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Home , Alwar, Ayilyam Thirunal, Chandragiri River, Channar revolt, Culture of Kerala, Jainism in Kerala

HISTORY

Pre-Historic Kerala  The meglithic monuments include the , cists, rock-cut caves, thopikallu, pulachikallu, kudakkallu Sources of Kerala History etc. All of them are associated with burial system. , Kerala Mahatmyam, ‘Nannangadi’ was the burial jar. Raghuvamsam, Mooshaka vamsam, Unnuneeli  The important palaeolithic sites are valuvasseri Sandesham, Unniyadi charitham, () and Tenkara (Palaghat) Chandrolsavam, Unnichiruthevi charitham, Malabar Manual, Hortus Malabaricus.  The sites are (Palaghat), , Tenmalai () the pictures on these caves in 1901. Later this re-  Kerala is believed to have originated by the with- search was continued by Dr.M.R.Raghava Warrior drawal of sea, when Parasurama threw his axe from and Dr.. Archeological excavations Gokarnam to Kanyakumary. conducted in 2009 September on this site discov-  The oldest book which mentions about kerala is ered the figure of ‘a man holding a vessel’ which ‘Ithareyaranyakam’. resembles the Indus valley seal. It shows the rela-  The author of Keralappazhama is Dr.Gundert. tionship of megalithic with Indus valley culture  ’s Reghuvamsam mentions about Kerala.  Writings in the Caves belonged to the  Parasurama divided Kerala into 64 villages and do- Dravida . nated them to .  The prehistoric people of Kerala belonged to the  Famous Rock-cut caves in the Ambukuthi hills in Negrito race and Proto Australoids. the Wayanad is known as Edakkal Caves.  From 3000 BC onwards Kerala had trade relations It is the greatest example of megalithic culture in by sea with the Indus Valley people Kerala. It was Fred Foset who first studied about  Early inhabitants of Kerala belonged to the last phase of Middle .  Chathanparambu near Farrokh is a famous prehis- Kodungalloor is the present name of ancient port, toric site in the Malabar . Muziris. It was also the trade centre with Romans. It was known by different names such as Sangham Age ‘Murichipathanam’ in , ‘Muchiri’ in Tamil  Roman coins referred to in Chera and Chola inscrip- works, ‘Muyiricode’ in Jewish Plate etc. The an- tions as pazhankasu. cient historian plini mentions that Muziris was an  The period from Istcentury AD - 5thcentury AD is important port in ancient . It is also believed known as Sangham Age. that the birth place of Aryabhatta (the ancient as- tronomer), Ashmakam is in Kodungalloor. Muziris  inscriptions mention about the early lost its importance due to the flood in in the Cheras with the name Cheralamputra. year 1341. This lead to the coming up of Cochi port.  , , Thrikkariyur and Thiruvanchikkulam were the capitals of Early Cheras. ‘Swrupas’  Narmudi Cheralathan defeated the Ay Ruler Nannan in the Battle of Vagai Perumthurai Swarupam...... Kozhikkodu  Vel kezhu Kuttuvan had the title ‘Kadal pira kottiya’. Perumpadappu Swarupam ...... Cochi He was popularly known as Chenkuttuvan. Ilayidathu Swarupam ......  During the period of Chenguttuvan, Kerala had Thrippappur Swarupam...... Thiruvithamcore trade relations with . Elangalloor Swarupam...... Edappalli  The Royal symbol of Chera was bow and Chola’s sym- Padinjattedathu Swarupam ...... Kodungalloor bol was Tiger and that of the Pandyas was fish (Carp) Arangottu Swarupam ...... Valluvanadu  began to dominate Kerala from the 4th Cen- Tharoor Swarupam ...... Palakkadu tury BC. Thanoor Swarupam ...... Vettathunadu , Ay kingdoms  Ezhimala ruler Konkanam Nannan was believed to  Agriculture was the major occupation of the people be a contemporary of Bindhusara. in the Sangham Period.  The dynasty which existed in the Ezhimala was the  On the basis of physiography, the was divided ‘Mushika Vamsa’. into five thinas (Ainthina)  Mushika Vamsa written by poet Athula  They were Palai (dry land), Marutham (fertile land), describes about Ezhimala rulers. neithal (coastal area), mullai (forest area) and kurinji  Ay dynasty belonged to the Yadava race. (hilly area)  Paliyam Copper Plate (925 AD) of Vikramaditya  More people were settled in the land area called Varaguna mentions about the Ay rulers. ‘marutham’.  Early capital of Ays was Pothiyil Mountain or  The term ‘’ was first used by the saiva saint, Ayakkudi. Appa.  was the Capital of Ays in later period.  Venadu, Kuttanadu, Kudanadu, Puzhinadu and  Sri Padmanabha was the tutelary diety of Ays. Karkanadu were the five divisions of Kerala in the Sangham Age.  The major Ay provinces were Pozhi Chiozhnadu (Kantalur Sata, and Kulathur),  Kottavai (a form of Durga) was the chief diety of Changazhanadu (Kunnathur), Valluvanadu people during the Sangham Age (war goddess) (Kalkkulam) Iraniyal Muttam etc.), Thenkanadu  Avvayar was the most famous poetess of the (Panaiyur, etc.) and Meynadu. Sangham period.  Ay Kings followed marumakkthayam.  Manram was the famous socio-political institution  Ay Antiran is believed to be the first Ay king. of the Sangham Kerala.  The second Ay king Titiyam was a contemperory of  The distinctive feature of social life in this period Kapilar, Paranar and Bhootha Pandyan. was the absence of system.  The Partivasekharapuram temple () was  Kapilar and Paranar were famous poets of Sangham Age, belonged to the ‘Pana’ community. built by the Ay king, Karunanthadakkan.  The Paliyam Plate issued by Vikramiditya Varaguna  Utiyan Cheralathan of first Chera Empire had the title ‘vanavarampan’. shows his religious tolerance (His land grants to sree Moolavasam, the famous Buddha Vihara)  Chera ruler Nedum Cheralathan adopted the title ImayaVarampan  Elephant was the symbol of Ay kings.  Palyanai Chel Kezhu Kuttuvan defeated the Ay  Kollam Era was started in AD 825 (August 15) kings of Venadu in battle. (Chingam 1) by Rajashekhara Varman .  