Captain William Keeling, the representative of the English East India Company, came to Kerala in 1615. He visited and signed a trade agreement with the Zamorin of Kozhikode. Later, the company secured consent to start warehouses at Vizhinjam, Thalassery, and Anchuthengu. Gradually they attained permission from the Queen of Attingal to build a fort at Anchuthengu. Later, Anchuthengu became an important military center of the British in western coast.
With the help of Queen of Attingal, Britishers started to trade from Anchuthengu. Clashes happened between the local merchants of Anchuthengu and British related to trading of commodities including Pepper. The natives were also furious when Anchuthengu became the British military base. Local people of the region attacked the British markets and shop and during this time Rani of Attingal helped British. This again led to violent protest from the natives of Anchuthengu. In 15th April 1721, the violent mob attacked and killed 150 British soldiers who were on their way to hand over gifts to the Queen of Attingal. This is known as Attingal revolt. Famous British soldier named "Giffold" was also killed in the attack. It is the first organized revolt in India against the British.
It was an unarmed revolt from Scheduled tribes (Adivasikal) of Wayanad after 1805 Pazhassi revolt, against the atrocities and economic exploitation from the Britishers to the tribal people. Ramanambi was the leader of Kurichyar revolt. The tribal people in the region lost agricultural autonomy and their lives went in vein. Moreover, their new revenue policies caused distress to the people and led Kurichyar and Kurumbar ( a tribal community in Wayanad) for the struggle against British. The revolt started when British tried to suspend the meeting of these tribes held on 25th March 1812 in Malloor. Kurichyar and Kurumbar taught to bow and arrow to the tribal people and they attacked Company army outlets in Sulthan Bathery and Mananthavadi. "Vatta thopikkare naattil ninnum purathakkuka" which means 'exile people who are wearing round hats from Kerala' was the motto of the agitators. British suppressed this revolt on May 1812. Kurichyar revolt was the only tribal revolt in South India against the Britishers. Ayiram Veettil Konthappan, Raman Nambi, Venkalon Kelu were some of the leaders of this revolt.
Lower caste people were not allowed to travel through public roads. Villuvandi Samaram or Bullock cart strike was a protest against this social discrimination under the leadership of Ayyankali. He bought a Bullock cart from Tamilnadu. These carts were only used by upper caste people during that time. Ayyankali traveled in that bullock cart through the streets of Venganoor. Many upper caste people attacked him from Kalliyoor but Ayyankali resisted them strongly. No one dared to attack him during his next bullock cart ride. In this way, Ayyankali brought back the rights for lower caste people to travel on public roads.
Nedumangad was the main center of trade for hilly regions in Thiruvananthapuram. Lower caste people were not allowed to enter in the trade markets (Chantha) of Nedumangad. The selling items brought by them from their farm have to be placed on the market outside and used a to get a low price for their products. A group of people under the leadership of Ayyankali questioned this social injustice which resulted in a great revolt and fought back their rights to enter and sell the goods of lower caste people in Nedumangad market and the trade markets nearby. This is known as Nedumangad Chantha revolt.
It was a revolt led by
Ayyankali for the rights of children in lower caste to join schools. It has happened in Kollam era 1090 and so only it is called '
Thonnuttamand' struggle. This endeavor faced much opposition from higher class people and finally, the upper class set fire to the schools or 'Ooruttambalam' where lower caste students started studying. So Thonnuttamand revolt is also known as
Ooruttambalam revolt.
Kallumala Samaram (Stone Necklace Protest)
It was a women movement from lower caste section of people in Kerala. It is also known as "
Perinad Lahala". The lower caste women were allowed only to wear ornaments made of stone and broken glasses and they were denied wearing golden and silver ornaments. Under the leadership of
Ayyankali, a group of women gathered in a place known as Perinad and protested against this social discrimination by throwing off the stone ornaments they had worn over their neck. Many upper caste people tried to suppress this act and finally turned out into a revolt. Again on 10th December 1915, thousands of women gathering showed their protest. After a long struggle, the lower caste people got their rights to wear the ornaments they like.
Thali Temple Strike (1917)
This was a strike held in Kozhikode to open up all the roads and entrances to Thali temple for all the people irrespective of caste. Thali temple was famous for "Revathipattathanam", an annual statesman gathering in the period of King Zamorin. K P Kesava Menon, Manjeri Ramayyan, and C Krishnan were the leaders of Thali temple strike.
