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Home My cartoons My paintings Water races Kuttanadu Kumarakom Devikulam Bekal Fort Kalamandalam Makaravilakku Kerala Politics Political History Guest book Contact us	POLITICAL MOVEMENTS IN TRAVANCORE The history of political movements in modern Travancore commencing from 1885, the year of the ascension of Sree Moolam Thirunal to the throne, can be broadly divided into three phases, viz., (1) the constitutional agitations sponsored by the educated middle class (2) struggle for democratic and civil rights waged by the lower caste Hindus and the Christian and Muslim religious minorities and (3) the people's movement for the achievement of responsible government in the State. Early Struggles in Travancore The earliest of the political struggles in modern Travancore was the one led by Velu Thampi in 1799 against the misrule of the triumvirate comprised of Jayanthan Sankaran Nampoori, Sankaranarayana Chetti and Matthu Tharakan, to which reference has already been made. Velu Thampi had mobilised thousands of people under his banner and led them to Trivandrum to place their grievances before the sovereign. The demonstrators demand the dismissal of the unpopular ministers and the Raja had to accede to the demand and appoint the leaders of the people as his ministers. The incident is important in so far as it is demonstrated for the first time the organised strength of the people. But in the first half of the 19th century, apart from the revolt against the British led by Velu Thampi Dalawa, there were no other political upheavals and the internal administration of the state was carried on by the rulers in an atmosphere of relative peace, with the advice of Diwans who were brought from outside. Responsible Government in Travancore The achievement of responsible government in Travancore came as the dramatic climax to a series of sensational developments that took place in the year 1946-47. The Indian Independence Act (1946) provided for the lapse of Paramountcy of the British Crown over the Indian States with effect from the date of withdrawal of the British power from India. Sir. C.P. Ramaswamy Iyer announced on June 11, 1947, that Travancore would set itself up as an independent State with effect from the date on which the British withdrew from India. The action of Diwan aroused a bitter controversy inside and outside the State. Travancore was again in the vortex of a political struggle and the Government resorted to a series of repressive measures to meet the situation. One of the highlights of the struggle was a police firing at Pettah, Trivandrum, in which three persons including a student by name Rajendran were killed. A few days after the incident, an unsuccessful attempt was made on Sir C.P. Ramaswamy Iyer's life when the Diwan was attending a function in the Swathi Thirunal Academy of Music at Trivandrum (July 25, 1947). The Diwan escaped with minor injuries and very soon left the State for good. Immediately after this incident the Maharaja intimated, to Lord Mountbatten, the Governor-General, his decision to accept the Instrument of Accession and take Travancore into the Indian Union. Sir C.P. Ramaswamy Iyer resigned the office of Diwan on August 19, 1947 and was succeeded in that office by P.G.N. Unnithan. On March 24, 1948, the first popular ministry of Travancore consisting of Pattom A. Thanu Pillai, C. Kesavan and T.M. Varghese was installed in office. The Thanu Pillai Ministry had to resign office on October 22, 1948, following the split in the Congress legislature party and a new ministry headed by T.K. Narayana Pillai came to power. It was while this ministry was in office that the integration of Travancore and Cochin took place on July 1, 1949.

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POLITICAL MOVEMENTS IN TRAVANCORE
The history of political movements in modern Travancore commencing from 1885, the year of the ascension of Sree Moolam Thirunal to the throne, can be broadly divided into three phases, viz., (1) the constitutional agitations sponsored by the educated middle class (2) struggle for democratic and civil rights waged by the lower caste Hindus and the Christian and Muslim religious minorities and (3) the people's movement for the achievement of responsible government in the State.
Early Struggles in Travancore
The earliest of the political struggles in modern Travancore was the one led by Velu Thampi in 1799 against the misrule of the triumvirate comprised of Jayanthan Sankaran Nampoori, Sankaranarayana Chetti and Matthu Tharakan, to which reference has already been made. Velu Thampi had mobilised thousands of people under his banner and led them to Trivandrum to place their grievances before the sovereign.
The demonstrators demand the dismissal of the unpopular ministers and the Raja had to accede to the demand and appoint the leaders of the people as his ministers. The incident is important in so far as it is demonstrated for the first time the organised strength of the people. But in the first half of the 19th century, apart from the revolt against the British led by Velu Thampi Dalawa, there were no other political upheavals and the internal administration of the state was carried on by the rulers in an atmosphere of relative peace, with the advice of Diwans who were brought from outside.
Responsible Government in Travancore
The achievement of responsible government in Travancore came as the dramatic climax to a series of sensational developments that took place in the year 1946-47. The Indian Independence Act (1946) provided for the lapse of Paramountcy of the British Crown over the Indian States with effect from the date of withdrawal of the British power from India.
Sir. C.P. Ramaswamy Iyer announced on June 11, 1947, that Travancore would set itself up as an independent State with effect from the date on which the British withdrew from India. The action of Diwan aroused a bitter controversy inside and outside the State. Travancore was again in the vortex of a political struggle and the Government resorted to a series of repressive measures to meet the situation. One of the highlights of the struggle was a police firing at Pettah, Trivandrum, in which three persons including a student by name Rajendran were killed.
A few days after the incident, an unsuccessful attempt was made on Sir C.P. Ramaswamy Iyer's life when the Diwan was attending a function in the Swathi Thirunal Academy of Music at Trivandrum (July 25, 1947). The Diwan escaped with minor injuries and very soon left the State for good. Immediately after this incident the Maharaja intimated, to Lord Mountbatten, the Governor-General, his decision to accept the Instrument of Accession and take Travancore into the Indian Union. Sir C.P. Ramaswamy Iyer resigned the office of Diwan on August 19, 1947 and was succeeded in that office by P.G.N. Unnithan.
On March 24, 1948, the first popular ministry of Travancore consisting of Pattom A. Thanu Pillai, C. Kesavan and T.M. Varghese was installed in office. The Thanu Pillai Ministry had to resign office on October 22, 1948, following the split in the Congress legislature party and a new ministry headed by T.K. Narayana Pillai came to power. It was while this ministry was in office that the integration of Travancore and Cochin took place on July 1, 1949.