Formation of Kerala Society and Culture

FORMATION OF KERALA
SOCIETY AND CULTURE

STUDY MATERIAL
B.A. HISTORY
VI SEMESTER
CORE COURSE
(2011 ADMISSION)
UNIVERSITY OF CALICUT
SCHOOL OF DISTANCE EDUCATION
THENJIPALAM, CALICUT UNIVERSITY P.O., MALAPPURAM, KERALA - 693 635
241
Schoolof Distance Education
Formation of Kerala Society and Culture Page 2
UNIVERSITY OF CALICUT
SCHOOL OF DISTANCE EDUCATION
Study Material
B.A HISTORY
VI SEMESTER
CORE COURSE
FORMATION OF KERALA SOCIETY AND CULTURE
Prepared &Scrutinized by
Dr.N.PADMANABHAN
Associate Professor
P.G.Department of History
C.A.S.College, Madayi
P.O.Payangadi-RS-670358
Dt.Kannur-Kerala
Type settings & Lay out
Computer Section, SDE
Reserved
UNIT CONTENT PAGE
I INTRODUCTION 05-33
II EXPERIENCING STATE 34-82
III COLONIAL EXPERIENCE 83- 99
IV RENAISSANCE MOVEMENTS 100-137
UNIT-I
INTRODUCTION
Kerala, regionally referred to as Keralam, is a state in the south-west region of India on
the Malabar Coast.It was formed on 1 November 1956 as per the States Reorganisation Act by
combining various Malayalam-speaking regions.Spread over 38,863 km2 (15,005 sq mi) it is
bordered by Karnataka to the north and north east, Tamil Nadu to the east and south, and
the Lakshadweep Sea to the west. With 33,387,677 inhabitants as per the 2011 census, Kerala
is the twelfth largest state by population and is divided into 14 districts. Malayalam is the most
widely spoken and official language of the state.The state capital is Thiruvananthapuram; other
major cities include Kochi, Kozhikode, Thrissur, and Kollam.
The region was a prominent spice exporter from 3000 BCE to 3rd century.The Chera
Dynasty was the first powerful kingdom based in Kerala, though it frequently struggled against
attacks from the neighbouring Cholas and Pandyas.During the Chera period Kerala remained an
international spice trading center. Later, in the 15th century, the lucrative spice trade attracted
Portuguese traders to Kerala, and eventually paved the way for the European colonisation of the
whole of India.After independence, Travancore and Cochin joined the Republic of India
andTravancore-Cochin was given the status of a state. Later, the state was formed in 1956 by
merging the Malabar district, Travancore-Cochin (excluding four southern taluks), and the taluk
of Kasargod, South Kanara.
Kerala is the state with the lowest positive population growth rate in India (3.44%) and has a
density of 819 people per km
2
. The state has the highest Human Development Index (HDI) (0.790)
in the country according to the Human Development Report 2011.It also has the highestliteracy
rate 95.5,the highest life expectancy (Almost 77 years) and the highest sex ratio (as defined by
number of women per 1000 men: 1,084 women per 1000 men) among all Indian states. Kerala
has the lowest homicide rate among Indian states, for 2011 it was 1.1 per 100,000.A survey in
2005 by Transparency International ranked it as the least corrupt state in the country.Kerala has
witnessed significant emigration of its people, especially to the Gulf states during the Gulf
Boom during the 1970s and early 1980s, and its economy depends significantly
onremittances from a large Malayali expatriate community. Hinduism is practised by more than
half of the population, followed by Islam andChristianity.The culture of the state traces its roots
from 3rd century CE.It is a synthesis of Aryan and Dravidian cultures, developed over centuries
under influences from other parts of India and abroad.
Production of pepper and natural rubber contributes to a significant portion of the total national
output. In the agricultural sector, coconut, tea, coffee, cashew and spices are important.The state's
coastline extends for 590 kilometres (370 mi), and around 1.1 million people of the state are
dependent on the fishery industry which contributes 3% of the state's income. The state's 145,704
kilometres (90,536 mi) of roads, constitute 4.2% of all Indian roadways. There are three existing
and two proposed international airports.Waterways are also used as a means of transportation.The
state has the highest media exposure in India with newspapers publishing in nine different
languages; mainly English and Malayalam.Kerala is an important tourist destination,
with backwaters, beaches, Ayurvedic tourism, and tropical greenery among its major attractions.
KERALA AS A GEORAPHICAL ENTITY
Kerala has had the distinction of being an independent geographical and political
entity from the early days. Its unique geographical position and peculiar physical features
have invested Kerala with a distinct individuality.The land of Kerala comprises the narrow
coastal strip bounded by the Western Ghats on the east and the Aribian Sea on the west in
the southern part of the Indian Peninsula.Paradoxical as it might seem, this geographical
position has helped to ensure, to some extent, its political and cultural isolation from the
rest of the country and also facilitated its extensive and active contacts with the countries
of the outside world.A study of the geographical factor in relation to Kerala history
assumes special significance.Here we are going to know the more important physical or
geographical features of the land like mountains, rivers, backwaters, wind and climate.We
shall also try to find out the influence exerted by each of these factors on our history and
culture.
GEOGRAPHICAL FACTORS:
The geographical factors that have influenced and moulded Kerala culture may be
classified into the following:
1. Position, location and shape of the state
2. Mountains, Hills and Passes.
3. Rivers, backwaters and the sea.
4. Climate, Fauna and Flora.
1. Position, Location and Shape.
Kerala is situated in the extreme south west corner of the Indian Sub- Continent.The
land of Kerala comprises the narrow coastal strip surrounded by the Western Ghats in the
East and the Arabian Sea in the West. Kerala comprises three natural divisions. They are:
A.The High land The Western Ghats constitute this region
B.The Low land it stretches along the coastal plain in the West
C.Mid land in between the High land and the Low land.It is rich in agricultural products.
Now, let us see how this peculiar position and division influenced our History.
Kerala was free from invasions, which shook North India through centuries because
of her insular position.This enabled the growth of peculiar social institutions like the
Marumakkathayam in Kerala.It was a hindrance for friendly contacts with the North.It
took longer time for north Indian religions to penetrate in to Kerala than foreign ones.It
enabled Kerala to evolve its own styles of art, architecture and sculpture like Kathakali
and Kudiyattam.However this did not prevent intellectuals like Sankaracharya to
propagate his philosophy outside Kerala.It was not a hindrance to the Chola,Vijaya Nagar,
Mysore and other South Indian powers to raid the Kerala territory.It did not prevent Tamil,
Kannada and Tulu languages to influence our dialect and writing languages.
2. Mountains, Hills and Passes.
The Sahya Mountains which form part of the Western Ghats is the main mountain
range in Kerala.It influenced our History in more ways than one.It provides the body to
the state of Kerala.It protected the state from political invasions that hit South India till the
18
th
century.It guards the eastern frontier.In this sense,Sahya range may be called as the
Great Sentinel of the East.It safeguarded the territorial integrity of the land.It was the
source of most of the rivers of Kerala.It provided mountain passes for traffic between
Kerala and neighbouring states of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.The forest in the Ghat is a
source of wealth to the state.Some of the peaks important from the political and religious
points of view are situated in the Western Ghats.The Anamudi peak (8841) in the Ghat
represents the highest point in India-south of the Himalayas. The Agastyakutam, the
southernmost peak in the Western Ghats figures in the popular legend of Agastya.
The Hills are so many in Kerala.From Ezhimala in the north to Mahendragiri in the
South, we have innumerable hills. Among the hills, mention may be made ofVavvimala,
Vatamala, Puralimala, KalladiKotan, Nelliampathy, Pothundi, Anamala, Elamala,
Peerumedu, Sabarimala, Ponmudi, Agastykutam and Aruvamozhi.These hills have
influenced our history in more ways than one.
Ezhimala was the seat of a flourishing kingdom during the early centuries of the
Christian era.As it is jutting in to the sea, it was a well known land mark for ancient
mariners.The Puralimala was the headquarters of Pazhassi Raja for a long time and is
hailed as the Aravallis of Malabar.The Brahmagiri in Wayanad is important as Thirunelli
temple is located here.The Sabari hills are famous for the Sastha shrine, one of the most
important centers of Hindu pilgrimage in the state.The Malayattur hills is famous as a
centre of Christian pilgrimage associated with St. Thomas.
3. Passes/Gaps.
As you know, the mountains provide a number of passes/gaps to facilitate
contacts.There are a number of mountain passes in Kerala which influence our
History.The Palakkad Gap is perhaps the major one with its enormous width of
36KMs.Through it, the South West winds bring pleasant moist air and grateful showers to
the thirsty plains of Coimbatore.Through it, many a stream from the higher mountains find
their way to the Arabian Sea.The gap is of great economic value to Kerala and Tamil
Nadu.The Tamarasseri and Perambadi gaps promote contacts between Kerala and
Karnataka.They have also served as routes of invasion.The Perambadi gives access to
Coorg while Tamarasseri provide access from Wayanad to Mysore.The Bodinaykannur
pass in the Travancore area (Central Kerala) connects Madurai with the High
Ranges.Through the Kamban pass was transacted most of the trade from central Kerala
(Todupuzha).The Aryankavu pass gives easy access to Tirunelveli.The Tamils used this
route for most of their raids and trade to South Kerala.The Arambadi pass (Aruvamozhi),
though presently situated outside Kerala is crucial.Early man with his microliths entered
Kerala through this gap; This route had been the highway of traffic between Kerala and its
eastern neighbours. Many raids and invasions, the last being that of Chanda Saheb in 1740
had taken place through the Arambadi.Numberless battles had been fought in this
region.The Arambadi Kottar region is rightly called the cockpit of Kerala.
4. The Sea, Rivers, and Backwaters.
The Arabean Sea has been a permanent geographical factor in our History.In fact
Kerala has been the gift of the Arabean Sea.Kerala depended for its prosperity on the sea
and the sea borne trade.The Jews,Christian, Muslims and Parsees came here following a
sea route and first landed here.The Europeans anchored at Kerala coast.The Portuguese
were the first in this endeavour followed by the Dutch.French and the English, all followed
a sea route to reach Kerala and landed on the Kerala coast and built their settlements
here.The Arabian sea had been the field of activity for the Kunjalis, the Admirals of the
Calicut fleet.The imperialists first set their foot here and met with their first rebuff
here.The commercial and cultural contacts that Kerala has had in the past immensely
benefited the princes and peoples of Kerala.The extensive sea coast of Kerala has provided
a number of harbours both in the ancient and modern times.In ancient times we have such
ports as Muziris,Tyndis,Barace and Nelcynda. In medieval times we have Kollam,
Kozhikode and Kodungallur, and in modern times we have Kochi, Alapuzha and
Ezhimala. If Kerala was isolated from the rest of India by the mountains, she was opened
to the rest of the world by the sea.
Rivers of Kerala.
There are 44 rivers in the state 41 west flowing and 3 (Kabini, Bhavani and
Pampar) east flowing.The state is rich in water potential, but no long rivers. The major
rivers are Nila (Bharata puzha or Perar), Periyar and Pampa; Kunthipuzha, Chandragiri
puzha, Korapuzha and Chaliyar.The rivers perform a two-fold function.They provide
uninterrupted water transport through the length and breadth of the state. They add to the
land area forming backwaters and ports.They make the land fertile and the country
prosperous.Inland trade has been mainly through the rivers.They are arteries of trade and
communication.The harbours at the mouth of the rivers provide safe anchorage to
ships.Kerala Rivers have been the cradles of early civilisations. 24 out of the 32 Brahmin
settlements are on the banks of rivers. A number of historic and religious temples and
churches are situated on the banks of rivers.Most of the literary and artistic forms
originated on the river valleys.
The rivers have influenced our political and military history.The Periyar flood of
1341 made Muziris useless for trade and brought in to existence the Vaipin Island.The
flood of 1789 in the same river forced Tippu Sultan to abandon his further conquest of
Thiruvitamkur.Several places of historical and cultural importance are located on the
riverbanks.We have Chittur,Palakkad, Thiruvillamala,Pattambi,Thirunavaya and
Chamravattam on the banks of Bharatapuzha.Ayiramalai,Malayattur,Kaladi, Aluva and
Kodungallur on the banks of Periyar; Aanmala, Sabarimala, Chengannur, Maramon,
Edathwa on the banks of Pamba.
It was on the rivers that major hydro-electric and irrigation projects were
constructed in modern times.The hydro-electric projects like Pallivasal, Sengulam,
Peringal kuthu and Sabarigiri have quickened the industrialization of Kerala.The irrigation
project like Peechi, Malampuzha, Periyar Valley became, to adapt the words of Pandit
Nehru, centre of modern pilgrimage.
A Note on Nila River.
The Nila river, popularly known as Bharatapuzha and Perar is the most important
river systems in Kerala.It has a unique position in the annals and antiquities of Kerala.The
Nila Valley was the cradle of civilisation in Kerala.For the people of its basin this was the
very basis of their cultural and historical heritage.There were a number of prehistoric
settlements on its banks.Nila basis formed the first layer of tribal settlements.The second
was the Aryan settlements.The Brahmins have four important settlements on its banks
(Panniyur, Sukapuram, Thirunavaya and Ponnani).There was an interlinking of Nila and
Kaveri; and at one end was Pumpuhar and at the other Ponnani.The interlinking of Kaveri
and Nila is substantiated by Agnihotri legend.
The contribution of Nila to the Socio-religious and cultural life of Kerala cannot be
under estimated. On both banks of the river, there are famous temples likeTirunavaya,
Sukapuram, Panniyur, Tripangode, Tiruvillamala, and Kalpathi.Nila nurtured Malayalam,
Sanskrit and Tamil literature. Innumerable literary souls lived on the banks of Nila-
Ezhuttachan who lived in Chittur and Tirur.Kunchan Nampiyar on Lakkidi, Puntanam,
Melputhur, M.T.Vasudevan Nair on Kutallur,Akhithem in Kumaranallur, Urub, Cherukad,
(P.C.Kuttikrishnan), Olappamanna Nambutheri, Balamani Amma, Kutty Krishna Marar,
Kaikulangara Rama Warrier, P. Kunhiraman Nair-a glorious line of distinguished literary
souls who stretch up to our time.The economic side of the river, settlement patterns
resources of the village, village structure, trade and commerce, emergence of exchange
systems, urbanization rural, semi urban and urban areas to be identified to fully assess the
impact of the Nila on our History.In fact, Nila has been the blood of our blood and salt of
our salt, the life and breadth of Kerala.
Backwaters.
Running parallel to the seacoast, Kerala has a chain of lagoons and backwaters.They
provide communication between the different parts of Kerala.The more important of the
lakes of Kerala are Vembanad, Ashtamudi, Bakel and Kumbla.The Vembanad Lake; its
name came from the ancient kingdom of Venpolinad.It is the largest lake in Kerala
extending from the south up to Kochi.On its banks are situated Vaikkam,a famous Hindu
pilgrim centre, Alleppey, Quilon and Cochin famous ports.The Sasthamkotta Lake is the
one and the only one fresh water lake in Kerala.The Azhis in the state like Azikkal,
Chettruvai, Neentakara, Kochi,Kodungallur and many bud bays like west Hill provide safe
anchorage to ships.
Climate, Fauna and Flora.
There was a diversity of climate in Kerala. Kerala alone has the two monsoons-
Edavapathi and Thulavarsham.Thus we get rainfall both from the south west and north
east monsoons.We have an average rainfall of 116, average temperature of 81
o
and an
average humidity of 82
o.
The abundance of rainfall enabled the people to choose
agriculture as their main occupation.Agriculture, as often said, is a gamble in the
monsoon. The variations in climate and seasons had their impact on vegetation and
agriculture.The two main crops-Virippu and Muntakan-were dependent on rain fall.The
climatic factors have influenced our History also. The epoch making discovery of S.W.
monsoon by Hippalus, the Egyptian pilot in 45 AD facilitated the direct see voyage from
the Persian gulf to Kerala.The climatic factors also condition the military operations in
Kerala (e.g) Tippus retreat due to Periyar flood in 1789.The monsoon has caused floods
in rivers.It was uncle monsoon who saved the Cochin Raja and his Portuguese allies from
the Zamorins attack in 1503.
The fauna and flora has made Kerala the Gods own country.The forests of Kerala are
rich in woods, animals and birds of rare varieties.In ancient times, Kerala seems to have
exported the elephant, the peacock and the monkey to the west. It also exported aromatic
plants, spices, ivory, teak and coir.It was the demand for spices, especially the Black Gold
(pepper) that brought the Europeans to Kerala, leading to the Da Gama Epoch of Asiatic
History. Kerala is rich in mineral resources and white clay and graphite deposits. Kautilya
refers to River Churni from where pearls arefound.The fertile soil has facilitated the
growth of agricultural villages.In short, geographical factors have influenced our history
deeply.It is one of the eyes of Kerala History.
Settlement Pattern.
The physical features of Kerala have contributed to settlement patterns. Kerala is a
thickly populated state.Kerala has had a continuous settlement pattern with each settlement
bordering up on the next settlement.Forest areas, waste lands, water reservoirs and streams
form part of the settlement.The charter grant testifies to this pattern. Houses are built in the
centre of the plot and not in clusters as seen in other parts of India.Thus a village consists
of a number of house sites around which there are gardens and food crop areas (Elas or
Patasekharams) held by the villagers.
River valleys were the cradle of these settlements.Most of the Brahmin settlements in
Kerala are found on the banks of rivers like Churni, Nila, Korapuzha and Pampa.The
settlements were called Ur and Cheri, the former belonging to the Brahmins and the latter
of the common man.There was no separation or demarcation between the settlements of
the upper and low castes.Brahmin and non Brahmin.The fisherman community has
however their settlement in the coastal region.(Tura) while the tribesmen had their
settlements in the highlands; the artisans lived near the temple (Teruv).The Christians and
Muslims lived as part of the village settlement and had their churches and mosques in the
villages.
SOURCE MATERIALS
Sources are the raw materials to reconstruct the past.Here we shall describe the vast
range of source materials available to rebuild and reinterpret the history of Kerala.We shall
begin with a critical survey of the legendary or traditional sources,then pass over to a
discussion on archaeological and literary sources with special emphasis on monumental,
inscriptional, and numismatic evidence.The Sources of Kerala History may be classified
into 1.Traditional and non- traditional 2.Primary and Secondary 3.Literary and
Archaeological.
Traditional Sources.
The traditional sources are those derived from legends,traditions, myths,puranas.They
include(a)Legendary accounts of the origin and evolution of Kerala Society.(b)Traditions,both
oral and written of the heroes and events of Kerala History.(c)Sthalapuranas or place legends of
localities.(d) Kshetramahatmyas regarding the origin and functions of theTemples.(e)Keralolpathi
and Keralamahatmyam are the two legendary works regarding the early history of Kerala
Athulas Mushakavamsa Kavya gives a semi-legandary semi factual account of the Ezhimala
Kings The accounts of Joseph Kathanar, a priest from Kodungallur gives a contemporary
descriptions of the existing legends on the origin of Kerala and the growth of Christianity(f)Don
Gonsalves, Bishop of Kollam (17
th
C) has written a book Historia de Malavar giving
information on the origin and growth of Kerala people, their customs and
traditions(g)Granthavaris are yet another form of traditional history.
Non- Traditional Sources.
The non-traditional sources include archaeological evidence epigraphy, numismatics
and literary sources.They are classified into primary and secondary sources.Primary
Sources are those evidences that directly signify a historical event or situation.They
ranges from relics of specific events and personalities to materials remains of the
past.Archaeological monuments,epigraphs or inscriptions, edicts, cadjan records, coins
and seals belong to this category. Secondary Sources are mainly indirect evidence
supporting and using primary sources.They are mostly written sources.Written histories,
accounts of travellers, manuals,Gazetters,monographs all comes under this category.The
information cited in the secondary sources are to be checked with the evidence from
primary sources.Researchers are mainly concerned with primary sources.
Archaeological and Literary Sources.
A convenient classification of sources is archaeological and literary. Archaeological
sources are classified into monuments -historic and pre-historic inscriptions and coins.
Literary sources are further classified into indigenous and foreign.
DISTRIBUTION OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES
Archaeology is the handmaid of history.It is often a reliable guide to the historian.The
archaeological sources of Kerala history may be classified into three divisions-
Monuments, Epigraphy, and Numismatics.
Monuments relate to pre-historic and historic periods. Archaeological relics and
monuments found in Kerala are of inestimable value for a study of the history of
Kerala.The pre- history of Kerala comprises the various stone ages when man was
nomadic hunter.Kerala,as such,has no Palaeolithic period.It is excluded from the
palaeolithic map of India because of two reasonsThe state has not yet yielded any
palaeolithic.Though palaeoliths are absent in Kerala, the availability of trap rocks suggests
that Kerala became the abode of man in the Neolithic period.Any Artefacts found in the
riverbeds of Palakkad by the team from the Deccan College, Pune reveal the existence of a
palaeolithic settlement in the area.The chief monuments are the megalithic monuments of
pre-historic times and Archaeological monuments of the historic period such as temples,
churches mosques, Synagogues, palaces, forts and historical sites.
Temples are of two types rock cut cave temples and structural temples.
(a).The rock-cut temples of Vizhinjam, Kaviyur, Kallil Trikkur, Irunilamkode and
Thiruvegappura are the earliest temples of Kerala.Scholars describe a Buddhist or Jain
origin to these temples.While the Kaviyur temple shows traces of Chera carvings,
Vizhinjam shows traces of Pallava style.The Kallil temple is one of the finest Jain
monuments in Kerala while those at Ambalapuzha (Karumadi) shows Buddhist
leanings.These temples might have originated a little later than the early Pallava Temples.
(b).The Structural Temple began to emerge from the ninth century onwards.The temples
of historic importance in this category are those situated at Thirunavaya (NavaMukunda),
Thrissur (Vadakkumnathan), Thiruvanchikulam (Siva), Thiruvananthapuram
(Padmanabha), Tirunelli (Perumal). TheTrivandrum,Thiruvallam and Vizhinjam termples
represent Dravidian style.The temples famous for their mural paintings and woodcarvings
are those of Guruvayur,Trissur.Ettumanur Harippad and Thiruvalla.The normal structural
temples with Srikovil and Mantapa became widespread by the 11
th
Century.
Indigenious Kavus or shrines demonstrate the local tradition, art and culture.
eg.Valliyurkavu (Wayanad district).The churches, Mosques and synagogues are also
important from the historical and artistic points of view.The churches of Udayamperur and
Kanjur bear evidences of indigenous and foreign styles of architecture.Udayamperur was
the venue of the historic synod while Kanjur church has a lamp donated by Shakthan
Thampuran and also a mural painting.The churches of Mulanthurathi and Chepad have
mural paintings.The Catholic churches on the Kerala coast show traces of Portuguese
style. Vasco-da-gama was buried at the St. Francis church, fort Cochin.
The Mosques at Matayi, Kasargod and Kodungallur are of great historical interest.The
Muchuntipalli at Calicut and the Cheraman Masjid at Kodungallur are the most ancient
and shows the influence of indigenous architecture.Of the eight synagogues in Kerala, the
white Jews synagogue of Mattanchery has the rare distinction of possessing the Jewish
copper plates other synagogues are situated at Mala, Parur and Chennamangalam.
The Palaces and forts are of later origin than the temples.The Palaces of Makotai and
Kollam are things of the past.Among the existing historical palaces of Kerala, the most
notable are the Dutch palace (not built by the Dutch, but by the Portuguese) at
Mattancherry, the Krishnapuram palace at Kayamkulam and the Padmanabhapuram palace
at Thucklay (Tamil Nadu).They are best specimens of Kerala style of architecture and
have mural paintings of inestimable value. The Kovilakams of Pazhassi Raja, Kadathanad
Raja, Nilambur Raja and the Samutiri are also of importance.The houses of the Nair &
Nambatri Chieftains like Kavalappara, Desamangalam, Kollenkode, Pumulli are also
notable.
The important forts are built by the Europeans and a few others by the local Rajas.The
Portuguese built the Pallippuram fort (Aykotta) in 1503, St.Angelo in Kannur, Fort manual
at Kochi and Kottappuram at Kodungallur.Aykotta is the oldest surviving European
structure in India.The Bednore Naiks built the forts at Bekal, hosdurg, Kumble and
Kalnad; (Chandragiri).Haidar Ali built the Palakkad fort in 1766.The English built the
Tellicherry fort.The remnants of the Vattakotta, of Marthanda Varma,(the
Nedumkotta).Travancore Lines of Dharmaraja, Udayagiri fort of DLannoy, the Chaliyan
fort of the zamorins etc are also seen.
Historical Sites.
A few historical sites which are of interest are the Cheraman Parambu(Kodugallur),
Thrikkanar Mathilakam (Kodungallur), Karikode (Ernakulam), Kottaparambu
(Kozhikode), Kappad, Mananthavady, (pazhassi)inWayanad,Kottakkal (Kunjali Markkar)
and Lokanarkave in Badagara.The first two are associated with the Cheras,the second with
the Zamorin, third with Vasco-da-gama.
PattanamExcavation
Pattanam is a landlocked rural hamlet located in the Periyar Delta in Eranakulam
district in the southern Indian state ofKerala. It is located 2 km north of North Paravur,
9 km south of Kodungallur and 25 km north of Kochi. Pattanam, a name which means
"coastal town", has ancient origins. It is said to have been first occupied around 1000
BCE and continued to be active till the 10th century CE. 4 m thick soil of this village
conceals the ancient maritime history of the world. The recent archaeological excavations
undertaken by the Kerala Council for Historical Research [KCHR] at Pattanam suggests
that the legendary seaport Muziri Pattanam, better known as Muziris, could have been
located at this small village.
Mucciri Pattanam was situated where Periyar River was cleft into two. The word
Mucciri means Cleft Palate and Pattanam, a name derived fromPrakrit and Pali, means
coastal town in almost all Indian languages. Thus this place got its name Mucciri
Pattanam.
It is not clear however, why Mucciri Pattanam ended its activities as a major trade port
around the middle of the 14th century CE. One theory attributes it to a great flood of 1341
that caused the change of the Periyar River. This resulted in the shifting of this centre of
commerce to other areas like Kochi and Kozhikode. Following this Muciri Pattanam went
into a slumber for many years. Slowly even its position was forgotten. But the name lived,
through writings of ancient mariners and records, through many centuries.
The search for the legendary town Muziris on the Malabar Coast had been focused on
the northern banks of the Periyar river, basing on the literary evidence from Sangam
literature and Periplus of the Erythrean Sea, among others. But nothing had been found to
identify Muziris.
In 2004, Dr. K.P. Shajan, a geoarchaeologist, put forward the hypothesis that the
legendary seaport of Muziris, which was a bustling trading centre during the early historic
period between the first century BCE and the fifth century CE, could have been located at
Pattanam. To substantiate this hypothesis he had the following evidences.
A branch of the Periyar River, called the Periyar Thodu (Periyar canal), runs close
to Pattanam.Satellite imagery, clear geological evidence, indicated that the Periyar
river delta lies on the southern side and the river could have flowed close to Pattanam.
Moreover, the residents of Pattanam regularly used to find a large amount of broken
pottery shards and ancient fired bricks while digging the ground. These evidences indicate
that the Periyar River could have flowed close to Pattanam about 2,000 years ago and
Pattanam is the ancient port town Muziris.
Archaeological Excavations
The site for archaeological research at Pattanam (1009.434N; 7612.587E)
covers about 45 hectares. Due to habitation activities it is a disturbed site; some parts are
partially destroyed due to sand quarrying. The site seems to have been first occupied by
indigenous population around 1000 BC and continued to be active till the 10th century
AD. The AMS 14C analysis of the charcoal and wood samples from the Iron Age layer
and wharf contexts have determined their antiquity as first millennium BC.
The multi-disciplinary and multi-seasonal archaeological research at Pattanam from
2007 undertaken by the Kerala Council for Historical Research (KCHR) is a pioneering
initiative in the history of Kerala Archaeology. British Academy (BASAS) recently
accorded recognition for the formation of an international research group based on
Pattanam.
Square copper coins (on one side an elephant and on the other bows and arrows)
had been found at the site. These types of coins were issued in the beginning of Christian
era. At the same time there is lack of evidence to show that the artifacts unearthed at
Pattanam came specifically from Rome. It is necessary to get information that these are
connected directly to Italy.
Excavated antiquities include Chera coins, Amphora, Terra Sigillatta, and Cameo
Blanks made of semi-precious stones and stone and glass beads in large quantity. Remains
of brick structures made of burned bricks were also found there. A wharf context with a
six m dugout canoe made of anjili wood and bollards made of teak wood and a large
quantity of botanical remains were found.
Excavations 2010
Findings: Antiquities of small size - beads of both semi-precious stones and glass,
pendants or lockets cameo blanks, coins, (predominantly early Chera coins, with symbols
of elephant, bow and arrow) objects or fragments of objects made of iron, copper, lead and
rarely gold, and sherds of Indian and foreign pottery, A broken rim with Brahmi script.
This is the first pre-firing pottery inscription finding at Pattanam.Enormous quantity of
local pottery of the early Historic Period, which is dated between first century BC and 4
th
century AD, showing that this was the peak activity stage of Pattanam.
Excavations 2011
The excavations at Pattanam, the ancient port city of Muziris sheds new light on the life
and times of the ancient Kerala. The finds this year include iron and copper nails, Roman
glass, Chola coins, terracotta and semi precious stone beads.
Archaeology and Criticism
Former Director of the Tamil Nadu State Archaeology Department R. Nagaswamy is of
opinion that it is not yet time to identify Pattanam as Muziris. Kodungallur also is to be
excavated before coming to a conclusion. Archaeology requires a lot of evidence before
arriving at any conclusion.
LOCATING MEGALITHIC SITES
A series of megalithic monuments have been discovered from different parts of
Kerala.Most of them are found erected out of large block of stones as funerary
edifices.Hence they are associated with the cult of the Dead.The important megaliths
found in Kerala are the Dolmens,Cists,Menhirs,Kutakallu,Toppikkallu and rock cut
chambers.The important megalithic sites of Kerala are Edakkal,
Kuppakkolli,Marayur,Sinturuni,Porkalam and Eyyal.Edakkal caves contain interesting
carvings and inscriptions.Researches done by the Deccan college,Pune have revealed stone
artifacts on the riverbeds in Palakkad.Kerala megaliths are ascribed to the period 10
th
BC
to 1
st
AD.
Megaliths are monuments built of granite rocks erected over the burials.The uses of
megaliths have corresponded with the use of iron and the Black and Red ware pottery
(BRW).Hence megaliths belonged to the Iron Age culture.The origin of the megalithic
burials can be traced back to the passage chamber tombs.Kerala megaliths are developed
from the passage chamber tombs.This was followed by the rock cut chamber
tombs,porthole cists and umbrella stones.These chambers are found scattered in many
places in Malabar.Cist burials with pot holes are found in Marayur and other parts of
Idukki district. Port- hole cists are also found in Porkkalam.The cap stones are found
concentrated between river Nila and Periyar.
The antiquity of the Megalithic culture of Kerala and its relations with other cultures
else where are points of debate.As Kerala megaliths show a close resemblance with those
of the Deccan,Scholars suggest an iron using people from the south as its
makers.Anthropologists suggest that the megalithic builders were a people of
Mediterranean origin who came to the west coast by sea, entered south and spread
northward.However H.D.Sankalia relicts the new by stating that both chronologically and
culturally, the European megaliths are found far removed from it south Indian counter
part.
Sankalia has expressed the view that the megalithic builders of Kerala represent a fairly
and well established social organisation.They dug irrigation tanks indicating the
prevalence of agriculture.However evidences of agriculture are limited to a few
ploughshares.But it is doubtful whether they knew the plough technology.Hence it seems
that they adopted paternalism and noniadic life with some amount of subsistence
farming.It has been suggested that Kerala megalithic builders were hunters.The use of
metals seen in burial sites indicates contact with other places and some sort of
exchange.Numerous iron weapons point to frequent wars and plunder.There were wars
between tribes and ever within tribes.It is also suggested that the iron using cultures
subjugated the earlier Neolithic societies.In course of time,the tribes transferred
themselves from hunting and pasterism to agriculture.
Most of the megalithic in Kerala seems to be the developed South Indian
megaliths.Megalithic sites are found scattered, but a few were clistered as near Edakkal
caves where 200 megaliths are found in 1500 acre groud.The discovery of microliths from
Calicut and Cochin shows that Kerla had become the abode of man as early as the
Neolithic age. The pre-historic caves scattered all over Kerala show that their makers were
familiar with tools and implements of iron.Babington has mentioned two caves in Kannur
while Sewell recorded 160 premetive caves in Malabar.According to Y.A.Sharma, these
caves were the remnants of Buddhist and Jain influence in Kerala.
DISTRIBUTION OF INSCRIPTIONS
Epigraphy is the study of inscriptions.It is the most precise and reliable sources of
Kerala history.Compared to the Tamil country, Kerala can boast of a very limited number
of inscriptions.For the early period, we have to rely chiefly up on Tamil Brahmi
inscriptions.The Pallava-Pandya-Chola inscriptions of the 7
th-
8
th
centuries mention the
Cheras.Inscriptions are found in abundance from the 9
th
century.
Inscriptions are found mainly in temples,forts and palaces of Kerala.They are dated in
Kali,Kollam,Parthivapuram and Puthuvaipu eras.Their language is Tamil,Malayalam and
sometimes Sanskrit.Theirscript is Vattezhuthu, Kolezhuthu, Brahmi and Devanagari.They
provide dates, symbols and astronomical details. Inscriptions furnish valuable materials for
the reconstruction of the dynastic history of various kingdoms.They throw light on the
political social and cultural life of the people.They give us insight into the working of
local assemblies, management of temples,tenant-lord relationship,organisation of agrarian
settlements,functioning of trade-corporations and the working of ancient educational
institution.They also indicate the emergence of an agrarian society.They help us to solve
many a puzzle in Kerala history.
There are about more than 150 inscriptions discovered and De ciphered relating to
Kerala History so far.Their full texts and translations have been published in such works
as the Travancore Archaeological series (TAS) 1910, annual report of the Cochin
Archaeological Dept (1927), Rama varma research institute but later scholars like
Dr.Sundaram Pillai, Gopinath Rao, K.V.Subrahmanya Ayyar, Elamkulam and
Dr.M.G.S.Narayanan tried to unravel the mystery behind Kerala inscriptions.
Important Inscriptions.
The historically important Inscriptions of Kerala are associated with the Ay kings,
Cheras of Mahodayapuram,Rulers of Venad, Kochin and Kozhikode.Besides a few
temples,churches mosques and synagogues have their inscriptions of historical value. A
few of such inscription are the following: -
1. Terisappally copperplate-Ayyan Atikal-Venad 849 AD
2. Paliyam copperplate-Vikramadithya Varaguna-Ay 885.AD
3. Parthivapuram inscription-Karunandadakkan-Ay 866.AD
4. Mampilly copperplate Vallabhakotha-chera 973 AD
5. Jewish copperplate Bhaskararavi-2
nd
chera 1000 AD
6. Syrian copper plate-Viraraghava-cochin 1225 AD
Chera Inscriptions.
The vazhapalli inscription of Rajasekhara (820-44) is the earliest pigraphical record of a
Chera king to be discovered from Kerala.The Chokur inscription of Kodaravi (917 947)
contains the earliest.The Avittethur inscription refers to the Kadamkottu Kacham.The
Jewish copper plate of Bhaskara Ravi Varma (1000AD) was issued to Joseph Rubban, the
leader of the Jews.It records the grant of 72 proprietory rights to Joseph Rubban the leader
of Jews.It included the right to Anchuvannam and Manigramam.The inscription bears
evidence of the policy of religious toleration followed by the rules of Kerala.The
Thazhakkad church inscription of Rajasa Khera records the grant of certain trading rights
and privileges to ten Christian merchants-Chathan Vatukan and Iravichathan of
Manigramam.The Ramaswarath Koil inscription (1102 AD) mention the shifting of the
capital from Mahodayapuram to Kollam by Rama Varma Kulasekhara.
Inscriptions of the Ays.
The Huzur of Karunanthadakkan (857885) of the earliest inscription in South India
found dated in the Kali era.It throws light on the working of ancient salais or Vedic
colleges.The Paliyam Copper plate of Vikramaditya Varasuna (885-925) records the
grant of an extensive landed property to the Buddhist of Srimulavasa Vihara by the ruler.It
also alludes the Chera raid on Kerala by Parantaka Chola.The Parthivapuram grant gives
information about the building of the temple.It is important as it mentions for the first time
Kanthalur Salai.
Venad Inscriptions.
The Teresappally Copper plate of Ayyan Atikal Tiruvatikal the Venad ruler is the first
dated inscription (849 AD) of Kerala epigraphy.It describes the gift of a plot of land to
Teresappally and also trading rights over Kollam Nagaram by the Venad governor.The
grant was received by Mar Sapir Iso.It was given in the presence of the representatives of
the state and the guilds.It mentions Manigramam and Anchuvannam.The inscription points
to the subordinate status of Venad as a feudatory of the Perumals.It also shows the
commercial importance of Kollam.It throws light on the provincial administration as it
mentions the local assemblies like the Arunuttavar.It points the system of taxation
prevailed in the kingdom.Moreover the grant reveals the policy of religious toleration
followed by the chieftains of Kerala.It is the most important royal gift to a religious
institution recorded in our history
The Mampalli plate of Vallabha Kotha (974 AD) of Venad is the first available record
dated in the Kollam era.It helps to determine the chronology of the Kerala kings.The other
important inscriptions relating to the Venad rulers are Cholapuram and Suchindram
inscriptions of Kotha Kerala Varma, Kilimanur records of Aditya Varma.Villayani
inscription of Vira Ravi Varma and the Manalikkara inscription of Ravi Kerala Varma.
Inscriptions of the Cochin Rajas.
The Perumpadappu Swarupam (Cochin royal family) had a few inscriptions of historical
value.The Syrian Copper plate (Viraraghava Pattayam) of 1225 issued by Viraraghava, a
ruler of Perumpadappu royal house is the most important one.It confers on the Christians
of Kodungallur a number of privileges and rights.The Christian merchant Iravi Kortanan
was conferred the tittle Loka Perumchetti (The great trader) and also the over lordship of
Manigramam.The Paliyam Copper Plates records the agreement between the Cochin
Raja and the Dutch. E. India Company.It was dated in the Puthuvaipu era.
Inscriptions from Tempels, Churches, Mosques etc.
