Formation of Kerala State

Even though the formation of Kerala State took place in 1956, the state has a millennia-old history. During the reign of Ashoka (around the 3rd century BCE) in India, Kerala was known as Keralaputra, one of the four Southern Indian kingdoms that were independent states. The state was highly advanced in business due to its favorable location, and Keralaputra successfully established trade relations with communities across the Arabian Sea.

The ancient and medieval period state collapsed after recurring attacks from the neighbors. After India gained independence in 1947, the state of Kerala was formed as a result of the merger among the states of Travancore, Cochin, and Malabar in 1956.

The History of Kerala State in Ancient and Medieval Period

As a result of being a coastal area, Kerala was the gateway port of India for immigrants and foreign traders. During the ancient and medieval period, the state established connections with the ports on the banks of the Mediterranean and the Red Sea. 

Kerala became a popular port among the Greek and Roman traders due to the abundance of spices (the most crucial being pepper) across the region. From the first to fifth century CE, Keralaputra fell under the Tamil territory. The state was primarily controlled by Eastern political powers like the Chola dynasty and the Pandyas, and the Cheras often controlled the state as well.

The Jewish immigrants showed up at the ports of Kerala in the early 1st century CE. According to the beliefs of the local Christian community, St. Thomas the Apostle also visited the coastal state in the 1st Century CE. The state’s history became obscure between the 6th and 8th centuries CE. However, the Islamic influence on the region indicates the likely increase in business with the Arab traders. 

Between the 9th and early 12th century CE, Kerala witnessed the prominent popularity of Hinduism among the residents. Furthermore, Malayalam became a distinct language under the Kulashekhara reign during this time. During the 11th and 12th centuries, Kerala was primarily under the rule of Cholas.

When Ravi Varma of the Kulashekhara dynasty succeeded in establishing his supremacy for a short while over Southern India, Kerala became a part of his kingdom. After his death, the kingdom collapsed, and Kerala turned into a war zone for the competing chieftaincies. Venad on the South and Calicut on the North are the most notable names among these.

In 1498, Vasco Da Gama entered India through the Calicut port, marking the foreign interventions’ initiation. The Portuguese dominated the trades around the coastal region throughout the 16th century CE. In the 17th century, the area’s trade was primarily dominated by the Dutch. By the early 19th century, the Malabar coast and the regions of Travancore and Cochin were turned into subject states by the British Madras Presidency.

Travancore-Cochin-Malabar Merger

After India regained its independence in 1947, the states of Travancore and Cochin were united to form the Travancore-Cochin territory. The formation of Kerala as known today took place in 1956 when the Travancore-Cochin territory was merged with the Malabar Coast. Another administrative subdivision of Southern India called the Kasargod taluka participated in the merger. However, a portion of the Southern Travancore-Cochin territory was included in Tamil Nadu during Kerala state formation.

Some Interesting Facts Associated with the Formation of Kerala State

During the formation of Kerala, several symbols were chosen to represent the state. Some of these symbols are listed below-

• The Indian elephant is the state animal of Kerala. 
• The great hornbill is the state bird of Kerala. 
• Since the Kerala state formation, the state tree has been the coconut tree. 
• Jackfruit got the title of Kerala’s state fruit in 2018. 
• The state seal of Kerala is an emblem portraying two elephants standing in a guarding stance. The elephants in the emblem guard Lord Sri Padmanaba’s conch shell and Ashoka’s Lion Capital. The former is Kerala’s state insignia since the formation of Kerala, and the latter is the national symbol of India.

Today’s Kerala

According to the census 2011, Kerala has a population of 33 million people, making it the 13th most populated Indian state. 

There are 14 districts in the state. Thiruvananthapuram is the capital of Kerala. 

Kerala has the 21st largest area among the states of India. The erstwhile coastal areas of Malabar, Cochin, Travancore, and Kasargod Taluk of Southern Canara have a total area of 38,863 square kilometers.

Kerala has the highest literacy rate in India, and 96.2 of every 100 residents have received the traditional education.

The HDI of Kerala is 0.782 (highest among all Indian states) as recorded in 2019. 

The male-to-female ratio of the residents of Kerala is 1000/1084.

Conclusion

It is always enchanting to learn about the eventful history of a region. For a state like Kerala, the history is even more interesting as it is the gateway to Southern India. Every religion and culture that visited the state for centuries has vibrant prominence even today. 

Since the ancient and medieval period, the region has attracted many traders from numerous cultures with its abundant spices. This has resulted in the formation of a diverse community in the state. The state has its share of history with almost every major religion and colonialists globally.