CENSUS OF .INDIA, 1951
VOLUME XIII
TRA VANCORE-COCHIN
PART I A-REPORT
by l'. SIVARAMAN NAIR, M. A, Ph. D., F. A. sc., r. N. I., Superintendent of Cc :Stu Operations, Tra rAncore..Coch in
PUBUSHED BY Till: M~"fACD OF PUBUCATIOJIS, CO\'ER."\ME!\"""T OF INDIA PUJILICATIO!fS BLUfCB, cn-rL LDaS, DC.BI 1953 0 0 I -®-
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POPULATION DENSITY
Below 300 300- soci TRAYAICORE COCHII STATE 5oo- no Scale 1 lndl = 10 Miles uo~1ooo 1000-1500 STATE. 1500-2000 Non-A&ricultuNJ~Rural Z000-1500 Aericu~und~Urban
(3-2J Code Number ofTaluk CENSUS OF INDIA, 1951
VOLUME Xlll
TRAV ANCORE-COCHIN
PART I A-REPORT
by U. SIVARAMAN NAIR, 11. A., Ph. D., F. A. sc., F. N. r., Superintendent of Census Operations, Trave~ncOTe-C och in
Price Rs. 2-8-0.
P118LISHBD BY TID IIA~AGEil OF P~BLICATIO!'fS, GOVIlllOIBJn' OP INDIA PUBLICATIONS BRANCH, onnL LDNES, DELHI 1953 PRINTI:D B"l!' THE SUPERINTENDENT OP GOVERNMENT PUSSES AT TBB GOVERNMENT CDTRAL PUSS• TRIVANDRUK. CONTENTS
PAGE
MAP OF TRAVANCORE-COCHIN•. STATE Frontispiece
PREFATORY NOTE i
1 INTRODUCTORY 1
2 CHAPTER}I-GENERAL tPOPULATION 8
3 CHAPTER II-RURAL POPULATION 29
4 CHAPTER III-URBAN POPULATION 34
5 CHAPTER IV-AGRICULTURAL CLASSES 43
6 CHAPTER V-NON-AGRICULTURAL CLASSES .. 52
7 CHAPTERj.VI-I'AMILII:S, SEXES AND PRINCIPAL AQE GROUPS 64 PREFATORY· NOTE
·The 1951 Census Report consists of four The success of. the census enumeration goes volumes:- entirely to the energy and enthusiasm of the District Collectors, the Tahsildars, Municipal 1. Part 1-A. Report Commissioners and the Divisional Forest Officers. 2. Part 1-B. Subsidiary Tables I feel extremely happy to record that these' 3. Part ll Tables officers devoted themselves to the work whole 4. Administrative volume heartedly and with ability." They have laid me under a deep sense of obligation. Parts 1-B and n contain the results of the processing of census enumeration slips. Part I It is difficult for me to express adequately -Report-is a brief study of the main popula my appreciation of the work done by the large tion characteristics as revealed by census data. army of Census Supervisors and Enumerators. This study confines itself to the population of They have carried out their census· duties the state as a whole and contains only brief efficiently in the face of serious difficulties, per· references to district figures~ The statements sonal inconveniences and even financial loss at made and conclusions drawn in the Report are times. They have brought credit to themselves wholly mine and do not necessarily represent and to the state. the views of Government. The enumeration of the. personnel of the Army, Detailed figures for taluks within the four Navy and Air Force in this state was kindly districts of the state have been assembled and undertaken by Officers of the respective SerVices. published in the four District Census Handbooks. The enumeration in the Cochin Harbour area was These handbooks contain besides the district arranged by the Administrative Officer, Cochin tables, a description of the district and its popu Port. It is a pleasure for me to place on record lation, a Gazetteer and certain essential statistics my appreciation of their services. relating to every village in the district. The estates devoted to plantation crops in this I take this opportunity to record my deep state cover a large area of the hilly tract. The sense of gratitude to the Government of Travan proprietors and managers of these estates have core-Cochin for their generous assistance at all placed me under a deep debt'of gratitude by stages of census work. I must particularly readily undertaking the responsibility for enu· express my obligations to Sri K. G. Menon, meration in their estates and discharging it in I. C. S., and Sri V. N. Rajan, I. C. S.-the two a praise-worthy manner. Chief Secretaries to the State Government during the tenure of my appointment as Census The Superintendent of Government Presses, Superintendent-for their help and prompt action Trivandrum and his staff have been extremely on my numerous and often troublesome requests. helpful in the printing of the large volume of census materials. It was only the personal The Secretaries to Government, Revenue interest taken by the Superintendent and the Department, with whom, I had a great deal to assistants detailed for this work, at a time when do, were uniformly helpful to me. To them, the Press was working at high pressure, that I tender my sincere thanks. prevented possible dislocation of census work. The heads of almost all the departments of The elegance of the printing and get up of the Government have helped me in my work and I census volumes are due to their