The temples,churches,mosques,synagogues of Kerala have inscriptions of historical
value.Temple records: The important temple records of a general nature are the
Thiruvilla copper plates.Vadakkumnathan temple records and Kumaranallur temple
records.The temple records of Guruvayur, Kozhikode Tali temple are also of historical
value.TheThiruvalla copper Scrolls mention several institutions and customs of
Kerala.The Thrissur Temple records testifies to the ascendancy of the Namputiris.The
Pattazhi copper scroll (1796 AD) throws light on the temple administration in the 18
th
century.
Church & Other Inscriptions:
Of the Church inscriptions, mention may be made of the Pallavi cross inscription from
the Kadamatam Church & Kottayam Valiyapalli.From Kerala mosques, we have such
inscriptions as the Arabic inscription from Matayi mosque.The synagogues too have
yielded epigraphic evidence.The Jewish copper plate record of Bhaskararavivarma (1000
AD) from the white Jew synagogue at Mattancherry and the Chennamangalam record in
Hebrew dated 1265 AD are the most important in this category.
Inscriptions from outside the State.
There are number of stone inscriptions and copper plates relating to Kerala found from
outside the state.They are 1.Asokas Rock Edict II (GIRNAR) is the earliest epigraphical
record found from outside Kerala.It mentions the ruler of Kerala as Keralaputta.2.The
Aranattumalai inscription from Karur in Tamil Brahmi character mentions three Chera
kings and provides valuable clue to Chera genealogy.3.The Chalukya inscriptions of the
6
th
and 7
th
C. refer to the subjugation of Kerala by the Chalukyas.4.Similarly the Chola and
Pandya inscriptions (Anamalai) throw light on the Chola raids.The Thiruvilangadu plates
of Rajendra Chola refer to the Chola raids on Vizhinjam.5.A number of records have been
found from Kanchi, Srirangam and Poonamala relating to the exploits of Ravi Varma
Kulasekhara.Thus inscriptions are of in estimable value for the reconstruction of the
history of kerala.
Pam Leaf.
When the stone records began to disappear by the 15
th
century, Palm leaf and cadjan
documents replaced them.Temples, palaces and Tharavadus began to yield a number of
records (As Kavalappara, Desamangalam).Most of the records are land deeds Karanams.
Paper records.
The Paper records are also of great value to the historian.The factory records.Tellichery
Consultation, Pazhassi records etc are valuable.The records and diaries of fort St.George,
the Dutch records and the momories, correspondence and travelogues of the British are
also valuable as source materials for the re-construction of history.
NUMISMATICS
Numismatics is the study of coins which are interesting and at times an intriguing
sources of History. It is of great value in reconstructing the history of our land.The coins
contain dates,symbols and legends, which furnish valuable due to the historian.Ancient
Kerala coins bear neither date clue or legend.No Chera coin with the bow emblem have
been found so far.The Venad coins bearing the emblem of the elephant are found.The
chronograms in the coins indicate public events of importance and hence are
valuable.Coins are also valuable to know the nature of commercial transactions in
Kerala.They also reveal the nature of social and economic formation in different periods of
history.
Coins of different types are discovered from various part of Kerala. We have the earliest
known indigenous coins in India the punch marked coins.They are found from
Ankamali,Eyyal,Mala and other places.Roman coins have been discovered from
Kurumbranad,Eyyal,Edamaruku,Niranam,Pala and other places.The collection from Eyyal
contains 13 gold coins.71 Roman Dinorus extending to a period of more than a
century.The abundance of Roman coins indicates the prevalence of trade.Coins are used as
both treasure and ornament.The foreign coins of the caliphate are discovered from
Kothamangalam.The Ceylonese coinsEzhakasu coins issued by Cholas (Anaichu),
Pandyas, Madhura Sulthans (Tulukkakasu) are also found in Kerala.
The history of Kerala Coins goes back to Parasuram who issued a gold coin called Rasi
and arranged for its circulation.Kaliyugarajan was the name of another coin prevailed in
ancient Kerala.The Cholas issued Rasi, Anaichu and Panam, the Madurai Sultans issued
Tulukasu. From the 9
th
Century onwards, we have such coins as Pon,Achu
Panam,Kasu,Tiraman,Alkasu,etc.The Kolathiri and the zamorin issued their own
Panams.The Travancore Rajas issued the gold coins Ananta Narayanan and Ananta
Varahan Panams.The Cochin Raja issued the Puthan.The coins of the Ali Rajas contain
figures and dates in the Hijira era. In the colonial era we have the Dutch copper coins,
Paranki Varahan, Ikkaeri Honnu, the Mahe Panam, Surat Rupee (English) and the
company rupee. Tippu invasion brought Sulthan Kasu to Malabar .Literary works like
Unniachi charitam and inscriptions like Vazhappilly refer to some of these coins.
LITERARY TEXTS
The literary sources are of two kinds - indigenous and foreign.The indigenous
sources are chiefly found in Sanskrit, Tamil and Malayalalm languages.
Sanskrit Works.
Sanskrit works are of immense help in the reconstruction of the ancient & medieval
history of Kerala.The early Sanskrit works like the Aitareya Aranyaka refers to
Cherapada.Ramayana mentions Kerala and also Murichipatanam.Mahabharata mentions a
Kerala king who supplied provisions in the Kurukshetra battle.The Sanskrit grammarians
Patanjali (2
nd
C. BC) and Katyayana (4
th
BC) were familiar with Kerala geography, but not
Panini (7
th
BC). Kautilya mentions river Churni.The Puranas and Raghuvamsa make
mention of the land of Kerala.
For the age of the Perumals and after we have Sanskrit plays and poems yielding
historical material.They became source not by themselves, but through the Attaprakarams
composed for performance in the temples.Their performance reflected contemporary
social values.The dramas of Kulasekhara demonstrate Kerala as a separate political unit
during that period.The Sankaranarayaneeyam (869 AD) help us to determine the
chronology of Sthanuravi.The Mushakavamsa trows light on the early history of the
Mushaka dynasty, besides the Chola raids and also of Srimula vasam The Siva Vilasom
mentions the rulers of the Cochin royal house.The grammatical work Lilathilakam refers
to the rulers of Venad.The Suka Sandesa and Kokila sandesa mention important pilgrim
centres of Kerala. Such works give a glimpse of local tradition and customs of the period.
The Chataka Sandesa refers to the shifting of the capital from Padmanabhapuram to
Trivandrum.The Balamarthanda Vijayam deals with many historical events connected
with the rulers of Travancore.
Tamil Works.
The Tamil literary works of the Sangam Age provide valuable information of the
life of the people in the early centuries of the Christian era.They reflect the picture of a
settleld society.The sangam anthologies comprises 2381 poems by 473 poets. Of the
sangam works, the most valuable for the historian of Kerala are the Pathittupattu,
Akananuru, Purananuru and Nattinai, besides the two epics Cillappadikaram and
Manimekhalai.The Pathittuppattu is a group of 10 poems each in praise of a Chera king by
a poet.It is the most valuable work for the reconstruction of the political history of early
Kerala as each decade of the work eulogises the achievements of a Chera king. Akananuru
is a collection of 400 poems on love and romance dealing with maters Akam
(Heart).Purananuru is another collection of 100 poems dealing with Puram (external)
matters like war and diplomacy.The Kuruntokai and Nattinai also yield some historical
information.The Muthollayiram refers to the Chera capital Vanchi. Of the post Sangam
works Silappadikaram deals with the exploits of Cheran Chenkuttavan. Besides being the
story of Kovilan and Kannaki, this work of Elanko Adikal, (the Chera crown prince) is
considered as the Bible of the Kannaki cult.It mentions Kunavayirkottam, the Jain centre
and corroborates the evidences from Roman writings.Manimekhalai of Sathanar continues
the story of the early epic, as its heroine is the daughter of Madhavi.The celebrated songs
of Auvaiyar, Paranar and Kapilar deal with Kerala life and society.The hymns of Nayanars
and Alwars mentions some of the holy shrines of Kerala.The Perumal-Thirumozhi of
Kulasekhera Allwar gives information of the Chera kingdom, besides the spread of
Vaishnavism.The Thiruvaimozhi of Nammalavar gives details of the Vaishnava shrines of
Kerala.The Periya Puranam of Sekkilar describes the story of Cheraman Perumal.
Malayalam works.
Literary works in Malayalam are available from the 12
th
C.They may be classified
as Sandesa Kavyas, Manipravalam works, Ballads or Pattukal.Manipravalam is a mixture
of Malayalam and Sanskrit.This form of literature ws the predominant trend during the
medieval period (9
th
-15
th
C. Among the numerous types of Manipravalam works, those
written as euologies to Devadasis are historically valuable. Among them the
Unniachicharitam and Unnichirutevi charitam contain detailed accounts of the Devadasis
and throw light on the political and social life of Kerala.The latter is of particular
significance as it describes Kurumatsaram, the struggle of the two Brahmin villages. The
Unniaticharitham describes the early history of the Cochin royal family. The celebrated
Unnunilisandesam is the most important from the historical points of view.It is written in
the form of a message from Aditya Varma the prince to his sweet heart Unnunili.The work
draws lively sketch of medieval Kerala and also the wars and achievements of Venad
rulers Anantapuram varnanam also gives glimpse of local traditions and customs, besides
giving a desemption of Trivandrum and Kantalur Salai. Chandrotsavom throws light on
the social and cultural life of the age.It portrays the life style of the upper classes, besides
several customs and ceremonies.The Sandesa Kavyas in general give geographical
features of Kerala and portrays the life of the people.
The pattu form of literature is the genuine literary form in Malayalam. To this
category belongs the works of Ezhutachan (Kilipattu), Cherusseri (Krishnagatha),
Puntanam (Janappana), Vatakkan Pattukal, Thullal works of Kunchan Nampiyar, the
moplah songs of the Muslims, Kalyana pattukal of the Jews etc.The Patappattu (War
Songs) describes the conflict between the Zamorin and the Cochin Raja and the intrigues
of the Portuguese and the Dutch. They corroborate the official records.The Mamankam
Kilipattu describes the events during the reign of Manavikrama and also a description of
the Mamankam festival.The Chaver Songs like the Kandan Menon Pattu and the
Ramacha Panikker pattu deals with the exploits of Valluvanad heroe.There are also ballads
describing the exploits of Kerala Varma Pazhasi Raja, Marthanda Varma, Raja Kesavadas,
Kunjali Marakkar and Tippu Sulthan, which corrects British records.
The Thullal Works of Kunchan Nambiar allude to several social customs
prevalent in the 18
th
C.They reflect the changes that were taking place in contemporary
society.The structural aspect of Kerala society including caste, occupation, economic
activities, polity and the cultural impact of the Europeans are all well portrayed in the
Thullal songs.The Margam Kilippattu, Kalliana pattukal, Palli pattukal of the Syrian
Christians, the Moplah songs of the Malabar Muslims and the Jewish wedding songs also
yield historical and sociological material.The Margam Kilippattu reflects the St. Thomas
tradition.The Thiruvarangu kilippattu mentions Thomas of Cana.Folk songs constitute
another major untapped source.The songs associated with Theyyam, Thira and other local
art forms are a mine of information for social history.
FOREIGN ACCOUNTS AND CHRONICLES
The description of any country and its people by foreign observes is always valuable as
they corroborate and supplement the indigenous sources.The accounts of foreign travelers
on Kerala may be classified as those of classical Greek and Roman, Chinese and Arab and
European.
The celebrated classical writers of Greece and Rome who make mention of
Kerala are Megasthenes, Pliny, Starbo, Ptolemy and the anonymous author of the
Periplus.The Greek ambassador Megasthanese (4
th
B.C.) refers to the Chera kingdom and
also to the port of Tropina in his work indica.Pliny (1
st
C). In his natural history refers to
the ruler of Kerala as Calobotras while Periplus mentions him as Kerabotras.Ptolemys (1
st
A.D) geography mentions Karoura as the capital of the Cheras.These writers give detailed
information about the thriving trade between Kerala and the Roman Empire.The Peutinger
Tables (225 250 A.D),a set of maps copied from the frescopes of Rome reveal a
prosperous Roman settlement at Muziris.The Lazuntiue mark Cosmos indico-pleustis (6
th
A.D) had the earliest reference to Kollam and the Christians (Topographia indika).The
Roman geographers supplement the Sangam literature.
Chinese accounts.
The Chinese accounts of Wang Ta Yuan and Ma Huan yield historical
information.Hieuen Tsang the Chinese pilgrim seems to have referred to Malabar as
Molokuch, the land of hills.Wang Ta Yuan provides eye witness account Ezhimala and
Calicut (description of the barbarian of the Isles) Ma Huan a Chinese Muslim merchant
(15
th
C. A.D) gives in interesting description of the port and town of Calicut and its
people.He is the first foreign traveller to mention Kochi its rulers and people.
Arab and Persian writing.
The Arab travelers and geographers give us valuable information of Kerala society from
9
th
C onwards.The first notable Arab writer is Sulaiman,the merchant who gives a
description of the Kollam as the most important port in India touched by the Chinese
ships.Ibn Khurdabbeh, another Muslim writer mention Malabar coast as a centre of export
of rice.The Arab writers of the 10
th
century like Ibnul Faquib, Ibn Rusta, Abu Zaid and
Masudi repeat the statements of Sulaiman.Alberunian, illustrations Muslim traveller of the
medieval period is the earliest writer to call our country as Malabar. IDIRISI gives
information of the coastal towns of Malabar.Other travellers like Al Kazwim and
Rashiuddin refer to Kollam, Kolathunad and Mt. Eli respectively.Ibn Batuta who visited
Calicut more than seven times gives us valuable accounts of Calicut, its King, people and
port. He mentions Kollam as one of the finest cities of Malabar. The most objectives of all
the Arab writers, Batutas account is more reliable than of his predecessors.
European Travellers.
The European Travellers began to visit the country from the 13
th
century.Benjamin of
Tudela, a Jewish traveller from Spain gives information of Kollam.The first major
traveller was the Italian Marco Polo (Venice) who traveled through Kerala to China (1294
A.D). He gives picturesque details of the country, its people and natural resources.His
description of Mt.Eli is of particular interest.John of Monte Corvino, the first Roman
Catholic missionary to China records the Commercial predominance of the Muslims of
Kollam. Friar Jordanus (1324) also gives useful account of the land and its people.In his
work Mirabilia Descriptia, Friar Jordanus mentions the extensive trade in spices, the
prosperous Christian community and the policy of religious toleration of the Malabar
rulers.He was the first foreign account of Marumakkathayam. Nicolo Conti, an Italian
traveller (1440 A.D) mentioned the flourishing trade in ginger, pepper and Cinnammon at
the port of Kollam.He was one of the earliest writers to mention Kochi. Abdur Razzack a
notable non-European writer has testified to the predominance of Malabar trade with the
Arabs.Athanasius Nikitin (1468 -74) the Russian traveller describes Calicut.
Foreign literary sources speedly increase as we come to the Portuguese period.For the
Portuguese period we have the commentaries of Albuquerque, the book of Barbosa, travels
of Varthama and Pyarde Laval.They throw light on the life of the people, trade activities in
the ports and related matters and also of the state of affairs in the kingdom.The letters of
the Portuguese missionaries of Kerala, historia de Malabar by Gon Salves, the full text of
the Synod of Diamper are other Dependable sources. For the Dutch period we have the
memories of the Dutch administrators of Kerala like Van Rheede, Nieuhoff, and the letters
from Malabar by Visscher, accounts of Tavernier, Foster and above all Hortus
Malabaricus giving information on the Flora of the Malabar Coast.For the British period
we have the Tellicherry consulations (26 vols.)The report of the joint commissioners of
Malabar, Buchanans journey and the land of the Perumals by Francis Day and the notes
of Mateer.
Literary sources became abundant when we come to the modern period.With the
publication of a number of contemporary accounts, biographies novels, plays.The
publication of periodicals and journals ushered in an era of exhaustive study.The archival
collections provide and the Valuable sources.The reports of the Archaeology Dept are also
available.The compilation of such works as the Travancore Archaeological series (1910-
39) (TAS), Rama Varma Research Institute bulletin (RVRIB) annual reports of Epigraphy,
Kerala society papers (1928-33),annual reports of the Archaeological survey of India
(ASI) are useful for the reconstruction of the history of Kerala.
Place Names.
The study of place names help us to know the history of a particular
area.Geographical unities are given names on the basis of geographical peculiarities like
presence of rivers, lakes and mountains, forts, places and markets.Thus we have a number
of place names ending with Kad (Palakkad, Mannarkkad, Chavakkad) Kulam (Ernakulam,
Kunnamkulam) alluding to the existence of forests and ponds.The existence in a region is
indicated by reference to Kode (Kozhikode, Azhikode) similarly Angadi and Chanta
indicates market place (Parappangadi, Meenchanta).The elevated regions are indicated by
such words as Poyil,Meethas and Medu and elevated garden lands by Parambu.Habitation
centres are indicated by Cheri and Ur. Existence of custom centres are shown by Petta and
Chungam.Place indicated Pally denotes Church or Buddhist educational centre.A careful
study of place names of a region could indicate the type of habitation,economic activities,
political importance, social and cultural features of a region.
HISTORIOGRAPHICAL TRENDS
You are already familiar with the word History as something related to the past,
dealing with the achievements and failures of man.History traces mans growth from
barbarism to civilization.But historiography is something different and distinct.It is also
History, but with a difference.Its subject matter is historians and historical writing.It is
concerned not with what history is nor how to write history, but how history has been
writtern.
The evaluation of the historical works in the form of historiography as a separate
branch was started in the 19
th
centuary Europe.The historiographical studies in India was
initiated during the colonial period which became more rigorous in the 20
th
century.Still,no
serious efforts were made in Kerala to evaluate the works of the yesterdays writers,aparts
from scanty attempts done here and there.Even these attempts were done not to make a
serious evaluation of the works,but to draw information.Here an attempt is done to
familiarize the students of history with the earlier works pertaining to the history of
Kerala.
EARLY HISTORICAL CONSCIOUSNESS:
Mushaka Vamsa Kavya.
Mushaka Vamsa Kavya, a Sanskrit poetical work written by Atula, the court poet of
Srikanta, the Mushaka king of Ezhimala.It was composed in the 11
th
century.It describes
the history of the Mushaka kingdom from its foundation to the time of Srikanta, the patron
(11
th
C.) Divided in to 13 Sargas, Mushakavamsa describes in detail the chronology,
genealogy and history of the Mushaka kings.It also refers to the establishment of cities and
temples, conduct of wars, suppression of revolts, marriage alliance, rule of succession and
the kings patronage of arts and letters and religion.The Kavya is important as the earliest
survival of an independent work of dynastic and regional history in Sanskrit literature
produced almost a century before Kalhanas Rajatarangini.It is also valuable as a source
book for the reconstruction of Kerala History.It is worth as proof of a native
historiographic tradition.The author of this work, Atula may be regarded as the Morning
star of Kerala Historiography.
Ballads.
The Northern Ballads (Vatakkan Pattukal) deal with the exploits of medieval heroes
and heroines.They give us interesting glimpses of the social customs and institutions of
medieval Kerala.The Thacholi vallads describe the fortunes of Thacholi Othenan while the
Puthuram Pattukal narrates the adventures of Aromal Chekavar.Just like that of the
Northern Ballads,we have the Southern Ballads.They include the prayers to God and
certain historical subjects.The important Southern Ballads are the Anchutampuram Pattu
and Iravikutty Pillai Pattu.The former is about the internal problems of the royal family of
Travancore during the 16
th
century and the latter is about the hero Iravikutty Pillai,the
minister to the King of Travancore,who had fought heroically against the army of the
Madurai Naiks at the time of their attack against Travancore during the 17
th
century.
Granthavaris.
Granthavaris are sets of documents.They deal with transactions in temples and
royal households.The Mathilakam record is one such document.It relates to Padmanabha
temple.Thiruvananthapuram.We have also Kozhikode Granthavari, which relates to the
Zamorin.There are records relating to Vanneri Illam, Peruvanam Temple Pattazhi temple
and Nilampur Kovilakan. Documents of feudal chieftains like Kavalappara Nair and
Paliath Achan are also to be included in this category.The Payyannur Pattola describes
incidents in North Kerala.
USE OF TRADITIONS AS A SOURSE
We,Keralites,have a history as ancient as those of Egypt,China,Babylon, Greece or
Rome.However we have no such historians as Herodotus or Thucydides,Livy or Tacitus or
Sou-ma-chin.What our forefathers have taught and learnt as history is nothing but legends
and myths and traditions.We have such legendary works -Keralolpathi and
Keralapazhama.
Keralolpathi.
Keralolpathi is the traditional work dealing with the history of Kerala.It is a prose work
in Malayalam, believed to have been written in the 16
th
century.It has been accepted until
recently as the main source of information for the history of Kerala.It has three sections
dealing with the Parasuramas creation of Kerala, rule of the Perumals and the wars and
achievements of the Zamorins. It also deals with the theory of foreign Perumals, partition
of Kerala by the last Perumal and the rise and growth of the Naduvazhis.It propounded the
theory that the land of Kerala originally belonged to the Brahmins and it was a gift of the
God, Gods own country.
Kerala Mahatmyam.
Kerala Mahatmyam is a Sanskrit work written in verse.It forms part of the
Brahmandapurana.It consists of 2217 couplets grouped into 100 sections.It was written in
the form of a conversation between Garga and Yudhishtira of Mahabharata fame.It deals
with events and personages belonging to an early period.However, it was composed only
in the 18
th
century.It mentions the settlements of the Kankanis in Kerala from Goa.
As sources of history, both these works have not any real value.These works were
composed by court poets and have as their aims (i) the glorification of patrons and
dynasties and (ii) support to orthodoxy.They deal with events and personages supposed to
belong to early periods.However, they are not contemporary works giving valid historical
facts.They abound in historical inaccuracies, improbabilities and anachronisms. William
Logan rejects the work as a farrago of legendary nonsense.According to him,
Keralolpathi had the only aim of securing to the Brahmin castes unbounded powerand
influence.To K.P. Padmanabha Menon, Keralolpathi is a ill digested and uncollated
collection of different versions huddled together in confusion.Further it has no
chronological accuracy as it refers to events of a dateless past or that happened long ago
(Pandu) and thus refers to a single Age.While the earlier Mushakavamsa has verse as the
medium.Keralolpathi adopts prose.Atulas work resembles more Raghuvamsa while
Keralolpathi that of the Puranas.While Athula deals with the history of a single dynasty,
the author of Keralolpathi deals with the history of a Desa, a region.The real value of the
work lies in the fact that it contained the native Hindu view of history, the native
historiographical tradition.They are valuable as a mine of half forgotten native usages and
customs.In the absence of trustworthy first hand evidence tradition may be accepted as
ground work of history.
The traditional sources have been until recently the mainstay for the re-construction of
Kerala history.We have several localised tradition for the origin of temples, Churches and
mosques.The traditions of Parasurama, St.Thomas, Cheraman Perumal, Thacholi Othenan,
Pazhassi Raja and Kunjali Marakkar are some of them.Most of the traditions have been
recorded in medieval times, although they might have been part of the folk tradition even
earlier.Parasurama Tradition exist all along the west coast, carried by the migratory
movements of the Brahmins.His identify is still to be settled.We have more concrete
evidence regarding the social formations of the 32 Brahmins settlements.There is no
evidence of the same in Keralolpathi.However we have evidence from inscriptions to
support Keralolpathi statements of Tali, Kazhakams and Perumals.We have no evidence
regarding the partition of Kerala by the Perumal. But this may indicate the rise of
Natuvazhis of Kozhikode, Kolathunad and also the growing influence of Islam.In fact,
works like Keralolpathi have been composed only after the 16
th
century based on local
traditions, and vested interests might have incorporated the Parasurama and other
traditions in them. Although we cannot reject outright the traditional songs as fiction and
legend, we have to use structural analysis in unravelling the reality inherent in the sources.
HISTORICAL WRITINGS IN THE MODERN PERIOD:
Manuals.
From myths, legends and traditions, from historical Kavyas and treatises, we may now
pass over to the second stage of Kerala historiography that of manual writers and court
chroniclers.The earliest work in this category is Kerala Pazhama of Hermen Gundert.It
deals with the history of the Portuguese power in Kerala from 1498 to
1531.K.P.Padmanabha Menons Kochirajya charitram(1868) gives a continuous
description of the history of Cochin for the first time.Shankunny Menons History of
Travancore (1878) is the earliest of the regular historical works in English. Logans
Malabar Manual (1887) is another landmark.Nagam Aiyyas Travancore State Manual
(1906), and C. Achuta Menons Cochin State Manual (1911) are also remarkable.The
Malabar District Gazetteers by Innes and Evans (1908) and T.K.Velupillais revised
edition of Travancore State Manual are also to be mentioned.The early manuals suffered
from two glaring defects.They aimed at the glorification of the patrons dynasty. They
further tried to support orthodoxy.
William Logan.
Logan was very different from the early manual writers.Logan compiled his Manual of
the District of Malabar (2 vols 1887) at a time when Malabar was already under the grip
of the British.Hence,unlike the earlier writers, he has no need to glorify the rulers
dynasty, but to champion established order under centralised authority.His administrative
experiences (he was the District Collector of Malabar) enabled him to have an easy access
to sources and to have an on-the-spot-study of events and personalities.
Logans Manual is an official one and contains all important details of the district of
Malabar.It describes the geographical features, fauna and flora of the district, its religion,
customs and manners of the people.And above all the history of the region -traditional
history as well as History from other sources.It is an authentic historical work on the
region.Logan consulted important foreign accounts on Malabar and showed keen interest
in folklore and folk life.His manual reflected contemporary society.It also adapted and
incorporated informations from geology, anthropology, archaeology, and economics.It is
unique as it included for the first time not only political details but also social and
economic. Logan provided a detailed study of the Nair territorial organisation of
Kerala.He traced the colonial rivalry and British Supremacy from contemporary
writings.Although a British administrator, he never missed an opportunity to point out the
errors and omissions of the British officials. Logan was the first writer to view the moplah
outrage us originated from agrarian discontent. In short, Logans Manual is not just a
compilation of the available materials.His wide knowledge; administrative experience and
sympathetic understanding of the land and its people made it a monument of his erudition
over a century in this land. His manual remained a model and inspiration to his successors
and became the basis of later studies on Kerala.
Gazetteers.
Gazetteer literally means a geographical index or a geographical dictionary.They
contain detailed information on all aspects of life physical, historical, political, economic
and social. They will be a real aid and guide to admionistrators and scholars and will also
serve as a source of authentic information on the history and life of the people of a cities,
towns and districts of the country. The Kerala Gazetteers Department, which has
republished the History of Travancore, is engaged in the compilation of Gazetteers.The
District Gazetteers of Trivandrum, Trichur, Kozhikode, Kollam, Ernakulam, Palghat,
Kannur, Kottayam, Allapuzha and Malappuram have been released. The pioneer venture
of the preparation of the state Gazetteer of Kerala was undertaken by the Department in
1984. The Gazetteer by its nature provides all with the knowledge of the rich heritage of
Kerala. It has an important role in educating public opinion and thus strengthening the
foundations of our national life. The first and second volumes of the State Gazetteer of
Kerala have published. They are conceived and devised in such a manner as to serve as an
invaluable information covering various aspects of life in the State.
Pachu Muthathu.
Among the early works on Kerala History, the foremost is Thiruvitamkur
Charithram written by Pachu Muthathu in 1867.The work is remarkable as it made an
extensive use of source materials like the Granthavaris,writings of officials and local
ballads.His concept of history is reflected in his writings.To him History is a truthful
explanation of the character and the good deeds of great men, and also of landed
properties.History shall confine to truth and nothing but truth and provide an explanation
of truth.
Shankunny Menon
The work of Shankunny Menon A History of Travancore published in 1878 is the
next milestone in the growth of Kerala Historiography.The presence of British power and
the spread of English education necessitated the writing of history books in English
language.Menons work fulfilled the need of the hour.In projecting Travancore rulers to
limelight. Menon tried to highlight the greatness of Travancore sovereigns to the English
people.His book is notable for the following:
He consulted all available documents of history like govt records, cadjan leafs, copper
plate inscriptions from different parts of the country like Trichy, Kovai, Tanjore and
Madras.He prepared himself notes and authorised others to collect information.He too
treated history as history of kings and dynasties and concentrated on political events &
personalities.However in the absence of concrete evidences, Menon depended upon
legends and traditions. In spite of these, his work is the earliest of the regular historical
works in English.
K.P.Padmanabha Menon
K.P. Padmanabha Menon was the harbinger of this new trend.He was the first historian
of Kerala to distinguish history from myths and legends.He made a distinction between
Traditional History and History from other sources. To him, history is based on truth and
documents are essential to corroborate the facts of History.Although he inherited the
passion for History from his father Sankunny Menon,the sons outlook was
different.Menons outstanding works were Kochirajyacharitram (1912),
Marumakkathayam committee Report (1908) and History of Kerala (4 vols). His
Memorandum and Report on Marumakkathayam are based on extensive research and has
intrinsic value as historical documents.His Kochirajyacharitram is the first of its kind, the
first historical work in Malayalam giving a continuous narration of regional
history.However his monumental work was History of Kerala and he compiled it at a time
when there was no formal state of Kerala as such.It was written in the form of notes to
Visschiers Letters from Malabar.
K.P.P. Menon has brought new dimentions to historical studies.Hither to history of
Kerala is history of kings and dynasties lacking in social out look. Menon was the first to
appreciate history as the record of human cultural evolution.To him, history was
enquiry.Menon was the first to use records as basic documents of History and discarded
myths and legends. Moreover, he had an integrated vision of Kerala. His age was not rip
for writing an integrated history of Kerala, but Menon had the vision and the talent and he
collected materials for such a stupendous task in future.Menon also stressed the need for
interdisciplinary approach to explain historical problems.He provided the starting point for
Elamkulam and others. He strode like a colossus along the paths of Kerala historiography.
Elamkulam P.N. Kunju Pillai
Prof Elamkulam P.N. Kunju Pillai, as you know, began the tradition of historical
writing from where K.P. Padnabhamenon has left. He brought a vast change in the
historiographical outlook on Kerala history. Although not a professional historian (he was
a linguist), his researches spread in to the entire range of Kerala history. His most
important works include Annathe Keralam, Keralacharithra Irulatanja Etukal, Chila
Keralacharithra Prasnangal.A collection of his Malayalam articles were translated into
English under the name Studies in Kerala history. His works are the result of scientific
study of all available lingustic literary and inscriptional evidence and throws new light on
many a dark period of Kerala history. For the firsrt time, we have a connected
chronological history of Kerala from the Sangam to Portuguese period. He brought to light
the Sangam age and the Aintinai concept. He lighted the torch and showed us the classical
age of the Perumals of Mahodayapuram from the 9
th
to the 12
th
centuries AD.Temple was
recognised as a dominant institution in medieval Kerala. Elamkulam also took up the study
of the socio economic history of Kerala in a systematic way.He brought forward new
hypothesis regarding the chola invasions, the Chera capital, Kolam era, matrilineal
succession and the origin of land lordism and Brahmin domination.On the whole he
initiated the scientific study of Kerala history with the help of inscriptional evidence.
Sardar K.M. Panikkar
K.M. Panikkar was an internationally famous historian from Kerala. A diplomat turned
historian, Panikkar was prolific writer and had to his credit more than 100 works.Though
not a professional or practicing historian Panikkar had a rare and imaginative vision of
history.He was not a specialist and his works covered almost all aspects and periods of
history-geopolitics.Asiatic history, ancient and modern India and of course Kerala
history.Some of his most important works are survey of Indian history, Asia and western
Dominance, history of Kerala. He was first a Keralite, then a moderate natioanalist, a geo
politician and an Asianist.A non-practising historian, history was his past time. He
gathered materials for his projects as Kerala history from Portuguese and Dutch archives
and brought such works as Malabar and the Portuguese; Malabar and the Dutch.In these
works, Panikkar saw Kerala as a whole, at a time when the movements for a united Kerala
was gaining ground. He also penned two historical novels on Kerala-Paranki Patayali and
Kerala Simham, the former a socio historical piece set in the history of Cochin and the
latter on Pazhassi Raja, the valiant fighter against the British, in short, K.M. Panikkar
strode along the huge span of history like a colossus, but with imagination and insight.
Contemporary Writings.
Based on the new source materials, attempts were made by present historians of Kerala to
reinterpret and reconstruct the history of Kerala. While the early historians gave predominance to
legends and myths, the new historians tried to discard them and write history on scientific lines.
They also tried to adopt an interdisciplinary approach by taking materials from sociology,
anthropology and the like. Moreover they are trying to give a theoretical framework to historical
problems with the motto no theory, no history.While early historians gave precedence to political
events and dynastic history, the present trend is to focus on social formations and cultural
evolution. Valid historical theories are used to interpret historical data. New tools of analysis are
used and new interpretations are adopted. Moreover an attempt has been made to bring Kerala
history and historiography into the national stream.
The most outstanding historians are A. Sreedhara Menon, who co-ordinated the works of
Elamkulam and brought the first popular history of Kerala as early as 1967,Prof. M.G.S.
Narayanan who brought new dimensions and interpretations to the ancient and medieval history of
Kerala, in such works as perumals of Mahodayapuram Aryanisations of Kerala. Cultural
Symbiosis in Kerala and the story of Calicut.A host of scholars have adopted the Marxian
interpretation of history.They include K. Damodaran, EMS Nambudiripad, Monographs were
brought on various aspects by scholars like Robin Jeffrey (Decline of Nair Dominance in Kerala),
Burton Stein (South Indian Temples), Stella Kramisch (Kerala Architecture) Dr. K.K.N. Kurup
(Kayyur Riot, Pazhassi Samarangal). Subaltern studies, micro & macro level studies, studies on
peasant movements.Dalits, folklore, Primitive arts were being undertaken. There were a few
sociological and anthropological studies those of Thurston, L.K. Ananthakrishna Aiyyar, L.A.
Krishna Aiyyar, and A Aiyyappan Among the historians of a general nature.New dimensions
and new interpretations, new concepts and theories are brought to explain many a vexed problems
in Kerala history.Many unexplored areas are brought under study and new lights have been
thrown on many a dark corner of Kerala history.
UNIT-II
EXPERIENCING STATE
PERUMALS OF MAHODAYAPURAM
A new epoch in the history of Kerala began in the 9
th
C. AD with the establishment
of the second Chera kingdom and the rule of the Perumals.The rulers of the kingdom were
called as the Perumals or at sometimes as Kulasekharas.They were an illustrious line of
kings and ruled over Kerala from 800 AD to 1124 AD.They had founded their capital near
the ancient city of Vanchi, close to the old harbour city of Muciris or Muziris, the present
day Kodungallur.It was called Makotai or Mahodayapuram in Sanskrit works, Muziri by
travellers and Muyirikode in inscriptions.Built around the great Siva temple of
Tiruvanchikulam,the only pilgrim centre of the Saivaite Nayanars in Kerala,
Mahodayapuram became a great metropolis, the seat of the Perumals who revived the
glory of the early Cheras of Makotai and hence are called as the later Cheras and their
kingdom as second Chera kingdom.They were used to be called Kulasekharas as the
founder of this dynasty seems to be one Kulasekhara.With the rule of the Kulasekharas of
Mahodayapuram, Kerala emerged in the full limelight of history as the distinct political
and cultural entityThe revival of the Chera kingdom in the 9
th
century may be regarded as
a by-product of the Aryan Brahmin settlement and the symptom of the socio-political
dominance that they had established.
The foundation of the Chera kingdom and the rule of the Perumals have to be
linked with the growth of an agrarian society.The Brahmin settlements of Kerala were
aided and supported by the local Naduvazis (Chieftains).It resulted in the growth of a new
social and economic relation which is quite unsuitable for the existing tribal social
order.The distribution of Brahmin settlement and their interaction with one another created
a situation of a state within a state or a system outside the purview of tribal polity. A new
form for political authority was the need of the hour. The Perumals were invested to fulfil
this role-i.e. to ensure the consolidation of the Brahmins as land owners, ritual authority
over the people.The new land owners were to be brought under the political control of the
new rulers.
Chera Chronology:
There were 13 kings belonging to this kingdom.Their chronology is a puzzle to
historians. Scholars like V.K.R. Menon, Gopinath Rao and K.A. Nilakanta Sastri consider
Sthanu Ravi as a contemporary of Aditya Chola. Epigraphists like Ramanatha Aiyar
suggest a time bracket (300 1102) to the Cheras.Prof.Elankulam suggests that the
Kulasekhara was a hereditary title and also the name of the first king.However MGS
Narayanan says that there was no Kulasekhara as the first ruler and he propounds a time
bracket (800 1122).The date of Sthanuravi is the sheet anchor of Chera chronology and
the Teresappally copperplate was executed in the 5
th
regional year of Sthanuravi.
IMPORTANT RULERS
Kulasekhara Alwar (800-820 A.D).
He is regarded as the first ruler of the 2
nd
Chera kindom.He started his rule around
800 AD.The exact date of the commencement of the Perumal rule and its founder are
points of debates among historians.Although Cheramanar is mentioned in the Pandyan
inscriptions, there is no reference to his name or details.He is described as the ruler of
Kolli, the master of Kudal, the ruler of Kozhi and the overlord of Kongu regions.He styled
himself as the lord of Mahodayapuram and the Crest Jewel of the Chera dynasty.
He is identified with Kulasekhara Alwar, the celebrated Vaishnava saint.He was
attracted to Vaishnavism by Nammalvar himself.It is believed that Kulasekhara left Kerala
on a pilgrimage visiting Srirangam. Tirupathi, Ayodhya and other places and finally
settled down at Brahmadesam in the Pandya kingdom where he died at the age of 67.A
profound scholar in Sanskrit and Tamil, he sang several devotional songs praising Vishnu
in the form of Rama and Krishna.The Bhakti cult found its sublime literary expression in
his Mukundamala in Sanskrit and Perumal Tirumozhi in Tamil.The latter consists of 105
verses and forms part of the Vaishnavaite Divya Prabandham.The verses on Rama in this
collection are particularly fascinating.Hence Kulasekhara Alwar is said to have
anticipated.Kambar, the author of Tamil Ramayana.His teachings and verses constitute a
major influence in the development of Vaishnavism in Kerala. He is also credited with the
authorship of three dramas in Sanskrit-Tapati Sam Varanam, Subhadra Dhananjayam and
Vischinnabhishekam and also a prose work by name Ascharya Manjeri. A versatile genius
this Kulasekhara is one of the greatest figures in the history of Vaishnavism.