Kollam Era is also known as Era. ‘Kulasekhara’  Earliest available inscription dated in the Kollam Era Aattaprakarm, Kramadeepika ...... Tholan is the Mampalli plate (149) of Sri Vallabhan Kotha of Venadu. Yudhishtira vijayam, Thripuradahanam ...... Vasudeva Bhattathiri  The Battle of Venni was fought between Uthiyan Cheralathan and Chola Subhadra Dhananjayam, Vichinnabhishekam ...... Kulsekhara Varma Kulasekharas of Mahodayapuram Sankara narayaneeyam, Gauri Kathodayam ...... (800-1102 AD) ...... Sankaranarayanan  Kulasekharas of Mahodaya puram is also known Sivananda lahari, Saundarya lahari ...... as the Second Chera Empire...... Sankaracharyar  Kulasekhara Varman / Ramarajasekharan / Kulasekhara Alwar was the founder of Second  Shift from Makkathayam to Chera Empire. took place during this period of Hundred Years War.  The age of Kulasekharas is known as the ‘Golden Age of Kerala.  VeeraRaghava Pattayam (Iravikorthan Cheped) was given to a Christian noble by Veera Ravi Varma.  The first king of this dynasty was Rajasekhara This plate was discovered by Lord Macauley from . Cochi.  Vazhappalli plate (AD-832) is the oldest plate of  system came to be popular during the cheras. period of Second Chera Empire.  Kulasekhara Alwar wrote Perumal Thirumozhi  Chokkur plate () has the earliest histori- in Tamil and Mukundamala in . cal mention of the in Kerala.   The Terisapalli Copper Plate of 849 AD was is- and Koodiyattom were two artforms de- veloped during the period in Kerala sued by Ayyan Adikal Thiruvadikal of Venad for the Kulasekhara ruler Sthanu Ravi Varman.  Ramavarma Kulasekhara (1090-1102) was the last of Kulasekharas of Mahodayapuram.  It was also known as plates.  Ramavarma Kulasekhara shifted his capital from  Sthanu Ravi established a planetarium at Mahodayapuram to Quilon and Quilon came to be Mahodayapuram. called ‘Ten Vanchi’ (Vanchi of the South)  The Arab traveller Sulaiman (851AD) visited  The Cheraman Legend says that the last Chera Em- Kerala during the reign of Sthanu Ravi Varman. peror (Cheraman Perumal) received and went to Arabia and met Muhammed at Jeddah.  The Jewish Copper plate of 1000AD (175 Kollam Era) was issued by Bhaskara Ravi Varman I.  The ‘‘Tuhafat-ul-Mujahidin’ of Sheik Zainuddin refers about the Cheraman legend.  This plate granted the right to collect taxes and  ‘Munnuttuvar’ and ‘Arunnuttuvar’ were local as- the position of ‘Anchuvannam’ to the Jewish semblies to look after the administration. noble, Rabban.  Manigramam, Anchuvannam and ‘Valanchiur’  Raja Raja Cholan attacked Vizhinjam and Kantalur were famous merchant’s guilds of the period. Sala during the period of Bhaskara Ravivarman  Sankaracharya founded four mutts in four corners (AD 962-1021) of India; Badrinath in the North (Jyotir Mutt)  Kulasekhara empire began to disintegrate during in the east (Govardhan) Dwaraka in the West this period. ( Mutt) and in the south.  The famous ‘‘Hundred Years War’’ between the  Malayalam became an independent , Cholas and Cheras began during the reign of freed from Tamil during the period of the Bhaskara Ravi Varman I. Kulasekharas (9th Century AD). Movement  African () Traveller , Ibn Batuta reached Kerala during 1342-1347.  Sankaracharya (788 - 820 AD) the great Advaita philosopher was a younger contemporary of  Nicolo Conti reached Kerala in 1440. Kulasekhara Alwar.  The Cranganore port (Muziris) declined as a result of the floods in the Periyar river in 1341.  Sankaracharya was a Namboothiri born at Kaladi on the banks of river Periyar. Coming of Religions to Kerala  Sankaracharya propagated the Advaita philosophy  Ancient was Dravidian in Nature. which had its roots in Upanishadic teachings.  reached Kerala in the 3rd Century BC.  Vadakke Madam, Naduvil Madam, Edayil Madam  was introduced by the disciples and Thekke Madam are the four mutts founded by of Bhadrabhanu. Sankaracharya in Trichur.  Jainism was popular in Wayanad, and  Sankaracharya wrote commentaries on the the island of . Brahmasutras, the Bhagavat Gita and the princi- pal Upanishads. He also composed poems like  It has influenced the architecture of the temples Vivekachoodamani, Updeshasahasri,Atmabodha, and mosques of Malabar. Mohamudra, Sivanandalahari and Saundarya  The Koodalmanikyam Temple at Irinjalakkuda, Lahari. dedicated to was a famous .  became prominent under the  It is assumed that reached Kerala during Kulasekharas. the period of in the 3rd century BC (232 BC).  Vedic schools attached to the temples during the  The Sangham work Manimekhalai mentions about Kulasekhara period were known as Salais. The the spread of Buddhism in Kerala. Kanthalur Salai is popularly known as  A large number of Buddha images have been found of the South (Dakshina Nalanda). from Kunnathur and Karunagappally taluks of  Anyonyam, three proficiency tests in Quilon district. the Rigveda, was conducted during the  Famous Buddhist image Karumadikuttan has been Kulasekhara period related to the Brahmins. discovered from Karumadi near . Early Foreign Contacts  The Indilayappam idols found in different parts of  Assyrians and Babylonians were the first to have Kerala were originally Buddhist idols. trade relations with ancient Kerala.  The Paliyam Copper Plate of Vikramaditya  In 1500 BC the Egyptian Hatshepsut, (first Varaguna bears evidence of the patronage ex- woman ruler in the world), sent an expedition to tended to the temple of Sri Mulavamsam, the main Kerala for . Buddhist pilgrim centre in .  It is believed that , a Greek navigator, came  Naga worship, Kettu Kazhcha and Chakkiar Kuthu to Muziris () by sea in 45AD. of the have traces of Buddhist influences.  Hippalus discovered winds in 45 AD.  