initiative and am deeply indebted to them all I shall be failing skill. To them, I tender my warm acknowledg in my duty if I do not record my gratitude to ment. the Director of Public Instruction, the Director There was great difficulty in housing the of Public Health and the Chief Conservator of Tabulation Office. Brigadier, P. N. Kripal, Forests who readily supplied the basic man General Officer Commanding the Indian Army power required for census operations. Unit at Trivandrum came to my rescue by placing at my disposal a number of barracks to accom to record my great appreciation of the services modate the Tabulation Office. To the Brigadier rendered by Sri K. Parameswara Menon. and his staff, who gave me all facilities in my work, I am deeply indebted. · · The work that fell upon my Head Clerk, Accountant and the Typists was extra-ordinarily Sri P. S. Narayanaswamy, B. A., L. T., was heavy. They shouldered the responsibilities my Deputy Superintendent in charge of the Tabu placed on them to my entire satisfaction and lation Office. His enthusiasm, tact and initiative I have the greatest admiration for their excellent are responsible for the efficient manner in which performance. the tabulation-work was conducted in the state. Whatever success I may claim in my experi I wish to record my gratitude to Sri Narayana ment with Census, is due to the prompt, ;way and his staff -.the Technical Assistants, critical and always sympathetic help unstiJ1tedly the Supervisors, the Compiler-Checkers and given by Sri R. A. Gopalaswamy, I. C. S., Sorters-for the great pains they took in the Registrar General, India. I wish to place on efficient discharge of their duties. record my gratitude to him. · I wish to make mention of the meritorious Sri D. Natarajan, Assistant Census Commis service rendered by each and every member of sioner, has helped me a good deal. His experi my office staff. My Personal Assistant, Sri K. ence in census work was always available and Parameswara Menon, M. A., always stood by me to him I offer my grateful thanks. in the discharge of my duties as Superintendent of Census. With an eye for absolute efficiency, Sri P. N. Kaul, the Tabulation Officer, has thoroughness and prompt disposal Sri Menon, has given me very substantial help. He has checked given ·me of his very best during the few years the tables with scrupulous care and pointed out we worked together. I take this opportunity several mistakes in some of the tables. For this great help, I am deeply grateful to him. U. SIVARAMAN NAIR, Superintendent of Census Operations. INTRODUCTION
1. The Importance of the 1951 Census census. The most important change made at this census is the abandonment of the collection 1. Census history in Travancore-Cochin goes and tabulation of data for separate castes or u far back as 1816. In Travancore, censuses communities apd the emphasis laid on the gather were subsequently conducted in 1836, 1854 and ing of economic data relating to every citizen. 1875; in Cochin, censuses were taken in 1820, The only exception is in regard to Scheduled 1836 1849, 1858 and 1875. From 1881, censuses Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Anglo-Indians. The in both states synchronised with the Indian caste and community tables which were a serious Censuses. As the earlier attempts at popula head-ache to previous Superintendents (and per tion count do not appear to have been very syste haps served little purpose) were dropped. matically organised, the first regular systematic census is believed to be that of 1875. The pre 5. Emphasis was rightly laid on the collec sent census is thus the eighth decennial (and the tion of economic data, because basic data on the ninth systematic) census to be held in this state. economic life of the nation, essential for proper planning were sadly lacking. As the census was 2. The 1951 Census will go down in census the only administrative effort reaching eve:ry history as a memorable event. To it belongs household in the country it was decided that at the distinction of having been the first census the census special attention should be devoted to be taken after India's attainment of indepefl.d to the collection of economic data. Three ques ence. It is also the first census of the integrat tions (questions 9, 10 and 11) out of a total of ed state of Travancore-Cochin. (The states of 14 in the census questionnaire were set apart to Travancore and Cochin were integrated with gather information relating to the economic sta effect from 1st July, 1949.) tus and means of livelihood of each citizen. S. From the legal and constitutional point 6. The National Register of Citizens prepared of view the 1951 census marks