Rajasekhara Varman (820 844 AD).
He was the second ruler of the second Chera kingdom.His reign is significant in
Kerala epigraphy as we have an important inscriptions related his period.The Vazhappilly
copper plate as it is called is the first epigraphical record of the Cheras.It was significant
that the Kollam era came in to vogue in Kerala during the reign of Rajasekhara.The great
Advaitha philosopher Sankaracharya seems to be a contemporary of this Chera ruler.
Rajasekhara Varman is often identified with the famous Saivaite saint Cheraman
Perumal Nayanar whose story is narrated in the Tamil work Periyapuranam.According to
Periyapuranam,the Perumal was born as the son of a Chola prince and a Chera princess at
Kodungallur.With no ancestral throne to look forward to, the young prince spent his
boyhood at Thiruvanchikulam and is said to have obtained many miraculous
powers.However, he was installed on the Chera throne by his uncle.The new ruler
established friendly relations with Pandyas,the Pallavas and others.Later he went on a
pilgrimage to Chidambaram and Tiruvarur.Sundaramurthi, the great Saiva saint conceived
a great liking for him and became his inseparable companion.The young prince continued
his sojourn and finally reached Madurai where he was well received by the Pandya
king.Visiting other shrines of S. India, the Perumal returned by way of Perur, Palani and
Thrissur to Kodangallur where he rebuilt the temple of Tiru Vanchikulam.A great
exponent of Saivism.Cheraman Perumal alias Raja Sekhara is associated with the partition
of Kerala and the Cheraman sword.
Sthanuravi Varma (844 885).
Sthanuravi Varma, the third of the Chera line was one of the most outstanding
rulers of Kerala.He figures in the Teresapalli copper plates (849 AD), which was issued in
the 5
th
regnal year of Sthanu Ravi.Hence the date of Sthanuravi is helpful for the
reconstruction of Chera Chronology.The date of Sthanuravi is the sheet anchor of Chera
Chronology. A contemporary of Aditya Chola, Sthanuravi had cordial relations with the
Cholas.He helped them in their fight against the Pallavas as is evidenced from the
Tillaishtanam inscription.With Sthanuravi began a period of Chera-Chola friendship which
lasted for a century and a half.The Cholas gladly accepted the Chera friendship and
cemented their friendship with a matrimonial alliance.Like his predecessor Sthanuravi was
a patron of Saivism.A liberal patron of astronomy his court was adorned by Sankara
Narayana.Sulaiman the Arab merchant who visited the kingdom had testified to the
economic prosperity of the land.
Successors of Sthanu Ravi.
Sthanu Ravi was followed by a number of successors.Ramavarma was a patron of
Yamak Kavyas and Masudi the foreign traveller visited Kerala during his reign.By the
time of Godaravi, the Cheras had become an imperial power (?) and the stage was set for
the Chera-Chola conflict.Bhaskara Ravivarmans reign is significant for (i) the beginning
of the Hundred years war and (ii) Jewish copper plate grant Vira Kerala was associated
with Manimangalam inscription and Rajasimha with Tazhakkad Church inscription.He
was followed by Bhaskara Ravi III, Ravi Varma and finally by Rama Varma Kulasekhara,
the last of the Perumals of Mahodayapuram.
Chera-Chola Wars
The Age of the Perumals witnesses an epic struggle with the neighbouring Chola
monarchs.The conflict lasted for about a century and produced far-reaching results in the
history of Kerala.This conflict is sometimes referred as Nuttantu Yudham or Hundred
years War by Prof. Elamkulam and others.The Chera Chola confrontation is part of the
old three cornered game of Dravidian politics.The immediate provocation for the War
was the granting of political asylum to Mara Varma Pandya by the Cheras. Another cause
was the absorption of the Ay Kingdom in the Chera Empire.Thus Trivandrum became a
part of the Chera kingdom and Vizhinjam the old metropolis of the Ays became the
southernmost port and fortress of the Chera realm.The strengthening of the defences of the
kingdom by the Chera was not liked by the Cholas.The loosening of the bonds of
sympathy between the two was already there.
The Cheras had maintained cordial relations with the Cholas during the time of
Sthanuravi and after.This lasted for more than 1 century.The Cholas who were just rising
to power were glad to receive any and every help that they could get.They cemented their
friendship by marriage alliance.Rama Varmas daughter was married to Parantaka
Chola.This alliance secured the neutrality of Cheras when the Cholas had to fight against
the Pandyas.Thus almost throughout the 10
th
Century the relations between the Cholas and
the Cheras retained a superficial cordiality. However under Godavari, the Cheras had
become an important military power in the South and the so-called cordial relations broke
down.A Chola raid had already taken place under Parantaka who invaded North West
Kongunadu, Indukotha retaliated by sending the Chera army to recover Nanjinad.The
death of Parantaka (955 AD) gave peace for the next 30 years.
The reign of Bhaskara Ravi Varma (960 1012) witnessed the beginning of the
prolonged conflict.When Raja Raja Chola attacked Kandalur Salai, the ancient sent of
learning, it was the prelude to the momentous conflict.By a bold diplomatic move,
Bhaskara Ravi secured the support of the financially well and commercially important
Jewish community and started preparation for the struggle. However Raja raja won a great
victory over the Cheras in 999 AD and struck a blow at the Chera prestige by conquering
Kottar, Kanya kumari and practically the whole of South Travancore.In the course of these
expeditions, he captured Vizhinjam, the permanent abode of the Goddess of victory (thus
says Tiruvilangadu plate), destroyed the city of Kollam and stormed the strong fortress of
Udagi.His attack on Kantalur earned for him the title Kantalur Salaikalam Arutha
Mannan, Rajaraja Tevar.The battle seems to have been a skirmish, which gained a few
square kilometers of villages and rice paddy fields to the Cholas.The newly subdivided
provinces were formed in to a separate administrative division called Rajaraja
Pandinadu.However by the time of Rajendra Chola,the Cheras had reconquered South
Travancore and send an army to Ceylon against the Cholas. So Rajendra had to conquer
back Ceylon and in 1019 AD he sacked Vizhinjam and Kantalur.The Chola forces
advanced to the north and a decisive battle was fought to capture the Chera capital of
Makotai.No battle in India has been more disastrous to the Vanquished.It is believed that
Bhaskara Ravi Varma I was either slain in this battle or fled to Santimadvipu.
The war with the Cholas continued under Vira Kerala (1621-28).In1028, Rajaraja
came to Kerala and won several victories.The Manimangalam inscription (1046 AD)
records that Vira Kerala was seized barbarously executed by being trampled to death
under the feet of the state elephant.The Chera power suffered eclipse for more than half a
century.The succeeding rulers acknowledged Chola hegemony, though Bhaskararavi III
and Ravi Varma (1043-82, 1082-90) made sustained efforts to regain their lost freedom. A
war of liberation ensued, resulting in the recovery of Vizhinjam and Mahodayapuram
rebuilt.Hence Kalothinga Chola had to start a fresh to subdue the Chera strong holds.
Ramavarma Kulasekhara (1090 -1102), the last of the Perumals of Makotai started
a war of liberation.He rallied under the Chera banner all patriotic forces.The Chera army
was transformed itself in to suicide squads (Chavers).It was an epic struggle for
independence.During the long war that followed, Mahodayapuram was burnt and it
became a city of ruins. Consequently Rama Varma was forced to shift his headquarters
from Mahodayapuram to Kollam where he marched against Kulothunga Chola and
defeated him and the latter was forced to retreat towards Kottar.This marks the virtual end
of Chola domination over Kerala.Thus Rama Varma was able to turn the tide of war in
favour of the Cheras and to him goes the credit of giving the first fatal blow to Chola
imperialism.
Results.
The prolonged war with the Cholas weakened Chera power and paved the way for
the rapid disintegration of the Chera kingdom.Kerala lost political unity after the so called
Hundred Years War.The war lead to the rise of new principalities.By the 12
th
Century,
Kerala was split up in to a number of petty kingdoms.Precedence was eventually taken by
the ruler of Eranad who established the kingdom of Calicut under the title Zamorin.A few
years later, a Chera king appeared in Kollam and established the Venad
kingdom.Following their example, many Naduvazhis declared their independence and
founded kingdoms.The Chera Empire was mortally wounded. Communications and
cultivation had been interrupted.Foreign trade collapsed, Kodungallur was abandoned.
It led to far reaching economic, social and cultural changes.It led to an enormous
increase in the influence of the Namputiris. In the exigencies of the War, Janmi system
took shape in Kerala; The Makkathayam system gave way to Marumakkethayam.The
system of Kalaris and Chavers sprang up.It led to a decline of foreign contacts of
Kerala.The disappearance of the centers of learning and the neglect of temples led to a
stagnation in the field of culture.In short, the old order gradually changed and a new epoch
of the Naduvazhis was ushered in.
Decline of the Second Chera Empire
The disintegration of the second Chera kingdom had taken place during the 12
th
Century.This had been attributed two main factors.The continuous Chera Chola war
resulted in the disintegration.The Chera Chola conflict weakened the Chera power and a
central authority was rendered difficult.The story of the Hundred Years War is not
tenable.The Cholas only conducted intermediary raids over parts of Kerala.The Cheras
later accepted the overlordship of the Cholas.The raid of Kulothinga Chola was confined
only to the southern extreme of Kerala and could have effected the rest of the kingdom.
Tradition attributes the decline to the partition of the kingdom by the last of the
Chera rulers.The Cheraman legend has it that the last Perumal viz.Cheraman partitioned
his country and there after proceeded to Mecca to embrace Islam. The Cheraman story is
not tenable.There is nothing to show that the Perumal exercised absolute authority of the
land in order to divide the kingdom. Perumal held the position at the apex of a complex
system of land relations and thus could be sustained only in so far as the land relations
required it.
The disintegration had taken place due to the factors associated with the growth of
agrarian society.The spread of Brahmin settlements, rise of new temple Sanketams, growth
of the Naduvazhis and their association with local chieftains, overseas trade and its impact
on the fortunes of the governing class, role of the local assemblies in preserving the
agrarian order these and other factors were linked to the Chera disintegration.In fact the
weak central authority of Cheras was replaced by the stable local authority of the
Naduvazhis who became the centre of the new agrarian order.
Administration.
The administrative set up of the Perumals was in conformity with the classical
Hindu political style.It adopted the nest features of the Mauryan polity in several and
Chola system in some respects.The inscriptions of the time provide valuable evidence of
the administration.Monarchy was the prevailing form of government.The Perumal was at
the head of the administrative hierarchy. He bears such royal titles as the Perumal.
Manukuladitya, Kulasekhara, indicating Sanskrit influence.He also bears the title
Keraladhinatha, overlord of Kerala and Mahodayapura Parameswara, the lord of
Mahodayapuram.He came to the throne by patrilineal system of inheritance, the eldest
male member ascending the throne. He is the fountain of honour and justice. He is the
leader both in war and peace.
The Perumal ruled the country with the help of four Brahmin ministers called Tali
Adhikarikal.They resided in the four great temples of the city as officials.The four Talis
functioned as the leaders of the 32 Brahmin villages and functioned in an advisory
capacity to the Perumal.The four Talis were Mel Tali, Kizhtali, Nediyatali and the
Chengapurathutali.They consisted of Taliyatiris or representatives from the four villages
of Muzhikkalam, Ayranikulam, Irinjalakudu and Parur.The four Thalis were called
Kazhakams. The Thalis did not perform any administrative functions for the Perumals.The
crown prince was usually appointed as the Koyil Adhikarikal, the royal representatives.
His duty was to control the feudatory governor.As the government was more or less
feudal, so the administrative machinery was simple.The Aryan Brahmin settlements had
formed in to a theocratic oligarchy, wielding real power behind the throne.The Perumal
had his authority constrained by the Brahmin settlement and the hereditary chieftains of
Kerala. There existed the feudal system of contracts and Charters accompanied by the
delegation of governmental rights and responsibilities.Thus apart from military and police,
Perumals authority was based on traditional or customary authority.The important
officials of the kingdom were Adhikari (executive officer), Patanayakan (commander in
chief), Kizh Patanayakan (second in command), Mathilnayakan (Fort officer) Tiyamalvan
(police officer) and Thiruvaikelpan (the officer who took down the oral orders of the
Perumal). Besides there were royal astrologers, physicians and body guards, who followed
their master in death and in life.
Although the Perumal was the overlord of Kerala, (Keraladhinadha) he did not
administer the entire kingdom directly.For administrative convenience, the kingdom was
divided into a number of Nadus (provinces). Each Nadu had its own hereditary or
nominated governor known as the Naduvazhi.Thus the great feudatories were the
hereditary governors of the 14 Nadus in to which the kingdom was divided.The 14 Nadus
were Kolathunad, Purkizhnadu, Kurimbranad, Eranadu, Valluvanad, Kizhmalainadu,
Vempolinad, Venad, O danad, Nantuzhinad, Munjinad, Kalkarainadu,
Nedumporayurnadu and Polanad.In time of war, the feudatories were called to the capital
for counsel and assistance.They led their own contingent of soldier in battle.None of these
governors seem to have an independent status as they were generally appointed by the
Perumal.The Naduvazhis were controlled in their domains by local assemblies called
Munnuttavar and Arunuttavar,besides the Koyil Adhikari from the centre.These local
assemblies seems to have a decisive voice in the administration of the Nadus. Each Nadu
was subdivided in to a number of Desam was under a Desa vazhi.The Desavazhi were
controlled by the local kuttams.The lowest territorial unit of the kingdom was the Kara. It
was under the control of village Panchayats
Big towns like Makotai and Kollam had special assemblies of their own. Makotai
enjoyed all amenities of civilized life and was protected by high fortresses on all sides. It
had extensive Pathways and imposing palaces, although no trace of the palace of Makotai
exists today.It was found in ruins even in the 16
th
Century by the author of
Kokasandesa.However, a court astronomer of the 9
th
century states that great halls of
audience, high mansions and an observatory were part of the royal complex.The city was
divided in to divisions such as Senamukham (Cantonment), kottakkakam (Inside the
fort),Gotramalleswaram Kodungallur and Balakrideswaram; we find poetic accounts of the
city in the Periya-Puranam(12
th
c.).The high tower of the city is mentioned in the
Viraraghava plates.The Jewish copperplates reveal that the settlement of the jews and the
Christians were located near the harbour Muchiri.The surviving relics and records show
that the city was planned confirming to the classical Karmukha (bow shape) type
mentioned in textbooks on town planning and architecture.
The chera kingdom had a well ordered system of law and justice. Elaborate
arrangements were made for the maintenance of law and order. There was a regular penal
cord.The common punishments inflicted were fines, imprisonment and death
penalty.Those who were sentenced to imprisonment were sometimes sold as slaves.Those
who mismanaged temple properties or funds were dismissed from service.
The epigraphic records of the age give us an idea of the tax structure of the
kingdom.The land tax was the main source of income.It is called as Patavaram. It was
fixed as 1 / 5
th
of the total produce of the land. Of this one-half goes to king
(Kopatavaram) and the other half to the Desavazhi (Pathipatavaram).The Brahmin
settlements paid a lump sum in gold or paddy every year in return for the protection they
enjoyed.A major share of income came from fines paid by eulprits for economic and social
offence.The customs dues from the capital city went to the Perumal, but those from other
cities to the respective Naduvazhis. The Perumal had his own royal estate called
Cherikkal. It included all the forests and lands under his ownership.Other major sources of
revenue are Talaikkanam, a kind of professional tax imposed on ladders used for climbing
trees, Menippon, a tax levied for weaving gold ornaments, Polippon, a kind of sale
tax.Taxes were also levied on people who wanted to thatch the roofs of their houses.The
toddy tappers had to pay Kudanaazhi,a pot full of liquor.From women labourers a special
tax was collected (Mulavila).There are also references to such tolls as
Pakutham,Ulku,Thulakkooli etc in the inscriptions.The income derived from selling
criminals as slaves constitutes another source of revenue.Those who keep slaves had to
pay Alkasu to the govt.
The Perumals had a well equipped army and navy. He had a capital force
(Maulasainya) consisting of 1000 Nairs under Patamal Nayar (Captain). Each of these
captains had 10 soldiers (Chekons) under his control.Similarly the Naduvazhis had
300,500,600 or 700 soldiers under them with the same type of organisation.These feudal
forces raised from the cultivating classes were used for protection of property and
supervision of local administration.To consider such bodies to be democratic assemblies is
far from the truth. Epigraphic records clearly state that they formed an organised militia
characteristic of the feudal age. The groups of nair and Thiyya soldiers known as
Changatam might have risen out of such bonds.There were also chavers, a suicide squads
who made their first appearance in the course of the Chola Wars.There were military
gymnasiums (Kalaris) to train the youths in the art of warfare. The Perumals also had a
navy which cooperated with the army in times of military operations.The Chola
inscriptions testify to the effective role of the Chera navy in times of war.
Brahmin Settlements
Kerala Brahmins were called as Namputhiris who were one of the predominant elite
communities of Kerala.Though few in number, the Namputhiris have wielded great power
and influence throughout our History.Here we shall ponder over their migration and
settlement in Kerala.In the course of the analysis, we shall look in to their antiquity,
culture and influence. From where they came, where were they settled in Kerala, the
influence exerted by them on the ruling community, what impact they made on the social
and cultural history of Kerala.
Spread of Brahmin Settlements
Advent of Nambuthiries.
The advent of the Namputhiris was a slow and steady process spreading over
several centuries from 3
rd
BC to 12
th
AD. It finally ended in the final submission of the
local population to the superior intelligence and administrative skill of the Namputhiri
Brahmins.It was carried out in a subtle manner not by the force of arms, but by the arts of
peace.An advanced alien culture finally swept away the old tribal society.
Nature of Aryanisation.
The advent of the Namputhiri Brahmins is not an isolated movement.There are four
views regarding their advent to Kerala.1.Military Conquest: William Logan has viewed
the arrival of the Namputhiris due to military conquest of the tribal population by the
superior Brahmin.2.Caldwall and K.P.Padmanabha Menon suggest superior intelligence as
the force behind Aryanisation.3.A third view regards the Aryan Brahmins as refugees of
Muslim onslaughts on North India.The Aryans were forced to leave their original north
Indian abode and crossed the Vindhyas and finally settled in the South.4.However,the real
motive behind Aryanisation was agrarian technique.The Brahmins were land hungry and
they migrated to the South carrying with them Hindu culture in its embryonic form. Later,
they established temple oriented villages and began to dominate the whole land.In this
process, the Namputhiris functioned as exploiters and agents of a higher civilization.In
course of time, they became localised and began to play the role as trader counselor, priest,
ambassador, poet and moralist using his skills in language, astronomy and polity to his
own advantage.The present day historians are keen to accept this economic interpretation,
discarding the theories of military conquest, refugee theory and superior intelligence.
Date of Migration.
The date of Aryan migration is a much-discussed one.The land of Kerala was
known to the North from very early times as is evidenced from Puranic references.Asokan
edicts,Greco-Roman accounts,Tamil Brahmi cave label inscriptions etc.The Sangam
anthologieos allude to the presence of Brahmins in the courts of local chieftains.Some of
the poets were Brahmins.Chellur, the earliest Brahmin settlement was a centre of Vedic
religion during the Sangam Age.Hence Aryan influences were at work in Kerala society
even during the early centuries of the Christian era.The Kadamba interregnum witnessed
the settlement of the Brahmin immigrants in Kerala. By the 6
th
, 7
th
and 8
th
centuries, the
process continued as is evidenced in the Panniyur Chokiram factions, representing
Vaishnava Chalukya and Saivaite Rashtrakuta conflict. During the age of the Perumals,the
settlement continued to grow and multiply.The vazhapilly inscription suggests that the
village was an Upagrama of Thiruvalla, the Southern most and greatest settlement of the
Brahmins in the 9
th
Century.By the 8
th
, 9
th
Century, Brahmin settlements had came a vital
force in society.This has been one of the causative factors for the emergence of the second
Chera kingdom.The power of their settlement was expressed through the kings council
(Naluthali) at the Chera capital.
The Routs.
The Brahmins who came to Kerala adopted either a Western or an eastern
route.Most of them had chosen the Western route from Aihole (Ahichatra) of the
Chalukyas to Saurashtra, Konkan,Tulu regions and finally reaching North Kerala.Others
followed the eastern route beginning from Kalinga, Andhra, Vijayanagar and Chola
countries, finally reaching Southern Kerala. A sea route from the mouth of the Indus to
Gujarat and from there to Kerala is also suggested.
Identification:There were originally 32 Brahmin settlements in Kerala.Of the32,
settlements, 10were in between Perumpuzha and Karumanpuzha, (Perumchellur,
Chokiram and Panniyuru,Thrissur and Peruvanam). 12 settlements between Karuman
Puzha and Churni (Irinjalakuda, Avittaputhur,Ayiranikkulam and Muzhikkulam, Kuzhur,
Chengamanad and Uliyannur) and 10 between Churni and Pampa (Kumaranallur,
Thiruvalla, Kaviyur and Niranam).Almost all the 32 settlements were identified; 22 of
them have yielded inscriptions and 03 are mentioned in literary works 6 comes down to
this day with their temples and settlements; and one remain unidentified.
Basic Features.
These settlements have certain basic features: Most of the settlements were located,
placed, situated on the banks of rivers and on the fertile plains. (9 in Pampa.13 in Periyar
and 5 in Churni).They were essentially temple centred and temple was synonymous with
Brahmin settlement.They had become a vital force in society.A few settlements are found
in clustered groups.The concentration of these settlements on river beds is based on the
type of soil for paddy cultivation -up on which the Brahmins depended.The spread of
Brahmin settlement could be related to the origin and extension of paddy cultivation.The
emergence of a Brahmin settlement signified the growth of a new society based on
exploitative social relations.Brahmin settlement emerged with the help of the Naduvazhi
who gave them lands and settled them.
Impact of Aryanisation.
The Namputhiris,as the representative of the Aryans,made a deep and profound
impact on early Kerala society and culture.In the social sphere, they introduced the caste
system on a casteless society.After securing the support of the ruling and trading classes,
they created and popularised the myth of superiority of the ruling classes over the toiling
class.The social status of a person came to be determined as the basis of occupation.There
was a corresponding decline of the status of women.The regulations framed by the
Namputhiris resulted in many social evils of later days such as Sambandham,Devadasi
system, Smartha -Vicharam etc.In the economic field,Aryanisation paved the way for the
evolution of landlordism (Janmi system) in Kerala.The Parasurama legend was
incorporated to strengthen the economic position of the Namputhiri.The legend of
Parasurama originated in Surparaka (Gujarat),moved along with the moving people,
Kerala being the last link in the chain of Brahmin migration.Keralolpathi legend designed
to glorify the Naduvazhi shows that it was a matter of honour for the chieftain to grant
lands to the Namputhiris.The control over Brahmaswams and Devaswams enabled them
to control the entire land area.This led to the rise of landlordism in Kerala.
In the religious sphere, the Aryan influx leads to the decline or Jainism and
Buddhism on the one hand and the rise of Hindu temples on the other.In the process, old
Buddhist and Jain shrines were either demolished or converted as Hindu centers of
worship.Non Aryan practices, deities, rituals and worship were adopted.Temples with
Sanketams became a force to be reckoned with.In the political field, the Namputhiris
began to yield enormous influence.They became counsels of the kings.ThePerumals of
Kerala owes their rise to power to the Namputhiris.In the cultural sphere, the
Namputhiris made a profound impact. They founded Salais to impart education.To
Sanskrit and Malayalam languages, the Namputhiris contributed a lot.They were experts in
philosophy, and medicine, and astrology and astronomy.Their influence is profound in
Malayalam script and language. (Arya Ezhuthu) .Some of the drawbacks of Aryan impact
is the increased rigidity of the caste system, the deplorable condition of the lower classes,
the exploitation of the landed gentry etc.
RELIGION AND PHILOSOPHY.
The Age of the Perumals witnessed the triumph religions in the Pre-Perumal period
began to acquire a position of pre-eminence among the religions of Kerala.The triumph of
Hinduism was the natural corollary of the Aryanisation of Kerala.Hindu religious activity
received a great impetus under such figures as Shankaracharya.Kulasekhara Cheraman
Perumal and Prabhakara.While Sankara and Prabhakara influenced the elite of the society,
Kulasekhara and Cheraman influenced the masses by evolving and popularizing the
Bhakti Cult.The Bhakti Cult in turn led to the establishment of Hinduism as the moving
religious force in the country.
The progress of Hinduism had its immediate impact in the rise of temples and
temple arts to a place of importance in the religious and cultural life of the people.The
Nayanars and Alwars inspired the foundation of a number of Siva and Vaishnava shrines
in Kerala.The construction of structural temples received a fillip from the Perumals and
the merchants.Strict rules and regulations were enacted for the conduct of temple affairs
and the administration of Temple properties.As the temple was the nerve centra of all
cultural activities, temple arts also came to be developed.New festivals like Onam, new art
forms like Koothu and Kutiyattom were instituted.The institution of Kuthampalam and the
emergence of Devadasis may be ascribed to this period.Art and Architecture also
developed.The temples were provided with prolific stone and wooden sculptures.The
mural paintings in the temples of Tirunanthikara and Tiruvanchikkulam had its origin
during the age of the Perumals.
There was considerable progress in the field of temple architecture and sculpture.In
the absence of granite of high quality, there was no development of sculpture peculiar to
Kerala.The cave temples and structural temples of the 9
th
Century exhibits the Pallava and
Chola styles.In sculpture too, there was an imitation of the Pallava and Chola figures.A
few Dwarapala figures at Kaviyur and Vizhinjam,a Dakshinamurthi figure at
Irunilamcode, a few Vishnu idols in ruined temples and several dancing scenes at
Thrikkodithanam and Kulasekharapuram testify to the maturity of sculptures and their
artistic vision.
SANKARACHARYA AND ADVAIDA PHILOSOPHY
Sankaracharya is the greatest philosopher India has produced since Gautama the
Buddha.This great Advaitha philosopher gave a great impetus to Hindu religious activity
during the Perumal age.A younger contemporary of Kulasekhara Alwar and an elder
contemporary of Cheraman Perumal, Sankara lived in the 8
th-
9thCentury (788 820
AD).He was born as a Namputiri Brahmin at Kaipill Iellam in Kalady on the banks of
Periyar.The full details of Sankaras life are not known, but a few tandmarks are
available.His father Sivaguru died when Sankara was five years old.His widowed mother
Aryambal had send him to Bhattarmana and Udayatungeswaram.But Sankara was not
satisfied with the system of Kumarila and Prabhakara.His sensitive mind was pained at the
sectarian controversies that degraded religion.Burning with a passion to discover the truth,
Sankara declined king Rajasekharans offer of gold and position.He left Kerala at the early
age of 16, to undertake a pilgrimage to all centres of Hinduism.In the course of this
itinerary,he came in to contact with Govindapada.After knowing the four cardinal truths
from the Guru, Sankara went to Benares where he discovered the truth that he had been
seeking.That which is experienced through the senses is not real: That alone is real
which remains unchanged: while one is awake,asleep or dreaming, and which is found in
all,from the highest Brahmin to the lowest ant.In the light of this discovery,Sankara wrote
a commentary on the Brahmasutras.
Now Sankara started on his Dig Vijaya, Proceeding to Prayag, he met Kumarila-Bhatta
and then Mandana Mishra (at Mahishamati).Later he proceeded to Srisaila, Gokarna,
Mookambi and Sringeri. At Sringeri, Sankara built his first mutt called Saradapitha.
Returning to Kerala, he met the Perumal and continued his journey visiting Rameswaram,
Madurai,Jambrekeswaram, Chidambaram and Kanchi.At Kanchi he laid the foundation of
Kamakotipitha.Then he moved to Tirupati,Vidharbha and Karnataka.In the course of these
journeys,he defeated Mandana Mishra,the Bhairavas,Virasaivates and others.Proceeding to
Saurashtra,he established the Kalikapith Math at Dwaraka.Proceeding to Ujjain he won
over the Karmavadis and Madhyamika Buddhists.He also visited Assam and Nepal,
Kosaala, Anga and Vanga and founded the Vimalapith Math at Puri.
Having won all rivals,Sankara planted the banner of Vedanta in the temple of
Saraswathi at Kashmir.He defeated the followers of Kanada with their atomic philosophy
of Gautama of Kapila, the formulator of the Sankhya System of Budhas teachings of
Kumarila Bhatta and Prabhakara, the Jains and the Pashandas.Finally Sankara ascended
the throne of Universal Learning at Kashmir and established the Jyothirpith madh at
Badarinath.Returning to the land of his birth Sankara died at Thrissur at the age of thirty-
two.Sankara propagated his philosophy of Advaitha Vedanta.The cardinal point of this
philosophy was that there is nothing real in this world except Brahman, the all pervading
cosmic force.Sankara looked up on the human soul as part of the Brahmanand all material
objects as mere illusions or Maya.The Advaitha Vedanta has its mots in the Upanishadic
teachings.Advaitha reconciles the Puranic religion with the grant truth of the Upanishads.
Sankara was a great reformer of Hinduism.He gave the organisational set up to
Hinduism.He borrowed some of the popular features of Buddhism like monasticism.He
laid the foundation of a strong Brahmanical papal organisation by setting up four Hindu
Madhs in four corners of India-Badari in the north, Sringeri in the South, Puri in the East
and Dwaraka in the West.In Kerala too he founded for Mudhs at Thrissur.The first
Presidents of these Mudhs were his principal disciples.To propagate his teachings, Sankara
organised a regular body of missionaries (Sanyasins).His ideas were carried to Europe by
Max Muller in the 19
th
century
.
And by Vivekananda to America in the early 20
th
century.
Sankara was a remarkable devotional poet as well as a perceptive commentator of
the classic religious texts of Hinduism.In his works, he developed the doctrine of Advaitha
Vedantha with its monotheism.He was also responsible to establish the pre- eminence of
the Namputiris and in doing so solidified the pyramidal structure of the caste system.To
the historian, Sankaras religious reforms are more important than his philosophy.His
teachings provided the intellectual basis to Hinduism.The mudhs he founded provided
Hinduism with an effective organisational frame work.It provided Hinduism with a
machinery to protect it, a fortress to guard it.Sankara is great in all respects.As a poet he is
yet to be surpassed in the sublimity and music of his effusions: As a linguist par
excellence, he has no parallel; as a debater, he was invincible. As a thinker, he even
surpassed the Buddha.The genius of Kerala for cultural synthesis found its expression in
the philosophy of Sankara.His was an attempt to reconcile the best elements of Hinduism
and Buddhism. Sankara has been the manifestation of a movement for religious
revival.One sees in him a youth on fire, an intrepid debater, a shrewd political genius, a
calm philosopher and a mystic.
BHAKTI MOVEMENT AND LITERATURE
The Bhakti Cult was one of the major ideological features of the emerging society
of South India during the Age of the Perumals.The Perumals, unlike their predecessors in
the Sangam Age were dedicated Hindu devoted to Vishnu and Siva. Absolute devotion to
the Supreme God was considered the major means to attain personal bliss and the devotion
came to be concentrated around the emerging temples.Hindu gods like Vishnu and Siva
were the objects of devotion.
The Bhakti movement brought the cultural transformation of South India in many
ways.It replaced or absorbed the popular cults in general and the Tinai centred ritual
forms in particular.It provided the ideological framework for the growing authority of
temples and also new forms of worship and ritual.It helped in decreasing the influence of
Buddhism and Jainism in South India.It helped in the establishment of the authority of the
temples over the rulers.
Impact of the Bhakti movement in Kerala.
Some of the growing temples of Kerala were tansformed into Saivite or Vaishnavite
centre of worship.Thus 13 Vaishnava Divyadesas are mentioned as located in Kerala by
Nammalvar.Tirumangai and Kulasekhara Alwar.The Saivaite centre of Vanchi was
praised by Cheraman Perumal and Sundaramurthi Nayanars.The identification of the
Perumal with God is another indication of the influence of Bhakti.The Perumal is confined
the suffix Deva and granted prolonged life, ruling several hundred years.The Perumal is
identified with the temple religion.
The Bhakti cult produced a vast literature and art forms of devotion. Apart from
single works like Mukundamala and Perumal Thirumozhi, it produced Tevarum and
Nalayira Prabhandham. It also quickened the spread of Itihasa and Purana
stories.Ramayana and Mahabharata and the Puranas got several adaptations in regional
languages in (Kambar, Tulasidas and Ezhuttachan) later days.The art forms like Koothu
and Kudiyattam were being conducted to popularise puranic stories.The Margi tradition of
the Sanskrit art was confined with the indigenous Desi form to make the enactment
comprehensible to the people.
There were other variants of Bhakti.The Jain and Buddhist adapted idol worship in
their temples and worshipped the Buddha,Thirthamkaras, and Padmavathi.The offerings
associated with them also shows elements of Bhakti.Local cults like Ayyappan and
Mahayakshi are mentioned in Tiruvalla inscription.This suggests the absorption of local
traditions and cults.However it is a misnomer to regard the Hindu religious stir of othe
period as a revival or renaissance.There was no rebirth of Hinduism,but only
stagnation.What happened was not revival,but the establishment of Hinduism as the
predominant religion of the land.The triumph of Hinduism was chiefly due to the works of
othe Bhatta.Sankara and Prabhakara, Cheramen Perumal and Kulasekhara Aiwar.
MEDIEVAL TRADE
The foreign travelers like Sulaiman and Masudi who visited Kerala in the 11
th
Century have testified to the economic activities and the consequent financial soundness of
the kingdom.The economic prosperity was mainly achieved from the extensive foreign
trade with West Asia and China.The hill products from the Western Ghats carried down by
the many rivers to natural harbours readily secured a market in West Asia and Europe.A
number of Jewish, Christian and Muslim traders exploited the situation to their own
advantage.As they possessed much wealth in gold,the native chieftains were prepared to
overlook differences in faith and race and extended to them a warm welcome.
Kerala had a flourishing overseas trade with China during the period.China
purchased articles like pepper, ivory, cinnamon, teakwood and pearls from this part of the
country.They sold fishing-nets, procclain goods and silks.The Chinese introduced trade
articles such as Cheenavala,Cheena Bharani and Cheenachotti and Cheena Otam, articles
which exist even today.
A remarkable feature of the age was the pivotal position occupied by the mercantile
corporations and merchant guilds in the socio-economic life of the country.The most
important of such merchant guilds were Manigramam, Anchuvannam and
Valanchiyar.Manigraman was an association of merchants who transacted in
Diamonds.Anchuvannam was a body of merchants who traded in five different
commodities.Valanchiyar was an organisation, which carried on overseas
trade.Inscriptions record the existence of such guilds.Manigramam is mentioned in the
Chola inscription as a unit of Disai Aiyirathi Ainuttuvar, an international merchant
network.Manigramam is mentioned first in Teresappalli copper plate where it is referred to
as one of the Karalar of Kollam.The Panthalayini inscription, Thazhakkad Church
inscription, Irinjalakuda inscription, Viraraghava Pattayam (1225) Payyannur Pattola (14
th
C)-all mention Manigramam.These records indicate that their activities spread to a vast
area from Kollam to Ezhimala.From the Teresapalli copper plate, It may be inferred that
Manigram was an organisation of the Christians as Sapir Iso was a Christian.Anchu
Vannam is also mentioned for the first time in Teresappally inscriptions. Along with
Manigramam, it was the Karalar of Kollam. Jewish copper plate mentions Joseph Rabban,
the Jew as the leader of Anchuvannam. The origin and development of this corporation is
unknown.
These trade corporations functioned actively and contributed to the economic
prosperity of the land.Even in the public life of the kingdom, they played a very important
role.Their leaders like Mar Sapir Iso and Joseph Rabban came to the rescue of chera kings
in times of war.Their status as leaders of corporations received official recognition from
the ruler.They were not only exempted from taxation, but were granted many privileges,
which they enjoyed in hereditary succession.
Kerala inscriptions mention a number of other guilds such as Nanadesikal,
Nalpathennayiravar, Patinenbhoomi, Disai Ayirathi Ainnuthavar and Patinettu
Pattanatter.Nanadesikal and Valanchiyur were mentioned in the Eramam inscription of
Bhaskararavi.Patinenbhoomi is mentioned in the Peruvemba inscription. Alathur and
Thazhakkad inscriptions refer to Nanadesikal and others. The Pantalayini inscription
mentions Nalanjiyar.These guilds might have acted as itinerant units crossing the Western
Ghats to the major ports of trade and producing centres.They formed into large caravans as
a protective measure.Temples were the major nodal points for the activities of these
corporations. They were the largest consumers for the products.
There was frequent interaction of Kerala merchants with other parts of the
world.They made offerings to various temples in Tanjavur.Arcot and other places. It is
recorded that merchant hailing from Makotai built a Vishnu temple at Pagan
(Burma).These show the migration of people from Kerala as member of the mercantile
corporations.As much of the trade transactions were through immediate exchange, the use
of coins was restricted.The major medium of exchange was Dinaram.Donations to temples
were made in gold.Gold was exchanged for land also.Kalanju and Kanam were the normal
measures of gold. Kasu, Achu and Palankesu were coins referred to in inscriptions.
It was a feudal society with a graded hierarchy with hereditary occupations and
well defined duties and responsibilities that existed during the period under
review.Proprietorship of land was closely related to political power and administration.In
this period, Kerala was chiefly a land of agricultural villages.The scattered Brahmin
settlements were better organized and more prosperous than the villages.The pyramidal
structure of tenants, sub tenants, artisans, and serfs remained the same as in the Brahmin
village.The tenants were expected to pay all sorts of dues to the land lord like Alkasu
(slave money). Manayira (roof tax), Menippon (capitation fee) Iravucoru (to maintain a
soldier).Talaivila (head price).They have also to pay customary dues like Onanel (Onam
Dues), Patayani nel (dues for military tournament), skilled workers have to pay
professional tax.The toddy tappers had to pay Talaikkanam and Enikkanam for the right of
using the fetter and the ladder.The oil mongers had to pay Kutanazhi.The merchants paid
Ulkku (sales tax).There was also Pakudam (vehicle tax) Tulakkuli (weight
tax),Thattarakuly (for godowns)Pantalkanam (for temporary sheds). Additional taxes
were to be paid to erect ornamental arches and additional storeys.The state collected taxes
even for wearing turbans, carrying palanquins, procession lamps and instruments for
music.There was the universal system of Kazhcha.