Quilon was an important centre of Chinese trade. Major Treaties  Pepper got the name ‘Yavana priya’ because of its  Treaty of 1513 between Kozhikodu high demand by the Romans and Greeks. and the Portughese.  Italian (Venetian) traveller Marcopolo reached  Treaty of 1540 between Kozhikodu Kerala in 1292 (13th Century). and Protughese.  Muziris, , Barace and were the  Azheekodu Treaty of 1661 between the Dutch famous sea ports in ancient Kerala. and the Kozhikodu  The Ayurvedic system of treatment in Keala is Venad believed to be a gift of Buddhism.  The source book of is Ashtangahrudayam  Venad was the name of ancient Travancore upto written by Buddhist scholar Vaghbhata. the time of Marthandavarma.  Varma (Kulasekhara Perumal) was the  It was the Bhakti saints who checked the spread first ruler. of among the masses.  The five swarupams named Venad,  The Bhakti movement had two branches ie the Thiruvithamkodu, Trippappur, Desinganad and Vaishnavites led by the Alwars and the saivites Chiravi were later popularly called as Travancore. led by the Nayanars.  Venad had an important public body under the  Kulasekhara Alwar (Kulasekhara Varma) was the name “Six Hundred” to supervise the working the only Alwar from Kerala. His great works were temples and charities. Perumal Thirumozhi in Tamil and Mukundamala in  Ravivarma Kulasekhara (1299-1313) is called as Sanskrit. ‘Samgramadhira’. By defeating the cholas and  Cherman Perumal Nayanar (Rajasekhara Varman) Pandyas, he accepted the title ‘Emperor of south’. was the second Kulasekhara ruler. His story is He was the first kerala ruler who issued coins in narrated by Sekkilar in his ‘Periyapuranam’. his own name. Sundaramurthi Nayanar, the Saiva was his close  Chera Udaya has the longest friend. period of reign in Venad. ‘Leelathilakam’ was pro-  Viralminda from was also a duced during his period. He was the architect of contemperory of Sundaramurthi. the ‘Sabha mandapa’ of the Sucheendram temple.  ‘Karuna’, ‘Chandala Bhikshuki’ and ‘Sri Bud-  It was during the period of Ravivarma, Thirumala dha Charitam’ of Kumaranasan are closely asso- Naik of invaded Nanjinad in 1634. It was ciated with Buddhism. the famous battle of Kaniyakulam between Iravikutty (the commander of Venad and  was introduced in Kerala in the first Ramappayya (Madurai) century AD (52 AD) by St. . St. Thomas founded seven churches in Kerala, ie, ,  In 1644, the English obtained permission from Ravi Varma to build a at Vizhinjam, which was Palayur, Kottakkavu, , Quilon, the earliest settlement in Travancore. and .  By a settlement made in 1050 AD, the administra-  St. Thomas were called Syrian Christians. tion of the Sreepadmanabha temple was vested in  The Jews came to Kerala in 68 AD and first landed the Ettarayogam. at Kodungallur.  In course of time, the Yogakkar exercised all reli-  The White Jews at Mattancherri was gious authority and the pillamar occupied all po- built in 1567. litical power.  Islam was introduced to Kerala probably in  Thus the medieval Venad kings had to fight against 644 AD by Malik Ibn Dinar. He founded the Ettuveetil Pillaimar and Yogathil Pottimar. Cheraman Mosque at Kodungallur.  By the death of Aditya Varma, Aswathy  One and only Muslim ruling dynasty in Kerala was (Umayamma ) came to power as the regent of the Arakkal Dynasty. It had its centre at Kannur. If Prince Ravi Varma till 1684 AD. the ruler of this dynasty, is a male he is known as Thirvithamcore and a female is known as Arakkal Beevi.  Trippapur Swaroopam or Thiruvitamcode was the  Aadiraja Aysha Beevi is the new Arakkal Beevi. early name of Travancore.  Marthandavarma followed the policy of ‘Blood and Iron’.  The absorption of , annexation of Kollam, and Elayidathu Swarupam (Kottarakkara) showed the military strength of Marthandavarma.  By the Treaty of Mannar, Kayamkulam gave half of its territory to Travancore.  Later he anexed (Ambalappuzha), and Thekkumkur.  Then he entered into an Alliance with Cochin in 1757. He recaptured Kalakkad(the estern frontier). Thus he extended his kingdom from Marthanada Varma Dharmaraja to Cochi.  In the famous battle fought at Kolachal (10 Aug.  Travancore came to be known as ‘Dharmarajyam’ 1741) the forces of Marthandavarma defeated the during the reign of Dharmaraja. Dutch and captured D’Lannoy, who later became  Haider’s first invasion was in 1761 and second in the ‘Valiyakappithan’ of Marthanda Varma’s army. 1773.  An important innovation introduced by  Dharmaraja constructed the ‘Nedumkotta’ or Marthandavarma was the framing of the annual ‘Travancore lines’ in central Kerala to prevent the budget called ‘Pativukanakku’. invasion.  Marthandavarma is known as the Maker of Modern  It was Marthanda Pillai, Dharmaraja’s Travancore. Chief Minister, who developed as the  The Chief Minister of Travancore was known as nucleus of a flourishing town. Dalawa.  The palace at Krishnapuram was improved a Pub-  Ramayyan was the Dalawa of Marthanda Varma. lic road from Quilon to Purakkad was opened.  Marthanda Varma was born in the year 1705 and  The Palace at Krishnapuram was improved a pub- came to the throne in 1729. lic road from Quilon to Purakkad was opened.  Marthandavarma dedicated the kingdom to Sri.  The state was divided into three administrative Padmanabha of Trivandrum (Thrippatidanam) on divisions called ‘Mukhams’ each of them was Wednesday, January 3, 1750 (Makaram 5, 725 KE). placed under sarvadhikaryakkar. The subordinate There after the Travancore Rajas came to be known officers were called Karyakkars. as Padmanabhadasas.  Raja Kesava Das was the first Chief Minister of  The ‘Bhadradeepam’ and ‘Murajapam’ in the Travancore who assumed the title Diwan. Padmanabha Swami Temple was also started by  Raja Kesava Das was respectfully referred to as Marthandavarma. ‘Valia Diwanji’.  