a new develop for the first time at this census represents the ment. Previously, censuses were conducted result of an administrative effort of immense under the authority of Acts passed by the legis magnitude and usefulness. The Register, com latures in the two states, though of course, the operations were carried out Wider the general piled in separate parts for each village and ward guidance of the Census Commissioner to the in town or city, contains the names of all persons enumerated at the census ar_ranged by house Government of India. Under the Constitution of India which came into force on the 26th January, holds in the house-nur.u.bering order; it also gives 1950, census is a central subject. The Central the more important census data relating to each citizen. Government had already enacted a piece of per manent legislation-the Indian Census Act (Act 7. Another important new development was XX.XVII of 1948) -to regulate the conduct of the decision to compile and publish District Cen census operations. As it was pointed out that at sus Handbooks, under the auspices of the State the time of passing this Act, the Government of Government. At previous censuses, no doubt, India could not legislate for this state, the Cen some essential data relating to villages and towns !ius (Amendment) Act of 1950 was passed were published under the title 'Village Statistics'. extending the Indian Census Act to this state; The District Census Handbooks were designed the amendment came into force from the 6th to be more comprehensive, in fact, to take the August, 1950. Thus for the first time census place of the old gazetteers; the volumes were to operations in this state came to be governed by be published as soon as tabulation was over and ~cntral legislation. · the census tables ready. Besides village stati %. New featurt'8 stics, the Handbooks include all the important census data in respect of each district, a descrip 4. While each census inevitably makes some tive account of the district with special reference innoYalions on its predecessor, no previous census to its population, a gazetteer and an index of the can claim so many new features as the 1951 names of villages and towns: they represent the results of great co-operative effort and labour. Tr~vancor~ and Cochin, as a result of the policy Judging from the nature and volume of enquiries of mtegratwn of Indian states initiated by Sardar received in this office from official and non-official Vallabhai Patel. Travancore and Cochin alon"' sources the Handbooks appear to fulfil a real with Malabar and adjacent territories constituted need. the ancient Chera kingdom. When the authority 8. The award of the 1951 Census Medals in of the Chera emperors waned, the kingdom broke the name of the President of the Indian Republic u_p into a num~er of small independent principali to those census workers who showed outstand ties, t~e physical configuration of the country ing zeal and quality in their work was another favourmg the growth of centrifugal forces. The new feature; this was in addition to the recogni- early histories of Travancore or (Venad as it was . tion of meritorious census work by the State called in ancient times) and Cochin (or Perum Government by way of appropriate entries in the padappu as it was known) are shrouded in . Service .Books of the officers concerned. It help obscurity. Travancore was originally a small ed to stimulate enthusiasm and a spirit of emula kingdom whose territories were confined to the tion among many census workers. The number extreme south. J;~e expansion of the kingdom of medals was fixed at the rate of approximately was the work o.f great warrior-king Marthanda Varina (1729-58( who conquered all the princi three per lakh of population; there were two palities lying between Travancore and Cochin. varieties of medals, silver and bronze, in the ratio During the reign of his successor, Cochin had to of 1:2. This state got 86 silver and 172 bronze cede to Travancore some of its southern posses medals. The presentation of medals was made sions for help against the powerful Zamorin of at appropriate functions held at district and Calicut. Both states made common cause against taluk headquarters. ltyder Ali and his son, Tippu Sultan. In 1790 9. For the first time, a sample verification of Tippu Sultan marched his armies into the country census 1enumeration was conducted to check the as far as Alwaye; the intervention of the East accuracy of census enumeration. This was con India Company, however, prevented further ducted by magisterial officers of the State Govern aggression. The establishment of friendly rela ment in March, immediately after the census. tions