A peculiarity of the social system of the period is the Marumakkathayam system of
inheritance.There existed serfdom and slavery in Kerala.The references to slave trade
(Alkasu) among the dues paid by merchants pin point to the prevalence of the
system.There were several instances of the untouchables bought and sold along with land
and as part of the land. The Brahmin settlements which possessed large areas of arable
land occupied a pre-eminent position in society.The temples formed the new centre of
social life and culture.
ARAB AND CHINESE TRADERS
The accounts of foreign travellers who visited Calicut during the reign of the
Zamorins give us valuable and interesting glimpses of the trade relations at Calicut port,
Ibn Batuta, the earlieost of them to mention Calicut describes the city as one of the
greatest ports in Malabar where merchants from all parts of the globe are found. The
African traveller, in particular, mentions the large fleet of Chinese merchant vessels that
lay anchored at the port. Ma Huan the Chinese merchant describes Calicut as a great
emporium of trade frequented by traders from all over the world. Adbur Razzack
described Calicut as a perfectly secured harbour which brings together merchants from
every city and every country. Precious articles brought from Zansihar, Abyssinia and
other countries were found in the city.Nicolo Conti (1444) and Athanasius Nikitin (1468-
74) alludes to the rich trade in pepper, ginger, cinnamon and other spices at Calicut.
Varthema (1503-08) describes Calicut at great length and confirms the view of earlier
writers.
Calicut became one of the nodal points for long distance trade under the
Zamorins.During the period (11
th
to 15
th
C).Arab and Chinese traders were frequenting
Calicut and other ports of trade.They exported pepper, ginger, cardamom and cloves and
several medieval plants from Malabar.The Arabs controlled a major part of overseas trade
with the west from Calicut. A number of Arab traders came to Calicut and settled
there.Merchants from Baghdad flocked to this port of othe country.From the Muslims a
strong merchant class developed.They operated mainly from Calicut, Pantalayini,
Puthuppanam, Valapattanam and Matayi.They erected mosques for worship such as
Muccunti Palli.The extent of Arab trade is portrayed in a number of Arab sources from
Sulaiman to Ibn Batuta (9
th
to 14
th
C).
The presence of Chinese merchants in Calicut is also alluded to by medieval
travellers.Wang Tuan, a Chinese merchant visited the Coast (14
th
C) and left a
description.Zheng Ho, another sailor travelled to West Coast during the 15
th
Century and
came to Calicut in 1407.Ma Huan the Chinese merchant who visited Malabar during the
15
th
C gives details about the coastal trade.He records that pepper was grown for
commercial purposes. Kerala exported pepper, cardamom, coconut and arecanut to China
and imported silk, porcelainware, copper, mercury, tin and lead from China.Copper and
Bronze vessels used in palaces, temples and Taravadus came through trade with
China.Calicut also served as the centre for re export trade, for articles brought from China
to Arab countries and vice versa.Trade was conducted in money terms.It was fixed in the
presence of the royal representative, local merchants and the foreign trades.The royal
agent at Calicut had a direct say in the conduct of trade.
Creation and Assimilation of New Knowledge
The medieval period witnessed the creation of new knowledge and its
assimilation.The necessary atmosphere was already prepared for the creation and
assimilation of new knowledge during the perumal period.Evidences are available to show
that the perumals had maintained a court that had scholars of different types who had
made significant contribution for the growth of knowledge.The spread of Sanskrit
language provided necessary uniformity to the assimilated knowledge.After the
disintegration of perumal kingdom,creation of new knowledge was decentralized to the
provincial and local areas.
The greatest contribution of medieval kerala to the knowledge system of the world
was in the fields of mathematics and astronomy. The Kerala School of astronomy and
mathematics was a school of mathematics and astronomy founded by Madhava of
Sangamagrama in Kerala, South India, which included among its members: Parameshvara,
Neelakanta Somayaji, Jyeshtadeva, Achyuta Pisharati, Melpathur Narayana Bhattathiri
and Achyuta Panikkar.The school flourished between the 14th and 16th centuries and the
original discoveries of the school seems to have ended with Narayana Bhattathiri (1559-
1632). In attempting to solve astronomical problems, the Kerala School independently
created a number of important mathematics concepts. Their most important results series
expansion for trigonometric functions were described in Sanskrit verse in a book by
Neelakanta called Tantrasangraha, and again in a commentary on this work, called
Tantrasangraha-vakhya, of unknown authorship.The theorems were stated without proof,
but proofs for the series for sine, cosine, and inverse tangent were provided a century later
in the work Yuktibhasa (c.1500-c.1610), written in Malayalam, by Jyesthadeva, and also
in a commentary on Tantrasangraha.Their discovery of these three important series
expansions of calculus several centuries before calculus was developed in Europe by
Leibniz and Newton was a landmark achievement in mathematics.However, the Kerala
School cannot be said to have invented calculus, because, while they were able to develop
Taylor series expansions for the important trigonometric functions, they developed neither
a comprehensive theory of differentiation or integration, nor the fundamental theorem of
calculus.
Prominent mathematicians
Madhavan of Sangamagrama
Madhava of Sangamagrama (c. 1340-1425) was the founder of the Kerala School.
Although it is possible that he wrote Karana Paddhati a work written sometime between
1375 and 1475, all we really know of his work comes from works of later scholars. Little
is known about Madhava, who lived near Kochi between the years 1340 and 1425.
Nilkantha attributes the series for sine to Madhava. It is not known if Madhava discovered
the other series as well, or whether they were discovered later by others in the Kerala
School. Madhava's discoveries include the Taylor series for the sine, cosine, tangent and
arctangen functions, the second-order Taylor series approximations of the sine and cosine
functions and the third-order Taylor series approximation of the sine function, the power
series of p (usually attributed to Leibniz), the solution of transcendental equations by
iteration, and the approximation of transcendental numbers by continued fractions.
Madhava correctly computed the value of p to 9 decimal places and 13 decimal places, and
produced sine and cosine tables to 9 decimal places of accuracy. He also extended some
results found in earlier works, including those of Bhaskara.
Narayanan Pandit
Narayana Pandit (1340-1400), one among the notable Kerala mathematicians, had
written two works, an arithmetical treatise called Ganita Kaumudi and an algebraic treatise
called Bijganita Vatamsa. Narayanan is also thought to be the author of an elaborate
commentary of Bhaskara II's Lilavathi, titled Karmapradipika (or Karma-Paddhati).
Although the Karmapradipika contains little original work, it contains seven different
methods for squaring numbers, a contribution that is wholly original to the author, as well
as contributions to algebra and magic squares. Narayanan's other major works contain a
variety of mathematical developments, including a rule to calculate approximate values of
square roots, investigations into the second order indeterminate equation nq2 + 1 = p2
(Pell's equation), solutions of indeterminate higher-order equations, mathematical
operations with zero, several geometrical rules, and a discussion of magic squares and
similar figures. Evidence also exists that Narayana made minor contributions to the ideas
of differential calculus found in Bhaskara II's work. Narayana has also made contributions
to the topic of cyclic quadrilaterals.
Parameshvaran
Parameshvara (1370-1460), the founder of the Drigganita system of Astronomy,
was a prolific author of several important works. He belonged to the Alathur village
situated on the bank of Bharathappuzha.He is stated to have made direct astronomical
observations for fifty-five years before writing his famous work, Drigganita. He also wrote
commentaries on the works of Bhaskara I, Aryabhata and Bhaskara II. His Lilavathi
Bhasya, a commentary on Bhaskara II's Lilavathi, contains one of his most important
discoveries: an early version of the mean value theorem. This is considered one of the
most important results in differential calculus and one of the most important theorems in
mathematical analysis, and was later essential in proving the fundamental theorem of
calculus. The Siddhanta-Deepika by Paramesvara is a commentary on the commentary of
Govindsvamin on Bhaskara I's Maha-bhaskareeya. This work contains some of his eclipse
observations, including one made at Navakshethra in 1422 and two made at Gokarna in
1425 and 1430. It also presents a mean value type formula for inverse interpolation of the
sine function, a one-point iterative technique for calculating the sine of a given angle, and
a more efficient approximation that works using a two-point iterative algorithm, which is
essentially the same as the modern secant method. Parameshvaran was also the first
mathematician to give the radius of a circle with an inscribed cyclic quadrilateral, an
expression that is normally attributed to L'Huilier (1782).
Nilakanthan Somayaji
Nilakantha (1444-1544) was a disciple of Govinda, son of Parameshvara.He was a
Brahmin from Trkkantiyur in Ponnani taluk. His younger brother Sankara was also a
scholar in astronomy. Nilakantha's most notable work Tantra Samgraha (which 'spawned'
a later anonymous commentary Tantrasangraha-vyakhya and a further commentary by the
name Yukthideepika, written in 1501) he elaborates and extends the contributions of
Madhava.Nilakantha was also the author of Aryabhatiya-bhashya, a commentary of the
Aryabhatiya.Of great significance in Nilakantha's work includes the presence of inductive
mathematical proofs, a derivation and proof of the Madhava-Gregory series of the
arctangent trigonometric function, improvements and proofs of other infinite series
expansions by Madhava, an improved series expansion of p that converges more rapidly,
and the relationship between the power series of p and arctangent.He also gave
sophisticated explanations of the irrationality of p, the correct formulation for the equation
of the center of the planets, and a heliocentric model of the solar system.
Chitrabhanu
Chitrabhanu (c. 1530) was a 16th century mathematician from Kerala who gave
integer solutions to 21 types of systems of two simultaneous Diophantine equations in two
unknowns. These types are all the possible pairs of equations of the following seven
forms: \ x + y = a, x - y = b, xy = c, x^2 + y^2 = d, x^2 - y^2 = e, x^3 + y^3 = f, x^3 - y^3
= g. For each case, Chitrabhanu gave an explanation and justification of his rule as well as
an example. Some of his explanations are algebraic, while others are geometric.
Jyesthadevan
Jyesthadeva (c. 1500-1600) was another member of the Kerala School. His key
work was the Yuktibhasa (written in Malayalam, a regional language of the Indian state of
Kerala), the world's first Calculus text. It contained most of the developments of earlier
Kerala School mathematicians, particularly from Madhava. Similar to the work of
Nilakantha, it is unique in the history of Indian mathematics, in that it contains proofs of
theorems, derivations of rules and series, a derivation and proof of the Madhava-Gregory
series of the arctangent function, proofs of most mathematical theorems and infinite series
earlier discovered by Madhava and other mathematicians of the Kerala School. It also
contains a proof of the series expansion of the arctangent function (equivalent to Gregory's
proof), and the sine and cosine functions. He also studied various topics found in many
previous Indian works, including integer solutions of systems of first degree equations
solved using kuttaka method, and rules of finding the sines and the cosines of the sum and
difference of two angles. Jyesthadevan also gave the earliest statement of Wallis' theorem,
and geometrical derivations of infinite series.
Sankaran Varma
There remains a final Kerala work worthy of a brief mention, Sadratnamala an
astronomical treatise written by Sankara Varma (1800-1838) that serves as a summary of
most of the results of the Kerala School. What is of most interest is that it was composed
in the early 19th century and the author stands out as the last notable name in Keralan
mathematics. A remarkable contribution was his compution of p correct to 17 decimal
places.
DEVELOPMENT OF MALAYALAM
The growth of an indigenous form of literature is attributed to the medieval
period.Malayalam, as a distinct form of language began to develop.Ramakatha, a poem
composed during the Perumal period is regarded as the beginning of Malayalam
literature.However the text is more or less in Tamil.Most of the indigenous literature
belonged to the Pattu form, orally communicated. Local usages and syntax got in to all
these compositions.The script used is Vattezhuthu adapted from Tamil and
Brahmi.Grnatha characters were used for writing Sanskrit compositions.Malayalam began
to have its own script during this period. The temple inscriptions have used
Tamil.However, a number of local usages and syntax got in to these compositions
composed in Tamil.
Manipravalam
Manipravalam is the name given to that form of literature in Malayalam, which
came in to existence during the 9
th
14
th
Century.It is a curious mixture of Malayalam,
Tamil and Sanskrit.From the 11
th
Century onwards, a number of literary works appeared in
Manipravalam pattern.Tolan was one of the earliest poet in Malayalam who composed
works in Manipravalam style.However the first full-fledged work in Manipravalam was
Vaisika Tantram of the 11
th
Century.Most of the manipravalam works have Devadasis as
their heroine.Of the works in this category may be mentioned Unniaticharitam,Unniachi
Charitam and Unnichirutevi Charitam.They depict the life of ease and indolence of the
leisured class in society.They reflect the social conditions of the age such as the Devadasi
system,Sambandham system of a decadent society. However they are valuable for the
social historian of Kerala.
PHILOSOPHICAL AND DEVOTIONAL WORKS
The feudal age produced a series of philosophical and devotional works in
Malayalam.The Gathas and Champus come under this category.Krishnagatha of
Cherusseri was the typical Gatha. Its theme is the story of Krishna.It was written under the
patronage of Udaya Varman of Kolathunad.The Ramayanam Champu of Punam
Namputiri and Bhasha Naishedham Champu of Mahishamangalam were produced during
this age.If the early Champus depicted the Devadasis of the day, the later Champus drew
their themes from the Puranas and depicted contemporary social life.Other great savants of
the period are Punthanam and Melputhur.Puntanam belonged to the school of Bhakti and
composed such works as Jnanappana,Sri Krishna Karnamrutam and Santana
Gopalam.Melputhur composed learned works such as Narayaneeyam and Prakriya
Sarvaswam.Chennos Namputiri wrote Tantra Samucchaya, a treatese on temple
architecture and sculpture.Other literary figures include Madhava who translated Gita in to
Malayalam and Sankara who wrote Bharatmala.There was also works relating to scientific
literature.Ashtamga hrudaya, an encyclopaedia of Ayurvedic system of medicine was
composed during this period. Parameswara founded the Digganita system of astronomy
based on the observation with the naked eye.
A number of pure Malayalam songs in praise of Gods and heroes appeared;
symbolizing the dawn of Kilipattu literature.The Kannassa Ramayanam revived the
tradition of religious poetry. Kannassa Panikkar, the most outstanding of the Niranam
poets wrote Ramayana, Bharatam, Bhagavatam and Sivaratri Mahatmyam.Though adapted
from Sanskrit, they are remarkable for their originality of treatment.The Ramayana works
of Niranam poets and the Ramakathapattu revived the tradition of religious poetry.Their
works culminated in the epoch making translations of epics and Puranas by Tunjath
Ezhuthachan.
Cherusseri
Cherusseri Namputiri is famous as the author of Krishnagatha.He enjoyed the
patronage of Udaya varma, the king if Kolathunad.He composed Krishnagatha in
accordance with the wishes of his patron.Krishnagatha is remarkable for its simplicity and
felicity of expression.However it contain several verses, which come under the class of
erotic poetry.While Ezhuttachan tried to rejuvenate society by introducing
spirituality,Cherusseri treated Gods, Godesses as human beings with flesh and lood, with
feelings and emotion, love and hatred.
Ezhuttacchan
Ezhuttacchan was one of the most outstanding figures in the history of Malayalam
literature.He liberated Malayalam from the clutches of Tamil and Sanskrit and made it
popular.He is rightly regarded as the Father of modern Malayalam language.He was a
pioneer in the socio- religious movement of the time.Ezhuttacchan appeared at a time
when there was anarchy and degradation in the political and cultural fields.In a period of
gloom, anarchy and violence, Ezhuttacchan appeared as a man of destiny.
Tunchatt Ramanujan Ezhuttacchan was born in a Nair family at Thrikkandiyur.He
left Kerala to othe Tamil country for higher studies.Returning to the native land, he
established an Ezhuthupally (school) to teach children.He devoted his time to literary
pursuits and composed devotional works.During his last days, Ezhuttacchan left
Thrikkantiyur (Tirur) for Chittur where he established a Mutt and a temple on the banks of
the river.Ezhuttacchans contributions to Malayalam are everlasting.He inaugurated the
Kilippattu form of literary expression in Malayalam.He rendered in to Malayalam the
great epics Ramayana and Mahabarata.His adaptation of Ramayana is unique as it had a
spiritual and religious connotation.He was also credited with the authorship of
Harinamakirtanam and Irupathinaluvrutham.These works shows his genius for synthesis.In
fact, the history of Malayalam poetry begins with this savant.
In the devotional and religious sphere, Ezhuttacchan revived the Bhakti cult in
Kerala.His Adhyatma-Ramayana is the finest literary expression of the Bhakti Cult
which became popular in Kerala during the medieval period.He composed his work with
supreme emphasis on Bhakti or devotion to God in the form of Rama in a style and
language that appeals to the heart rather than brain. The devotional songs in this work are
considered to be the best in Malayalam poetry even today.
In the social sphere too, Ezhuttacchan made his mark.Though a non-Brahmin, he
studied theVedas and the Sastras and exposed the Aryan myth that they alone could master
the sacred knowledge. Ezhuttacchan also began the system of imparting primary
education through Ezhuthupalli.In the words of Dr. Ayyappa Panikkar. With his absolute
sincerity, skill and total dedication to poetry and religion, Ezhuttacchan was able to create
and establish, once and for all, a language, a culture and a people.He is thus a magnificent
symbol of our great cultural movement.
FORMATION OF NADUS AND SWARUPAMS
The Age of Swarupams and Naduvazhis comprising the middle ages in Kerala
(1100 1800) began with the disintegration of the second Chera kingdom.the age
witnesses the emergence of localised rulers of different Nadus and their original families
known as Swarupams.The Chera inscriptions mention a few such Naduvazhis.The political
scene of Kerala was dominated by these local chieftains.The most important of such
Nadus were Venad, Kochi, Kozhikode and Kolathunad.These chieftains had an important
position in the newly introduced system of government.
Swarupams.
They were ruling houses that control the Nadus.They were large joint
families.Their political authority was organised on the basis of Kuru (Sincerity).The Chera
inscriptions allude to the existence of Kuruvazhcha.As big landlords, the swarupams
received dues from their land, and tolls from trading centres. The Swarupams ruled the
Nadus. In course of time new Swarupams developed and they brought in to being new
Nadus (Eg Desinganadu, Vettathunad).The important Swarupams,however
wereThrippappur (Venad),Perumpadappu
(Kochi),Nediyiruppu(Kozhikode),Kolam(Kolathunad) and Arangoth (Valluvanad).
The rule of the Naduvazhis marked the end of Kerala as a politically unified
state.The Naduvazhis and Swarupams exerted a powerful influence in the newly emerged
polity.The Age also witnessed the emergence of the Janmi system the ascendancy of the
priestly class.Politically sterile and culturally unfruitful, the Naduvazhi era witnessed the
swansong of the old order, pushing Kerala to the lime light of modern history.
Kolathunad
Kolathunad was an extensive kingdom in the northern part of Kerala.It extended
from River Nethravathi in the North to Korapuzha in the South and from Kudak hills in
the east to Arabian Sea in the west.The territories included in Kolathunadu were Kumbla,
Nileswaram, Kottayam and Kadathanadu.We get information about the kingdom chiefly
form the Mushaka Vamsa Kavya of Atula; we also get information from Keralolpathi and
Keralamahatmyam.The accounts of foreign travellers like Marco Polo, Ibn Batuta, and
Alberuni corroborate indigenous evidence.A few inscriptions-Eramom records-throws
light on Kolathunad.
The origin of Kolathunad is attributed to Cheraman Perumal by Logan.The
Ezhimala kingdom of the Sangam period may be considered as the base of
Kolathunad.The Kolathiri dynasty is known to Mushaka Vamsa Kavya.Prof. Elamkulam
doubts whether the Kolathunad was a part of the second Chera kingdom as they had
accepted the supremacy of the Perumals. Kolathiris were the rulers of Kolathunad.They
were the descendants of the Mushaka kings.They became powerful in the 13
th
Century.When Thiruvitamkur proposed an adoption from that family, Kolathiris had the
audacity to refuse it.This refusal denotes their growing influence in Malabar politics
Macro Polo records:Kolathunad was tributary to nobody.The king is very rich in treasure,
but not very strong in arms. The approach to his kingdom is so strong by nature that no
one can attack him. So he is afraid of nobody.The Venetian traveller refers in particular
to the custom of seizure of goods from foreign ships that entered the kingdom.
Raghava who patronised Raghavananda and Divakara.Rama Varma who
composed Bharata Sangraha and Chandrika Kalpa.Udayavarma, the patron of Cherusseri
the author of Krishnagatha.And Ravi Varma.The capital of the kingdom is at Ezhimala.
Alberuni called it as Hili; Macro Polo described it as Eli.Ibn Batuta has stated that
Kolathunad amassed much wealth through trade at the harbour city of Ezhimala.Other
important ports in the kingdom were Matayi, Valapattanam and Dharmadom.Kolathunad
had accepted the suzerainty of the Zamorins and when the Portuguese landed in Kerala
Kolathunad was under the spheres of influence of the Zamorins.
Rise of Kozhikode
The kingdom of calicut was an important principality of Kerala in the Middle
Ages.It became independent after the fall of Perumal kingdom.The ruler of Calicut is
known as Samudiri or the Zamorin.He was the central figure in Kerala history in the
middle Ages.His rise and fall synchronises with the beginning and end of the Middle
Ages.But for the arrival of foreigners like the Portuguese and the Dutch the Zamorins
could have been able to unit the whole of Kerala under one sceptre.
The Jewish copperplate refers to Zamorin as Eralnad Utayavan. Ibn Batuta was the
earliest writer to call the ruler as Samutiri.The word Samudiri is a truncated form of
Swami Tirumulpad.As he was the chief of Eralnad, he was called Erlathiri.The ruling
house of Samutiri is known by the name Nediyirippu Swarupam after the original house
of the Eratis at Nediyirippu in Eralnad.Therefore he is referred to as Nediyirippu
Muppan.He was called Punturakkon after calicut,which became a puntura, a great port of
trade.As the Zamorins authority extended over both hill and sea, he is called as
Kunnalakonathiri, the lord of hills and waves in Malayalam and Shailabhadhiswaran and
Samudragiriraja in Sanskrit.Barbosa refers to him as Samudiri, lord of the Ocean. As he
belonged to Eralnad, the Zamorin is also known as Erati.
The origin and early history of the Zamorins are enveloped in mystery. Keralolpathi
ascribe their origin to Manikkan and Vikkiran, the two Erati brothers, who received from
the Perumal a small Desam where the cock crows, a thorny jungle and an injunction to
die, kill and annex. They also received the broken sword (Otinja Val), the broken Conch
(utanja Sankh) and the land that was stil left after partition (Ullanad) and a faithful
(Panikkar) commendant.Barbosa, Shaik zain-Ud-dhin and the Mamankom Kilippattu
repeat the legend with minor variations.
The Jewish Copper plate of Bhaskera Ravi and the Kottayam copper plate of
Viraraghava (Syrian Christian copper plates) mention the Zamorin.Keralamahathmyam
refers to him as a feudatory prince. The Dutch wrtieer Visschier and Muens and the
Cochin Grantha Vari also mention the Zamorin. The ancestors of the Zamorins came and
settled in Eralnad with headquarters at Nediyiruppu in the 3
rd
Century AD says Krishna
Aiyyar, the historian of the Zamorins.
The rise of Calicut may be assigned to the period after the 13
th
Century.By the 11
th
Century, the Eranad Utaivar came to be known as Nediyiruppu Muppan. It remained as a
regional Nadu throughout under the Perumals.When Perumals authority
disintegrated.Nediyiruppu Swarupam declared its independence. It became a necessity to
North Swarupam to extend its boundaries for economic existence.The Netriyiruppu ruler
was in daring need of a port city for over-sea trade.Hence he tried to acquire Calicut,
which was under the domain of Porlathiri.The Eratis were landlocked in their domain and
they wanted to get an outlet to the sea through Polanad.The Polanad chief turned down
their request for the Chullikkad at the mouth of the Kallayi River and the adjoining
Kozhikode hill.There upon the Eratis attacked Polanad and through treachery and bribery
acquired Kozhikode and made it their capital.The city around the Siva temple came to be
known as Koil Kotta (fortified palace) which in course of time became as Calicut.The
exact date for its foundation is not known.Calicut is unknown to writers before
Batuta.Calicut had become a busy city by the time of Batuta.The city was founded in 1042
AD, says a Sanskrit chronogram.Ma Huan and Abdul Razack suggest a date around 1050
AD. In course of time Calicut became the greatest and the most famous port on the Kerala
Coast. Its rise and prosperity were due to its position as the capital city of an expanding
empire and as the waterway that gave access to the upper country.It was also due to the
character and policy of the Zamorins, which induced the Arab and Chinese merchants to
flock to this port of trade.Calicut soon became the Chief emporium of trade. It was the
brisk trade carried through Calicut port that filled the coffers of the Zamorin and fired him
with the political ambition to be the overlord of the whole of Kerala.
Zamorins Conquests.
After defeating Porlathiri and acquiring Calicut, the Zamorin embarked on a series
of conquests.The Rajas of Beypore, Parappanad and Vellat and the chieftains of
Kurumbranad and Payyurmala were forced to acknowledge his supremacy.The ruler of
Valluvanad was the most powerful adversary whom the Zamorin had to face.The Zamorin
wanted to acquire Tirunavaya, for political reasons and to preside over the Mamankam
festival.Besides he wanted to have control over the agrarian tract around bharatapuzha and
the port of Ponnani. The river Nila was the main artery of communication with the
interior. Kurumatsaram, an internal feud between two Brahmin settlements of Sukapuram
and Panniyur gave an opportunity to the Zamorin to intervene.When the domain of
Tirumanasseri Namputiri, the leader of the Panniyur faction was attacked by Valluva
Konathiri, the former appealed to the Zamorin for help. There upon Zamorin moved his
army in to action and drove the Valluvanad Raja from Ponnani.After a bitter and
prolonged campaign, the Zamorin captured Tirunavaya and assumed the unique position
of Rakshapura (protector) of Mamankom.The Arab merchants offered all help to the
Zamorin in this conquest. The conquest however ushered in an era of bitter rivalry
between the two kingdoms.
The Zamorin continued his success.Before long he brought Nilambur, Manjeri and
Vankata Kotta (Kottakkal) under his control. Nedunganad acknowledged his authority
Talapilly Raja too submitted to his authority.The Punnathur chief became a strong
supporter of the Zamorin.The Perumpadappu Swarupam was forced to vacate its
headquarters at Chitrakutam and move in to Thiru Vanchikkulam. In the course of the 14
th
Century, the Zamorin further extended his conquests over central Kerala.He brought
Thrikkanarmathilakam under his possession and the Cochin Raja was forced to shift his
head quarters from Vanchi to Kochi (1405 AD).
The conflict with Kochi began in the 11
th
Century.It was the growing ambition of
the Zamorin that forced the Cochin ruler to abandon his headquarters at Vanneri and later
at Vanchi and move to Kochi.The dissensions in the Cochin royal family necessitated the
intervention of the Zamorin.When the Raja bequeathed the newly formed port of Kochi to
his mistress, the Rajas relatives pleaded to the Zamorin to intervene.There upon the
Zamorin marched in to the Cochin territory, occupied the Rajas palace at Thrissure,
defeated the Raja and installed his nominee as the new ruler of Kochi.The new ruler
acknowledged Zamorins over lordship and agreed to sell his pepper through Calicut
Port.The Chieftains of Edappalli and Kodungallur and the Arab merchants helped the
Zamorin in this venture.
The Zamorins encounter with Kochi brought him to the borders of the fertile
Kuttanad and Palakkad.His authority was recognized by the chiefs of Ambalapuzha,
Vadakkumkur and odanad. Although there was a cloud of Conflict with Venad, it was
brought to an honourable settlement.The Palakkad Raja was also brought under control by
conquering Naduvattom.The powerful Kolathunad in the North also submitted to the
Zamorins authority.Thus, by the end of the 15
th
Century, the Zamorin had become the
overlord of almost two-thirds Kerala.His prestige and position increased
immensely.Visions of a united Kerala have already been floating when the arrival of a few
Portuguese ships under Vasco Da Gama changed the course of events and involved the
Zamorin in a life and death struggle with European imperialism.
Administration.
The administrative set up of the kingdom was based on sound and liberal
principles.The king was all in all.But his unlimited power was tempered on the one hand
by the vassal chieftains and on the other by the Brahmins.The administration was carried
on under the direct orders of the Zamorin and his ministers.The four important ministers
are called Sarvadhikaryakkars and minor ministers are called Karyakkar.The important
ministers were (i) Mangat Achan, the seniormost minister who held a unique position in
government (ii) Dharmoth Panikkar who was the instructor in arms to the Zamorin and the
officer in charge of the Kalari; (iii) Tinyancheri Elayayath and (iv) Varakkal Para
Nampi.The last two were Brahmin ministers and enjoyed special privileges.
There was an elaborate civil service to attend to the day to day work of
administration.The taxes due in the government were collected by Karyakkars. Their
accounts were kept by the Menokkis (clerks).Barbosa observed that the Zamorin kept
many accountants in his palace.They are all in one room separate and far from the king,
sitting on benches and there they write all the affairs of the kings revenue.The kingdom
consisted of different Nadus, each under a Naduvazhi.The Naduvazhi had to pay
Purushantaram (succession Fee) to the Zamorin.He had to sent presents on such occasions
as Mamankam, Ariyittu Vazhcha.The capital city of Calicut had a governor and customs
office of its own.
The Zamorin had a well-equipped and efficient army.Each Desam had a Kalari
where Nair youths were given training in arms.The city of Calicut had a standing
army.The Zamorin maintained a cavalry force and an ordinance depot.The navy of the
Zamorin was manned by the moplahs and the Kunjalis were the admirals of the Calicut
fleet.The king was the fountain of justice.Justice was administered free to all.Property
disputes were settled by Panchayats.Caste tribunals tried cases involving offences against
morally and religion.Whipping, flogging, mutilation were the punishments awarded.Death
penalty was inflicted for serious crimes. However Brahmins were exempted from
punishments.
Cultural Achievements.
Calicut made significant contributions to our cultural heritage under the Zamorins.Their
patronage of culture overshadowed their political achievements. The Zamorins were great
scholars and patronised scholars and men of letters.Calicut became a great centre of art
and letters during the time of the Zamorins. Manavikrama, the most celebrated of the early
Zamorins, was the author of Vikramiya.The Zamorins court was adorned by the famous
Eighteen and a Half (Patinettara Kavikal) poets.The most celebrated ones of the Zamorins
court were Uddanada Sastrikal, Payyur and Kakkasseri Bhattas.Chennos Namputiri and
Punam, the last being the half poet.Uddanda was the author of Kokila Sandesam and
Mallikamarutam.Kakkasseri was the author of Vasumitra-Manavikrama while Chennos
Namputiri composed Tantra Samuchayam.
Rise of Kochi (Perumpadappu Swarupam)
Kochi was another important Nadu that became independent after the disintegration of
the perumal kingdom.The Cochin royal house is known as Perumpadappu Swarupam as
they had their original headquarters at Chithrakutam in the Perumpadappu village in
Vanneri.When the Zamorin invaded Valluvanad in the 13
th
Century,the Perumpadappu
family abandoned the Vanneri Palace and migrated to Ko9dungallur from where in 1405
AD they shifted to Kochi.The aggressive raids of the Zamorin and the Periyar floods
might have prompted them to shift the capital.The transfer of the trading activities from
Mahodayapuram to the newly formed (Kochazhi) Kochi also promoted this shifting.
Kochi came to political limelight only by the 13
th
Century.According to tradition, Kochi
was given to the nephew of the last Perumal when he partitioned the kingdom.However
they were subordinate to the Perumals authority.The territorial boundary of the kingdom
extended from Ponnani in the North to Shertallai in the south and from Chittur in the east
to Kochi in the West. Kochi rulers are being mentioned in inscriptions and in early literary
works.Viraraghava associated with the Syrian Copper plates is a Cochin ruler.Rama
Varma, another ruler of Cochin is mentioned in Siva Vilasam. Sukasandesam and Unniati
Charitam allude to the unique position held by the ruler of Kochi among the Naduvazhis
of Kerala.The Brahmins recognised them as Kshatriyas, an honour granted not even to the
Zamorins.The Perumpadappu Muppil (chief) exercised jurisdiction over a large number of
temples in Kerala.This moral and religious authority exercised by him had given him place
of pride among the Naduvazhis of Kerala.
Veeraraghava was the most important ruler of Kochi before the advent of the
Portuguese.He is associated with Veeraraghave Pattayam, or Syrian Christians copper
plates of 1225 AD.This inscription is about the granting of the Manigramam rights and
certain other privileges to Iravi Kortanan, leader of the Syrian Christians.It grants 72
proprietary rights to Iravi kortanan, to have elephants, Silk umbrella, slaves, palanquins
etc.The inscription is important as it suggests the position of the Cochin royal family as the
successors of the Perumal.The local chieftains of Sukapuram, Panniyur and Eranad and
Valluvanad were present as signatories and witnesses of this grant.
The prolonged conflict between Cochin and Kozhikode for the political supremacy of
central Kerala brought new dimensions to Kochi. It was the Cochin Raja who gave
facilities for trade to the Portuguese when they landed in Kerala.The Dutch palace was
presented as a present to the Cochin ruler by the Portuguese.The Kochi ruler also
welcomed the Jews and the Konkanis to the Malabar Coast.When the Dutch came, the
Kochi Rajas became subservient to them.Their intervention in the prolonged conflict with
Kozhikode ended in 1717 and the Raja got back all his ancestoral territories.The period
witnessed the rebellions of Paliath Achan, Anchikaimal and Chazhur Tampan.It also saw
the formation of the northern confederacy, Zamorins invasions and Cochins alliance with
Travancore.When Mysorean intervention had taken place, Kochi became a tributary to that
power and later made an alliance with the English.
Rise of Venad
Venad was one of the most powerful kingdoms that arose following the disintegration
of the Chera kingdom of Makotai.Venad means the land of Vel Chieftains.They controlled
the agrarian tracts from Kollam to Nanchinadu.During the early Sangam age, Venad was
part of the Ay kingdom.In the Perumal age, Venad had the status of a feudatory power.It
got an independent status only after the 12
th
Century.During this period, they shifted their
power from Kiliperur to Thripparappu.They shifted that centre with the object of
controlling the resources of Thripparappu which was already a mercantile town.They have
also acquired control over the economically important temple of Padmanabha at
Thiruanantapuram.
Ayyan Atikal Tiruvatikal was the first prominent ruler of Venad.The Teresappally
copper plate (849 AD) had immortalised his name in History. Sri Vallabhakotha, another
Venad ruler is associated with the Mampalli copper plate (974 AD).The Thrikkodithanam
temple inscription and the Jewish copper plate (1000 AD) mention Govardhana Marthanda
as the third ruler of Venad. Venad passed through a period of stress and strain during the
Chera-Chola conflict.
Rama Varma Kulasekhara, the last of the Perumals of Mahodayapuram was the first
ruler of the Venad royal house.He shifted his headquarters from Kudangallur to
Kollam.His successors Vira Kerala Varma and Kotharavi conquered Kottar and Nanjinad
from the Pandyas and established the supremacy of Venad.Their successors Vira Ravi
Varma and Aditya Varma introduced a good system of government.The inscriptions of the
time Kilimanur, Manalikkara and Vellayani mention the name of the successors.By
their time the Pandyas established their supremacy over Venad.It was left to Ravi Varma
Kulasekhara to set his house in order and to assert his authority over adversaries.
Ravi Varma Kulasekhara (1299 1314)
Ravi Varma Kulasekhara is the most outstanding king of Venad.His reign is remarkable
for innumerable conquests, settled administration, economic prosperity religious
development and cultural ethos.The inscriptions of his reign found scattered in such places
as Trivandrum, Kanchi, Poonamalle and Srirangam give us information about his
achievements. Ravi Varma ascended the throne at a time when the Pandyas were
dominating South Indian politics and Malik kafur was attempting the first Muslim inroads
in to South India. Ravi Varma began his conquests by attacking the Pandyas and
ascending as the emperor of South India at Kanchi (1312). Ravi Varma undertook the
South Indian conquests mainly to prevent a repetition of the Muslim invasions of South
India. In effecting his conquests, he played the role of Defender of the Hindu Faith against
Islam, a role that the Hoysala Ballalas and Vijayanagar Rayas played later.He was not only
firm in battle (Sangramadhira), but also a patron of scholars and poets. He patronized the
authors of Unnunilisandesam and Lilathilakam.He is called Dakshina Bhoja,
Samudrabandhu and Kavibhushana attended his court. A devout Hindu, he patronised
temples. Venad attained economic prosperity under him and also social progress.Kollam
became the premier port of trade on the West Coast. In short, both in war and peace, Ravi
Varma proved his metal.He shoots across the political horizon of South India like a
flashing meteor and he had a lasting place among the most illustrious rulers of Venad.
We get a glimpse of the political, social and religious conditions of Venad from the
accounts of foreign travelers and also from inscriptions. The king had vast powers, but
restricted by local assemblies and customs.He had a cavalry force and minted coins as is
testified to by Ma Huan.Venad rulers held a vast area form Tovala to Kallada and beyond,
to Tamil areas.Marco Polo (13
th
C) had testified to the economic prosperity of the
land.Sulaiman the merchant describes Kollam as the most preferred port in South India as
it traded in spices like pepper and ginger.It was an age of Brahmin domination and temples
and Salais speak of othe religious atmosphere in the kingdom.Thus Venad enjoyed
benefits of liberal administration, social progress, material prosperity and religious
harmony.
Formation of Regional Culture: Localisation: Village Communities
SANKETHAM
Sanketham was an important institution that existed in Kerala during the medieval
period.It is an independent institution governed by its own members, but presided over by
an elected member.All important temples in Kerala used to have their own Sanketams.The
Sanketams possessed independent sovereign authority in their domains.To guard against
encroachment, the Sanketams chose a secular leader.But they never gave up their right of
ownership.With the help of the ruler, they managed the temple lands and tracts.
The Sanketam was almost a state within a state with its own organs of
government.The ruling sovereign (Naduvazhi) had no effective control over them. In fact
they provided the ruler with a safe place for asylum in times of invasion, war or internal
disorder.The Sanketan enjoyed protection from the enemies attack.In view of the
importance of Sanketams there was a regular seramble among the rulers to acquire
Melkoyma rights over them.Thus the rulers of Kochi, Palakkad and Kozhikode acquired
control over Tiruvilavamala Devaswam; the Cochin Raja over the temples of Haripad and
Tiruvalla;the Rajas of Vadakkumkur and Parur over Thrissur and Peruvanam and the king
of Venad over Vaikkam temple.In course of time, due to political uprisings in the country,
the Sanketams lost their significance with the rise of secular power, they declined.In its
hey day the Sanketam possessed almost sovereign powers.They had the right to punish
even the sovereign.It possessed the right to collect taxes.It is a self governing unit,self
working and self contained community recognising no sovereign.
