The Savarna Jatha
organized under Mannath Padmanabhan was one of the highlights of Vaikom
Satyagraha.It was organised by the Savarna Hindus.The jatha came to the capital and
submitted a memorandum pleading for temple entry rights to the Avarnas.The struggle
lasted for about 20 months during which the Satyagrahis were arrested and harassed in
many ways.The Satyagrahis demanded only for granting the right of passage to the
Avarnas along the approach roads to the temple.At last the Satyagraha yielded results
thanks to the intervention of Gandhiji.The approach roads to the temple were opened to all
Hindus, irrespective of caste.Although the declared objective of the Satyagraha was not
granted, the movement helpepd to influence public opinion in the state in favour of temple
entry.By 1928, approach roads to all temples were thrown open to all Hindus in the whole
of Thiruvitamkur.

KERALA SOCIAL ORGANISATIONS

S.N.D.P.Yogam(Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana Yogam).

The social reforms movements resulted in the emergence of a number of social
organisation in Kerala during the 20th century.The ‘Yogam’ (committee) formed in 1899
for the administration of the Aruvippuram Temple founded by Narayana developed into a
big organization called S.N.D.P.Yogam.(Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana Yogam).It
was formed at the initiative OF Dr Palpu and Kumaran Asan to spread the preaching of
Narayana guru. Later it became a representative organisation of the Ezhavas. Its annual
conference held at Aruvippuram in 1904 was blessed by Narayana guru himself. The
SNDP made substantial contribuition to the all round progress of the Ezhavas.

Nair Service Society (N.S.S)

The Social reform movement initiated by Chattampi Swamikal and others among
the Nairs paved the way for the formation of the Nair Service Society (N.S.S).It was
founded by Mannath Padmanabhan on 31st October, 1914.It was organised on the pattern
of the Servants of India society of Gokhale.Its motto was service to the community in
general and Nairs in particulars.It worked for the abolition of social evils of the day.It
became the representative organisation of the Nairs under the leadership of Mannath
Padmanabhan and a powerful force to be reckoned with in Kerala politics after
independence.

Sadhu Jana Paripalana Yogam (S.J.P.Y.)

The Sadhu Jana Paripalana Yogam (S.J.P.Y.) started by Ayyankali for the uplift
of the Pulaya community was transformed itself in Sahodara Sangham in 1917 and the
Pulayar Sabha in 1938.For the upper caste Nambudiris,there was the Yogakshema Sabha
founded in 1908.It agitated for the freedom of junior male members of the Nambuthiri
community to many from their own community, to popularise the study of English and to
abolish the Purdah system among the Nambuthiri women.Their ultimate aim was to make
Namputiri a human being.They published a journal called ‘Unni Namputiri’ to achieve the
goal of social revolution.These organisations formed as social organisation later became
communal and began to control the political development of Kerala, a negative and
reactionary development

MITAVADI. C. KRISHNAN.

As the editor of the Mitavadi, C.Krishnan worked for the abolition of the caste
system.He campaigned in great vigor for the eradication of untouchability. In
November,1917 he defied the order of the Malabar Collector denying freedom to the
Ezhavas and other backward castes to walk along the approach roads to Tali temple at
Calicut.This incident symbolised the awakening of a new vision among the depressed
classes.It focused public attention on the need for early removal of untouchability.

V.T. BHATTATHIRIPAD.

The Nambuthiri caste produced some of the outstanding social reformers in
Kerala.V.T.Bhattathiripad was one among them.His main sphere of activity centred
around the Namputhiris.He wanted to eradicate the evil customs and practices of the
Namputhiris.His motto was “make the Namputhiri a human being”.He was co-founder of
the Yogakshema Sabha and its youth wing Namputhiri Yuvajana samajam. He wanted to
uplift the Namputhiri women folk. He worked for widow remarriage and education of
Namputhiri women.For this purpose he wrote a famous literary work-Atukkalayil Ninnum
Arangatheykku. (From kitchen to the stage).This play helped the growth of awareness
about the evil customs prevailed among the Namputhiris.