Achipudava Strike
Arattupuzha Velayudha Panicker was the leader of Achipudava Strike or Achipudava Samaram. "Achipudava" was a good brand of a garment which was weaved by the Ezhava women but they were denied to wear the same. Moreover, the lower caste people (both men and women) were not allowed to wear dresses below their knee. If someone did not follow this rule, they were brutally punished. To protest against this social atrocity, an Ezhava woman from a wealthy family wore "Achippudava" and walked through the paddy fields of Pathiyur near Kayamkulam. Upper caste people attacked that woman. Achipudava strike by Velayudha Panicker was against this incident.
Mukuthi Agitation or Mukuthi Samaram
Mukuthi was an ornament which is popularly worn on the nose by women in Kerala. In the ancient days, women from lower caste section were denied to wear Mukuthi. Same like in Achipudava strike, one woman of Ezhava community wore Mukuthi and walked through public road. The angry upper caste mob cut her nose and attacked here. To protest against this social evil, a group of men under the leadership of
Arattupuzha Velayudha Panicker collected a box of Mukuthi and made it wear to all lower caste women in that region. This is known as Mukuthi Agitation.
Kalpathi Revolt (1924)
Kalpathi revolt or "Kalpathi Prakshobham" was for the attainment of rights for the lower caste people to walk through the "Agraharams" (houses and lanes) near Vishwanatha Temple in Kalpathi. The main organization which led the strike was Arya Samaj. Ananda Shenoy and Vedabandhu (Venkitachalam Ayyar) were the main leaders of the revolt.
Salt Satyagraha in Kerala (1930)
According to the instructions from Salt Commission, the rights to sell has taken by the British government in 1836. This has badly affected Indian salt merchants. So under the leadership, Mahatma Gandhi, people of India protested against this by breaking the salt law. Salt satyagraha in Kerala was led by
K Kelappan (popularly known as Kerala Gandhi), P Krishnapilla and K Kunjappanambiar. On 13th April 1930, a group of 32 men under the leadership of K Kelappan started marching from Kozhikode to Payyannur. The anthem of the marching mob was starting like "Varika Varika Sahajare" written by Amshi Narayanapilla. On 21st April 1930, the mob reached Payyannur and they have broken salt law by producing salt from the sea waters of Payyannur. K Kelappan was eventually arrested by the police and in his absence, Moyyarath Sankaran led the march. A person named P C Kunjiraman Adiyodi, after taking 43 days of hunger strike surrendered to death in Bellary prison. Police suppressed the salt satyagraha in Kerala on 12th May 1930. Memorial statue of salt satyagraha in Kerala is situated at Uliyath Kadavu in Payyannur.
Electricity Agitation (Vaidyuthi Samaram) 1936
The Diwan of Kochi,
K R Shanmugham Chetti decided to give power distribution rights of Thrissur district to one of the private company. The protest of people in Kochi province against this move is known as Electricity agitation or "Vaidyuthi Samaram". Ikkanda Varyar, Dr. A R Menon, C R Iyyunni and C Kuttan Nair were the leaders of the revolt. The participation of Christians in revolt is a notable achievement even though the strike got suppressed by Diwan.
Utharavada Prakshobham (1938)
This strike occurred against the unjust administration of
C P Ramaswamy Iyer, Travancore Diwan and to establish a responsible administration in Travancore province. This law-breaking protest was led by Travancore state congress. The first martyr of this protest was Veera Raghavan from Neyyatinkara. Accamma Cherian (one among the
famous women who led the renaissance in Kerala) was the leader of the march to Travancore palace which was conducted in accordance with this revolt.
Kallara-Pangod Struggle (1938)
This struggle was against the unlawful revenue collection from the markets of Kallara (in Thiruvananthapuram district) by revenue employees, policemen, and gangsters of landlords. This protest also demanded the dismissal of
C P Ramaswami Iyer, Diwan of Travancore for his unjust governance. As per the instructions from the state congress, the farmers decided not to give extra money to the revenue collectors. Police attacked the farmers for this reason. In response to that, the violent mob fired Pangod police station. 2 persons were killed by gunshot and another person stabbed to death. Police again attacked the people of Kallara-Pangod along with the gangsters. Kochupilla and Pattalam Krishnan, who were the leaders of the revolt were hanged in 1940.