CENTRES OF LEARNING
Medieval temples of Kerala were centres of education and culture.Vedic schools
were established within the temple.These Temple Vedic Schools were called as Salais.
Although established by temple trustees, these institutions were patronised by the
rulers.The practice of establishing schools along with the temple might have drawn
inspiration from the Buddhist tradition of schools along with the Viharas. Several Kerala
inscriptions allude to the existence of Salais in medieval Kerala.The most important of
such Salais that existed in Kerala during the 9
th
and 10
th
centuries were those at
Kantalur,Parthivapuram,Tiruvalla Muzhikkalam,Sukapuram and Tirunelli.The Salais
were mostly residential institutions.heir expenses were met by the Salais themselves. But
they received encouragement and financial assistance from the local rulers.The students
were given free boarding the lodging by the Salais.Instructions were given in such subjects
as grammar, Philosophy, law and the Vedas. Admission was restricted to Brahmins
alone.The teachers of the Salais were called Bhattas and the students Chattirar.The
Salais had contributed much for the spread of Aryan culture.A few of the temples had
separate Salais for giving instruction and training in arms.Most of the Salais, however had
given both Vedic education and armed training at the same time.
There are references in the inscriptions to the Chattas and Bhattas.The Brahmin
youth well versed in Vedic knowledge and military training were known as
Chattirar,Chattas or Chattanmar.The Chattirar acted as a Para-military force in medieval
Kerala as they had been entrusted to protect the properties of the temples and the
Salais.The Chattirar, in fact acted as the link between the rulers and the Brahmins.As there
are references to the existence of Chattas and Bhattas in North India in the inscriptions of
the Gupta period it may be assumed that they were a common factor all over India during
the early medieval period.The Chattas were also referred to in Manipravalam works like
Chandrotsavam as attending functions carrying sword and arm.
Social education was given to the common man in temple premises. Such education
was centred around the reading of the Puranas and epics.The Bhattas, specialists in
Sanskrit recited and interpreted the epic to the common man at the temple
premises.Singing of Kirtans was very common in temples.Competitions in the recital of
othe Vedas were also conducted.The most famous of such competitions was the
Kadavallur Anyonyam conducted in that temple.A scholar who succeeded in
Kadannirikkal in this Anyonyam is regarded with high acclaim in society.
The Salais were patronised by Naduvazhis and other rulers.They had donated vast
areas of land/paddy fields for the maintenance of Salais, Vikramaditya Varaguna, the Ay
king had made provisions for the Parthivapuram Salai.Tiruvalla and Muzhikkulam Salais
received large areas of paddy fields from the respective Naduvazhis.These Salais were
attached to the temples.
MARUMAKKATHAYAMOR MATRILINEAL SYSTEM
The Marumakkathayam system of inheritance is peculiar to Kerala.It is a system in
which succession and inheritance are traced through woman in the family.In this system
the property ownership exists through woman only.Inheritance is through the sisters
sons.However the eldest male member of the family-the Karanaver as he is called, looks
after the property on behalf of female members of the family.The Karanavers wife or
children had no right over the Taravad property. In fact proprietorship is traced through
the mother.Regarding the origin and antiquity of Marumakkathayam, historians and
anthropologists differ. L.A Krishna Iyer and other anthropologists opine that matrilineal
system had existed among the tribals of Kerala.Morgan and Engels had showed that
humanity had matriarchal system first and later moved to patriarchy.However there is no
mention of this system in the Sangam literature.From the 9
th
century onwards we get
inscriptional references of this system.Friar Jordanus was the first foreign writer to
mention this system.A number of theories have been put forward to explain the origin of
Marumakkathayam in kerala.The most prominent of these theories are Brahmanical
theory, property theory, military theory, etc.
The Brahmanical Theory:The traditional theory ascribes the origin of
Marumakkathayam to Parasurama.According to this theory, the Sudra woman put of their
chastity to satisfy the desires of the Bhramins as ordained by Parasurama.This view has no
historical basis and rests mainly on tradition. The Brahmins might have formulated such a
theory to establish their superior position in the community.According to the Property
theory Marumakkathayam has been introduced mainly to keep the property of the Nair
tarawads in tact.Marumakkathayam system was introduced in order to prevent the
possibility of partition and destruction of family property under Makkathayam.The
Military Theory ascribes the origin of the system to the peculiar military organisation of
Kerala.The continuous wars in the medieval period kept away the Nair soldiers from their
traditional homes.The medieval military system was incompatible with regular married
life.It resulted in the origin of Marumakkathayam.
T.K. Gopala Pannikkar (Malabar and its folk) traces the origin of
Marumakkathayam in the system of polyandry or promiscuity prevailed among the Nairs
of Kerala. Prof. Elamkulam ascribes the origin of the system to the wars of 11
th
Century.
It was the compelling circumstances created by the Chera-Chola war in the 11
th
Century
led to the origin of Marumakkathayam.The socio-economic forces let loose by the war
resulted in the evolution of the system.The political and religious dominance of the
Namputiris, then rise to economic ascendancy as Janmis and the introduction of
compulsory military training and the formation of suicide squads were the compelling
circumstances created by the Chola-Chera War.The anxiety to preserve their property
undivided prompted the Namputiris to encourage the Sambandham system, which in turn
led to the matrilineal system.
Development:
Whatever be its origin, the system came to be developed and strengthened by
certain features.There are epigraphic and literary evidences to show the existence of the
system from the 9
th
Century In their anxiety to preserve undivided the Brahmaswam lands,
the Brahmin settlers permitted only their eldest sons to marry within the community.The
senior members could not neither marry from their community nor maintain their wives
and children.Still they were coveted husbands among the humbler folks on account of their
social status and religious influence.This new form of alliance might have given matriliny
a new base of life.As matrilirieal tracts are traced among the southern groups in the West
Coast,but not prominently displayed in the Sangam Age, it was later strengthened.
The Marumakkathayam system centres on the Taravad, the family unit.It consisted
of all the descendants of a common ancestress in the female line.A mans children had no
right within his Tarawad as they belonged to his wifes family.The family property was
administered by the Karanavar, the eldest male member of othe Tarawad.He had absolute
power with regard to the management of the estate.But he could not alienate any portion of
the family property without the consent of its members.This system suited well for a
soldier class as the junior member of the Tarawad had nothing to do, but fight.The women
had a considerable voice in the affairs of the Tarawad and enjoyed freedom and security.
The Marumakkathayam system of inheritance is observed by the Kshatriyas,
Antaralas and the Sudras in Kerala.The succession in the royal families of Kochi and
Thiruvitamkur are in the matrilineal system.The Namputiris of Payyannur village, the
Arakkal royal house of Kannur and the Keyees of Thalasseri subscribes to the matrilineal
system.
TEMPLE ARCHITECTURE
The medieval Hindu temples of the feudal age are the standing monuments of the
regional styles in architecture and sculpture.Several structural temples with a simple
Garbhagriha, mandapa and Prakara now began to incorporate many separate shrines of
minor deities.The mandapas and Prakaras were multiplied and several storeys were added
with more ornamental sculpture.Gopurams came to be constructed.There was doubling in
each section such as Petal, vessel and even the ornamental banana Sprout.There was
ornamentation in the sculpture of images.There was the abundance of garlands and crown
jewels, elaboration of Kankena and stylized variations of folds. Animation gave way to
passion for decoration and style as in the Huysala and Chola styles.Panniyur,
chokiram,Irinjalakuda,Vaikam and Chellur are a few centers where the typical structures
of the post Chera period could be seen.The products of this period were characterized by
the porous headgear, beaded garlands, grim faces with wide open eyes and nostrils.Stone
was replaced by timber and elaborate wood works were carried out in place of stone.The
simple, real and natural grace of the early period was replaced by vulgarity,complexity and
exuberance as is exemplified in Kuttampalams.
KALARI SYSTEM.
The Kalari was one of the most important institutions of the medieval period in the
history of Kerala.In ancient Kerala, the Kalari was a school, which gave instructions both
in arms and letters.With domination of the Namputiris who were expert learners.Kalari
activities were reduced to giving military training.In the middle ages, Kalaris lost their
status as educated centres.they became military gymnasiums or fencing schools imparting
training in arms. Kalaris were usually attached to temples.The Asan (Fencing master) who
presided over the Kalari master supervised the training of the youths and imparted
instructions in martial arts.Fencing, Boxing and Wrestling were some of the arts in which
training were given.The training in gymnastics and arms is known as
Kalaripayattu.Northern ballads are replete with references to the martial art.
Ankam
Ankamis a fight between two professionally Kalari trained warriors at a fixed
place and at an appointed time. Ankams were common in medieval Kerala, and usually
stopped with the death of one of the warriors. When a dispute arises between two groups
of nobles, each side in a dispute would engage warriors to fight for them.
Organised single combat between two Ankachekavars (Thiyyas). Centuries ago
in Kerala, south India, and quarrels between local rulers were resolved by fixing an Ankam,
or duel, between two Ankachekavars, each ruler being represented by one Ankachekavar. The
ruler represented by the surviving Ankachekavar was considered the winner.
A war in which the Ankachekavars fought for their country.
Revathi Pattathanam.
Calicut under the Zamorins attained fame as the venue of the famous Revathi
Pattathanam, a seven day assembly held annually at Tali Temple, Calicut. It attracted
scholars from far and near.This annual assembly, held under the Zamorins patronage
honoured scholars and men of letters.The origin of Pattathanam is traced back to the 14
th
Century.Tradition ascribes its origin to the Zamorin who, on the advice of the Tirunavaya
yogam instituted it to expiate the sins committed by his family. It is an act of atonement
for causing the death of the Brahmins (Brahmahatya).The Revathi Pattathanam was a
seven day affair beginning on the day of Revathi asterism in the month of Tulam and
ending on the Tiruvathira day.
The world Pattathanam is derived from the Sanskrit word Bhattar Sthanam.It had
been the practice to confer the title Bhatta on the learned Brahmins.Later the title came to
be conferred on those who distinguished themselves in Pattathanam deliberations.It was
customary to hold competitions in each accepted branch of learning.In this seven-day
assembly, representatives of all the Sabha Mutts in Kerala participated.The Payyur
Bhattathiri acted as the chief judge of Pattathanam.In selecting the meritorious
candidates,strict standards were maintained.At the end of the deliberations of seven days,
the Zamorin presented the title of Bhatta to the winners.
The defeat of Uddanda Sastrikal by Kakkasseri was one of the famous episodes in
the history of Pattathanam.Kakkasseri, Meputhur and Uddanda Sastrikal were some of the
scholars who were honoured by Pattathanam by the Zamorin.The institution of
Pattathanam enabled the Zamorin to win a high place among the rulers of the land.The
Pattathanam, which thus came in to vogue in the 14th century, continued uninterrupted till
the Mysorean invasion (18
th
Century).It was later renewed and continued till 1934. In
recent times, it was again revived and many a Pathanam was held in the Tali temple in the
post independent era.
Mamankam.
Mamankam was a unique festival of all Kerala importance.It was held once in 12
years at Tirunavaya on the banks of Bharatapuzha.It secured to the Zamorin a unique place
and status in the political arena.There are several views regarding the origin of
Mamankam.K.V. Krishna Aiyar relates it to the Marga-festival of the Buddhists.The date
of its origin is unknown.References to Mamankam occur ony from the 15
th
Century.It has
been suggested that Mamankam was the continuation of the Kuttams that was conducted
every twelve years at Tirunavaya.Before monarchy was introduced.The festival was
conducted by the Rakshapurushas of the four Kazhakams in to which Kerala was
divided.The Perumals began to conduct it later.When the Chera kingdom declined, the
ruler of Valluvanad used to conduct the festival, receiving honours which the Perumal
enjoyed.The Zamorin acquired this right from Valluvanad after defeating its ruler at
Tirunavaya.Ever since the conquest of Tirunavaya (1743) the Zamorin functioned as the
protector of Mamankam.
The festival is called Mamankam as it was held in the year of Mahamagha; one of
the 12 years in the lesser Brahaspathi circle.It was so called because it began in the Maka
asterism in the month of Makara (Magha).It is also called Maha magham, the great
sacrifice to indicate the self-immolation of the ruler.The festival lasted for 29 days.The
first 25 days are set apart for processions and other ceremonies.On the last day of the
festival, the Zamorin used to come in procession, ascend the Manithera facing the
Tirunavaya Tevar and stood with a drawn sword.It was during this time that the Chavers,
the followers of Valluvanad Raja, attempts to seize the throne to avenge the death of the
princes in the Tirunavaya battle.These soldiers were called Chavers because they were
sworn either to do a way with the Zamorin or to perish in the attempt. At the close of the
celebrations, the Zamorin received the various Rajas and chieftains at Manithara.The
Mamankam helped the Zamorin to win a unique status in the political field.
Locating Power Centres: Desom and Thara:
Household as Unit
Along with the growth of swarupam and Nadus in the medieval period, there
occurred a shift of power centres from the earlier royal courts to the regional and local
areas in Kerala. During this period, a wide variety of political structures and power units
came up in the various parts of the state.These local power centres had different
organisational forms and nomenclatures. The names of these local centres are often
confusing as their powers are usually over-lapping. However the predominant local power
centres were the Desom and Thara and Taravad as the family unit.
The local power centres had an agrarian base as the resources derived from the
agricultural base was the significant factor for the growth of the local centres. In fact the
strength of the local power centres depended upon the ability of these centres in
mobilizing wealth from the agricultural field and other resources. In the process of the
mobilization of wealth an alliance was formed between the Naduvazhis, the Brahmin and
the intermediary class, usually the Nairs.
More land was brought under cultivation in medieval Kerala and better techniques
were used in the process of agricultural production, both in cash crops and food crops. As
a result of the growth of the production capacity the production also increased. In the
absence of a central authority, developing regional powers granted landed areas to military
leaders, by way of service tenure. The military leaders in the local areas were mainly Nair
with their sub caste like Nambiars, Panikkar, Kurup, Nayanar, Menokki, Achan etc. These
military leaders were given the power to exercise military administrative and judicial
functions, in their respective areas. These Nair military had control and command over the
peasants belonging to lower castes, who had worked in the formers land. So it was the
expansion of agriculture, both in terms of extent and productivity that helped for the
growth of local power centres. Since the consolidation of the agricultural village system
without any fundamental changes, except the proliferations of sub caste caused by the
developing divisions of labour, the caste mechanism functioned as a political structure.
The household unit known as the Taravad was the basic local power centre in
medieval Kerala. Taravad was a joint family in which the members of the blood relations
lived together. Most of the Nair Taravad had vast areas of both Parambu and paddy fields.
The Taravad property was held collectively and no individual member had any right to
claim his or her share in it. The head of the Taravad was called Karanavar who being the
eldest male member of the joint family. The eldest female member of the joint family or
the Taravad was known as the Karanavthi. Though Karanavar was the power centre in
the Taravad, the Karanavthy had her own part in the affairs of the Taravad.
The Karanavar kept the entire agricultural product and other wealth of the Taravad
under his custody and it was he who decided the ratio of food grains, oil, cloth and other
amenitied of life to the members of the Taravad according to their position in the family
hierarchy and grade. In fact the picture of the Karanavar in the Taravad in the traditional
set up was absolute. He was legally responsible for all the junior members of the joint
family. In extrteme cases he had the power to inflict corporal punishment on the members
of the Taravad. He was the authority to decide on all Sambandham partners who came
to the Taravad. No marriage took place between the members of the Taravad as they were
considered as related by blood.
Some of the bigger Taravad had their own temples or Kavu attached to their own
household units. The deities of the kavu included not only the tribal gods and local heroes
but the ancestors of the concerned Taravad also. The kavu was the sacred place for the
members of the Taravad and also for the people of the locality. Each Taravad was linked
to other similar Taravads having same status for purpose of social intercourse. In reality
Taravads existed as isolated economic and political entities within the society. Taravads
as the local power centres began to decline by the 18
th
century.
The Village settlements in Kerala unlike the other parts of India were in a scattered
form instead of the clustered nucleated villages. All castes of high and low status found in
these villages, including various occupational groups. The non-brahmin localities had an
assembly called Thara, which was another local power centre in medieval Kerala. Thara
was not organised on the basis of any geographical extent of the village. It was local
organization of various Nair family units. Nair warriors who had fought for the
maintenance of the security of the people in the earlier period had been regarded as the
masters.
The Nair military leaders received vast areas of land attached to their Taravad. As
the property rights developed each Thara had a Yajamana who naturally was a Karalar
Nair. Being the Karalar were Nairs their dominanace was visible in the Tara. In fact, the
Tara functioned as a civil and municipal body in the respective locality and acted as the
local power centre above the Taravads. The Assembly of the Tara was called the
Tharakuttam dominated by the Nairs. The Tharakuttam was represented by the elder
members of the Nair Taravads within the locality. The Tarakuttam managed the affairs of
the Tara.
The Tharakuttam usually met on a high platform or under the banyan tree near the
local temple. Almost all the Taravads of the locality had a place in the organization and
function in the Tharakuttam. The Thara functioned as a specific community; co-
ordinating and serving different interests of the people related with the Thara.Heriditary
functionaried like carpenter, washerman, barbar, blacksmith, astrologer, and physician
rendered their services to the people of the Thara, under the direction and supervision of
the Tharakuttam. Kalaris were organised as a part of the Thara, where younger Nair boys
were provided armed training.In due courses, separate Kalaries were formed for some of
the lower castes also.
The affairs of the Thara and its members were conducted on the basis of customs
and traditions Ambasamudram Inscription of Adityavarman belonging to the 15
th
century
records that different local issues were decided in the joint meeting of the local
assemblies in the presence of Karyasthan of the Naduvazhi. In southern Kerala Kara
is the name for Thara.Uru was the assembly of the Nambutiris. Ara was the temple
centre and Thara was the port centre.
Desom was yet another local power centre existed in medieval Kerala.
Desathalavan was the head of the Desam and usually he was a Nair chief. He showed
nominal loyalty to the Naduvazhi. Desom was based on the geographical extent normally
ranging upto 10sq.kms. Logan says there had 126 Desoms and 72 Tharas in Malabar. It
could be assumed that the Desom was a part of the village. Many Desoms formed a Nadu
and several such Nadus formed a swarupam or regional kingdom. John P Mencher
considers desom as a unit of military organisation and its area was determined by the
number of soldiers, it was required to provide to the Naduvazhi.In fact the geographical
extent of the Desom varied according to the density of population in the respective
localities.The Desathalavan was assisted by Pramanis in the administration of the
Desom.He collected the dues for the Naduvazhis and he had the power to impose fines.He
decided petty suits and was responsible for the establishment of law and order in the
respective Desom.
Feudal Institutions and Legal Practices
Crime and Punishment
JANMI SYSTEM.
The Janmi System is one of the most dominant features of Kerala society during the
medieval period.The medieval Kerala society was dominated by the land owning Brahmin
class who worked as an imperium in imperio.The origin of the word Janmi, There is no
such word in Sanskrit having the connotation of land owner.According to Sankarasmruti,
the word Janmam is derived from the word Jalman which in turn is derived form the root
Jal.This view is not accepted by modern historians.According to Prof. Elamkulam the
word Janmi is derived from the word Janmam right meaning life time.Before the
trusteeship of temples became hereditary, there was an interim period when that position
was held by a person during his Janmam or life time.It was from that Janmam right that
the term Janmi was derived.The right of trustees over the property under their control was
limited to their Janmam or life time.
The origin of the Janmi system can be traced back to the Sangam Age. The
Sangam works allude to the existence of private property but not to the complex Janmi
System of later days.The traditional view says that the system was created by Parasurama
who bestowed all the land on the Brahmins.This view is not accepted by modern
historians.Elamkulam ascribes the origin of landlordism to the Chola Chera war of the 11
th
Century.The war led to a situation in which the Brahmins came to acquire a dominant
position in the socio-economic life. As the people were preoccupied with war,the
Namputiris as Uralars of the temple began to manage temple affairs.In the meantime the
land owning tenants transferred their land to the Brahmins and the temple.Such lands
enjoyed freedom from devastation by the enemy forces in times of war. In the above
circumstances the Namputiri Brahmins acquired over lordship over both Brahmaswam and
Devaswam lands.They came to acquire the status of wealthy and powerful landlords or
Janmis.The origin of the Janmi system is attributed to the above development.
Such owners of land were known as Uralars and those who took up land for
ocultivation were known as the Karalar.The Uralar and the Karalar formed the feudal
society of Kerala during the medieval period.The Uralar-Karalar dominance became
strengthened during the age of anarchy that followed the decline of the Perumal
kingdom.With the feudal social formation, a hierarchical social structure of Uralar Karalar,
middlemen, the actual cultivator and craftsmen emerged in the society.When the material
status was joined with the customary social status, the feudal relations achieved a new
dimension.The centres of worship were centralised in to agrarian economy.Thus the term
feudal is being used to characterise the medieval Kerala society.
The production relation that developed with land as the chief productive force
paved the way for the formation of the feudal society.However the term feudalism as
applied in the European or Indian context cannot be applied to Kerala. In the absence of a
better term, historians (D.D Kosambi, R.S. Sharma) still uses the term even to denote
social formations in Kerala.There were no land grants in Kerala as elsewhere.There was
the Namputiri-Nair alliance here.Prof. Elamkulam has characterised the medieval Kerala
society dominated by these two castes as Janmi system.
Trial by ordeal (Satyapareekshakal)
Trial by ordeal is an archaic practice of submitting an individual accused of a crime
to a painful or dangerous situation with an outcome used to decide guilt or innocence.The
practice was popular in kerala during the Middle Ages, and was said to be a trial before
God. Many ordeals exposed the accused to tests involving fire, boiling water, or oil, and
even drinking poisoned liquids.The basic concept behind trial by ordeal is that the accused
is being judged by God.If he or she makes it through the test or challenge unscathed, God
has declaring innocence.When the individual was harmed, it was viewed as God declaring
guilt and executing a punishment.
At first glance, this seems like a barbaric and unfair way to determine guilt or
innocence, but some individuals have suggested that the method worked.In some cases, an
individual's own guilt would manifest in a failure to pass the test; some ordeals involved
eating or drinking something without choking, and guilt would make this task
difficult.Another theory suggests that guilt or innocence was really decided by those
giving the test; if a person was thought to be innocent, the water in the pot would be hot
but not boiling, allowing him or her to pass through the ordeal relatively unscathed. Trial
by ordeal was in some ways the precursor to the modern idea of criminal psychology, and
of reading guilt or innocence in a person's actions and words.
Chithravadham
Chithravadham is a kind of death punishment which was prevailant in medieval Kerala.
It was given only to the members of lower castes. The body of the person to be executed is
pierced with a sharp iron rod which is stabbed into his/her anus. The iron rod is thrusted in
until it comes out through the other side, i.e., either neck or shoulder. Then both the ends
of the iron rod are fastened to a tree keeping a vertical position to the rod. The executed
person dies due to severe injury to internal organs as well as bleeding. After fastening to
the tree, the executed person's body hangs without any support. The punishment of
Chithravadham was given only to the lower classes. 1. Plucking out the eyes 2.Trampling
by elephant 3.Mutilation of limbs 4.Enslavement 5. Whipping and then applying chilli
powder in the wounds and making him stand in the sun. 6. Excommunication 7. Fine (Of
these, Brahmins were given only the last two punishments.) In modern Malayalam, the
term Chithravadham is used in colloquial usage to denote "torturing".
SMARTHA VICHARAM
The Namboothiri women are kept in the strictest seclusion of all virtues, chastity is
accounted the highest and any violation of this, in man or women, enacts loss of caste,
social status and total separation from the family enquires in the cases of conjugal
infidelity are conducted by the Smarthan (judge), and hence the name Smarthavichram
by which the caste trail is known to the members of the family. They do not generally keep
the secret to themselves, but senior or some other male member divulges it to the
prominent members among the caste men group. The letter or living the information,
proceed to family and make a careful enquiry into the truth of matter. If they are satisfied
as to her guilt, they direct suspected women to lodge separately for they consider her to be
impure. The husband or the other member of the family then informs the ruler of the state,
who there upon at the request of her husband or parents appoints a panchayath to
conduct vicharam (trial) and issue summons (Tittu) to them.The panchayath consist of the
smartha or the president; two or more Mimamskar Namboothiri versed in caste laws the
Agakoyma or local head of the community, and the Purakoyma a representative of the
Raja whose duty it is to stand with a drawn sword during the trail and to keep the order.
KACCHAMS
Kacchams were a series of administrative and cultural regulations formulated by
the landed classes to ensure the mobilisation and redistribution of the produce of the land
to different layers of the society.In temple centres, these regulations had an orderly
structure based on the unanimous decisions of the temple authorities.Kancham prescribes
the nature of procurement of Pattam,expenses to be incurred out of the produce,type of
judicial control to be exercised and fines to be realised,duties and obligations of temple
functionaries and such other related matters. Several such Vyavastai existed.
Muzhikkalam Kaccham was the model Kaccham that was used all over
Kerala.Muzhikkalam was one of the major Gramam (village) in Kerala. It was the Methali,
one of the major of the 4 Talis or Brahmin advisory bodies to the Perumal. Muzhikkalam
was also one of the Divyadesams praised by the Bhakti saints. Hence it was natural that
the regulations prepared at Muzhikkalam was accepted by the Brahmin villages and came
to be accepted as the basic document all over Kerala.
The Muzhikkalam Kaccham was widely referred to in inscriptions.The Chokur
inscription (898) makes the earliest reference to this Kacham.The Kaviyur and Tripayar
inscriptions provide details of the regulations on the basis of this Kaccham.Temple
inscription of Thiruvalla, Kaviyur Thrukkakkara, Tirunandikkara and Tirunelli contain
references to Muzhikkalam regulations.It was also mentioned in the inscriptions of
Alanallur, Kumaranallur and Thirumittakode.The Thirumittacode document provides the
last mentin of this Kaccham.
However information is lacking as regards the details of Muzhikkalam Kaccham
and also as to why this Kaccham attained such prominence. The available information
shows that it was issued at the end of the 9
th
Century. It was prepared at the place of
Muzhikkalam.It was attended by the Koyil Adhikarikal, the kings representatives and
besides various Naduvazhis and Uralars.It was prepared to regulate both the temple and
village administration. In course of time, it was accepted as the basic and authentic
document for such regulations all over Kerala.
Although the original full text of Muzhikkalam Kaccham could not be traced out, a
few details are available.The Kaccham declares punishments to uralars for the
misappropriation of temple funds.It declares punishments to those tenants who fails to
remit rent to the temple.The punishments included eviction from temple property, loss of
membership from the Ur fines, ex communication and loss of property and other forms of
wealth.The Kaccham was prepared at a time when the temples had amassed large extent of
landed property and its main aim was to prevent the misappropriation of the temple
resources by the Uralar and to extract rent from the tenanis regularly.
There were four other Kaccham-Kadangattu, Thavanur, Sankaramangalam and
Kaithavaram.They did not have the widespread significance of Muzhikkalam.Kadangattu
Kacham involves the regulations introduced while transferring a Cherikkal land to
Avittattur temple during the time of Kotaravi (903 AD).The Tavanur Kacham prescribes
that the Uralar should not prevent the cultivation and sale of paddy, should not rob
wealth.This Kacham is being mentioned in the Tripangode and Sukapuram.Temple
inscriptions Sankaramangalathu Kaccham appears in Tiruvalla copper plates.The Uralar
was suppose to receive Rakshabhogam and protect the land.Kaithavaram Kaccham is
mentioned in connection with the merger of Ayranikkulam and Tiruvalla villages.It
describes the regulations to be followed by the Ur and Potuval of the merged village.
The introduction of Kaccams shows the existence of effective legal procedures with
regard to temple lands and expenses. Most of these regulations appear with transfer of
lands.Violations of such decisions incurred strict and severe punishment.It included
excommunication, deprival of the means of livelihood, confiscation of property etc.
TEMPLES AND RELIGION
Temple and its Significance.
A Temple is a centre of worship for the Hindus. It is the nerve centre of Hindu
religious life. The temple has played a very crucial role in the every day life of the
Hindus.Kerala is a land of temples, but when compared to other parts of India. Kerala has
no gigantic structures or paraphernalia.Kerala temples are noted for their simplicity and
unadulterated forms of worship.In medieval times the temple played a constructive role in
society.
Rise of Temples.
The temple is a unique institution in Kerala.They began to emerge in Kerala round
8
th
Century AD.The earliest temples were cave temples, cut in to single rock. Such cave
temples could be seen in places like Irunilamkod, Thrikkur, Kallil, Kaviyur,
Thirunandikkara, Vizhinjam and Chitral.In these temples, images are made on the walls of
small chambers, cut into a single rock. The sculpture in the rock cut temples of Kerala
resembles those of the Pallavas and the Pandyas.
The structural temples came to be erected by the 10
th
Century. These temples were
built of laterite or granite and have elaborate structures.They began to emerge by 9
th-
10
th
centuries.The major temples of this category were Thrichambaram, Tirumittakod,Tirunelli,
Thirunavaya, Ayranikulam, Thiruvanchikulam, Thrikkakara, Thiruvalla,
Thrikkodithanam, Perunna. These temples have a common architecture style.They consists
of a Grabha-Griha,Mukhamandapam,Thidappilly, Chuttampalam Vatilmadam and
Kuthampalam.These temples emerged to serve as the ritualistic and social centres of the
emerging agrarian society.
FUNCTIONS.
Medieval Kerala Temple have manifold functions to perform and activities to
engage.Ritualistic Functions:The temple has to perform ritualistic function.The ritual
offering and ceremonies were made to fulfil the primary needs of an agrarian society like
the control of climate and seasons.These ritualistic functions are monopolised by the
Brahmins who alone are permitted to enter into the Sanctum Sanctorum where such rituals
were performed.Another function of the temple was normal worship through chanting of
hymns and prayers.The function of preparing Nivedyam is performed in the Thidapilli
(Temple Kitchen).Mulayara prepared the items of the various festivals inside the
temple.The Kuthampalam provided space for various performing arts.Thus temple became
an assembly of social relations, a system in which the agricultural production and
distribution was ensured through ritual means: Redistribution of the surplus products was
made among the Brahmins.Ideological function was ensured through devotional forms,
festivals and performances which are the means of self expression of the society.Thus the
main functions of the temples were ritual and redistribution of the surplus.
Temples also functioned as educational centres.This function of the temple is
mentioned in the inscriptions of Parthivapuram, Kanthalur, Thiruvalla and
Muzhikkalam.Temples also functioned as money lending centres and nodal agencies of
trade.They also functioned as dispensaries or Athura Salais.In short medieval Kerala
temples had manifold functions such as ritual, worship, feeding centre, educational and
cultural centre, money lending and trading centre and also as redistribution centre.
TEMPLE AS A LANDLORD.Medieval Kerala temple has an important role as the
biggest landowner.The temple has vast property.The ownership of vast agricultural
cultivable land is vested in temples.Such lands are known as Devaswam lands.
URALAR AND KARALAR.
The term Uralar is used to describe the land owning class while the word Karalar is used
to describe the temple tenants. Uralar is the head of the Ur.Families of large land owners
are also called Uralar.Uralars are mostly Brahmins.The villages in which they live and
assemble are called Ur. A person becomes Uralar by membership of this body.Uralar also
functioned as the managing body of the temple centre in the Ur.Uralar gave land on rent
(pattam) to Karalar.Karalar is expected to gave a fixed sum of the produce of the land to
Uralar.Karanmma right cannot be transferred.It naturally could go to the descendant.
The land of temple functionaries other than Uralars called viruti would also be held as
Karanma.The Karalar had under him a number of labouring groups such as Izhavar and
Thachar.However they have no rights over the land. Land lord-tenant relations were
complete with Uralar and Karalar.Temples are vested with the ownership of lands.They
earned huge income as Pattam.Such incomes were redistributed among temple
functionaries for expenses connected with offerings, feedings etc.The Karalar had to bear
the burden of all these expenses.
TEMPLE AS AN EMPLOYER.
Many a medieval Kerala temple acted as an employer.The hierarchy of authority in
temples and the ownership of vast areas of land and other forms of wealth enabled the
temple to offer employment to many.The Karalars were actually workers under the
temple.While the Uralars functioned as controllers of temples.Such persons as the
Perumal, Koyil Adhikarikal and Nadu Vazhis were associated with temples.There were
various kinds of temple servants.They are Bhattas,officials,artists and menial
servants.Bhattars were learned teachers proficient in the Puranas.The officers performed
rituals and conducted the management of the temple.The performance of rituals is the duty
of Tantri.Melsathi and Kilsant.The managerial functions were performed by such officials
as Putuval and Variyar.They appear in all major decisions of the temple. The temple also
employed dancers,drummers and their artists.Women dancers too were mentioned.The
Chokur and Nedumpuram Tali inscription give information about them.The Chakkiyars
and Nangiyars performed Kuthu and Kudiyattam while the drummers performed in five
instruments (Chenda,Timila,Chengala, Kaithalam and Kahalam (Kuzhal).Menial servants
are also employed.They include guards, sweepers, leave gatherers, dish washers.
CENTRE OF REDISTRIBUTION.
However, the main function of the temples was the redistribution of the surplus.They
served as the distributive centre of the emerging agrarian society.The primary need of an
agrarian community was fulfilled by the rituals and ceremonies in the temple-The temples
received huge income from land.The surplus was redistributed to the needy in the form of
feeding centres.The temple thus became an agency, which ensured the agricultural
production and redistribution.Redistribution of the surplus product was made among the
Brahmins.Thus the temple became an assembly of social relations, a system in which the
agricultural production and distribution was ensured, ideological function was ensured
through devotional forms; festivals and performances provided means of self expression of
the society.
TEMPLE ARTS.
The temples were also centres of cultural activities.Koothampalam was designed to be
the centre of performing arts.They are theatres in temples where Koothu is
performed.They are specially constructed in the temple premises.The members of the
Chakiyar family alone have the right to perform Koothu in temples.It is a performing art
peculiar to Kerala.It is performed in temples.Drawing his themes from the Puranas, the
Chakiyar assumes the role of all the characters and impress the audience with appropriate
actions movements and gestures.The Koothu is marked throughout by humour, satire and
Sarcasm.In the course of exposition of Puranic stories the Chakiyar draws parallels from
contemporary life.The Chakiyar has the privilege of immunity from interruptions and
prerogative of criticising even high dignitaries.
There are three forms of Koothu-Prabandham Koothu, Nangiyar Koothu and
Kudiyattom.Prabandham Koothu is pure narration with explanation while Nangiyar
Koothu is pure acting.Koodiyattom is a theatrical representation.Its peculiarity is that both
Chakiyar and Nangiyar act together.
KOODIYATTAM.
Kutiyattam was also performed in temples.It is the earliest form of dramatic art in
Kerala.Koodiyattam Literally means acting together.It has two or more actors appearing
on the stage.The role of the male characters are performed by the Chakiyars and those of
the female characters by the Nangiyar.The Nangiyars also help the Chakiyar by sounding
cymbals and reciting the Sanskrit verses. Besides these, there were the Nambiar to perform
the Mizhavu and the Vidushaka, the clown.The Chakiyars uses about twenty plays for
staging Kudiyattom and the verses used are in Sanskrit.The plays of Bhasu, Kalidasa,
Sakthibhadra, Sri Harsha and Kulasekhara are used by the Chakiyar.The detailed
guidelines for its performance are provided by Tolan in his Attaprakaram and
Kramadipika.In Koodiyattom too, actors enjoy freedom of speech.The Malayalam work
Unnunili Sandesam contains the earliest reference to Koodiyattam
performance.Koodiyattam influenced Kathakali in every detail and Manipravalam owes its
origin to this art form of Kerala.
PADHAKOM.
Padhakom is a simple form of Koothu.It is performed in temples. Here also the
performer is a single individual and he adopts and expounds Puranic stories.A modern
version of this art form is Hari Katha and Katha Prasangam.
Theyyam.
Theyyam is an important art of North Malabar.It is connected with hero worship.The
word Theyyam is derived from the word Theyyattam, the dance of God. Theyyam is the
corrupted Dravidised form of Daivam, literally God.Though Theyyam came under the
influence of the Brahmins in later days, it survived without much change.The Theyyam
ritual is a combination of the worship of heroes, mother Goddess, serpent and trees. As a
dance form Theyyam uses artificial hair colourful face paints and accompanied by
Tottam Pattu and supported by musical instruments, the dancer transforms himself in to
the particular God or hero.The Theyyams are usually conducted in Kavus or Bhagavathy
temples.A variety of Theyyams are found in North Malabar such as Kathirur Veeran,
Vishnu Murthy, Gulikan, Bhagothy, Patakali and Chamundi. In course of time Teyyam
had become an essential part of the religious life of the people.Theyattam, literally
meaning the dance of God arose out of the ancient cult of hero worship.
TIRA.
TIRA is an independent variety of Theyyam prevalent in N. Kerala. It is also known as
Tirayattom or Kaliyattom.As it is the dance of God on earth.It is known as
Thirayattom.Thottam pattu is the song of Thirayattam.The famous Thirayattom are those
of Chathan, Bhadra Kali, Bhairavan and Gulikan.
MUTIYETTU.
Mutiyettu is an art form of North Kerala.It is performed only in Bhadrakali temples. It is
the most primitive form of drama that existed in Kerala.Mutiyettu is sometimes called
Kalinatakom (Kalis drama).The theme of Mudiyattu is the duel between Kali and
Daruka, between the Goddess and the Asura.The main characters in Mudiyattu are Shiva,
Kali, Narada, Darikan and Danavan. Kathakali is indebted to Mutiyattu in its dressing
pattern.It stands unique among the ritual dances of Kerala.
DEVADASI SYSTEM
The development of the devadasi system in medieval Kerala was logical corollary of the
growth of the caste and Janmi system. The devadasies were the dancing girls attached to
temples. This institution seen to have had its origin else were in the south India in the 8th
century AD and it came to Kerala in the 9th century in the wake of the Bhakthi movement
and the rise of the temple . Hence this played a prominent role in the social and cultural
life of the people. The post of the devadasi is a respectable one and women from the
aristocratic family came forward to take up the assignment on an honorary basis even
with out accepting any remuneration or enjoying perquisites that went with the post.