Karthika Tirunal Varma (1758-1798) who is  Vizhinjam was developed into a small port by Raja known as the Dharmaraja succeeded Marthanda Kesava Das. varma to the throne.  Alleppey was also developed into a town and port  Ayyappan Marthanda Pillai and Raja Kesava Dasa by Raja Kesava Das. were the Chief Ministers of Dharmaraja.  The Chalai Bazar, the completion of the  The reign of Dharmaraja saw the invasion of Kerala of Sri Padmanabhaswami temple were also done by the Mysore rulers, Haider Ali and . by Rajakesava Das.  The ‘Raja’ was given to Kesava Das by the Lord Mornington. Zamorin in Calicut  and Unnayi Warrier were the The ruled Malabar for about 750 famous poets in the court of Marthanda Varma yrs. Earlier they were known as ‘earadis’. and Dharmaraja. According to historians, the period of  It was Dharmaraja who shifted the capital of zamorins started in the year 346 AD. The Travancore from to Potughese sailor, Vasco-da-gama came to Trivandrum. Calicut during the period of Manavikraman  People respectfully called him ‘Kizhavan Raja’ Samoothiri. The first mention about the Zamorins is The Portuguese Period in the descriptions of Ibn Batuta. The Chief  was the first European navigator Ministers named ‘Sarvadhikaryakkars’ and to reach India by sea route. the minister named ‘Karyakkars’ were helped  Gama reached at near Calicut on 20 May in the administration. They had good trade 1498. He was sent to India by Portuguese king relations with the and the Chinese. The Manuel. dynasty who ruled a province in India for the longest period is the Zamorins.  Gama was received at Calicut by the Zamorine.  Gama left Calicut and reached Cannanore at the mated at the St. Francis Church at Fort Cochin. invitation of Raja. Later his mortal remains were brought back to  Gama returned to in 1499. Lisbon, .  Gama’s second visit was in 1502.  The second expedition of the Portuguese to Kerala was led by Pedro Alvarez Cabral. He reached  Gama reached Kerala for the third time in 1524 Cochin on 24 December, 1500. and died here on 29 December 1524 and was cre-  Francisco d’Almeda was the first Viceroy of the Portu- Mamankam guese in the East. He was appointed in 1505 AD.  Albuquerque is regarded as the greatest of the Mamankam or ‘Magha makam’ was the Portuguese statesmen who came to the East. festival celebrated on the banks of river  Kunjali opposed the Portuguese. (Thirunavaya of district) once in 12 years.  Kunjali were the traditional naval com- manders of Zamorin. Initially it was conducted by Valluvakonathiri. Later the ‘Status of Protec-  Fourth and last Kunjali was Muhammed Kunjali. tor’ was taken by the Zamorin. The He adopted the titles ‘‘King of the Moors’ and ‘Chaverppada’ was appointed by ‘Lord of the Indian Seas’. Valluvakonathiri to take back his ‘status’.  In 1600 the Kunjali IV was captured by the Zamorin There were so many exhibitions, trade fairs and he was executed by the Portuguese at . and athletic meets in association with this 28  Vasco-da-Gama reached Kerala in a ship called St. day long festival. Gabriel. During the last mamankam which was held  The (Udayamperur in 1776 A.D. attacked and both the Sunnahadose) to reform Kerala Church was con- Zamorin and the Konathiri lost their power. ducted by the Portuguese (1599) ‘Manikkinar, Nilapaduthara, Marunnara,  The ‘‘Oath of the Coonan Cross’ against the ap- Pattinithara, Changampall which were pointment of Latin was in 1653. associated with Mamamkam were still present in Thirunavaya  First European fort built in India was the Fort Manual at Cochin by Albuquerque. ‘’ System The Growth of British Power in The postal system prevalent in the Travancore and Kerala Cochin was known as ‘Anchal’ system the word  First Englishman who came to Kerala was perhaps ‘anchal’ was derived from the latin word ‘Angeles’ Master Ralph Fitch. He is known as ‘‘Pioneer which means messenger. Government articles and let- Englishman’’(1583) ters were brought to the secretariat by ‘Viruthi’ people  The 1616 Captain Keeling arrived in Calicut with from the time of Marthanda Varma. This system was three ships which brought Sir Thomas on his modified in 959 .E.(Kollam era). Later Col. Munro embassy to the court of . introduced the ‘anchal system’ .  British merchants exported pepper to England for the first time from Cochin in 1626. The Dutch in Kerala  First English factory in Kerala was set up at Vizhinjam.  The Dutch were the first Protestant nation in Eu- rope to establish trade contacts with Kerala.  In 1695 the English constructed the fort with the permission of Attingal Rani. Construc-  The Dutch company was formed in 1602. tion was started in 1684.  Dutch Admiral was the first  The Attingal Outbreak was on 15 April 1721. It Dutch Admiral to reach Kerala (Calicut) was between the natives and the British traders.  The Dutch set up factories at Masulipatanam, 140 Englishmen were massacred by the natives. Pulicat, Surat, Bimily patam, Balasore, Nagapattam, The event occured near Anjengo. Cochin etc.  Attingal Revolt was the first organised revolt  They first of all entered into an alliance with the against the English in Kerala. Zamorin of Calicut.  By 1800 Cochin came under the control of the En-  By the Treaty of Venad (1662), they established glish . their monopoly of pepper trade.  By the treaty concluded in 1795 Travancore ac-  Weakened by the wars with the Zamorin and cepted the Supremacy of the Company. beaten by Mathandavarma, they paved the way  Col. Macaulay was appointed as the first British for English Supremacy. Resident in Travancore.  They introduced salt farming industry in Kerala.  The treaty of 1805 which was negotiated by Velu They maintained Leper Asylums at Palliport and Thampi Dalawa resulted in the loss of the political Baypin. freedom of Travancore.  