Kerala Social and Politics movements before Independence

Social and Political movements shape the economic and political layout of a state.  This is true in the case of Kerala too, The Kerala Social and Political movements before Independence are acclaimed by many.

 The 19th century remained calm till the end and didn’t have many social movements in Kerala. It was a period when forces of rebellion were just forming. The desire for freedom and social transformation have become strong since the onset of the 20th century. People wanted an accountable and responsible body to govern them.

The Need for a Social Movement

The independence movement in Kerala is noted and appreciated by scholars all around the world. The movement grew out of a constant desire among people, especially in the lower sections of the Hindu community. People wanted to fight against inequality and social injustice. They wanted freedom from the repressive caste system and norms laid by royals and Millennials in the past.

The need and desire changed the social outlook of the masses towards this repressive regime. This marks the start of the Independence Movement in Kerala.

The Start of Kerala’s Social and Political Movements

The first evidence towards social reforms dates back to the 16th Century. The start of Kerala‘s Social and Political Movement was to develop the language Malayalam. The movement was called the Bhakti Movement. The social movement in Kerala was controlled by prominent authors like Ezhuthachan. 

The movement focused on putting an end to the profound influence of Brahmins in fields of education and literature. Brahmins were elites in terms of social order set by the caste system. They had their dominance over society.

What accelerated Kerala’s Social and Political Movements?

Kerala has been strategically located. It was centrally located and could be used as a hub for trading in Central Asia. Western powers often targeted to gain control over the area to streamline trade channels.

The arrival of Europeans which started with Portuguese and then Dutch led to widespread changes in the social order. With missionaries coming from western countries, educational institutions developed and they spread the importance of education among the masses. This led to literacy among the lower groups of society.

The rise in literacy made people aware of their rights. People began questioning social injustice. This accelerated Kerala’s Social and Political movements before Independence. Most social movements in Kerala were peaceful. However, they strongly held militancy in their protests.

The Changes brought by Kerala’s social and political movements

Kerala was a normal southern state deeply rooted in the caste system. The state had little to no literacy before social reforms. As time passed, literacy increased and this led to widespread changes in the political order of the state.

The Independence movement in Kerala led to the breakdown of monarchies that ruled Kerala. Kerala was divided into two states namely, Cochin and Travancore. The social movements in Kerala led to the breakdown of these royals. The fall of the monarchy led to the dissolution of the feudal regime and laid the foundation for social reform.

In addition to the Breakdown, The Mysoreans led by Tipu Sultan tried to invade the state. This movement was a shock to the elites. The invaders showed no regard to the caste regime and several elite families had to leave the state to avoid persecution by the Mysoreans.

Unlike North India, The state of Kerala was controlled by the caste system.  In the 19 th century, leaders like Narayana Guru and Ayyankali who belonged to lower castes in social order started several independence movements in Kerala. They wanted to abolish the caste system and wanted equal social status.

The Formation and associated social movements in Kerala

Vasco Da Gama established a trade route to Kozhikode through the Cape of Good Hope. European influence on Kerala had increased. The Portuguese were the first to arrive and started by building forts and small settlements. After them, the Dutch and British took a similar interest in controlling trade in Kerala.

The Dutch attack was countered by Travancore King Marthanda Varma. He used Dutch machinery to train his army. These made them resist further European Invasion. In the 18th century, the British greatly influenced Kerala. This led to the formation of Malabar province.

In 1947 during Independence Travancore sought to be an independent state. An agreement was made with King Balarama Varma to join India. The Malabar province and Cochin joined India without much negotiation. Thus, the state of Kerala was formed in 1956.

Some Notable Independence movement in Kerala

• Vaikom Satyagraha

  In the past, a certain section of the society was termed as Untouchables and was banned from occurring in public near a well-known temple in Vaikom. The move was to avoid inconvenience to the elites, especially Brahmins. The movement focused on equal access to temples.

• Guruvayur Satyagraha

This was a movement that was supported by Mahatma Gandhi itself. It was led by Kerala’s provincial committee. The movement focused on abolishing the repressive system of untouchability.

• Temple Entry Proclamation

A few lower groups of Hindus were denied entry to temples of Hindu Worship. The proclamation states that no Hindu shall be denied access to faith-based on birth caste etc. The proclamation was signed by Sree Chitra Thirunal.

• The Kadakal Rebellion or Kadakkal Revolt

The Kadakal Rebellion took place in 1938. It was a civil disobedience movement which took place to rebel against the unfair toll collection in Kadakkal ,Kollam district during the time of India’s freedom struggle against the British . It took place in Travancore. The movement was started as a mass movement against the excessive tax/toll collection by British authorities sparked the creation of a parallel administration called the Kummil Pakuthi. 

• The Malabar Rebellion 

It started in the year 1922. It was mainly a stand against the feudal system which was controlled by the high class Hindu’s. Although the British got their way out of the rebellion by appointing the Hindu’s in charge which made them face the protests turning against them.

Conclusion 

In conclusion, Kerala is a land that faced a lot of social movements. Kerala’s social and political movements shaped the harmony and unity that we see among different religions today. It remains a state where communal riots are less frequent. In terms of literacy and health infrastructure, it remains one of the best states in India. Though Kerala’s Social and Political Movements before Independence involved a lot of bloodshed. It remains a necessary evil in building a peaceful society.