Kulasekhara Alwar (A.D.820-822) the fonder of second Chera Empire is seen to have
dedicated his own daughter Neela as devadasi to the temple at SreeRangom. According to
Trichur inscription a large number of dancing girl were attached to the Vadakkum Nathan
temple in 12th century.
End of the devadasi system
The devadasi system lingered on in south Travancore till the early part of the century.
The system was known till recent times as Kudikari system as the evils of system was self-
evident.The Travancore Govt abolished this system in 1930 by royal proclamation.The
erstwhile devadasi families having merged with the Nair community, devadasi as a caste
or a class do not exist any longer in Kerala.
UNIT-III
COLONIAL EXPERIENCE
Advent of Western Monopolistic Mercantile Groups
We have seen the dominance of the Naduvazhis consequent on othe decline of othe
Perumal kingdom.Here we shall see how these Naduvazhis succumbed to the inroads of
naval powers from Europe such as the Portuguese, Dutch, French and the English.The
history of Kerala during this period was determined to a great extent by these naval
powers.
The advent of the Europeans marked the beginning of a new epoch in the history of
Kerala.It put Kerala firmly on the political map of India.The arrival of Vascoda Gama at
Kappad near Calicut in May 1498 inaugurated the Da Gama Epoch in the history of Asia.It
was an epoch of European domination over Asiatic countries.It lasted for more than five
centuries (1498 1947). No event during the middle Ages had such a far-reaching
repercussions on the civilised world as the opening of a sea route of India, says the
Cambridge History.
Kerala on the eve of the Advent of the Europeans presented the tragic picture of a
feudal polity with its evils and weaknesses.There was no central power in the
country.Kerala was divided in to a number of petty principalities: Each of them under a
Naduvazhi but owing allegiance to none.There was the total absence of a unifying central
power. Only three rulers possessed somewhat independent authority.They were the rulers
of Kolathunad (Kolalthiri), Kozhikode (Zamorin) and Venad (Tiruvadi).Of them
Kozhikode and Venad were the major powers.Kolathunad and Kochi had already come
under the influence of the Zamorin.There were minor chieftains like the Rajas of Tanur,
Mangat, Kodungallur, Edappalli, Vadkkumkur and Kollam.The authorities to the
Naduvazhis were controlled by the Nair nobles and Namputiri chieftains. The Nair
chieftains exercised effective authority in their domains.They provided the rulers with
fighting forces.The Namputiris were dominating the land with their religious and spiritual
authority.Thus at the time of European advent; Kerala was in a distracted political
condition with a number of petty feudal chieftains engaged in endless feuds.
PORTUGUESE
Portugal, though a small and insignificant country in the middle ages, played a
significant role in the medieval history of Kerala.Their landing/anchoring at Kozhikode
symbolised the beginning of a new dawn in the commercial history of the land.The
Portuguese advent to Kerala was motivated by several factors.Their main aim was to find
out a new route to India.The desire for Malabar spices in general and Pepper in particular
attracted the Portuguese to Kerala.Pepper, the black gold was the cheapest and most useful
of spices and Malabar as the land of pepper brought them to the Malabar Coast.With this
was added the desire of maritime exploration.However their immediate objective was the
extension of trade.Later they had the imperialistic aim of building a Portuguese empire in
India.The political condition of Kerala suited their desire.There was bi central authority in
the land. Kerala was fragmented by a number of chieftains who were fighting with one
another for supremacy.
Vascoda Gama was sent by Dom Mannual the Portuguese king on July 8, 1496 at
the head of an expedition. He reached Calicut on May 20, 1498 and was well received by
the Zamorin and his subjects with traditional hospitality.Gama met the Zamorin as the
representative of the king of Portugal, the most powerful of the Christian sovereigns in
the West.He expressed the kings desire to enter in to a commercial treaty with the
Zamorin to procure spices.However the Zamorin turned down the request as he insisted
payment of customs duty.There up on Gama left Calicut and reaching Kannur entered into
a commercial treaty with the Kolathiri.He returned to Lisbon in 1499 where he was given
a heros welcome.
Now Cabral was send by the Portuguese king to establish permanent relations with
India. Reaching India, Cabral succeeded in building a factory at Calicut.However the Arab
attitude resulted in the destruction of the factory and Cabral had to withdraw.However
Cabral entered into trade agreements with the Raja of Kochi, Kollam and
Kolathunad.Cabrals expedition won them an ally in the Cochin Raja and a fine harbour as
base to protect their political and commercial interest.
Vascoda Gama came for a second time to Kerala, this time to avenge the
Zamorin.The Zamorin although agreed to pay compensation for the Portuguese loss,
refused to expel the Arabs from Calicut.Thereupon Gama bombarded Calicut port and
destroyed the Arab merchant fleet.Returning to Kochi where his demands were met. Gama
sailed back to Portugal in 1502.Da Gamas departure was followed by a bitter conflict
between Kochi and Calicut.The Zamorin emerged as the leader of the resistance to
Portuguese.In this struggle, the Portuguese sided with the Cochin Raja and the Zamorin
was forced to withdraw.When Albuquerque came, he patched up the differences with the
Zamorin by the treaty of 1513.The Portuguese were granted permission to erect a fort at
Calicut.
In the meanwhile, the Portuguese headquarters in India was shifted from Kochi to
Goa.This was the beginning of the end of Portuguese imperialism in Kerala.Albuquerques
successors were weak and corrupt.Although Vasco da Gama came for a third time as
Portuguese viceroy, and scored a victory over Kolathiri and the Zamorin, he passed away
at Kochi.His successors Manezes and Sampaygo were not able to make any mark, paving
the way for Portuguese enterprise to decline.
Decline of Portuguese Power in Kerala.
The Portuguese lost their commercial and political supremacy in Kerala by the end
of the 16
th
Century.The Dutch conquered their strongholds such as Kollam, Kodungallur,
Purakkad, Kochi and Kannur and the Portuguese flag ceased to fly over Kerala by
1658.The decline of the Portuguese was due to troubles within and outside.Their
administration was corrupt and weak and they failed to administer the conquered
territories.The officers were greedy and unscrupulous.Their government became
bankrupt.Their fortresses ill equipped, the soldiers in disciplined.They had no scope of
expansion.They were cut off with the interior due to the narrow Malabar Coast and the
impregnable Western Ghats.Their frontier was irregular and serpentine and not easy to
maintain.The arrival of the more powerful Dutch, English and the French and the exploits
Kunjalis, the consequent loss of command of the sea hastened their downfall.Their
religious policy of forcible conversion and persecution alienated the goodwill of the
natives.The decline of Vijayanagar kingdom and the absorption of Portugal by Spain are
the outside factors of decline.
Religious Policy.
The Portuguese followed a narrow, intolerant and fanatical religious policy in
Kerala.As ardent followers of the Catholic Church, their mission in Kerala was to spread
Catholic faith and establish the supremacy of the Pope.The Papal bull gave them the legal
and moral right to undertake conversion in Africa and India.In Goa they established the
inquisition and indulged in forcible conversion. To escape from persecution, the G.S.
Brahmins (Konkanis) came to Kerala in the 16
th
Century.The Jews also were persecuted
by the Portuguese.In their relation with the native Muslim also the Portuguese adopted the
same policy.Zain ud din mentions the large scale conversion of the Muslim to
Christianity.As for the Hindus,the Portuguese respected the religious sentiments of the
Hindu chieftains in their own interest.They attempted in vain to convert the local Rajas of
Kochi, Purakkad and Vettat to Christianity.A few Portuguese administrators attempted
plunder and looting of Hindu temples.As for the native St. Thomas Christians, the
Portuguese followed a policy of Latinisation of the Kerala Church.For this, a Jesuit
College was established at Cochin, a seminary was founded at Vaipin another at
Kodungallur.Finally they convened the Udayamperur Synod.
ST. FRANCIS XAVIER AND MISSIONARY ACTIVITIES
St.Francis Xavier was a great Jesuit missionary who had made valuable
contributions for the spread of Christianity in Kerala. Xavier arrived in Travancore in 1544
and started the work of evangelisation among the fishermen and other low castes in the
coastal area and converted many to Christianity.Legend has it that the Marava army was
defeated and sent back by the divine power of this saint, when they had attacked
Travancore.After his missionary work in this area, he went to the eastern countries and to
Japan where he carried out missionary work.Xavier was one of the first associated with
Ignatius Loyola and the Jesuit order.He is credited with the starting of an organised system
of conversion.He founded a college at Goa for the instruction of children from all over
India.He is also credited with the work of translating catechism in to Malayalam. A
sincere, pious and barefooted mendicant he may be called as the First Missionary.
SYNOD OF DIAMPER (1599).
The synod of Diamper was the most important event in the history of Christianity in
Kerala during the Portuguese period.It was convened as a major attempt to latinise the
Kerala Church.It was held at Udayam Perur in 1599.The President of the synod was Alexis
de Menezes, the Archbishop of Goa. The council was attended by 133 priests, 20 deacons,
660 laymen, totaling 813 in all. The purpose of the Synod was to remove Nestorian
heresy and the bring Kerala Church under the Church of Rome.The Synod settled many
important issues of the day.It scrutinised the Syrian books, corrected, modified, altered and
deleted impugned passages.A modified form of Liturgy conforming to the Latin mass was
adopted.The Supreme position of the Roman Church over Kerala was proclaimed in clear
term by the Synod.The Kerala Church was forced to sever its age-old connection with the
Patriarch of Babylon.The decisions of the Synod resulted in the divisions of the Kerala
Church into two-Puthan Kuttu and Pazhaya Kuttukar, the former following the Syrian and
the latter following the Latin.
OATH OF COONAN CROSS (1653).
The response of the Syrian Christians to the challenge of the synod of Diamper came as
the Oath of othe Coonan cross.The appointment of a Latin Bishop to the Ankamali
dioceses by the Portuguese king was resented by the Syrian Christians who badly felt the
need of a Bishop of their own.In the meanwhile rumour spread that the Portuguese have
detained Ahatullah, a bishop sent by the Patriarch of Babylon.The infuriated Syrians
gathered an masse at Kochi demanding the release of the Bishop who was brought to
Kochi enroute to Goa.The Syrians were excited as the rumour spread that Ahatullah was
drowned by the Portuguese.There up on they assembled in front of the ancient cross at
Mattancherry on 3
rd
January 1653, tied a rope on the cross and took the Oath that they
would no more obey the Latin Archbishop.This is known in History as the Coonan cross
Oath.The Syrians then proceeded to Alangad and proclaimed Archdeacon Thomas as their
metropolitan.
In the history of Christianity, the Coonan cross oath was a turning point.It marked
the end of the unity of the Kerala Church.The old Church faced a split, which has not
ended even today.Those who owed allegiance to the Roman Church were known as
Roman Syrians and those who opposed Rome as Jacobite Syrians.(Pazhayakuru and
Puthan Kuru).The bifurcation of the Kerala Church thus became a reality.
Impact of Portuguese contact.
The hundred and fifty years of Portuguese contact were fruitful from the political,
economic and social points of new.Politically, the contact confirmed the political disunity
of Kerala.The attempt of the Zamorin to unify Kerala was foiled by Gamas arrival.The
Portuguese in fact accelerated the process of the Balkanisation of Kerala.It created a
political vacuum and paved the way for the Mysorean and English conquest.
In the economic field,the Portuguese put an end to the Arab trade with the Middle
East.The contact with Europe fostered ornamental architecture in Malabar, European
techniques and weapons of warfare and emergence of new towns like Calicut and
Cochin.Portuguese brought new agricultural products such as cashew not, tobacco, custard
apple, guava, pineapple and papaya to Kerala.The popularised Kerala spices like pepper
and ginger in European markets.They promoted scientific cultivation of pepper and ginger
and coconut on a large scale.
In the educational and cultural fields, the Portuguese established Seminaries and
colleges.The study of Latin and Portuguese were popularised.Indological studies were
undertaken Garcia de Ortha had written one of the earliest works on medicinal
plants.Francis Xavier translated Catechism in to Malayalam.Barbosa and Correa left their
valuable accounts of Kerala.Printing was introduced in to India by the Portuguese and
printing presses were set up in Kochi and Vaipin under Gonsalves.The Portuguese
patronised Chavittunatakom and developed it as an art.
KUNHALI MARAKKARS
The Kunhali Marakkars were the Admirals of the Zamorins fleet.They dominated
the waves for almost the century and helped the Zamorin in his epic fight against the
Portuguese.The Marakkar family had some of the most remarkable naval captains whose
prowess makes the name of Malabar Pirates resound still in history.
The origin and ancestry of the Marikkars is a subject of controversy. They were
regarded as the descendants of Mohammed, a Moplah merchant of Kochi who settled at
Ponnani.The Marakkars were descendants of the Arab merchants.It seems the Kunhalis
hailed from PantalayiniKollam, moved first to Thikkodi and then to Kottakkal and
Puthupathanam.The term Kunhali is an honourific title conferred on the admirals by the
Zamorin.The word Marakkar is an adaptation of the Tamil word Marakkalam (-Captain of
a ship).The sea going folk of Malabar is called Marakkar.Altogether there were four
Kunhalis who figures in the history of Kerala, besides Kutti Ali and Pattu Marakkar.
Kunhali I was the Admiral of Calicut fleet from 1507.He organized naval defences
against the Portugues on a sound basis.A brilliant strategist, he avoided pitched battles and
inflicted heavy casualities on the Portuguese possession in Ceylon.He chose Kutty Ali as
his successors. Using light and fast moving armed vessels, Kutty Ali used to attack the
Portugues ship by his hit and run tactics. He was captured as prisoner by the Portugues
governor Sampayo. Thereupon the fleet was re-organised under Pacchachi Marakkar,
Kunhali II and Ali Abraham.After Kunhali I and II, Kunhali III directed the naval
operations against the Portugues.He modernised the navy,manufactured arms and
ammunitions locally, erected observations posts to watch the movement of the enemy
ships throughout the coast.His name became almost the terror to the Portuguese as he
began to control the Indian Ocean from Persian Gulf to Ceylon.This forced the Portuguese
to compromise with the Zamorin by surrendering Chaliyam.The fall of Chaliyam sealed
the fate of the Portuguese in Kerala.In recognition of these services, the Zamorin conferred
upon Kunhali III several rights and honours including the right to erect a fort at
Puthuppattanam which became famous as Marakkar Kotta (1572).
Kunhali IV became the Zamorins Admiral after the death of Kunhali III. His
relation with the Zamorin was not however cordial. The Zamorins action of permitting the
Portuguese to build a fort at Ponnani was not liked by the Admiral. Kunhali infuriated the
Zamorin by strengthening the fortifications at Kottakkal and by styling himself as King of
othe Moors and Lord of the Seas.He showed discourtesy to his master by cutting the tail
of the state elephant and ill-treating a Nair noble.The overbearing attitude of the admiral
forced the Zamorin to ally with the Portuguese to crush him.A joint expedition was
organized against Kunhali, his Marakkar Kotta was sieged (1800) and finally Kunhali was
forced to surrender.He was captured by the Portuguese who took him to Goa and after the
mockery of trial put him to death.It is an Irony of history that Kunhali who had always
been a pillar of strength of the Zamorin in his fight against the Portuguese had to be
crushed by an unholy opportunistic alliance between his master and traditional enemy.The
tragic end of Kunhali invested his name with halo of martyrdom glory and honour to
Kerala.The history of the Kunhalis thus occupy an important phase in the history of
resistence movements of the natives against foreigners.
THE DUTCH IN KERALA
The Dutch were the first Protestant nation of Europe to establish trade contacts with
Kerala.Established in 1592, the Dutch E.I. Company dispatched missions to the local
rulers to secure trade privileges.Van Hagen the Dutch Admiral had concluded a treaty with
the Zamorin (November, 1604) to expel the Portuguese from India.It also secured them
trade facilities at Calicut.The treaty is important as the first political agreement entered in
to between the Dutch and an Indian power.The treaty was renewed in 1608 and the Dutch
were given freedom of trade in the Zamorins domain.he treaty of 1610 stipulated to pay
customs duty to the Zamorin.The 1625 agreement gave the Dutch permission to build a
factory in the Zamorins domain.Similar treaties were signed with Purakkad (1642),
Kayamkulam and Venad (1662) to have warehouses in the respective domains and
monopoly of pepper trade.Thus by the early decades of the 17
th
Century the Dutch had
emerged as a serious rival to the Portuguese.
Dutch Hegemony at Kochi.
The crowning achievement of the Dutch was the capture of Kochi in 1663.The
Dutch period of Kerala History actually begins with this event.The Dutch were able to
intervene successfully in the dispute between the Mutha Tavazhi and Elaya Tavazhi, two
factions in the Cochin royal family.They succeeded in installing the prince of their choice
on the Cochin gaddi.In the course of conflict betweentheDutch and the Portuguese to
capture Kochi, the Dutch leader Van Goen laid siege to the Mattancherry Palace.In the
fierce battle that was fought in front of the Dutch Palace, the Raja with two princes and
ministers were killed. Rani Gangadhara Lakshmi who was watching the battle from the
palace was captured prisoner by Van Rheede and she was forced to recognise the Mutha
Thavazhi prince as the ruler of Kochi.The capture of Kochi inaugurated the era of Dutch
supremacy on the Kerala Coast.
The Dutch success at Kochi was followed by the capture of Fort St. Angelo,
Kannur from the Portuguese and by treaties with the rulers of Kayamkulam,
Purakkad,Martha and Kollam.The Dutch entered in to agreement with other powers like
Tekkumkur, Vatakkumkur, Karappuram and Kannur.By 1728, they became dominant in
Kerala.However they were forced to give up their claims in the face of opposition from the
rulers of Thiruvitamkur, Mysore and the English E.I. Company.The Dutch defeat at
Kulachal (1741), the Mysorian occupation of Chettuvay (1776) and the English capture of
Kochi (1795) sealed their fate in Kerala.
Battle of Kolachal.
The Dutch dream of the Conquest of Kerala was shattered when Marthanda Varma,
the ruler of Travancore inflicted a severe defeat on them in the famous battle of Kolachal
(1741).He annexed almost all the states with whom the Dutch had established
relations.The Dutch establishments of Kollam, Marta Kayamkulam and Purakkad were
absorbed in the kingdom of Thiruvitamkur.By the treaty of Mavelikkara (1753), the
Dutch agreed to be neutral in wars to be fought by Travancore with native powers.This
treaty marked the complete humiliation of the Dutch and their eclipse as a political power
in Kerala.
The Dutch failed to establish an enduring dominion in Kerala because of
unforeseen political developments. (a) The rise of Travancore under Martrhanda Varma in
the South and the Mysorean invasions in the North upset the balance of power in Kerala.
(b) The rise of other European powers like the English and the French who were superior
in the seas upset the plans of the Dutch. The fall of the Cochin fort and Tankesseri to the
English in 1795 gave the coup degrace to Dutch domination over Kerala.
Effects of the Dutch Rule.
Like the Portuguese, the Dutch contact produced results beneficial to Kerala.They
revived Kerala trade.New products and scientific techniques of cultivation were
introduced.They gave encouragement to coconut cultivation on commercial basis.They
promoted indigo and paddy cultivation.New industries like salt farming and dyeing were
introduced.Although they never built seminaries or colleges, the memoirs, letters and
accounts left by the Dutch men like Visschier, Nieuhoff and Van Rheede are of
inestimable value for the reconstruction of Kerala history.
The greatest achievement of the Dutch in the cultural field was the compilation of
HORTUS MALABARICUS, a monumental botanical work on the medicinal plants of
Kerala.It was compiled under the patronage of the Dutch governor Van Rheede.With this
project were associated such stalwarts like Mathaeus the Carmelite monk; Appu Bhat,
Ranga Bhat and Vinayak Bhatt, the three G.S. Brahmins and Ithi Achan (Itti Achutan), an
Ezhava physician. It took many years to complete the work and it was finally published
from Amsterdam between 1678 and 1703 in 12 volumes.
ENGLISH AND THE FRENCH SETTLEMENTS
Following the footsteps of the Portuguese and the Dutch, the English and the
French came to Kerala mainly for commercial purposes, but later had political
ambitions.They built up and consolidated their rule in the land and began to rule over an
empire vaster than the American colonies.
Ralph Fetch was the first Englishman to reach the shores of Kerala (1583). Capt.
Keeling who followed him concluded a treaty with the Zamorin in 1615 in order to expel
the Portuguese from Malabar.During the last days of Portuguese rule (1635-35), the
English secured access to all Portuguese Ports in Kerala and they began to export pepper
to England from 1636. In 1644, the English obtained permission from the king of Venad to
build a factory at Vizhinjam.In 1664, the Zamorin granted them permission to erect a
factory at Calicut.In 1684 the Rani of Attingal gave them permission to build a factory at
Anjengo substantially increased English influence.Fort Anjengo soon became the most
important English possessions on the West Coast, next only to Mumbai.
Revolt of Anjengo.
The grant of concessions to the English at Anjengo provoked a revolt of the local
people in 1697.The overbearing conduct and corrupt practices of the English were the
reasons for the outbreak.The local people revolted,attacked the factors and massacred all
Englishmen.They attempted to capture the fort, but failed. Following its failure, the Rani
of Attingal granted the monopoly of pepper trade and the right to erect factories to the
English.The Revolt of Anjengo is remarkable as it is the first organized revolt of the
natives against the British authority in Kerala.
Treaty of Travancore (1723).
In the meanwhile the English entered in to a treaty with Thiruvitamkur.It permitted
the English to erect a fort at Kulachal (Colachal).It was signed by Prince Marthanda
Varma and Alexander Orme.This is the first treaty negotiated by the English Company
with an Indian state.This treaty laid the foundation of friendship between Travancore and
the English E.I. Company, a friendship that lasted for several decades.
ENGLISH IN MALABAR
Along with building their influence in South Kerala, the English took steps to
safeguard their interests in North Kerala.With the permission of the Kolathiri,they set up a
factory at Thalassery (1694).When the English companies were united in 1702,Thalassery
along with Karwar, Calicut and Anjengo became the affiliated factories of Bombay.When
English had to face opposition from the natives who raided the companys warehouses and
inflicted heavy damages (1704-05),the English built a fort at Thalasseri in 1708 and
secured monopoly of trade in pepper from Kolathiri.
Advent of the French in Kerala
The French too entered Kerala with the purpose of trade.They arrived near
Thalassery in 1725 and occupied Mahe.They had already established their superiority over
Pondicherry,and Mahe was captured as per the directions of Pandy Governor.With this a
new European power also came to the Kerala Coast to take part in the struggle for power
The French East India Company.
Anglo- French Conflict.
Before long, the English had to face the rivalry of the French. In 1725, the French
captured Mahe from Kadathanad.The French possession of Mahe was a potential danger to
the English at Thalassery. The English also had to face threat from the Dutch and also
from the Ali Rajas of Kannur.However, the English rose to the occasion, ousted the Ali
Raja from Dharmadam and obtained that island.When the French at Mahe provoked the
English during the Canarese Wars (1732-36), they captured Mahe, but had to return Mahe
soon after the close of the Anglo- French conflict.
MYSOREAN INROADS:
The Mysorean interlude was a period of stress and strain for the English in
Malabar.During this period, the Thalasseri factory faced many a crisis.In 1764, Haider
secured the neutrality of the English in the event of a Mysore-Kerala conflict.However
Haider Ali came in to open clash with the English in 1773 and attempted to capture
Thalasseri.The Anglo-Mysore hostilities were renewed under Tippu Sultan.The English
actively aided the Zamorin and other local powers to throw off the Mysorean yoke and
Thalasseri factory offered an asylum to many of them.When Tippu attacked Thirvitamkur
in 1789, the English supported their protected ally.The fall of Seringapattam (1790) and
the consequent withdrawal of Mysorean forces from Kerala opened the doors of Birtish
entry in to Malabar.The treaty of Seringapatam (1792) secured to the British the whole of
Malabar except Wyanad and Coorg.They also secured South Canara after the last Mysore
War.In course of time, the English brought Malabar under their direct rule while
Thiruvitamkur and Kochi became Vassal states.
Malabar Settlements:
The change were effected by what came to be known as the Malabar
settlement.After the expulsion of Tippu,instead of restoring territories to the exiled Rajas,
the British themselves took charge of the administration of Malabar.They appointed two
commissioners (Farmer and Dow) to effect a political settlement in Malabar.Settlements
were reached with the native powers for the collection of revenue.A new system of
administration was evolved for Malabar.The whole of Malabar was divided in to two
administrative divisions of Northern and Southern with respective headquarters at
Thalasseri and Cherpilassery, each under a superintendent.A supervisor and chief
Magistrate were appointed to supervise them with headquarters at Kozhikode. Later the
commissionerates were abolished and Malabar was formed in to a separate district with the
collector as its head, under Madras Presidency (1
st
October, 1801).
Fresh treaties were made with Kochi and Thiruvitamkur.The Travancore ruler
accepted British supremacy by the treaty of 1795.Under the treaty of 1805, Travancore
accepted British protection and became a subsidiary of the E.I. Company.The treaty gave
the British specific powers to interfere in the internal affairs of the state.Travancore lost
political freedom. Similar treaties were entered in to with Kochi also.Thus; post Mysorean
interregnum witnessed the English company as holding political control of the whole of
Kerala.
MYSOREAN INVASIONS
The Mysorean invasion of Kerala by Haider Ali and his son Tippu Sultan
represents a brief interlude, a watershed in our long and chequered history.It put an end to
the Middle Ages in Kerala and inaugurated the modern period of our History.
Political Condition of Malabar.
The Mysoreans were tempted to invade Malabar mainly because of the political
atmosphere that prevailed in the country in the first half of the 18
th
Century.Kerala
presented the picture of the house divided against itself.In the words of N.K. Sinha
North Malabar was in a state of anarchy, a sea of intrigue, conflicting interests and
mutual jealousies.The expansionist policies of the Zamorins sparked off a series of
conflicts,which created favourable conditions to Haider Ali.The mutual jealousies of the
local chieftains like the Kolathiri,Ali Raja, Kadathanad, Iruvazhinad and Kottayam Rajas
prevented them from offering a united front to the foreign enemy.Ali Raja in fact offered
help to Mysore in the event of an invasion.The European powers tried to fish in the
troubled waters for their trading interests.Since the Kunjali episode, the Muslims were not
in good terms with the Zamorin and they preferred a Muslim invasion.Haiders desire to
have an access to French Mahe though Malabar also was there.
HAIDER ALIS CONQUEST.
First Invasion:
Haider Ali intervened in Malabar affairs thrice, first as Faujdar of Mysore,then as
ruler of Mysore twice.His first intervention took place in the Palakkad region.When
Zamorin annexed Naduvattam belonging to the Palakkad Raja in 1756, the Raja appealed
to Haider who was then the Faujidar of Dindigal for help.Haider intervened and the
Zamorin was forced to withdraw and to pay an indemnity to Haider.When Haider became
the ruler of Mysore,he turned to Malabar in order to get the promised indemnity from the
Zamorin and to have an access to Mahe.Haider also had the intention to teach a lesson to
the Raja of Thiruvithamkur who declined his support earlier.He invaded Malabar from the
North in 1761,conquered the Bednore Kingdom (1763), Nileswaram and other northern
principalities. He defeated the Kolathiri, the Kottayam Raja, Kadathanad chieftain and the
ruler of Kurumbranad. Advancing further South, Haider reached the borders of
Calicut.The attempt of the Zamorin to avert the crisis by offering all his treasure and
property failed.The Mysoreans army humiliated Zamorin committed suicide by setting fire
to the palace.The extinction of the Zamorin left Haider master of Calicut.Appointing
Madanna as the civil governor of the conquered provinces, Haider returned to Mysore.
Haiders second invasion (1763) was necessitated by the revolt of the local chieftains
and Nairs of Kadathanad, Kottayam and Calicut.Haider suppressed these rebellions with
an iron hand.In his second invasion of Kerala in 1773, the Mysoreans forces under
Srinivasa Rao and Syed Khan descended on Malabar.The Kerala chiefs offered no serious
resistance.The reigning Zamorin who expected French and Dutch help was forced to fly
first to Kodungallur and later to Thiruvithamkur.As his ultimate aim was the conquest of
Thiruvitamkur, Haider began with the invasion of Kochi.Sirdar Khan captured Chavakkad
and Thrissur and he returned when the Cochin Raja offered him a big sum as bribe. The
refusal of othe Dutch to open a passage to Haider through their territories to invade
Thiruvithamkur resulted in a conflict, which ended with the surrender of Pappinivattam
and Chettarvai to Sirdharkhan.
EFFECTS.
By this time, Haiders policy in Malabar underwent a profound change. Instead of
sending military governors from Mysore to rule over the conquered territories.Haider tried
to utilise the services of friendly chieftains for the purpose. Thus Kolathiri became
Haiders representative in Malabar.The experiment was extended to other parts of Malabar
as well.In the mean while, the Carnatic War had broken out between the English and
Haider.In the course of the war Sirdar Khan had besieged Thalassery of the English.The
English forces, supported by the Kottayam Raja,defeated Sirdhar Khan,advanced to
Palakkad,the lasty Mysorean stronghold in Malabar.The local Rajas seized the opportunity
to recover their dominions.These reverses prompted Haider to send his son Tippu to
restore Mysorean authority in Kerala.Though Tippu came and attacked the English, but
before he could achieve any decisive result, Haider passed away (December,1782) and
Tippu was obliged to leave for Mysore to secure his succession to the throne.
TIPPUS CONQUEST.
Tippu Sultan continued the expansionist policies of his father. After becoming ruler
of Mysore, he came to Kerala and re conquered the whole of Malabar up to Kotta river.He
could not advance further because of the opposition of the English. However by the treaty
of Mangalore, which concluded the 2
nd
Anglo-Mysore War, the company gave up its
claims on Malabar tacitly recognising Tippus suzerainty over the region.When there was
opposition to Tippus reform.Tippu himself descended on Malabar, marched towards
Kozhikode, drove the Zamorin out of the city and established a reign of terror.Visiting
Kannur, he celebrated the betrothal ceremony of his son with the daughter of Arakkal Bibi.
Attack on Thiruvithamkur, Tippus target of attack was Thiruvitamkur.The Rajas
policy of giving asylum to the rebel chieftains of Malabar, the construction of the
Travancore lines, the purchase of the forts of Pallippuram and Kodungallur from the
Dutch-all antagonized the Sultan who demanded the surrender of Kodungallur and
Pallippuram forts, the demolition of the Travancore lines and expulsion of Malabar
Chieftains from his kingdom. His attempt for peace with the Raja was foiled when the
latter came closer to the English, the traditional enemy of the Sultan.Hence as he was left
with no alternative, Tippu invaded Kochi, camped at Thrissur and began attacking the
Travncore Lines.He captured Kodungallur, Kuriappilly and Pallippuram forts, subdued
Alangad and Parur and encamped at Aluva. It seemed as if the way was opened for the
total subjugation of Thiruvitamkur.However the conquest was averted by the outbreak of
monsoon and the English declaration of war on Tippu and their march to
Srirangapattanam.Realising the gravity of the situation,Tippu abandoned his campaign and
rushed back to Mysore, Mysorean invasion of Kerala virtually ended.
However a series of progressive steps were under taken by Tippu in his
administration of Malabar.He established a new capital at Farukabad (Feroke) and built
the first road system in Malabar.He introduced a new variety of coinage in Malabar.As a
social reformed, he issued the proclamation of 1788 severely condemning the system of
polyandry.He investigated the conditions of the farmer and remitted one third of their tax.
IMPACTS OF MYSOREAN OCCUPATION.
The Mysorean conquest of Malabar produced political, economic and social results.
Political.
The feudal system of administration of Malabar was replaced by a centralised
system of government.The Nairs and Naduvazhis of feudal Kerala lost their position of pre
eminence.
Administrative.
The Mysoreans introduced an administration based on modern and progressive
ideas.Tippu introduced a system of land revenue baced on the actual produce of the
land.Land tax was collected directly from the tenant. It was based on the actual produce of
the land.Assessment was made after a proper survey.This raised the dignity of the tenant.
Tippu opened a net work of roads connecting different parts of Malabar Tippu
projected, and in a great part, finished an extensive chain of roads that connected all the
principal places in Malabar.Tippu is often regarded as the pioneer of roads in Malabar.
From the social point of view, the Mysorean invasion sounded the death knell of the old
social order in Malabar.It ushered in a new era of social change. The privileged status
enjoyed by the upper castes earlier was lost.Haider and Tippu showed scant respect to old
customs and time honoured privileges.They broke the myth of the racial superiority of the
upper classes and instilled a consciousness of dignity and status among the lower
classes.In fact the Mysorean invasion administered a shock treatment to the traditional
Kerala society.It also saw the emergence of a new middle class.
In the economic sphere, the Mysorean rule was not a blessing.The continuous
raids resulted in the economic ruin of the country.Agriculture was destroyed. Peasant took
refuge in jungles.Trade was hampered.The decline of trade and agriculture crippled the
economy.The old ports became centers of desolation. It was a period of economic
depression.In the cultural field; it was a period of stagnation.The flight of Kshatriyas and
Namputiris who were the traditional patrons of culture, retarded cultural activities. The
Mysorean invasion gave a death blow to communal harmony.It brought a cleavage
between the Hindus and the Muslims.The local Muslims often sided with the Mysoreans in
temple looting and destruction.The privileged status enjoyed by the local Muslims was not
recognised by the British which resulted in the Moplah riots of the 19
th
and Mallabar
Rebellion of the early 20
th
Centuries.
The Mysorean interlude is important as a link between the ancient regime and the
new era.It has wiped out the middle ages in Kerala.The old regime has ended and it was a
new society based on sound principles that replaced it.
TRANSFORMATION IN MATRILINY
The introduction of modern education system in Kerala by colonial government
paved the way for the growth of a new social awakening among the people of the state.
Apart from Christians and non- Keralaites, Nairs were the first to take the advantage of
English education.The fast moving changes affected the traditional Nair Tharavads and
their marriage system.The younger generation among the Nairs went for western education
and many of them got employed in the government service. As they were salaried people
and were able to make income individually, it was not essential for them to rely any more
on the taravad Karnavar for livelihood.
The salaried Nairs did not contribute their income to the common fund of Taravads;
instead they began to spend it to their children and wife. This affected fundamental
changes in the traditional Taravad system, or joint family system.The educated Nairs
insisted on monogamy and turned against the general practice of Sambandam.When the
younger ones found it difficult to get necessary fund for their English education, from the
Taravad Karnavar, they naturally turn to their fathers for finanacial assistance.When they
received money from their fathers for their necessities their loyalty turned towards their
fathers from Karnavars.Gradually there took place a transaction from the matriliny to
patriliny.
The educated Nair youth began to file private petitions in the judicial courts against
their Karnavars for the partition of the Taravad property. The economic severeities of the
youths forced them to turn against their uncles.When English courts issued orders
favouring the demands of the youths, the very foundation of the matrilineal system and
Taravad based joint family system began to cumble down.The Madras High Court
judgement of 1869 declared that the Sambandham marriage is not legal. The Malabar
marriage Association formed in 1879, requested the government of Madras to declare
Sambandham marriage as legal.But the government gave no favourable reply, as it was not
prepared to defy the Court order.
When the issue regarding the marriage system among the Nair community was
taken up in the Madras Legislative Assembly, but was of no result.However, consequent to
this government appointed the Malabar Marriage Commission to enquire into the
problems related with the Nair marriages and to suggest recommendations whether the
Sambandham marriages should be declared illegal or not.The report of the Commission
was accepted by the government accordingly the Malabar Marriage Act was passed in
1896.The Act stated that Children born of registered Sambandham marriage would be
eligible for half of the property of their father.This was the first act which paved way for
the decline of the matrilineal system in Kerala.
The Marumakkathayam Act of 1933 declared that the Taravad property of the joint
family was to be divided, whether the Karnavar agrees it or not and individual shares were
to be given to each and every member of the family.This was final blow to the matriliny in
Malabar, and inaugurated the Makkathayam system.The changes in the matriliny that was
taking place in Malabar encouraged the people of the princely states also.As a result of the
popular demand, the Tiruvitamkur government passed the First Nair Act in 1912.
Although this Act did not permit the partition of Taravad as a whole, it stated that half of
the property of the father should be given to his children and the other half to his
nephews.The second Nair Act of 1925 in Tiruvutankur nullified the claim of the nephews
to the property of their uncles and made provisions sharing of property among the
children. It further prohibited polygamy in the state.
The Kochi Nair Regulation Act of 1920 cut short the rights of the Karnavar in the
Taravad property and allowed partition of Taravad property.This Act entrusted the
responsibility of protecting the wife and children upon husband.Polygamy was also
declared illegal.The Kochi Nair Act of 1938 completely put an end to matriliny in the
state.The wife and children became the legal heirs of the husbands property. Each and
every member of the joint family was given the right to the Taravad property.
DEGENERATION OF SWARUPAMS
The degeneration of Swarupams in Kerala during and prior to colonial occupation
basically was due to the inherent contradiction within the complicated power structure and
the traditional gradation system existed among them.The formation of the power structure
within the Swarupam was so complex that each and every Thavazhi or Kuru could claim
for more power and demand acceptance from others of the same grade. Kuruvazhcha and
Kovilakams were the two important factors that constituted the power structure of the
swarupams.
Kuruvazhcha was the right to rule based on the gradation systems, in which
seniority was the main criterion for becoming the ruler.This was called Muppu or
eldership.The Muthakuru was the head of the Swarupam and so was the titular ruler of the
territory.The order of the seniority or the muppumura was the significant factor within the
Swarupam for becoming the ruler.The Illayakurs or the junior members had separate
Kovilakams or residential houses and they also enjoyed special privileges and rights
within the territory.After the death of Muthukur the next senior most member of the
Illayakuru was to become the next ruler.
The order of seniority was become more complex by the emergence of Thavazhis
or mother lineages.All Swarupams in Kerala followed matrilineal system.Thavazhis had
developed within the Swarupams as separate segments within, where the children of the
sisters of the ruler developed into separate segments within, where the children of the
sisters of the ruler developed into separate lineages.The Trippapur Swarupam had the
Mutha Tavazhi and Illaya Thavazhi.The Perumpadappu Swarupam of Kochi had five
Thavazhis- Mutha thavazhi, Illaya thavazhi, Palluruthi Thavazhi, Muringur Thavazhi and
Chazhur Thavazhi.These Thavazhis with the Kuru system made order of seniority more
complicated.There were a number of persons of the same age and rank in the seniority list,
But belonging to different Thavazhis.