The famous ‘Travancore Lines’ which checked Challenge to British Supremacy Hyder Ali and Tipu were the joint work of the Dutch Captain, D’ Lannoy and Soobba Iyer.  The more serious of the revolts against the British in Malabar were organised by Kerala Varma  Most important contribution of Dutch to Kerala is of Kottayam Royal Family. the monumental work, Horthus Malabaricus. It  Pazhassi’s first revolt was in 1793 - 1797, second was compiled under the patronage of Admiral Van revolt was in 1800-1805. Rheede. Carmelite Monk Mathews, three Gowda  Cause of the first Pazhassi revolt was the revenue Saraswath Brahmins, Ranga Bhatt, Appu Bhatt and policy of the British. Vinayaka Bhatt and an Physician Itti  The immediate cause of the second revolt was the Achuthan were associated with its compilation. British move to take possession of Wayanadu The work was published from Amsterdam (Hol- which had been ceded to them by the Mysore ruler land) between 1678 and 1703. under the Partition Treaty following the fall of  They built the Bolgatti palace in 1744. Srirangapattanam in 1799.  Pazhassi Raja organised the guerilla warfare from the Wynadu hills particularly from the Puralimala IIIIIIIII IIIII with the help of Kurichyas and Kurumbas, the  Attingal Rebellion ...... 1721 tribals of Wynadu and .  Kulachal Battle...... 1741  ‘‘Kerala Simham’ is a historical novel written by  Proclamation ...... 1809 Sardar K.M. about Pazhassi Raja. The Malayalam film ‘Kerala Simham’ was directed by  Kurichyar Rebellion ...... 1812 Navodaya Appachan.  Channar Lahala ...... 1859  On the 30th 1805 the Raja was shot dead  Memorial (Travancore) ..... 1891 by Thomas Harvey Baber, Subcollector of  Ezhava Memorial ...... 1896 Tellichery. Sir Wellesley (later Duke of Wellington) was the Commander in Chief of the  Mopla Rebellion, Wagon Tragedy .. 1921 British forces in Malabar.  Vaikkom Satyagraha ...... 1924  Pazhassi was killed on the banks of ‘Mavilathode’.  Civil Disobedience Movement ...... 1930  Parankippadayali is also a novel written by K.M.  Guruvayoor Satyagraha ...... 1931 Panicker.  Nivarthana Agitation ...... 1932 Revolt of Velu Thampi &  Temple Entry Proclamation ...... 1936 Paliath Achan  State Movement ...... 1938  VeluThampi was the Dalawa of Travancore  Rebellion ...... 1941  Velu Thampi was appointed as Mulakumadiseela  Rebellion ...... 1946 Karyakkar (Commercial minister in 1799 by Balaramavarma)  Formation of Kerala State ...... 1956  In 1800 he became the Dalawa.  Liberation Movement ...... 1959  Velu Thampi introduced travelling courts in Travancore. Enlightened Administration in  On 11 January 1809 (1st Makaram 984) issued the Travancore famous Kundara Proclamation indicting the Brit-  After the death of Dharmaraja, Varma ish rule and exhorting the people to rally under his came to the throne. banner for a patriotic struggle against the foreigners.  He appointed Velu Thampi as his commerce minis-  He organised the Hajoor Kachery at Kollam. ter and then the Dalawa.  Velu Thampi committed suicide in the house of the  Ummini Thampi became the new Dalawa after Velu Potti of the temple at . Thampi.  His relatives were deported to .  The weaver’s of was cre-  The oldest male member of the Paliyam family was ated by Ummini Thampi. the hereditary Diwan of Cochin Raja.  Resident Col. Monro was appointed as the first  Paliyat Achan revolted against the British in col- English Diwan in Travancore laboration with Velu Thampi. But he was finally defeated and deported to Madras. Cochin became  The Secretariat System was introduced in a subsidiary state of the British in 1809. Travancore by Col. Munro.  The Kurichyas and Kurumbas of Wynad rose in  Col.Munro changed the Karyakkar position to revolt against the British in 1812. Tahsildar.  Kurichya Revolt was the last of the early revolts  The direct management of Devaswams by Govt broke out in Malabar against the British supremacy. was introduced by Col. Monro.  In 1812 Rani Gauri Bai abolished slavery  was also the first Raja of in Travancore. Travancore to receive the title ‘’ from the  The Mission Society (LMS) at British crown. established in 1816 under the patronage of Gauri  Ayurveda College was started during the period Bai. of Sri Mulam Thirunal (1885-1924)  The reign of Swathi Thirunal (1829-1847) was the  Sri Mulam Tirunal formulated a Legislative Coun- Golden Age in the history of Travancore. cil in 1888. This was the first Legislative Council in an Indian State.  Swathi Thirunal was known as ‘Garbhasreeman’  The Sri Mulam Popular Assembly (Praja Sabha)  Sucheendram Kaimukku was also abolished by was formed in 1904 by Sri Mulam Thirunal. Swathi Thirunal.  Devadasi System in the temples of South  He shifted Hajoor Kachery from Quilon to Travancore was abolished during the regency of Trivandrum. Setu Lekshmi Bai.  He introduced English Education in Trivandrum.  Sri Chitira Thirunal Balarama Varma (1931-  Sir C.P. Ramaswami Ayyar was the Diwan of Sri 1949) was the last ruling Raja of Travancore. Chitira Thirunal.  Establishment of Travancore University (1937) was  An English School was opened at TVM in 1834 the significant achievements of Sri Chitira Raja’s Free School. Thirunal.  Swathi Thirunal opened the Trivandrum Observa-  Travancore Rubber Works (Trivandrum) Kundara tory in 1836. Ceramic Factory, Plywood Factory and Fer-  He introduced the first charity hospital at TVM. tilizers and Chemicals Travancore Limited (Elur) were started during the period of Sri Chithira Tirunal.  He set up the Department of Engineering, Irriga- tion and Maramathu Department for the first time.  The execution of the Hydroelectric Scheme and the introduction of State Transport  First census of the state was conducted in 1836 by Services were also done by Sri Chithira Thirunal. Swathi Thirunal.  