with the British power in India about this This sample check was intended to determine the period secured for the two states prctection from limits of errors of census enumeration. external invasion. The establishment of internal peace and order took some more years. The 10. A new arrangement to improve the effi feudal chieftains who for centuries exercised vast ciency of training census workers was the con powers in their respective territories were curbed duct of a Training Sample Census; undertaken and brought under control. The national militia at the instance of the Registrar-General. It was was disbanded and replaced by a trained standing also intended to give advance publicity to the army, the administrative machinery was reorga census; the tabulation of the material collected nised and strengthened, communications were at this census was to be used .in fixing the out improved and a strong police force created to turn of work in the Tabulation Office to be opened stamp out offences against life and property. A . later. The Training Sample Census was to be succession of enlightened rulers and able mini a dress rehearsal of the census in selected sample sters helped the two states to make such progress households, to be conducted after the 'class-room in all nation-building activities that from about training' was over. In this state it was held dur the middle of the nineteenth century these states ing October ;1..950. It proved extremely useful, for came to be held up as models for other Indian the results of the sample census revealed defici states. The integration thus brought together encies in the training of the supervisors them two states which though linked together by com selves. Revised instructions with special emph mon geographical features and a common cultu asis on the weak points disclosed at the census ral heritage had remained two separate political were, therefore, issued and a programme of in units for several centuries. tensive training laid down, in order to equip the field staff properly for their work. 4. Area and physical features 3. .Travancore-Cochin-a short sketch 12. The state of Travar.core-Cochin (lat. 8" 11. The Travancore-Cochin state was formed 4' N and 10° 50' N; long. 76° 5' E and 77° 38' E} by the integration of the two ancient states of lying at the southwest corner.: of India between C:e y;~crn Ghats and the Arabian Sea is the head-quarters of each district are as one of the most beautiful regions of India. follo~-s:- Its total length. from the Bharathapuzha Dntri.a .{TN iD ~·.,_ cf DiJtrkt in the north to Cape Comorin (Kannyakumari) S
4 and abundance of vegetation. The reserve because there are sufficient heads in the rivers forests of the stale cover 2456 sq. miles and con to enable production of a large volume of hydro tain about 600 species of timber trees (includ electric power. However, the seasonal nature of ing teak, blackwood, ebony) and 3600 other water supply in the rivers necessitates the con plants, many of which like bamboos and reeds struction of costly storage reservoirs. The falls o.rc of great economic value. at Pallivasal have been harnessed; as the present production does not suffice for the requirements 27. Rice, the staple food of the people on this in the state, other projects have been taken up. coast, is the most important food crop cultivated The electric power generated in the state is 158.38 in the state. The dominant factor in rice culti vation as of agriculture generally is seasonable million units during 1951-52. rainfall. 31. Though Travancore-Cochin is predomi nantly an agricultural country, there are a num 28. Among other agricultural products, cocoa ber of industries, most of them started in recent nut is the most important, providing as it does, years. The chief factory industries in the state raw material for the coir, oil and soap industries. are coir-matting, cocoanut oil, cotton textiles, Plantain and arecanut are grown extensively in rayon, rubber, paper, glass, soap, ceramics, ~~ the lowland and midland. The midland produces minium, match, plywood, chemicals and fertili spices like pepper and ginger and also lemon sers and cement. About a lakh of persons are grass oil for which the state holds a monopoly employed in factories. Small industries like in India. Hill produce consists of rubber, tea, coir, cotton weaving, mats and baskets, palmyra cardamom and coffee. This state is the chief jaggery, lace and embroidery, wood and ivory producer of rubber and cardamom in India. carving, pottery, oil crushing, leather and metal 29. The fisheries of the state, comprising as works give employment to a large number of they do, freshwater fisheries, (including