There are several instances in the history of Kerala where Thavazhis were fighting
each other for power.The most notable one is the conflict between the Mutha Thavazhi
and the Illaya Thavazhi of Kochi in the second half of the 17
th
century.The European
powers found this uncertainity of the power structure in the Swarupams as an advantage to
making interventions.In the struggle between the Thavazhis of Kochi, opposite sides
supported by the Portugese and the Dutch.In fact the Dutch could expand their
dominanace in Kerala after their intervention in this struggle between the Kochi
Thavazhis.
In certain cases some of the Thavazhis branched off themselves from the original
Swarupams and had established separate Swarupams with territorial control.The
Nedumangad Swarupam was thus a branched off one.Venad had a separate form of family
organization.Attingal was considered as Ammaveedu whose princess was the ruler of a
small region and progenitor of the ruler of Venad.The original Venad Swarupam was
fragmented into several Swarupams like that of Desinganad, Elayadath, Trippappur, etc.
However, all these fragmented Swarupams had accepted Attingal as the root family.
Several new Swarupams were created. Some of them came as a result of
segmentation. In some other cases, land lords and chieftains of cetain areas had developed
to separate swarupams, like Chembakassery (Ambalapuzha), Kadathanad, Palakkad,
Vettathunadu etc.Quarrels within the branches or Thavazhis or Kurus within these
Swarupams arose normally on the death of the ruler.These quarrels were manipulatively
utilized by the colonial power, by siding one source of power against the other.When
European support was offered the segments turned against their fraternal rulers or
claimants of power. All thses segments were thriving for power and for that they were
prepared to invite assistance and help from any outside power in their fight against their
relatives within the Swarupams.
UNIT-IV
RESISTANCE MOVEMENTS
In this unit, we have seen how the Mysorean invasion paved way for the British
annexation of Malabar and the subjugation of Thiruvithamkur and Kochi.Consequent on
the establishment of foreign domination, there was an equal response of the natives against
the British.Now we shall deal with such resistance movements against the British as the
revolt of Patinjare Kovilakam Rajas, Pazhassi Raja, Velu Thampi Dalawa Paliath Achan
and the Kurichiyas.
Early Struggles Nature.
Establishment of British supremacy witnessed the beginning of a new epoch in our
history.It was an epoch of challenge and response, an epoch of domination and
resistance.The native chieftains and people responded to the British challenge with a firm
resolve to throw the foreign yoke, but in vain.But the attempt itself is remarkable.The
resistance movements organised and lead by such stalwarts as Kerala Varma in
Malabar,Velu Thampi in Thiruvitamkur, Paliath Achan in Kochi, the Kurichiyas in
Wayanad and the Mappilas in Eralnad and Valluvanad.The early risings were led by such
diverse elements as dispossessed local princes,feudal chieftains,aggrieved peasants and
tribal communities.Kathleen Gough, the anthropologist has classified these early uprisings
in to five types restorative, religious, social banditry, terrorist vengeance and armed
insurrection.
British Occupation of Malabar.
The retreat of Tippu was the signal for the collapse of Mysorean authority over
Kerala.The Zamorine and the Raja of Kochi declared them selves to be in favour of the
company.The companys forces enterd Malabar and captured the strategically important
Palakkad fort (1790).The Mysorean were cleared off from the region from Chavakkad to
Kannur.The remnant of the Mysorean forces under Mahabat Khan was put to flight.The
Kannur fort was besieged and Arakkal Bibi was forced to surrender.By the beginning of
1791 the British became the masters of the whole of Malabar.Thus the Mysorean attempt
to establish hegemony over Kerala ended in the establishment of British supremacy.
The withdrawal of the Mysore troops from Kerala opened the doors to British entry
in to the whole of Malabar.By the treaty of Sriranga Pattanam (1792) the whole of
Malabar except Wayanad and Coorg were ceded to the British. As a result of the last
Mysore wars, South Canara (Kasargod-Hosdurg) area too passed to the British.Gradually
the British brought Malabar under their direct control.The District of Malabar, as part of
Madras Presidency was formed on May 21, 1800.Mr. Macleod became the first collector
of the Dist of Malabar (1
st
October, 1800) in the newly formed district administrative and
social reforms were undertaken, though not as spectacular as those of the Princely
states.The British administrators introduced the Cornwallis code in 1802 to evolve a
judicial system for Malabar.Under this system, judicial and executive functions were
separated. It was followed by the establishment of district and provincial courts.
British Administrative Settlement in Malabar.
The British never kept their word that the exiled Chieftains would be restored to
their territories after Tippus expulsion.The British directly took charge of the
administration of Malabar.An interim arrangement was provided by appointing two
commissioners-Mr Farmer and Major Dow-to effect the political and administrative
settlement of Malabar.The commissioners negotiated settlements for the collection of
revenue with the local powers and evolved a new system of administration for
Malabar.Accordingly Malabar was divided in to two administrative divisions each under
the control of a superintendent.They were supervised by a chief magistrate with
headquarters at Calicut.The commission was abolished and Malabar was formed as a
district with the collector as its head (1
st
October, 1801).
The company entered into fresh treaties with Kochi and Thiruvitamkur. By the
treaty of 1791, the Kochi Raja became a vassal of the English and in 1800 Kochi was
placed under the control of othe Madras government.By the treaty of 1795, the Travancore
Raja accepted British hegemony. By the treaty of 1805, the state became a subsidiary ally
of the British and accepted British protection. The treaties specified the appointment of a
Resident and Col. Macaulay became the British resident of Tiruvitamkur and Kochi. It
further granted to the Company to interfere in the internal affairs of the two states.
PAZHASSI REVOLTS
The Pazhassi Revolt was the most serious outbreak against the British in South
India.The prime mover of this rebellion was Kerala Varma Pazhassi Raja and hence the
name Pazhassi revolt.Kerala Varma belonged to the Western branch of the Kottayam
royam family (Puraikizhnad), which had its headquarters at Pazhassi.Kerala Varma was
one of the few princes of Malabar who with stood the Mysorean invasion. In fact Kerala
Varma helped the English to capture Mahe in 1761 and assisted them at Thalasseri against
Tippu.But when the British failed to honour his services to the company after the
expulsion of Tippu, Pazhassi revolted against them.An opponent of foreign domination,
Pazhassi persistently opposed the Mysoreans.He spearheaded a bitter struggle against the
British with the prime object of liquidating foreign rule from the land.The Kerala Varma
struggle marks an important stage in the history of resistance movements against the
British.
First Pazhassi Revolt (1793-97)
Kerala Varma came in to Conflict with the company for personal as well as national
reasons.He had the personal grievance that his services to the company earlier were not
taken in to consideration by them.The British failed to honour the prior agreement that the
territories will be restored back to the former Rajas soon after the expulsion of
Tippu.Pazhassi had additional causes of complaint.Instead of authorizing him, the
company made permenent arrangements of revenue collection for Kottayam with the
Kurmbranad Raja.To add insult to injury, the company renewed Kurmbranad Rajas lease
for five more years.The British had adopted a revenue policy that went detrimental to the
interests of the tenants.While the Mysoreans had collected their revenue direct from the
tenants.The British reversed this policy and authorized the local Rajas to collect the
same.Their harsh assessment and forcible collection was resisted by the tenants. Pazhassi
championed the cause of the tenants
Pazhassi unfurled the banner of revolt against the mistaken revenue policy of the
British.He stopped all collection of revenue in Kottayam.The company found if difficult to
meet the siyuation.They looked upon the Raja as the moist intractable and unreasonable
of all the Rajasand tried to subjugate him.Lt.Gordon attempted to seize the Raja in his
palace at Pazhassi.But, to his dismay the bird has flown away and the cage was
empty.Therefore he plundered the palace and looted the valuables.The Raja took refuge in
the jungles of Wayanad and adopted the guerrilla system of warfare. His supporters
assembled in small groups, eracted barriers and cut of British communications.The Rajas
of Kurumbranad, parappanad, eastern branches of the Zamorins family, the Moplahs led
by Chempan Pokker and the Gounders of Coimbatore all allied with Pazhassi.The Raja
also sought the help of Mysore in driving the English out of Wayanad, the hilly nature of
the country and the strong support he received from the hill tribes like the Kurichiyars
forced the company to have a truee with the Raja as a matter of political expediency.
To work out a compromise with the Raja, Duncan the Bombay governor himself
came to Malabar.The chirakkal Raja acted as the mediator.By the agreement, the
Company agreed to withdraw all the troops from Wayanad, to restore the treasure taken
from the Pazhassi palace, to cancel the agreement with the Kurumbranad Raja and to pay a
pension of Rs.800/-to the Raja.The rebellion was a great success and peace was restored
for the time being.
Second Pazhassi Revolt (1800-1805).
The peace agreed between the English and the Pazhassi Raja was only a truce,
which did not last long.Pazhassi was provoked by the British movoe to take possession of
Wayanad which had been ceded to him by the treaty of Srirangapatanam Pazhassi had a
further claim to the district as it had been granted to him by Tippu.Therefore he insisted in
possessing it. The Rajas correspondence with the enemies of the British worsened the
situation.To subjugate the Raja; the British brought Arthur Wellesley to Malabar.The
Wellesley devised minute plans of operations. Net works of roads were constructed;
Military outposts were set up at strategic places to counter the guerrilla tactics.These plans
devised to bring an early end to the rebellion yielded results in the long run.
Pazhassi Raja began his epic resistance in 1800. His troops came down the ghats
and attacked British outposts and spice plantations.Attacks and counter attacks
followed.The British troops under Col.Stevenson achieved agreat deal of
success.Ultimately Wayanad fell in to their hands.Pazhassi Raja became a homeless
wanderer in the jungles.His followers were hunted down. A few of them were captured
and hanged Kannavath Nambiar, the most trusted lieutenant of the Raja was one among
them.The resistance movement lost its spirit, but not died out.Thalakkal chandu and
Edachana Kunjan pushed forward, captured the Panamaram fort and before long
controlled all the passes in Wayanad.When there was a peasant uprising in Malabar
against the enhancement of land revenue, the Pazhassi troops made common cause with
the peasants.They attacked the spice plantations at Anjarakkandi, a climax to their success.
Early in 1804, Thomas Harvey Baber came as sub collector of Thalassery.This
turned the tide of war in favour of the British.Baber took a series of measures to crush the
Pazhassi revolt.The local people were made responsible for co-operation with the
rebels.Rewards were announced to those who would supply timely information of the
rebel movements.Baber also started a systematic hunt to capture the Raja and his
associates.Baber chased the Raja to the jungles.On 30
th
November,1805 the British troops
surrounded the Raja and his men on the banks of Mavilaythodu (Kangarapuzha).After a
severe battle of 15 hours, the Pazhassi forces were routed and the Raja was shot dead.
Local tradition tells that the Raja committed suicide by swallowing the diamond in his
ring.It has also been said that Pazhassi emptied his pistol to his own chest in order to
escape capture by the British.
Baber was so touched by the gallantry of the Raja that he carried the Rajas dead
body in his own palanquin to Mananthavady and cremated it with customary honour.Baber
wrote thus terminated the career of a man who has been enabled to persevere in hostilities
against the company for nine years.Although a rebel, he was one of the national
chieftains of the country and might be considered on that account as a fallen enemy.
The revolt of Pazhassi marks an important stage in the history of resistance
movements against the foreigners domination in Kerala.Pazhassi fought in defence of
freedom and his object was the liquidation of foreign rule. Though not a nationalist in the
modern sense, he was a patriot with indomitable courage and heroism.Though began as an
isolated outbreak and centred primarily on personal grievances, the Pazhassi revolt
assumed the charactger of a popular movement. As the conflict dragged on Pazhassi
identified his interests with other disaffected groups of Malabar.The revolt of Pazhassi
Raja was a peoples revolt in every sense.All classes of people were involved in it.The
active involvement of the tribal communities of the Kurichiyas and Kurumbar has lent it
the dimensions of an agrarian upheaval.It is true that the Raja became a rebel on account
of the British disregard to his personal rights.But as a patriot, he rose above communal and
regional considerations,organized the diverse sections of the Malabar population in to a
confederacy against the British and gained the support of the rebel powers in other
regions.In fact Pazhassi symbolised the resolve of the people to be free and sacrificed his
life in defence of it.In spite of his failure, Pazhassi Rajas martyrdom has invested his life
with a unique halo and won for him an abiding place in the hearts of his fellow
countrymen.However, Woodcock (Kerala A Portrait of the Malabar Coast) remarks:
These feudal noblemen had no conception for an Indian nation: they were fighting not for
the future, but for the past; one may admire their bravery and spirit; one may sympathise
with their desire to live as they had always lived; But when all is said, they looked back to
a feudal order, to a rigid caste system, to a restrictive society dominated by the Brahmins
and the Nairs; for the submerged half of the society, they had little feeling. Far from
representing India of 1789, they stood for it of 1745.
KURICHIYA REVOLT
The Kurichiya uprising of 1812 is one of the distinctive resistance movements
against the British in Malabar.It had been a typical peasant uprising that broke out in
Wayanad during 1810s.The Kurichiyas were a tribal folk who lived in the mountainous
regions of Wayanad.They clinged to ancestral customs and loyalties.They lived a peaceful
isolated life in the jungles.The Kurichiyas under their leader Thalakkal Chandu had played
a leading role in the Pazhassi revolt. Many of Pazhassi victories were attributed to the
Kurichiyas.
The British acquisition of Wayanad rudely disturbed their otherwise peaceful
life.After the suppression of Pazhassi revolt, the British subjected the Kurichiyas to untold
miseries.The British captured many of them and reduced some of them to
slavery.However it was the new revenue settlement made by the new collector Thomas
Warden that led the Kurichiyas to raise the banner of revolt.It was rather the arbitrary
mode of collection than the enhanced rate of revenue that was resented by the Kurichiya
peasantry.They were forced to pay the revenue in cash rather than in the traditional mode
of kind.The defaulters were treated cruelly; their property seized; they were evicted from
the land; their privacy of houses broken; It was indeed the arbitrariness and harshness of
revenue collection that drove the tribals to rebel.
Unable to bear up with the British any longer, the Kurichiyas rose in revolt in
March 1812 under the leadership of their chief Rama Namby.They made elaborate
preparations for a final fight with the British.The Kurumbar aided their fellow tribals in
the fight.T.H. Baber has noted that the aim of the rebels was to expel the Watta
Thoppikkar (Round Heads or Europeans) from the country. The rebellion spread to all
parts of Wayanad; their priests accelerated the rebellion by declaring it to be sanctified by
the blessings of the tribal Gods.The Kurichiya Kolkars left the service and joined the
rebels.The rebellion assumed the characteristic of a mass upheaval.
Within a short span of time, the rebellion spread to the whole of Wayanad.The key
passes came under their control.They attacked police stations persecuted English
personals.They cut reinforcements to the British troops in the valley.They besieged British
military posts at Sulthan Bathery and Mananthavady. For a few days at least, the British
flag ceased to fly in Wayanad. However the rebellion was crushed: Tribal heroism with
tribal weapons became powerless before the sophisticated military machine of the
English.The British brought reinforcement from Mysore and South Canara.They moved
in to the jungles from different directions, surrounded them and suppressed them. By May
1812, the revolt was completely crushed.The Kurichiya revolt is significant as it was
basically a peasants revolt.It had none of the features of a feudal uprising.It did not throw
up any cult figure. It was the last of the early revolts that broke out in Malabar against the
British.
MAPILA RIOTS
There were a series of violent disturbances against the British during the 19
th
Century.These disturbances are known as Mappila riots.These upsurges occurred through
out Malabar, but the main centers of revolt were in Eranad and Valluvanad taluks of South
Malabar.As the majority of the population were the peasants and were Mappilas, the
company officials characterised these struggles as the outrages of the fanatical
Mappilas.Hence the name Moplah riots.
Twenty-two such rebellions occurred during the period from 1835-1853. A
common feature of these riots was the murder of Hindu Janmis and desecration of Hindu
temples.According to one school of thought, the Mappila out breaks were nothing more
than premeditated acts of religious fanaticism, a view strongly held by Mr.T.L. Strange
who enquired in to the causes of the disturbances.As the victims of the outrages were
invariably the Hindu Landlords,Communal fanaticism could not be ruled out at least in the
beginning.But as the unrest continued, it assumed the character of an agrarian revolt.
Logan held the view that these outbreaks had their origin in agrarian depression and
poverty.The real cause of the Moplah outbreak, according to him, was the mistaken
revenue policy of the British government, which considered the Hindu Janmi as the
overlord of the soil and the Moplah ryots having no right over the land. In fact all the three
elements agrarian grievance, religious bigotry, general economic backwardness led the
Moplahs to indulge in violent outbreaks.
As the violence continued to occur, in spite of reconciliatory measure it created a
law and order problem.The Government created a new police force (Malabar Special
Police) in 1845 to crush the riots.But riots continued to occur culminating in the murder of
the district magistrate Conolly by four Moplah convicts.The riots began to slow down later
due to the repressive policy of the government on the one hand and the implementation of
ameliorative and welfare measures like tenancy reforms on the other.The Hindu-Muslim
relations were greatly affected by these riots. Modern historians see the genesis of the
Malabar Rebellion of 1921 in the Moplah riots of the 19
th
Century.
Resistance Movements of Veluthampi Dalawa
The revolt of Velu Thampi , the Dalawa of Travancore, is a significant episode in
the annals of Indian resistance movements against the British.Velu Thampi came in to the
limelight of History in 1800 as the leader of a popular revolt against the notorious
triumvirate (trio) of Travancore under the reigning soverign Bala Rama Varma.It was a
critical time for Thiruvithamkur.The states administration was controlled by the trio
consisting of Sankaran Namputiri, Sankaranarayana Chetty and Mathu Tharakan.
Discontent was raging against these corrupt men. Velu Thampi, as the champion of the
oppressed organised a large force of Nairs, marched to the capital and persuaded the Raja
to dismiss the unpopular ministers.Velu Thampi was elevated to the high office of Dalawa
(1801) on the advice of Macaulay.
The new Dalawa started far reaching reforms to strengthen the government and to
improve the finances of the state. Expenditure was curtailed down and income was
augmented.Velu Thampi toned up the administration of the state by a judicious use of
supporot to the Resident and firm dealings with corrupt officers.Government business was
conducted firmly and strictly without fear or favour. This alarmed his enemies who plotted
to dismiss the Dalawa.But forotunately for Velu Thampi, the Resident intervened and
reinstated Velu Thampi as Dalawa. There was also a mutiny was suppressed, with the
help of othe companys forces.The price of this help was a new treaty with the
British.Velu Thampi took the initiative to have a new tready with the company.The
revised treaty of perpetual friendship and Alliance (12
th
January, 1805) gave the British
specific power to keep a subsidiary force in Travancore and to interfere in its internal
affairs.The treaty virtually sounded the death knell of Travancore as an independent
kingdom.
Velu Thampi who was in best of terms with the resident had reasons for
estrangement of relation with Macaulay.He found that the Resident was interfering in the
internal affairs of the state using the treaty as a pretext.The Resident further turned down
his request for a reduction of tribute.To make matters worse, the Resident cancelled the
order of the Dalawa attaching the property of Mathu Tharakan who was a defaulter.The
overbearing conduct of the Resident exasperated the Dalawa who prevailed up on the king
to demand the recall of Macaulay.The Resident retaliated by demanding the dismissal of
the Velu Thampi.
Velu Thampi now took the crucial decision to organise a revolt against the
English.He made preparations for an armed insurrection with the help of anti British forces
in India and abroad.He entered into a secret deal with Paliath Achan, the chief minister of
Kochi who too had similar grievances.The two chief ministers drew up a common plan of
action.They collected men and arms on a large scale.Velu Thampi envisaged an anti
British alliance consisting of the French,the Mahrattas,the Poligars of Madurai, the Nairs
and Moplahs of Malabar. He also sought French help from Mauritius.The Dalawa also
expected Russian help.He also made some move to seek help from the Americans. His
plans for a grant anti British alliance as envisaged, however, failed to take off. He had
finally to depend upon his own people and resources.
Velu Thampi chalked out a common plan of action.A simultaneous attack on the
British forces stationed at Kollam and Kochi was planned to be executed.Paliath Achan
attacked the Residency at Kochi to capture Macaulay.Macaulay had already sent a
detachment of his bodyguard to escort Velu Thampi who gave the impression of his
resignation and retirement.Velu Thampis move was to deplete the residency of its
defenders.The attack on the Bolghatty palace had taken place on 18 December, 1807,
when a force of 600 commanded by Paliath Achan attacked the Residency.The rebel
looted the residency, broke open the jail in Kochi and set all prisoners free. Macaulay
narrowly escaped in a British ship anchored in the harbour.
In Travancore, the rebellion took a serious turn. At Alapuzha, 36 English men were
killed by thenatives.Velu Thampi moved from Allapuzha to Kollam. As the encounter at
Kollam yielded disappointing results, Velu Thampi made a strategic retreat to Kundara
where he established his head quarters.Having reached Kundara, Velu Thampi issued his
famous proclamation on (1.6.984) Makaram 1, 984 Kollam era (January 11, 1809)
exhorting the people to rally, under his banner for a patriotic struggle against the
British.The proclamation called up on the people to rise en masse in defence of the king,
their country and religion. The Kundara proclamation reads: It is the nature of the
English nation to get possession of countries by treacherous means.If they obtain
ascendancy in Travancore, the following may happen:
They will put their own guards in the palace, Sarkar buildings, forts.They will
destroy the royal seal, do away with palanquins and other distinguishing marks.They will
suppress the Brahmins and prohibit worship in temples.They will make the manufacture of
salt a state monopoly.They will be the absolute owners of wastelands.They may impose
heavy taxes on paddy lands, coconut etc.They will inflict heavy punishment on low caste
people for minor offences.They will put up crosses and Christian flags in temples.They
may compel inter marriages of Brahmin women without caste or creed and practice all
unjust and unlawful things which characterise Kaliyuga.Let us therefore exert ourselves
to keep off the impending calamities and endeavour that no disparagement may be
imputed to us in guarding our homes, the charitable institutions and the manners and
customs of the people.
The Kundara proclamation is an interesting document.It is a feudal document and
reveals the traditional background of the rebellion. It shows concern for the maintenance
of social forms in general and the caste system in particular. There are very few
documents in history which can match the Kundara Proclamation in the force of its
language, rhetorical flavour and emotional appeal. The Proclamation had its magic effect.
It motivated the masses for an unprecedented upsurge against the British.
The masses rose against the English.With 3000 men and 18 guns. Velu Thampi
renewed the war.He send part of his forces to Kochi to help Paliath Achan and with the
rest proceeded against the English.But at Kollam, the Travancore forces met with
defeat.Velu Thampi had also the news that the Cochin forces too were defeated by the
British and Paliaoth Achan withdrew from the struggle, leaving Velu Thampi alone.
The tide of revolt had decisively turned against Velu Thampi. But Thampi resolved
to fight rather than to surrender.In the meanwhile the British forces entered Thiruvitamkur,
thrust in to the interior, captured Udayagiri fort and the old capital Padmanabhapuram and
advanced towards the new capital.The Raja there up on sued for peace. Velu Thampi was
removed as Dalawa and a new Dalawa was appointed.The new Dalawa and the British
pursued the fallen foe.Velu Thampi proceeding to the north took refuge in the house of the
Potti of the Mannati temple.The gallant leader was betrayed.But before the enemies could
capture him, Velu Thampi committed suicide.His dead body was brought to Kannanmula
(TVM) where it was exposed on a gibbet.His house was razed to the ground.His relatives
were exiled to Maldives.A few of them were put to death. The revolt failed because of
several factors like (1) the defection of Paliath Achan (ii) the military superiority of the
British forces (iii) the non materialisation of an all India front against the British.
The revolt of Velu Thampi produced immediate and far reaching results. The
immediate result was the increased control of the Company over native states.The native
militia was disbanded and the defence of the state was entrusted to the British.The king
came under more and more control of the Company.
The martyrdom of Velu Thampi drew the curtain on one of the most heroic
struggles waged in the country against foreign domination.Velu Thampi had every claim
to be regarded as a patriot and a martyr.He was one of the earliest who organised a mass
revolt against the foreign domination.He has been accused of opportunism, for having
sought British help against his opponents.He has been criticised for having betrayed the
interests of the state by signing the treaty of 1805.It is alleged that the Kundara
Proclamation betrays religious bias and caste prejudice.It may be pointed out that Velu
Thampis foremost aim was to remind the people the manifold dangers of Western
colonial rule. When all is said.Velu Thampi has a rightful place in the forefront of the
great patriots and freedom fighters of India.
Paliath Achan
Paliath Achan was the chief minister of the Cochin State. Like Velu Thampi, he too had
grievances against the E.I. Company and its resident Macaulay.Hence he made a joint
cause with Thampi to expel the British.It was at his initiative that the attack on the
Bolghatty residency was planned.It was Paliath Achan who executed the night attack on
the Residency.However it miscarried as Co. Macaulay escaped in a British ship stationed
in the harbour.After the failure of the attack, Paliath Achan could not continue the
struggle.He was forced to make an agreement with the British by which he was to leave
Kochi forever and live at Madras, never to return.This action of Paliath Achan is treated as
defection and it weakened the cause of Velu Thampi.
SOCIAL MOVEMENTS
The 19
th
and 20
th
centuries witnessed the emergence of a new social order in
Kerala.The traditional social structure began crumbling.The political shake up by
Marthanda Varma, Sakthan Thampuran and the Mysoreans gave the coup de grace to the
old order in Kerala, yielding place to the new. Vestiges of grand past had been wiped out
or modified, ushering in to a new social order.
Background.
Kerala society, even after the assumption of direct administration of Malabar by the
British and centralization of administration in Travancore and Kochi continued to be
dominated by the upper castes.They became more powerful than before as the British
wanted their active support in sustaining their own authority.There was deep chasm
between the high and low caste people.The existing system of laws, which was not at all
equalitarian, did not favour the lower castes.The judicial system was caste ridden and
iniquitious.The worst sort of Janmi system prevailed.Slavery in the most primitive form
existed.Women of lower castes; Sudras etc were denied certain social privileges and
amenities. There were a series of taxes and cesses, which imposed a heavy burden on the
lower castes.The spread of Western education and liberal ideas made them restive and
eager for reforms.The mounting agrarian unrest among the tenants produced everywhere a
feeling of unrest.
The British and Indian administration had already introduced a series of
administrative and social reforms to redress the grievances.The abolition of slavery was
one among them.There was overhauling of the entire administrative system of the three
units in Kerala in accordance with the modern principles of governance.But they were not
enough to fulfil the needs of the hour.
SOCIAL REFORMMOVEMENTS: REFORMERS
The late 19
th
and the early 20
th
centuries witnessed the emergence of powerful
social reform movements in Kerala.The traditional feudal society began to disappear and
in its place a new socio-economic order evolved in Kerala.The all India organisations like
the Arya Samaj, Theosophical society and Rama Krishna mission had their activities in
Kerala, but their influence was limited and influence marginal.The social reform
movements, which made an impact on Kerala, were indigenous in origin and led by
individual reformers.
SRI NARAYANA GURU (1856-1928)
Sri Narayana Guru was an Ezhava Saint who made a solid contribution to the social
change in Kerala.He was born in the village of Chempazhanthy near Trivandrum and
showed keen interests in Sanskrit and Hindu philosophy. He took to the life of a Sanyasi
and led the life of a wandering mendicant.Like Chattampi Swamikal, he too revolted
against Brahmin ascendancy and worked for a new social order.He consecrated shrines in
several parts of Kerala for the worship of the lower castes.The most famous of such
shrines are those of Aruvippuram, Ochira, Varkala and Thalassery.As a religious reformer,
he advocated the abolition of animal sacrifices. As a social reformer he campaigned
against the observances of Talikettu Kalyanam and other customary rituals and rites.He
simplified the procedures and ceremonies for Ezhava marriages. He appealed to the
Ezhavas to give up toddy tapping and to take to learned professions and industrial
pursuits.The Guru had a highly eclectic outlook in religions matters as is shown in the
saying one caste, one Religion and one God.He died at Varkala in 1928.
Sri Narayana Guru was the founder of the SNDP yogam (1903).He personally
guided its activities.He became the rallying point for the Tiyyas and the Ezhavas to
organise and unite.The Sangham developed a brilliant band of dedicated workers like
Dr.Palpu and Kumaran Asan.Their activities helped the lower castes a consciousness of
their own dignity and strength.It also prevented the rising tide of conversion to
Christianity.
Narayana Guru was no sectarian philosopher and leader.His philosophy was the Advitha
and he saw all humanity as one.As a literary luminary, Narayana Guru penned
Darsanamala in Sanskrit, Jatimimamsa in Sanskrit and Malayalam and Siva Sathakom in
Malayalam.In short, the work of Narayana Guru for the cause of social reform resulted in
a silent, but far reaching social revolution in modern Kerala.
VAGBHATANANDA(1885-1939)
Vagbhatananda was a great social reformer and philosopher of Kerala. He founded
the Atma Vidya Sangham, a major force of social change in Kerala. Kunjikkannan
Gurukkal, as vagbhatananda was known in early life, was born at Patyam village of
Kannur district in an Ezhava family in 1885.He was educated in the traditional Gurukula
system.After studying philosophy,logic and Hindu scriptures, he travelled extensively and
propagated the teaching of Universal non duality.He took active interests in the Brahma
Samaj and founded a Sanskrit school at Calicut.As a great orator of the time, he was
conferred the title Vagbhatananda by Sivananda Yogi of Alathur.
Vagbhatananda was an erudite scholar, Reformer, organiser, journalist, writer,
phiosopher and nationalist.The Orthodox Hindus found in him a rebel fighting against
established religion and caste hierarchy.Vagbhatananda based his argument in the ancient
wisdom of Hinduism, not on its dogmatism.He composed an Advaita treatise Atmavidya
which became the manifesto of the Sangham.A great admirer of Ram Mohan Roy,
Vagbhatananda rejected idol worship, propagated Nigunopasana, rejected all rituals and
formalities.He criticised the Arya Samaj for its policy of conversion to Hinduism.Like Sri
Narayanagu, he rejected caste system.He was a humanist and a liberal and started a journal
Abhinava Keralam in 1921.
Vagbhatananda was a great social reformer, who advocated reforms among the
untouchables.He was a champion of inter caste marriage and inter caste dining.He was a
great nationalist.He supported the civil disobedience movement of Gandhiji.His journal
Atma Vidya Kahalam stood with the nationalist cause.He also supported the constructive
programme of Gandhiji.He favoured temple entry for the Avarnas.He was also associated
with the peasant, movements in the country.In the words of E.M.S.
Nambudiripad.Though he could not obtain a universal name or fame like Narayana Guru,
Vagbhatananda was one who had greatly contributed to the growth of society. He was
even superior to Narayana Guru in his scholarship and eloquence.He initiated programmes
against casteism and played a significant role in the growth of society of North Malabar.
MANNATH PADMANABHAN (1878 - 1970).
Mannathu Padmanabhan was a social reformer and a freedom fighter from the State
of Kerala, India. He is recognised as the founder of the Nair Service Society, which claims
to represent the Nair community that constitutes almost 14.5% of the population of the
state. Padmanabhan is considered as a visionary reformer who organised the Nair
community under the NSS.
Mannathu Padmanathan was born in Perunna village in Changanacherry,
Travancore, British India on 2 January 1878 to Eswaran Namboothiri of Nilavana Illam
and Mannathu Parvathy Amma. He began his career as a teacher in 1893 in a Government
primary school. After a few years, from 1905 he changed his profession and started
practising law, in the Magistrates Courts.
Nair Service Society
On 31 October 1914 with the help of a few others, he established the Nair Service
Society. His main ambition was to uplift the status of the Nair community. From 1915
onwards, he gave up law practice and became full-time secretary of the Nair Service
Society. Mannam revived and reshaped the old concept of village societies, the
Karayogams, which practically set the tenor of family and village life. In 1924-25 the NSS
persuaded the Travancore Government to enact the Nair Regulation which broke up the
materiarchal joint family providing for paternal and maternal property to divided mong all
the children.
He fought for social equality, the first phase of being the Vaikom Satyagraha,
demanding the public roads near the temple at Vaikom be opened to low caste Hindus. In
1924 he took part in the Vaikom and Guruvayoor temple-entry and anti-
untouchability agitation. He opened his family temple for everyone; irrespective of caste
distinction .He became a member of the Indian National Congress in 1947 and took part
in the agitation against Sir C. P. Ramaswamy Iyers administration in Travancore. As the
first president of Travancore Devaswom Board he revitalised many temples which had
almost ceased to function.
In 1949 Padmanabhan became a member of the Travancore Legislative
Assembly.In 1959 he along with Christian Churches led a united opposition against the
State Communist Ministry, which became known as the Vimochana Samaram (liberation
struggle).The cause of the Vimochana Samaramwas the introduction of an Education Bill
by the Minister of Education, Joseph Mundassery, and the movement caused the dismissal
of the Communist government under E. M. S. Namboodiripad on 31 July 1959. The
consequence of this was the beginning of Presidents rule in the state under Article 356 of
the Indian Constitution.
Padmanabhan was involved with the Nair Service Society as its Secretary for 31
years and as its President for three years. He was honoured with the titleBharata
Kesari by the President of India. He also received Padma Bhushan in 1966.He died on
February 25, 1970 at the age of 93.Mannam memorial (or Samdhi) is located
at NSS Headquarters Changanacherry.
CHATTAMPI SWAMIKAL (1854 -1924).
Chattampi Swamikal was one of the most out standing reformists who revolted
against the existing social order in Kerala.Even as a young man, he made a deep study of
the religious literature of the Hindus and won a high reputation for his scholarship.He
wanted the major communities of the land like the Nairs and the Ezhavas to play their
legitimate role in society.However he concentrated mainly on the uplift of Nair
community.He believed that a social awakening among the Nairs would inspire the Non
Brahmin for greater social change.He worked in close co-operation with Narayanaguru in
the cause of Hindu religious regeneration.He undertook social and religious activities that
aimed at the eradication of untouchability and other social evils.He advocated that
Sanyasam should not be mistaken for asceticism and proved by his personal example that
Sanyasis could do great help to the people.His learned discourses and works on religion,
philosophy and history had won for him wide acclaim. His speeches, writings and social
activities gave the reform movement in Kerala an intellectual appeal, a social bias and a
practical turn.
A great scholar and man of letters,Chattampi Swamikal came to be called
Vidyadhiraja.He wrote poems,devotional songs, essays, reviews, commentaries letters and
research papers on a variety of subjects.Though not an academic historian, Chattampi
Swamikal had his own original perspective of History. In his work Prachina
Malayalam, he has challenged some of the traditional theories of Kerala History. He
rejected the Parasurama legend and projected the picture of a casteless society in ancient
Kerala.As a contributor to the literary heritage, Swamikal authored Adi Bhasha a research
work on linguistics.He also contributed much to the religious literature of the age.Thus
both as a social reformer and literary luminary, Chattampi Swamikal had a great place
among the reformers of Kerala.
AYYANKALI (1866 -1914)
Ayyankali was a noted social reformer of modern times.A contemporary of Sri
Narayana Guru, he devoted his life for the upliftment of the depressed classes.A Pulaya by
birth, he gave leadership to the movement for social advancement of the oppressed classes
in general and the Pulayas in particular.They were considered as untouchables by the
upper classes.They were agricultural labourers who were deprived of the minimum basic
necessities of life.Ayyankali emerged as the saviour of the Pulayas.His main aim was to
make them self respected and self-confident.
As the Pulayas were not permitted to travel through the public roads and to get
admission in government schools.Ayyankali directed his early struggles to achieve these
objectives.In 1893, he traveled through the public roads using a bullock cart.Though
illiterate, Ayyankali struggled to get admission to the Pulayas in government schools.He
even founded a school at Vengannur for the lower castes in 1904.
Drawing inspiration from Narayana Guru, Ayyankali founded the Sadhu Jana
Paripalana Sangham in 1906.The society gave importance to the uplift of the depressed
classes.It submitted representaion to the government for giving admission to the lower
castes in government schools. Ayyan Kali also organised the landless agricultural
labourers of Travancore.Under his leadership the Pulayas refused to work in the fields
until their children were given the right to education in schools, freedom to travel in public
roads and increases in their wages.Finally the land lords had to bow down to accept their
demands.It is remarkable as the first organised strike of the agricultural; labourers in
Kerala.
As a member of the Sree Mulam Assembly, Ayyan Kali continued this mission of
uplifting the downtrodden.He was nominated as a representative of lower castes in the
Sree Mulam Sabha in 1911.Ayyan Kali used the assembly to present the conditions of
these lower castes.
Ayyan Kali was the leader of the Kallu Mala Agitation. The Pulaya women
used to wear ornaments made of stone and iron glass pieces. Ayyan Kali urged them to
throw a way such ornaments as they were considered to be symbols of slavery.In the
public meetings convened at Perinad and Kollam in 1915 the Pulaya women threw away
their ornaments in public.This was known as the Kallumala agitation.Thus within in a
short span of time, Ayyankali has initated a process for the upliftment of the Pulaya
community.The struggle he launched was later taken up by the freedom fighters of Kerala.
VAKKAMABDUL KHADAR MAULAVI (1873-1932).
Vakkam Abdul Khadar Maulivi was one of the great social reformers who
championed the cause of the Muslims in Kerala. Born and brought up in South Kerala,
Maulavi became a scholar in Sankrit, Hindi, Arabic, Tamil and Malayalam.He was the
founder, printer and publisher of Swadeshabhimani.The newspaper under its editor
Ramakrishna Pillai raised a banner of revolt against the government.Maulavi also started
an Islamic journal The Muslim.He also formed the Islam Dharna Paripalana
Sangham.He also published an Arabic Malayalam magazine Al Islam in 1906. He founded
a printing press at Anchutengu in 1904.
Maulavi was an important social reformer of the Muslims.He realised the
deplorable conditions of the Muslims in Kerala and tried to eradicate the evil customs
among them.To educate them, a number of schools were started at his initiative.The
greatest contribution of Vakkam Maulavi was the starting of the newspaper
Swadeshabhimani. He was fortunate to get the services of no less a person than Rama
Krishna Pillai as its editor.Under their leadership, Swadeshabhimani fought against the
corruption prevailed in the Travancore administration.As the editorials severely criticised
the Diwan Raja Gopalachari, the wrath of the authorities fell on the editor who was
arrested on a charge of sedition and was deported from the state; the press was confiscated.