A Public Service Commission was appointed in 1935  Utram Tirunal Marthanda Varma abolished all restric- in order to ensure fair representation for all commu- tions in regard to the covering of their upper parts by nities in appointments to Government service on a Channar women in South Travancore in 1859. the basis of a system of communal rotation.  First Post-Office in Travancore (also of Kerala) was opened at Alleppey during the reign of Utram Thirunal Marthanda Varma in 1857.  The Malabar Rebellion was in 1921  First modern factory for the manufacture of  The attempted arrest of Vadakkeveetil was also opened at Alleppey (1859) during the pe- Muhammed, the Secretary of the Khilafat Commit- riod of Utram Thirunal Marthanda Varma. tee at Pukottur in Eranadu Taluk, led to a series of  Beginning of Agrarian Reforms in Travancore was violent clashes between the police and the during the period of Ayilyam Thirunal in the Eranadu and Valluvanadu Taluks.  The Pandarapattam Proclamation (1865) and the  Variyankunnathu Kunjahammad Haji, Tangal Janmi-Kudiyan Proclamation (1867) for agrarian and Ali Musaliyar were the famous leaders of the reforms were during the period of Ayilyam Thirunal. revolt.  Trivandrum Museum building and the main build-  One of the tragic episodes of the rebellion was the ing of Trivandrum University College were con- ‘Wagon Tragedy’ in which 61 of 90 Mappilas car- structed during the reign of Ayilyam Thirunal. ried as prisoners in a closed railway goods wagon  The first systematic census of Travancore was from , to on November 10, 1921 taken on May 18, 1875 by Ayilyam Thirunal. died of suffocation. Political Movements in  The American Model was proposed by Sir C. P. Ramaswami Ayyar. Travancore and Cochin  The‘‘Electricity Agitation’’ was organised against  The Malayali Memorial was submitted to the - the privatisation of electric supply in Cochin town haraja on January 1, 1891 against the appointment by Diwan R.K. Shanmukham Chetti (1936). of Tamil Brahmins in Government Service.  E. Ikkanda Warrier of Congress became the first  The Malayali Memorial was signed by 10,028 per- Chief Minister of Cochin. During his tenure the sons. new state of Travancore - Cochin came into exist-  The brain behind the Malayali Memorial was ence on 1 July 1949. Barister G.P.Pillai and K.P. Sankaramenon.  First popular ministry of Travancore headed by  The Ezhava Memorial was submitted on 3rd Sep- A. Thanu Pillai was installed in office on tember 1896, signed by 13,176 members of the Ezhava March 24, 1948. community under the leadership of Dr. Palpu.  The Ezhava Memorial requested the Maharaja to Aikya Kerala Movement confer on the the same rights and privi-  The State Peoples Conference held at leges which were being enjoyed by those of their (1928) was the earliest resolution on the subject of caste who had become converts to Christianity. united Kerala.  Swadeshabhimani K. Ramakrishna Pillai was the  The Payyannur Political Conference held in May first to write the biography of KarlMarx in 1928 under the Presidency of also Malayalam. supported the Aikya Kerala Movement.  K. Ramakrishna Pillai, the editor of the ‘‘Swadesha  An Aikya Kerala Conference was held at Trichur bhimani’’ owned by Abdul Khadir Maulavi in April 1947 under the presidentship of K. published a series of articles criticising the Diwan Kelappan. P. Rajagopalachari and the king Sri Mulam Thirunal.  The Cochin Maharaja Sri Kerala Varma proposed  K. Ramakrishna Pillai was deported from the State the idea of uniting Cochin and Travancore. in September 1910, he died at Cannanore in April 1916.  On , 1949 the State of Travancore Cochin came into existence. The Maharaja of Travancore  The objective of the Poura Samatvavada became the Rajapramukh of the New State. Prakshobhanam was the achievement of civic rights.  Panampalli Govinda was the last Chief Min- ister of Travancore Cochin State. The fall of his  The agitation was carried on by the Avarnas of community, the and the Christians ministry was followed by the first spell of as they were denied appointments to the Land Rev- President’s Rule in Kerala. enue Department.  The first popular ministry in Travancore Cochin  started its activities in was headed by T.K. Narayana Pillai, the Chief Min- Travancore during the reign of Sri Mulam Thirunal. ister of Travancore, at the time of the integration.  The agitation known as Nivarthana (Abstention)  The state of Kerala formally came into existence or Movement was started as a protest against the con- , 1956. stitutional reforms of 1932.  The first elections to the Kerala state Legis-  The Travancore State Congress was formed in Sep- lature were held in February and March 1957. tember 1938.  Communist Ministry under the chiefministership  Pattom Thanu Pillai was the first President of of E.M.S. Namboothiripad came to power. Travancore State Congress.  The agitation known as ‘‘’’  The September 1946 there occurred the Punnapra or ‘Liberation struggle’ began on June 12, 1959 Vayalar Upheaval against the ‘American Model’ ir- under the leadership of Mannathu Padmanabhan removable executive. to overthrow the Communist Ministry.  The Ministry collapsed and the President’s rule  The famous Sivagiri pilgrim festival conducted on under the Article 356, for the first time began on December 30, 31 and January 1 was started by 31st July 1959. . Sree  Tagore visited Guru in 1922.  Gandhiji visited Guru at Sivagiri in 1925.  Sri Narayana Guru died on 20 September 1928 (1104 Kanni 5) at Sivagiri. (1863-1941)  Ayyankali was born in 1863 at Venganore in Trivandrum district.  In 1905 he founded the Sadhujana Paripalana Sangham, which later became Pulaya Mahasabha.  