Kayyur Revolt (1941)
Misinterpreting Defence of Indian Act, Communist leaders of Kerala was attacked for no reason by the British and landlords. Farmers of Kayyur village in Kasargode stood against this atrocious act and finally led to Kayyur revolt. Farmers were not interested in giving the compulsory revenue collection for landlords like Vaashi, Nuri, Mukkal etc. They were about to give a memorandum to the landlord of Neeleswaram, but on their way police attacked the farmers and came with a warrant to arrest the leaders. The ferocious mob killed a policeman named
Subbarayyan who came in front of the violent mob and forced many policemen to hold their flags. 61 persons were arrested for this violent deed and 4 persons were sentenced to death. The 4 persons were hanged to death in Kannur central prison on 29th March 1943. A movie named "
Chirasmarana" was based on the novel written about Kayyur revolt.
Kuryankode river is related to Kayyur revolt.
Mozhara Strike (1940)
This strike was against 2nd World War and Defense of India Act led by the left democratic front of Kerala. Many persons died in strike between police and the agitators which were held in Mozhara and Thalassery of Kannur district.
K P R Menon was proposed sentence to death punishment in the context of Mozhara strike. However, by the involvement of Mahatma Gandhi, the death sentence was changed to lifetime imprisonment.
Keezhariyur Bomb Case (1942)
This incident happened in northern Malabar region during the time of
Quit India Movement. In this incident, a police case was charged against 27 persons including
KB Menon and Kunjiramakidavu, accusing them of conspiring to destroy the Feroke bridge.
Karivellur Peasant Strike (1946)
Local Chieftains and landlords were considered as the owners of land and they collected taxes and outputs from the tenants in excess and evicted them. Peasants in Karivellur village of Kannur district didn't allow Chiraykal Thamburan to take the rice grains from his land which was given as a tenancy to the peasants. The revolt which took place due to this issue is known as Karivellur peasant strike. The peasants demanded that the rice grains should be sold in cooperative societies at a reasonable price rather than selling in the black market. Police fired against the peasant mob and 2 persons were killed.
Punnappra Vayalar Strike (1946)
The Punnapra-Vayalar protests in 1946 were against the "American model" of administrative reforms of Sir C P Ramaswamy Iyer. This model of administration has given powers to the Diwan of Travancore, similar to the President of America. "American model into the Arabian sea" was the motto of the protesters. This strike ultimately led the working class to the political arena. Agitations for citizen's freedom in Travancore started long before. Agitations at Punnappra and Vayalar by the workers targeted citizen's freedom and popular rule. The speed of freedom is accelerated by the massacres in Punnapra and Vayalar like the agitations at Kadakkal, Pangode, Alappuzha and Kollam that supported freedom struggle. It was the biggest struggle under the leadership of Communist party of Kerala. One of the leaders of the struggle named
C K Kunjiramaalin Panicker was known to be '
Vayalar Stalin' after the revolt. The revolt in which thousands of people died was suppressed on 31st October 1946. Popular communist leader
V S Achuthanandan was part of this struggle.
Paliyam Satyagraha (1947-48)
Paliathachans were the ministers of Maharaja of Kochi. Paliyam road which was on to the Chennamangalam temple belongs to Paliathachan. The lower caste people were not allowed to go through Paliyam road. So a revolt was started by SNDP, Pulaya Mahasabha and Communist Party of Kerala. This is known as Paliyam Satyagraha.
C Kesavan inaugurated the satyagraha on 4th December 1947.
A G Velayudhan was the martyr of Paliyam satyagraha. This mass protest led to temple entry proclamation on 20th December 1947 and allowed all section of people to walk through Paliyam road.
Mayyazhi Janakiya Samaram (1948)
India and France decided to conduct a survey among the natives of those places which were jointly under both countries for their independence. But the French government and their supporters in Mahe decided to dominate over the leaders of Mayyazhi Mahasabha which represents Indians. Identity cards were denied to the native Indians. As a protest against this, native Indians under the leadership of
I K Kumaran Master (popularly known as
Mayyazhi Gandhi) started Mayyazhi Mahajana agitation. Police attacked those who picket municipal office. As revenge, the mob captured the police station and imprisoned main rulers. The administration was taken over by National Defense Committee under Mayyazhi Mahasabha. When French army arrived on the spot, the protesters relied on Indian mainland and finally in 1954, Mahe which was earlier part of Pondicherry joined to the Indian mainland.
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Thank you ! It's very informative ..
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C K Kumara Panicker-----Vayalar Stalin, C K Velayudhan----Vayalar Mooppan
DeleteUseful and interesting information about revolts. Worth reading
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