Thereafter Maulavi started the Muslim.In 1931 he founded the Islamic publishing House
and a journal Deepika.
Vakkam Maulavi is remembered as a great social reformer, a staunch fighter
against injustice, a great journalist and an up lifter of the community to which he
belonged.The progress of the Muzlim community of Kerala in the educatiuonal and social
field is largely due to the pioneering work done by Vakkam Maulavi.
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.
SAHODARAN AYYAPPAN (1889-1968).
Sahodaran Ayyappan was another social reformer of modern Kerala. He started
what is known as Sahodara Prasthanam.K.Ayyappan started the movement against the
social inequalities propounded by the caste system.For this purpose, he adopted a new
method known as Misrabhojanam (Mixed feast).The Cherayi convention of 1917
conducted inter dining for the lower and upper castes together.Ayyappan was not against
religion as such, but against the evils of the religion, no God, thus modifying the doctrine
of Narayanaguru.
Ayyappan organised a literary association called Vidyaposhini.A newspaper called
Sahodaran was also started.Ayyappan wrote a series of articles against the caste
system.He worked with the Atma Vidya Sangham also.His programmes were resisted by
the upper caste who ridiculed him as Pulayan Ayyappan.In 1928, he became the editor of
the magazine Yuktivadi.Ayyappan also plunged in to politics.He became the leader of
the Soicialist Party in Kochi.He was also associated with the trade union movement. He
became a member of the Cochin legislative Assembly.Later he became a minister in the
congress government in Kochi.
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.
SOCIAL ORGANISATIONS
The social reforms movements resulted in the emergence of a number of social
organisation in Kerala during the 20
th
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.
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 31
st
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.
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.
ORGANISED AGITATIONS AGAINST UNTOUCHABILITY
A number of agitations were started in the 1930s against untouchability.The movement
drew inspiration from the message of social reformers like Narayana guru and Chattampi
Swamikal, and social organisations like the N.S.S. and the S.N.D.P. and also from the
Congress under Gandhiji.
VAIKKAM 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.
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.
TEMPLE ENTRY PROCLAMATION (1936).
The Temple Entry Proclamation issued by the Maharaja of Thiruvitamkur on 12
th
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 peoples 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.
NATIONAL MOVEMENT IN KERALA
Keralas role in Indian freedom struggle was never crucial or decisive, but
important and significant.She failed to play a great role because the struggle for freedom
in the princely stages of Thiruvithamkur and Kochi were never as intensive as in British
Malabar.The princely states had to witness a parallel struggle against autocracy of the
Rajas and Diwans.Further, KeralaThe mad house of India had to concentrate more on
struggles to secure social justice than on political rights.The educated people of Kerala
who were supposed to lead the struggle turned away from politics to professions.In the
socio economic sphere there was the paradigam of the modernisation of society without
the modernisation of the economy.
However Kerala was the first to realise the peril of foreign domination and the first
to respond to the challenge of imperialism.There were instances of revolt against the
Portuguese at Kochi and Calicut,against the British at Anjengo, Thalassery, Kottayam and
Wayanad.The real attempts for freedom came only later.It came through contact with the
west, through the socio-reform movements in the country and through the enlightened and
progressive rule of the three units of Kerala.As Malabar was directly under the British, the
struggle for independence was quicker and stronger and intense there than in the princely
states of Kochi and Thiruvitamkur.
Movements for Representation in Government: Cochin and Travancore
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 peoples 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 peoples revolt, although it was
confined to a limited area. It brought the Christians of Cochin in to the national
movement.
Cochin Praja Mandal.
The Cochin Praja Mandal is the embodiment of the struggle for responsible
government in the princely state of Kochi. Formed on January 26, 1941 under the
leadership of V.R. Krishnan Ezhuttacchan,it has as its objective the establishment of
responsible government in Kochi.Its proposal to hold the maiden session at Irinjalakuda in
Jan. 1942 was withheld by the Dewan. In spite of this about 3000 delegates attended the
session, but its President and a few others were arrested.
When Quit India movement was launched by Gandhiji, the Praja Mandal organised
several meetings and demonstrations.The leaders of the movement like Panampilly and
Ikkanda Warrier were arrested.The youth wing of the Praja Mandal set fire to the military
camps in Ernakulam.They published a secret bulletin named Samara Kahalam.As the Praja
Mandal associated itself with the Quit India movement, its image was boosted.In Kochi,
the legislative assembly was constituted in May 1948.In the elections held,the Praja
Mandal won a thumping victory and assumed office with Ikkanda Warrior as Prime
Minister on 20
th
September,1948.When the Cochin Praja Mandal merged with the
Congress in November,1948, the new ministry became the first Congress ministry in the
state of Kochi.Thus the struggle for responsible government in Kochi reached its
successful culmination.
Movements for Representation in Government: Travancore
The struggle for independence and responsible government in the princely state of
Thiruvithamkur had serious dimension when compared to the same in Kochi.The
Travancore Government adopted a policy of uncompromising hostility to the demand for
responsible government.The early agitations aimed at the establishment of good
government while those of the later period has had as their aim the achievement of
responsible government. Among the early struggles, the one led by Velu Thampi in 1799
deonstrated the organised strength of the people.During the last decades of the 19
th
century, the educated middle class of Thiruvithamkur resented the appointments of Tamil
Brahmins in government services.The desire for political participation in governance was
fulfilled by the formation of Sri Moolam Praja Sabha in 1888, their resentment increased.
It found its concrete expression in the Malayali Memorial.
MALAYALI MEMORIAL.
The Malayali Memorial was a petition submitted too the Maharaja of Travancore
on The New Years Day in 1891.It was signed by 10028 persons belonging to all classes
and creeds. It drew the attention of the Maharaja to the exclusion of the educated natives
from the higher grades of public service. It pleaded for the natives a fair quota of
government appointments.It was drafted on the basis of a popular cry Travancore for
Travancoreans.It was really a fair plea for privileges and positions.Its formulators were
G.P. Pillai and K.P. Sankara Menon.The Government have taken no immediate action.Its
attitude was unhelpful and reactionary.Outsiders continued to be appointed.Nevertheless
the agitation served its purpose namely to arouse political consciousness of the people.It
symbolised the emergence of the new educated middle class as a force to be reckoned
with.
EZHAVA MEMORIAL.
Ezhava Memorial is a memorandum submitted to the Maharaja of Travancore on
3
rd
Sept 1896.The Travancore Ezhava Sabha took the initiative in preparing and presenting
the memorial.It was signed by 13176 members of the Ezhava community.It pleaded for
among other things, the extension of civil rights and government jobs to members of the
lower castes and the Ezhavas in particular. It also pleaded for the opening of public
schools to the Ezhavas.It demanded that the Ezhavas be made beneficiaries of these rights
and privileges enjoyed by the converts to Christianity.The response of the government was
disappointing. Hence a second memorial was presented to the viceroy Curzon in 1900.It
enumerated the grievances of the Ezhavas and requested the viceroys initiative in getting
them redressed.The viceroy refused to intervene.Hence both the memorials failed to
achieve their immediate objectives.
These memorials followed the ancient Hindu customs of direct petition to the king,
yet they challenged the Maharajas way of governance.The agitations based on the
memorials marked the rise of the new educated middle class as a force to be reckoned
with.They symbolised the beginning of the modern political movements to be waged by
the lower classes for securing social equality and justice in Thiruvithamkur.
NIVARTHANA MOVEMENT.
This movement was one of the stormiest agitations in the history of modern
Thiruvithamkur.It is called the Nivarthana or Abstention agitation because the agitators
have decided to abstain from participating in the elections to the legislature.The genesis of
the Abstention movement can be traced back to the policy of discrimination followed by
the Government of Travancore in providing representation to various castes and
communities in the legislature and public services.Since the formation of the legislature in
1888, it was represented by the Savarnas while the bulk of the population comprising the
lower castes had no adequate representation in that body.As the main qualification for
voting was payment of property tax, the Avarnas got practically no representation in the
legislature.The legislative reforms of 1932 made permanent the property qualification.The
Ezhavas, the Muslims and theChristians apprehended that the new reforms, would secure
for them far less number of seats in the legislature than they were entitled to on a strict
population basis.They feared that the Nairs would get more seats than what they really
deserved.Therefore these communities demanded that they should be given representation
in the legislature in proportion to their numerical strength.
The passing of the legislative Reforms Act,1932 was the signal for the beginning of
a state wide agitation.The agitationists demanded reservation of seats to different
communities in proportion to their numerical strength.As the Governments attitude was
not favourable the Abstentionists formed an organisation of their own to achieve their
demands.They called it Joint Political Congress or Samyuktha Rashtriya Samithi. In a
meeting held on Jan 25, 1933, the Samithi took the momentous decision to abstain from
voting in the elections to the legislature.Thus was born the Abstention agitation.As those
communities Ezhavas,Christians and Muslims-formed about more than 2/3rds of the
population,the agitation had the characteristic of a mass struggle.The Abstentionists
carried on a vigorous agitation all over the state against the new constitutional reforms.It
was in connection with the Abstention movement that C. Kesavan delivered his famous
speech at Kozhencherry (11 May,1935) for which he was arrested and punished.
Although the government adopted a policy of repression, it conceded the demands
of the agitationists.It appointed a public service commissioner to ensure fair representation
to the backward communities in public services. It reduced the property qualification by
widening the franchise.The Government also agreed to allot a specific number of seats in
the legislature for the three communities.The final outcome of this agitation was to break
up the monopoly of political power enjoyed by the upper caste Hindus.It also marked the
end of constitutional agitation and the beginning of direct action in politics. It also paved
the way for the formation of Travancore State Congress and the Cochin State Praja
Mandal. The agitation thus fulfilled its objectives.
TRAVANCORE STATE CONGRESS.
The struggle for responsible government in Thiruvitamkur assumed a new turn with
the formation of the Travancore state Congress.It was felt that the Joint Political Congress
had fulfilled its objectives and a more broad based organization embracing all classes of
people should be formed to carry forward the struggle for responsible government.The
Haripura Session (1938) of the Congress endorsed the view that though congress should
abstain from active intervention in the political movements in the princely states,
independent organisations may be encouraged to carry on internal struggles. In accordance
with this resolve, a meeting held in Thiruvanantapuram in February, 1938 resolved to form
the Travancore State Congress with Pattam Thanu Pillai as its president.The new
organisation aimed at launching a movement for the achievement of responsible
government in Thiruvitamkur.
NATIONAL MOVEMENT IN MALABAR
CONGRESS IN MALABAR.
It was British Malabar that played a leading role in the freedom movement of the
country.The Indian National Congress had its adherents in Malabar since its formation in
1885.A few Keralites like G.P. Pillai,Chettur Sankaran Nair and Kayyur Nampiyar were
active participants of the congress movement Chettur Shankaran Nair was the President of
the Amaravathi session of the Congress in 1897, the only Malayali to achieve that rare
honour.However these Malayalis worked in their individual capacity and they never
represented Kerala as they lived and worked outside Kerala.The Congress convened a
conference in 1904 at Calicut and a D.C.C. was formed in 1908 in Malabar.Therefore till
1914, there was no remarkable activity of a political nature in Malabar.
HOME RULE MOVEMENT.
With the outbreak of the First World War in 1914, national movement received a
new impetus in Malabar.Home Rule Leagues were established in different regions in
Malabar.The DCC held annual meetings in 1916 and 1917.Malabar was visited by leaders
like Annie Beasant.Representatives from Kerala found a berth in the deputation of the
Home Rule League which visited Montague to submit their proposals for constitutions
reforms.Thus by 1919,there was considerable political activity in Malabar.However
organised work of a political natural was still in the offing.Political activity of a serious
nature exited only among a few and it did not penetrated into or from the common man.
Political views and campaigns were localised in Kerala until 1920s.
NON-CO-OPERATION AND KHILAFAT MOVEMENTS.
However winds of change began to blow in Malabar when Gandhiji assumed the
leadership of the Congress in the 1920s.The non co-operation movement made
considerable headway in Malabar.There was widespread boy cott of foreign goods, courts
of law and educational institution in the district. The non co-operation movement
synchronised itself with the Khilafat movement and thereby acquired new dimensions.To
accelerate the tembo of the movement, Gandhiji and Shoukat Ali visited Malabar.The
Moplahs of Malabar showed their willingness to join the freedom struggle.The Ottappalam
conference of 1921 gave full support to the non co-operation movement.It was in the
course of these developments that Malabar witnessed of Moplah outburst.
MALABAR REBELLION (1921)
The Malabar Rebellion was an important episode in the history of freedom
movement in our country.It may be considered as a turning point in the history of Kerala
as all further developments in the national movement in Kerala bore the marks of the
Rebellion.As it seriously disturbed the relationship between the Hindus and Muslims in
Kerala and cast a shodow of gloom over the whole freedom movement, it has been viewed
as the most tragic episode in our freedom struggle. It is so-called as the Malabar rebellion
because the chief area of the disturbance was in Malabar.It is called as the Moplah
rebellion because most of the participants belonged to Mappila community. As it was an
outburst against the British imperialism it has been invested with the halo of a revolt or
rebellion. As it aimed at the expulsion of the British rule at least insome areas. It becomes
part of the freedom struggle.
The nature and character of the Malabar upheaval is a point of controversy among
historians.There are broadly three views about the origin and character of the
Rebellion.According to the nationalist school of historians; it was an anti-imperialist
struggle, a political uprising of the mappilas against police repression. According to the
Marxist school of thought, it was an agrarian outbreak, purely economic in nature. As the
Mappila tenants were oppressed by the Hindu Janmis and the British officials, the tenants
rose in revolt.The third school of thought regard the upsurge as a communal flare up or
rather an outburst of religious fanaticims.The atrocities were committed by the Muslims
and the victims were the Hindus.In fact the Rebellion was the result of the combined
operation of political, economic and communal factors.It was at once anti British, agrarian
and communal.
The underlying causes of the outbreak were political, social and ideological.The
policy of repression adopted by the British government against the non co-operators
including the Khilafatists was an important reason.The Moplahs reacted violently against
the police oppression.The social cohesion of the Moplahs as the community, their militant
tradition and organisational skill also caused the upheaval.The Hindu Muslim
misunderstanding and the ideological factors and political aspirations of the rebels also
resulted in the outburst.
The events that paved the way for the rebellion are mainly political. When the
Turkish Sultan was deprived of his authority as Caliph.Gandhiji started the Khilafat
movement in India in order to bring the Indian Muslims to the nationalist cause.In
Malabar, the Khilafatists had their stronger adherents in the Eranad and Valluvanad
Taluk.When the movement progressed to such an extent as to creat alarm in official
circles, the Government brought these Taluks under Sec. 144 of the criminal Procedure
Code.Meetings were banned and the police began to arrest Congress and Khilafat workers.
The police attempt to arrest one Vatakkeveettil Muhammad on a charge of having
stolen a pistol from the Nilampur palace was the immediate provocation of the
uprising.Muhammad happrned to be the local Khilafat secretary.The attempt to arrest him
by the police was foiled by a crowd of 2000 Moplahs who came out with spears and
swords, killing several policemen and driving the survivors away. The police who came in
search of the Khilafat rebels entered the Mumbaram Mosque at Tirurangadi as the rebels
had taken refuge there. In the meanwhile the news spread that the mosque was
desecrated.There upon the Moplahs converged on Tirurangadi and attacked the police
station, looted government treasuries and burnt government records. For a few weeks at
least, the writ of the British government did not run in the area.The original leaders of the
Khilafat movement whether Hindu or Muslim faded away from the scene.
In the meanwhile the nature of the rebellion changed from political to
communal.Communal terrorist leaders took up the leadership.Varian Kunnath
Kunjahammad Haji became the defact authority in Eranad and Valluvanad Taluks.Styling
himself as the Amir of the muslims, Raja of the Hindus and Colonel of the Khilafat army
he became virtually the king and began to levy taxes and issue pass ports.Seethikoya
Thangal another leader maintained law and order and issued circulars as
governor.However Ali Musaliyar the priest of the mosque although assumed the title king,
instructed his followers not to molest the Hindus or loot their property.Khilafat Raj had
become a reality.The British rule was eliminated and a rebel autocracy dominated the
region.The rebels achieved a large measure of success in extinguishing British rule.In the
later stages however the Hindus were persecuted on the ground that they allied with the
British.However, the Rebellion was crushed by the British with an iron hand.The
Government rushed British troops and Gurkha regiments.Martial law was declared.A
series of encounters had taken place, resulting in the loss of lives. By November 1921, the
Rebellion was almost crushed.The rebels were captured and shot; many were imprisoned
or deported.
A corollary to the Malabar Rebellion was the Wagon Tragedy.The arrested rebels
were dumped in to a closed railway wagon and deported to from Tirur to Bellary.On the
way from Tirur to Coimbatore (10
th
Nov, 1921) 61 out of 90 inmates suffered from heat
and hunger died of suffocation.This incident came to be known as the Wagon tragedy
highlighted the inhuman methods adopted by the British to suppress the Rebellion.
The Malabar Rebellion produced far reaching consequences. It gave a set back to
the freedom struggle in Malabar.After the Rebellion, the Congress lost much of its popular
appeal.For a long time after the Rebellion, no public activity was possible in Malabar.The
Hindus and the Muslims began to suspect each other lost their cordiality.It paved the way
for the growth of communalism. It also reflected in North Indian politics.
Civil Disobedience Movement and Quit India Struggle
Salt Satyagraha.
In the background of the Lahore session of the Congress Gandhiji conducted the
Dandi March which was attended among others, by four volunteers from Kerala.The day
when Gandhiji broke the salt laws (6
th
April,1930) was observed in Kerala as a national
day.The K.P.C.C. took the decision to organise Salt Satyagraha in Malabar and Payyannur
was chosen as the main venue.Under the leadership of Kelappan 32 volunteers from
Kozhikode moved to Payyannur on foot and broke the salt law on the beach on 21
st
April,
1930. Another batch came from Palakkad under TR Krishnaswamy Aiyar, Moidu
Maulavi and M.Abdul Rehman participated in the event.Satyagrahis from all directions
thronged the Payyannur beach and the Malabar village drew all India attention. Initially
the British ignored the agitation.But with the arrest of Gandhiji (5
th
May) the Government
resorted to suppress the movement. Kelappan was arrested and the camp was raided.Govt
adopted repressive measures.But people including students began to participate in the
campaign.The movement came to an end with the Gandhi Irwin Pact of 4
th
March, 1931.
Quit India Movement.
The Quit India movement though vehement in North India, was relatively low in
Malabar.It never developed in to a mass uprising in Kerala.However some important
developments had taken place in the course of the movement in Kerala.The formation of a
new socialist group under G.B. Menon was one such event. This group organised meeting
and procession in several parts of Malabar. Schools, colleges and courts of law were
picketed.When government adopted repressive measures, the movement went under
ground.This led to the Keezhariyur Bomb case.A secret journal called Swatantra
Bharatam was published from underground.
The Quit India agitation in Kerala did not develop in to a mass movement because
(a) the change in the policy of the Communist Party. Earlier the party advocated mass
struggle against the British.But when USSR entered the World War, it became a peoples
war to them and they advocated collaboration with the British.They opposed Quit India
movement.(b) the Muslims stayed away from the Quit India movement.So the Quit India
movement had no mass basis in Kerala.
Women in the Public Field
Shanar Agitation in Travancore
The Shanars were fisher folk who lived in the coastal areas of South
Travncore.They fought a struggle to secure social justice.Their women folk were not
permitted to wear upper garments, a right enjoyed by the upper caste Hindus. Col. Munroe
had already issued an order permitting the Shanar women who became converts to
Christianity to wear upper jackets.The Shanars were not sastisfied with this.They wanted
this privilege to all their women folk.They began to appear in public wearing an additional
scarf like the Hindus.This action of the Shanars provoked the upper caste Hindus who
resorted to penalized the Shanars. As it became a law and order problem, police and
military forces had to be rushed to the area.The Shanar agitation eventually led to the
Royal Proclamation of 26
th
July 1859, abolishing all restrictions in the matter of dress by
Shanar women.The Shanar agitation is a typical instance that illustrates how the social
changes of a far-reaching character could be introduced partly on the initiative of the
administration and partly under the pressure of circumstances.
Accamma Cherian - Jhansi Rani of Travancore
Accamma Cherian is one of the iron ladies of Kerala. She studied well and joined
in a middle school, as teacher. Her hard work promoted her as a headmistress, in which
school she worked as teacher. At one stage, activities of Portuguese and British became
malicious. They crossed their boundary levels and started to torture the people without
pity. This event created fire inside her. Immediately, she resigned her job and participated
in freedom struggle events. On 1938, National congress party was banned in Kerala. To
convey the opposition for this act, she collected the people and directed a rally from
Thampanoor to the Kowdiar Palace of kerala. British government announced the firing
order for this doings. She requested them to kill her first. This made the British police to
put off the shooting order. For this activity, she was named as the Jhansi Rani of
Travancore by Mahatma Gandhi. This is just a simple sample to tell about her affection
towards nation. Until her death she fought against the people, who worked opposite to the
Indian nation.
Before Independence, Pakistan is also part of India. Kerala is one of the cutest
states in India during ancient time, now and forever. People from this area actively took
part in the freedom struggle. Despite of gender both female and male participated in
various events in opposite to the Portuguese, who ruled the Kerala state. They are not only
fought against the Portuguese, but also against the cruel acts of the British people.
Ammu Swaminadhan
Ammu Swaminadhan is one of the eminent freedom fighter of Kerala. She followed
principles of Mahatma Gandhi and participated in freedom struggle without violence.This
made het to occupy good place in hearts of people of Kerala.She is an active member of
Constituent Assembly of India and Rajya sabha.It is responsibility of each and every
citizen to preserve the freedom of our country, which was given to us by our ancestors. Let
us remember the selfless sacrifice of freedom strugglers' atleast on the Independence Day.
A. V. Kuttimalu Amma
A V Kuttimalu Amma was born in Anakkara Vadakkathu family of Ponnani Taluq
in Malabar, in 1905. She was a courageous freedom fighter and a prominent leader. Her
husband was the former KPCC President and Minister in Madras state, K. Madhava
Menon.
Entering public life as a swadeshi and Khadi worker in 1930, Kuttimalu Amma
soon became a popular figure. She led groups of women in the picketing of foreign cloth-
shops in Kozhikode in the year 1931.During the Civil-Disobedience Movement; she was
arrested and convicted for two years. When she was restricted from taking her two month
old baby with her to prison, she argued effectively quoting the law, and succeeded in
carrying the child with her. She was again locked up in the Presidency jail during the Quit
India Movement.
In 1944 she became the president of KPCC and took up the task of organizing
Congress in Malabar. She served as a member of AICC and congress working committee.
She also worked as the Director of Mathrubhumi for some time. She passed away in 1986.
DEVELOPMENT OF LEFTIST IDEOLOGY
An important feature of the freedom movement in Kerala was the development of
leftist ideology leading to the formation of the Communist Party and the peasant and
workers struggles initiated by it from Kayyur to Punnapra Vayalar.
Congress Socialist Party.
During the 1930s following the withdrawal of the civil Disobedience movement,
the Congress in Kerala split itself in to the Rightists and the Leftists.The leftists
constituted themselves in to the Congress Socialist Party.Organisationally they were
congress men. But they preferred to call themselves as socialists.They functioned as a
separate group, but within the Congress.They dominated the Congress but disliked the
Gandhian techniques-as weapons in the fight for Swaraj.The left wing dominated by the
socialists led the agitations of workers and peasants in the 1930s and strengthened their
mass base by building a chain of well knit organisation of peasants, workers, teachers and
students in Malabar.They passed resolutions, organised hunger march and came to the
political lime light.
Formation of Communist Party.
The leftist elements represented by the Congress Socialist group emerged as the
Communist Party of Malabar in 1939.When the World War broke out in 1939, the
K.P.C.C.under the control of the communists opted for a mass struggle against the
British.When the Forward Block was formed by Subash Bose, the left wing left the
Congress and jointed the new organization.They continued their anti imperialist struggle at
Morazha, Kayyur, Mattannur, Thalassery and other places. The leftists under the
leadership of A.K. Gopalan, E.M.S. Nambuthiripad and P. Krishna Pillai met in secret
conclave at Pinarayi and formed the Communist Party of Malabar in December, 1939.
PEASANT AND WORKING CLASS MOVEMENTS
The increasing involvement of the peasants was an important feature of the national
movement in Kerala.The earliest peasant organisation was formed at Chirakkal in Malabar
in 1935.Their activities soon spread to other areas in Malabar.They protested against the
illegal levies and oppressive measures of the Janmis.Finally the Malabar Karshaka
Sangham was formed in 1937.The peasants revolted against the landlords at Morazha,
Thalassery Mattannur and finally at Kayyur.
Peasant Movements.
The main stream of national movement was supported by the peasants and
workers.They gave a new momentum and social content to the freedom struggle. The
decline of landlordism in Kerala enabled the peasants to participate in the freedom
struggle.The rise of the peasantry was symbolised in the Kochi convention of 1928
presided over by Lala Lajpat Rai.This led to the formation of the All Kerala Tenants
Association.The enactment of the Malabar Tenancy Act (1930) reflected the rising
strength of the peasantry.The earliest Kisan Sangham was formed at Kalliassery in
Malabar to resist feudal oppression.
Kayyur Riot (1941).
The anti imperialist struggle waged by the leftists had its climax in the Kayyur Riot
of 1941.Kayyur is a small village in Kasargode Taluk.The Karshaka Sangham of the
locality was very active in organizing the peasants to fight against landlordism and
imperialism.When the police at Kayyur resorted to suppress the peasants at Kayyur, there
was strong resentment.The peasants protested against the partisan role of the police in the
landlord-tenant disputes.They organised a protest march and forced a police constable to
join the Jatha.When the procession came near the river, the constable jumped in to the
river in order to escape, but pelted down by the mob and was drowned in the river.In a
sensational trial, four of the accused were sentenced to death on a charge of murder.They
were hanged on March 29, 1943.The Kayyur riot is variously described as a mere criminal
offence; a landlord-tenant dispute or an isolated act of terrorist violence.Any how the
Kayyur riot has an important place in the history of freedom struggle in Kerala.
Working Class Movements
The working class in industries and factories did not lag behind the peasants and
farm labourers in the struggle for freedom.The coir workers of Alapuzha had organised
themselves in to a union in 1921 and demanded responsible government.By 1930, several
trade unions were formed in the coastal areas.The rail workers of Kerala organised a
successful rail strike in 1928.The year 1934-35 witnesses a number of industrial strikes all
over Kerala, particularly in Alapuzha, Trissur, Kozhikode and Kannur.These movements
finally resulted in the formation of the All India Trade Union Congress (A.I.T.U.C.) in
1935. However the slow pace of industrialisation did not enable the industrial and factory
workers to emerge as an active force in politics.
Agitation against Sir C.P Rama Swamy Aiyar
The reign of Sri Chitra Thirunal, when Sir. C.P. Rama Swamy Aiyar was the
Diwan, was a period of unprecedented political unrest. Though Sir C.P. was a great
administrator and far sighted statesman, some of his actions resulted in a series of protests
and agitations in Thiruvitamkur.His proposal for constitutional reforms provided for an
irremovable executive on the American model.The Congress rejected the scheme as
unacceptable and the communists organised a violent struggle in Alapuzha to put an end to
the outocratic rule of the Diwan.
Punnapra Vayalar Upheaval.
The Punnapra Vayalar upheaval of 1946 was a violent political uprising in Kerala
under the auspices of the communist.It was a reaction to the constitutional scheme
proposed by Sir. C.P. Ramaswamy Aiyar, the Diwan of Thiruvitamkur.C.P.s scheme
announced in Jan. 1946 provided for adult franchise but retained the Diwanship and an
executive on the American model.The communists launched a violent struggle to throw
the American model in to the Arabian Sea and to end the oppressive rule of the Diwan in
the state.
The peasants and workers were already dissatisfied with the existing system of low
wages,eviction from land,oppression and exploitation.They organized themselves under
the leadership of the communist party in to a powerful trade union and resorted to
collective bargaining to achieve their ends.There was mounting tension between the
organized labourers and the peasants on the one side and the employers and the land lords
on the other.In the meanwhile the Communist party had been building up its strength
among the coir workers, fishermen, toddy tappers and beedi workers.The rising prices,
unemployment and famine in the wake of the Second World War afforded it a favourable
climate in spreading its activities.The coastal Taluks of Alapuzha and Shertala were the
strong holds of the party with its numerous trade unions. This area with its heavy
concentration of industrial and agricultural workers turned out to be the cradles of the
communist movement in Thiruvithamkur.
When the working classes resorted to collective action and when there was clashes
and conflicts between the landlord and the tenant, the Government intervened.Police and
military forces were deployed.The Communist Party and labour union were declared
unlawful.The trade unions struck work.The Government declared martial law in the
area.Sir,C.P.directly assumed the command of the operations.The great communist
uprising of Punnapra and Vayalar took place in October,1946.The village of Punnapra was
one of the earliest centres of the upheaval.The police force which came to Punnapra were
forced to retreat.The workers held demonstrations and struck work.Water transport in the
area came to a standstill.The oil, coir, handloom industries were closed down.A number of
Jathas from different directions moved to Punnapra.In the encounter that followed about
200 demonstrators fell victims to the police bullets.The demonstrators confronted the
police with bamboo spikes, areca spears, swords and stones.The Punnapra episode sparked
off a series of violent clashes.
The major scene of activity was now shifted from Punnapra to Vayalar. A number
of volunteer camps imparting paramilitary training to the workers were located.Attempts
made to wind up the volunteer camps and avoid a direct confrontation with the
government failed.In the mean while the armed police force moved to Vayalar, a place
surrounded by water on three sides. The workers resisted the police move to land in
Vayalar.In the encounter that followed about 150 persons was killed on the spot and many
died. For months to come, Vayalar had the appearance of a ghostly grave of men as well
as aspirations.Thus the insurrection was put down with an iron hand.The revolt misfired
and failed miserably.Though the communist movement was put down, the Punnapra-
Vayalar episode hastened the beginning of the end of the autocratic rule of the Diwan.
The Punnapra Vayalar episode helped in the early establishment of responsible
government in Thiruvithamkur.SIR C.P. resigned the office of the Diwan on August 19,
1947.The Maharaja issued the Proclamation of Responsible government on Sept. 4,
1947.A legislative assembly was constituted.The first popular ministry of Thiruvitamkur
under Pattom Thanu Pillai assumed office on 24
th
March 1948.It was the grand finale of
the epic struggle for the achievement of responsible government in Thiruvitamkur.
Aikya Kerala Movement
The Aikya Kerala Movement was the concrete expression of the Malayalam
speaking people to have a state of their own.It aimed at the integration of Malabar, Kochi
and Thiruvithamkur into one territory.The Keralites who spoke the same language, shared
the common cultural tradition, unified by the same history, rituals and customs were
politically separated for a long period.
The Indian national movement instilled the people of Kerala the necessity
unification and integration.It taught the people that political unification was to be done on
linguistic basis.It was the peculiar political and historical realities that had existed in the
state that paved the way for the integration of Kerala into a single political unit.The
Malayalam language with its rich literary heritage served as an important factor in the
cultural integration of the people of the three areas of Malabar, Kochi and Thiruvitamkur.
Attempts have been made to unify Kerala politically first by the Zamorin and then
by Marthanda Varna. But these attempts did not bear fruit.The idea of Kerala unity
remained in the womb of time.However, it was in the 1920s in modern times that the
Aikya Kerala movement acquired the dimensions of a peoples movements.In the 1920s
the demand for a separate state of the Malayalis gathered strength.The political
conferences held at Ernakulam (1928), Payyannur (1928), Badagara (1931) and Calicut
(1935) passed resolutions in favour of the formation of a state for the Keralites.The
Maharaja of Kochi in a message to the legislative council had expressed himself in favour
of the early formation of the state.The Cochin Praja Mandalam had endorsed the
demand.The K P C C set up a committee under the chairmanship of K.P. Kesava Menon to
convene the Aikya Kerala Conference in Thrissur in 1947.It stood in favour of the creation
of a United Kerala comprising the three units.Similar conventions were held at Aluva and
Palakkad.
When the British announced their intention to have India, the Travancore Diwan
declared that his state would remain an independent state.This created a political crisis at
the end of which the Diwan had to make an exit from the state.With his exit vanished the
dream of an independent Thiruvitamkur.When India became independent; Thiruvitamkur
became part of the Indian Union.
The merger and integration of princely states was a major step for the formation of
the Kerala State.On 1
st
July, 1949, the two states of Travancore and Kochi were integrated
heralding the birth of the Travancore-Cochin State.It was a positive step taken in the right
direction, leading to the formation of the Kerala State.
When steps were taken to reorganize the Indian States on a linguistic basis, the state
Reorganisation Commission appointed for the purpose recommended the creation of the
state of Kerala.The Commission under Syed Fazi Ali recommended the inclusion of the
district of Malabar and the taluk of Kasargode to the Malayalam speaking peoples state.It
also recommended the exclusion of the four Southern taluks of Travancore viz Tovala,
Agastheswaram, Kalkulam and Vilayankode together with some parts of Shenkotta.The
new state of Kerala, the long cherished dream of the Malayalis came in to being on
November 1
st
, 1956 with a Governor at its head.The last vestige of princely rule in Kerala
disappeared and Kerala regained its identity to became an integral part of the Indian
Union.
Syllabus
HY6B11 FORMATION OF KERALA SOCIETY AND CULTURE
No. of Credits: 4
No. of Contact Hours per week: 5
Aim of the Course: To enable the students to understand the major aspects of the
evolution of Kerala history and culture in the light of new researches and findings.
UNIT I Introduction
Kerala as a Geographical Entity
Distribution of Archaeological sites Distribution of inscriptions locating megalithic
sites Literary texts.
Historiographical trends
UNIT II Experiencing State
Perumals of Mahodayapuram land relations medieval trade.
Creation and Assimilation of new Knowledge
Formation of Nadus and Swarupams Formation of regional culture Localisation
Village communities.
Locating Power Centres Desam Thara Household as a unit.
Feudal Institutions and Legal practices crime and punishment.
Temples and religion.
UNIT III Colonial Experience
Advent of Western monopolistic mercantile groups the Portuguese, Dutch, French and
the English and their intervention in Kerala society.
Establishment of British colonialism hegemony forms of bondage.
Reordering of agrarian relations
State apparatus under colonialism The Travancore, Cochin and Malabarian experience.
Social Change reordering caste and family.
Transformation in matriliny
Degeneration of Swarupams
UNIT IV Resistance Movements
Social movements Malabar rebellion quitIndia movement.
Movements for representation in government in Cochin and Travancore.
National Movement in Malabar
Women in the public field.
Peasant and working class movements.
Aikya Kerala Movement.
Readings:
Kunjan Pillai Elamkulam, Studies in Kerala History
Kurup. K.K.N., Keralathile Karshika Samarangal (Malayalam)
Kurup. K.K.N., Pazhassi Samarangal
Menon Padmanabha. K.P., Kochi Rajya Charithram (Malayalam)
Menon Sreedhara. A, A Survey of Kerala History
Menon. P.K.K., History of Freedom Movement in Kerala
Narayanan. M.G.S., Perumals of Kerala
Panikkar.K.M, History of Kerala
Raja P.K.S., Medieval Kerala
Varier Raghava and Rajan Gurukkal, A Cultural History of Kerala
Varier Raghava and Rajan Gurukkal, Kerala Charithram (Malayalam)
Varier Raghava. M.R., Madhyakala Keralam (Malayalam)
Further Readings:
Anandi. T.K. Malabarite Janakeeya Samarathinte Penvazhikal (Malayalam)
Archaelological Survey of India, Monuments of Kerala
Balan. C (ed), Kasaragode: Samoohavum Charithravum
Balan. C. (ed), Reflections on Malabar
Bhaskaranunni, Pathombhatham Nuttantile Keralam
Cheriyan.P.J (ed), New Perspectives on Kerala History
Dale Stephen, Mappilas of Malabar
Ganesh. K.N., Kerala Samuha Padhanangal (Malayalam)
Ganesh.K.N, Keralathinte Innelekal (Malayalam)
Gangadharan. M., Malabar Rebellion
GopalanKutty.K., Malabar Padhanangal (Malayalam)
Gurukkal Rajan, Kerala Temple and Early Medieval Agrarian System
Iyer Krishna.K.V, Zamorins of Calicut
Kaimal.P.K.V, Punnapra Vayalar Upheaval
Kurup. K. K. N, Modern Kerala
Kurup. K.K.N, Kayyur Revolt
Kurup. K.K.N, Peasantry Nationalism and Social Change in India
Kurup.K.K.N, Kerala Charithra Padhangal (Malayalam)
Kurup.K.K.N. Quit India Samaravum Keralavum (Mal)
Kurup.K.K.N., Studies in History
Kusuman. K.K., Extremist Movements in Kerala
Kusuman.K.K, Slavery in Kerala
Logan William, Malabar Manual
Mathew.K.S., Cochin and Portuguese Trade with India in the 16th country.
MC. Pherson Kennath, The Indian Ocean
Menon Padmanabha. K.P., History of Kerala 4 Vols.
Menon Sreedhara. A, Elamkulam Kunjan Pillai
Menon Sreedhara.A, Cultural Heritage of Kerala
Nair Ramachandran.S., Social and Economic History of Colonial Kerala
Nair Sankaran Kutty.T.P, A Tragic Decade in Kerala History
Nambiar. O.K., Kunjalis of Calicut
Nambuthiri N.M., Samuthiri Charithrathile Kanapurangal (Malayalam)
Narayanan. M.G.S., Aspects of Aryanization in Kerala
Narayanan. M.G.S., Cultural Symbiosis in Kerala
Narayanan. M.G.S., Kerala Charithrathinte Atistana Silakal (Malayalam)
Panikkar. K.N., Against Lord and State
Publication Division, Kerala State, Elam Kulathinte Samburna Krithikal
(Malayalam)
Varier Raghava. M. R, Village Communities in PreColonial Kerala
Varier Raghava. M.R, Ativerukal (Malayalam)
Varier Raghava. M.R., Keraleeyatha Charithramangal (Malayalam)
Veluthat Kesavan, Brahmin Settlements in Kerala
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