He was nominated to the Sreemoolam Prajasabha in 1910 and remained in office for 25 years.  He died at the Age of 77 on 18 June 1941.  Sree Narayana Guru was born at  Gandhiji visited Ayyankali in 1934 and called him in Trivandrum district on 20 August 1854 ‘Pulaya Raja’. (Vayalvarathu Veedu)  He is known as the Father of Kerala Renaissance. (1853 - 1924)  The parents of Sree Narayana Guru were  He was a reformist. Madanasan and Kuttiyamma.  He was born in in Thiruvanan  He met Chattampi Swamikal at the Aniyur temple thapuram district. near Chempazhanthy.  His real name was Kunjan Pillai.  His famous Consecration (Siva) was in the year 1888.  Pracheena Malayalam, ‘‘Vedaddikara Nirupanam’ ‘‘Advaita Chinta Paddhathi’’ ‘ Saram’’ etc  S.N.D.P Yogam was founded in 1903 and Guru be- are his famous works. came the life time President and Kumaranasan as  He was against , subcaste barriers Secretary. and against the observances of practices as  The Vavoottuyogam started at Aruvippuram is con- Talikettu Kalyanam, Tirandukuli etc. sidered as the predecessor of S.N.D.P. Yogam.  He attained Samadhi at in .  Guru founded the Sarada temple at Varkala in 1915  Chattampi Swami Memorial is situated at Panmana. (1087 KE) and the Advaitasrama at on the banks of Periyar. Sahodaran Ayyapan  He gave the message ‘‘One caste, One Religion, (1890-1968) One God for Man’’ at a conference held at the  He gave the revolutionary message - ‘‘No Caste, Advaitasrama. No Religion, No God for Man’’  ‘Atmopadesha Satakam’’, ‘‘Nirvriti Panchakam’’,  He was born in Cherayi near Cochin. ‘‘ Darsanamala ’’,‘ Jatimeemamsa ’,  He founded the Vidhya Poshini Sabha. ‘Ardhanareeswara Sthothram’ etc are the major works of Guru.  In 1917 he started the a movement for interdining and founded the ‘‘Sahodara sangham’’.  Dr. Palpu was responsible for the connection be- tween Guru and Swami Vivekananda.  ‘’Sahodaran’’ was a paper started by . Swadeshabhimani  The proclamation of 1853 June 24 was a milestone in Ramakrishna Pillai (1878-1916) Emancipation of slavery.  He was born at in Thirruvana Yachana Yathra and Pattini Jatha nthapuram.  Yachana Yathra was led by V.T. Bhattathirippadu  He was the editor of ‘Malayali’ published from in 1931 from Trichur to which Kollam. lasted for seven days.  In 1906 he became the editor of Swadeshabhimani.  Aim of this begging march was to enable the poor  He was deported from Kerala for criticising the gov- children to get educated. ernment in 1910.  Pattini Jatha’ was led by A.K. Gopalan in July  ‘’, ‘‘Kerala Bhasholpathy’ ‘‘Benjamin 1936 from Kannur to . There were 32 per- Franklin’’ Mohandas Gandhi, ‘‘Socrates’, sons in the March. ‘‘Dharmaraja Nirupanam’ are his famous works. Sathyagraha  ‘‘Ente Nadukadathal’’ is his autobiography.  Aim was to enable all sections of Hindus to enter  He died on 28 March 1916 at Kannur. temples.  His memorial is situated at Payyampalam in Kannur.  Sathyagraha was started on 1. November 1931. Channar Revolt  September 25 was earlier observed as Temple En-  Channar Revolt was for the right of Channar try Day in Malabar. women to cover their breast like other upper class  K. Kelappan & A.K. Gopalan were famous leaders. women.  By 1928 approach roads to all temples were thrown  The agitation led to the Royal Proclamation of July open to all Hindus irrespective of caste, in the whole 26, 1859 by Uthradam Thirunal Maharaja. of Travancore.  ‘The Channar Agitation’, proclamation (1859)  Temple Entry Proclamation was issued on Novem- made by Uthradam Thirunal of Travancore helped ber 12, 1936 by Sri Chitira Tirunal Balarama Varma. to end.  Gandhiji hailed it as “a miracle of modern times” Vaikkom Sathyagraha and “a smriti which is the people’s charter of spiri- tual emancipation”.  The Vaikkom Sathyagraha was started on 30 March  ‘Krishnageethi’ is the book of Manavedan 1924. Zamudiri famous for Krishnanattom.  It was against untouchability and for the right to use the road before the Vaikkom temple by un- Administration of Kerala - touchables.  Total 13 General Elections were conducted in Kerala.  T.K. Madhavan, K.P. Keshavamenon etc were the  Present Legislative Assembly is the 12th major leaders.  V.S. Achuthanandan, is the 20th Chief Minister  Supporting the Sathyagraha a ‘Savarnajatha (March of Kerala and 11th person to become the Chief of upper ) was led by Mannath Padmanabhan Minister. from Vaikkom to Thiruvananthapuram.  C. Achuthamenon, K. Karunakaran and E.K.  The Sathyagraha ended on 23 November 1925. Nayanar are the three Chief Minister who completed  Gandhiji visited Kerala for the Second time related the term of five years. to the Sathyagraha.  K. Karunakaran became the Chief Minister for the  The Sathyagraha lasted for 20 . maximum number of times (4)  The approach roads to the temple were formally  E.K. Nayanar ruled for the longest term and C.H. opened to all Hindus, irrespective of caste. Muhamed Koya for the shortest term.  The credit of remaining in power for longest con-  Only person to hold the office of MLA, MP, tinuous term goes to C. Achutha Menon. Speaker, Minister, Deputy Chief Minister and Chief  Non Malayali Brahmins is the Diwan of Minister - C.H. Koya. Travancore from 1817 were.  First Chief Minister from a backward community  K. Karunakaran Ministry of 1997 which lasted for was R. Sankar. only 33 days has the shortest term in office.  C.H. Muhammed Koya is the only Chief Minister  The credit to become the opposition leader for the from Muslim Community. longest period goes to E.M.S.  R. Sankar was the first to become Chief Minister  C. Achuthamenon was the first Chief Minister who after holding the position of Deputy Chief Minister. completed the term of five years.  R. Sankar was the first Congress Chief Minister . ? Arrange the following in the correct chronological order.  First to become Chief Minister after holding the post of Speaker - C.H. Muhammed Koya. 1. The Abstention movement 2. Malayali memorial  Only Chief Minister of Kerala who later became the Governor of an Indian State - Pattom A. Thanu Pillai. 3. A Resolution for the division of the Devaswom and Revenue department in the Travancore Leg-  First to become Central Cabinet Minister after be- islative Assembly coming Chief Minister - A.K. Antony 4. Sree created the Sreemoolam  Only Chief Minister who later became Deputy Council. Chief Minister - C.H. Muhammed Koya Ans - IV, II, III, I  First member to become Kerala Chief  K. Karunakaran was the first congress chief min- Minister - C.Achuthamenon ister who completed the term.  First to become Rajyasabha Member after becom-  V.S. Achuthanandan is the oldest person to be- ing Chief Minister - A.K. Antony come the Chief Minister (83).  L.M. Pyli of Cochin Legislative Assembly was the  Kakkinada session is the Congress Session first elected Speaker in India (1947). which passed the Abolition of Untouchability  At the time of the Integration of Travancore and (Ayithochadanam) resolution Cochin T.K. Narayana Pillai was the Chief Min-  Parameswaran Pillai is the leader ister of Travancore. of the Savarna Hindu who requested the Ezhavas  First Communist to be elected to a Legislative not to join christianity. Assembly was K. Ananthan Nambiyar. He was  A.K. Antony was the youngest Chief Minister (37) elected to Madras Legislative Assembly in 1946.  First Chief Minister of Kerala born in the 19th cen-  Electronic Voting Machine was used for the first tury was Pattom A. Thanu Pillai. time in India in Kerala (Paravur Byelection 1982)  The united political council submitted a memoran-  First Minister in Kerala to resign followed by no- dum 1934 Jan to the Govt. demanding sufficient confidence motion was Dr. A.R. Menon (1942) of seats to the Backward Communities in Government Cochin State. service under the leadership of C. Kesavan.  The credit to become the Minister for the longest  First Chief Minister of Kerala who had lost power period goes to K.M. Mani and M.P Virendra Kumar through article 356 - E.M.S. Namboothiripad. for the shortest period.  Only person to head the Ministries of Travancore,  The Assembly which had the longest term - 4th Thiru-Cochi and Kerala – Pattom A. Thanu Pillai. Kerala Legislative Assembly.  T M Varghese became the Deputy president of the  The Assembly which had the shortest period - 6th Legislative Assembly 1937. Kerala Assembly (1980-1982)  became the speaker for  Thiruvananthapuram General Hospital was started the longest period: and A.C. Jose for the shortest in 1864 during the reign of Ayilyam Thirunal. term (February-June 1982).  Present Kerala Secretariat building was built in 1869.  The first Speaker who completed the term of five  Herman Gundert (1814-1893) was the person who years - M. Vijayakumar. compiled the first Malayalam dictionary. He was a  Kerala came under President Rule for the Ist time German. He lived and worked at Illikkunnu in on July 31, 1959. . OTHER FACTS  Accama Cherian is popularly known as the Jhansi  Churni river mentioned in Kautilya’s Arthasasthra of Travancore. is river Periyar.  The Kayyur Riot against caste system and imperi-  `Hieun Tsang visited Kerala in AD 630. alism was on 28 March 1941 in Kasargode.  The Chinese traveller who visited Kerala in 1409 ? He / she introduced a British Indian model admin- was Mahuan. istration in Travancore. The secretarial system was introduced. An efficient system of Audit and Ac-  The city of Calicut was established in 1295. counts was introduced, designation of the Karyakar  Sree Narayana Guru is hailed as the Father of was changed to Tahasildar and deprived his mili- Modern Kerala Renaissance. tary and Judicial powers. Slavery was abolished in  Mamamkam one of the greatest regional festivals Travancore. Who is that? of Kerala was started by Kulashekharas. The first Ans : Col. Munro Mamamkam was held in 829 AD. Mamamkam was  Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee was formed in held on the banks Bharathapuzha in Thirunavaya 1925 with K. Madhavan as its Secretary. First con- in . From the Kulashekharas ference of the K.P.C.C. was held on 23 April 1921. the proprietory right of Mamamkam passed to the Valluvanadu Raja and then to the Calicut Zamorine.  The first trade union in Kerala, the Travancore The last Mamamkam was held in 1755. Labour Association was set up in 1922.  The Career and Legend of Vasco da Gama is a  Kerala History Museum is located at Edappalli book written by Sanjay Subramanyan. (Ernakulam).  was conducted at the Taliyil  The Radio Station in Thiruvananthapuram was set temple in Calicut. up in 1943.  Valmiki Ramayanam was translated to Malayalam  programme started in Kerala on Au- for the first time by Kottayam Keralavarma in 1645. gust 14, 1984. Malayalam program were started in January 1985.  Temple Entry Proclamation is known as the Magnacarta of Kerala.  M. Vijayakumar has the longest term as the Speaker of Kerala Legislative Assembly.  The Proclamation of Independent Travancore was made by Sir. C.P. Ramaswami Aiyer.  R. Sankara Narayanan Thampi was the first Speaker of Kerala Legislative Assembly.  The first railway line in Kerala was opened for traffic on March 12, 1861 between and Tirur.  State Human Rights Commission was constituted in 1998 with Justice Pareed Pillai as its Chairman.  The first railway line in Travancore was inaugu- rated on November 26, 1904 between Thirunelveli Justice N. Dinakar is the present chairman of State and Kollam. Human Rights Commission.  Travancore Muslim Mahajanasabha was founded  People’s Plan Compaign was inaugurated on Au- by Vakkom Abdul Khadar Maulavi. gust 17, 1996.