rivers, people. tanks and channels) backwater or estuarine 32. The extensive river and backwater system fisheries and the most valuable of all, marine in the state affords easy and cheap water com fisheries, arc very important. Marine fisheries munication particularly in the lowland. There extending to about 8000 sq. miles of sea (of is a well developed system of road communica which only 1200 sq. miles are harvested at pre tions in the state with bridges across most of sent) include the Wadge Bank, one of the richest the rivers. The total length of roads is about fishing grounds in the Indian Ocean. The annual 7500 miles giving 1.5 miles of road for every sq. catches are estimated at about one lakh tons. mile of cultivated area. There are two stretches · Fish forms an important article of food and also of railway in the state, the metre gauge line from of the export trade of the state. Trivandrum to Shencotta (length 99 miles) 30. The state contains large reserves of white and the broadgauge line from Cochin Harbour clays and pottery clays used in the manufacture to Shornur (length 72 miles). Cochin and Tri of tiles, bricks and pottery. There are small· vandrum have aerodromes which are halting dc>posits of phlogopite and graphite in south places for regular air services. Travan core; there is a small production of 33. The chief port in the state is Cochin, the phlogopite mica from central Travancore best harbour on the coast south of Bombay; (amounting from 500 to 1000 tons per annum). other ports with fairly convenient anchorage are The beach sands along the Travancore coast carry Alleppey, Kolithottam, Quilon, Trivandrum and large rc>serves of ilmenite, monazite, garnet, ColacheL as well as zircon, rutile and sillimanite. A factory has been opened at Trivandrum for the 5. Government and Finance manufacture of titanium dioxide from ilmenite. 3!. Under the Constitution of India, Travan Another factory for the processing of cerium core-Cochin like other unions of Indian States, and thorium compounds from monazite, has is a Part 'B' state; the executive power is vested been established at Alwaye. Iron, coal in the Rajpramukh and is exercised by him either or mineral oil deposits are absent in the directly or through officers subordinate to him in state. It h'as, therefore, been said that water accordance with the provisions of the constitu constitutes the chief mineral wealth in the state, tion. There is a Council of Ministers headed by
5 the Chief Minister to advise the Rajpramukh. 9.· Economic status 6. (a) Wholly The Chief Minister is appointed by the Raj i. Dependency dependent pramukh, who also appoints the other ministers (b) Partly on the advice of the Chief Minister. The Coun dependent- cil of Ministers is collectively responsible to the (c) Not dependent Legislative Assembly. ii. Employment 35. The revenues for the year 1950-51 status Nil amounted to Rs. 1,399 lakhs including contribu 10. Principal Means 10. Means of Liveli tions from the Government of India towards the of Livelihood hood revenue gap and subsidies for the Grow More 11. Secondary Means 7. Means of Liveli Food Campaign. The expenditure on revenue of Livelihood hood of person on account was Rs. 1,274 lakhs and that on the whom dependent capital investments, Rs. 275 lakhs. 12. Literacy and 16. (a) Language Education read and 6. The Census Questionnaire written (b) Languages 36. The 1951 census questionnaire consists read only of 14 questions as against 18 in 1941. Out of (c) illiterate these 14 questions, one (question 6) is on Displac 17. (a) How far ed Persons* and another** (question 13) is for studied any special enquiry in which the state may be (b) Highest ~terested. For purposes of comparison, the two examination sets of' questions are arranged below in parallel passed columns. 18. Literate in 1951 census 1941 census English 1. Name and relation to 1. Name 13. Duration of head of household marriage and size of family 3. Duration of 2. (a) Nationality 2. Race, tribe or caste (a) Completed married life (b) Religion 3. Religion years of (c) Special groups married life 4, Age of mother at 3~ Civil condition .4. (a) unmarried (b) Age of (b) married mother at · first maternity (c) widowed first mater- (d) divorced nity 4. Age 5. Age (c) Number of (1) Number of child- 5. Birth place 13. Birth place children born ren born 6. Displaced persons No question (a) Male 7. Mother--tongue · 14. Mother-tongue (b) Female 8. Bilingualism 15.. Other languages (d) Number now (2) Number of commonly used alive children alive • A 'displaced person' means any person who has enter (a) Male ed India having left or being compelled to leave his or (b) Female her home 'in Western Pakistan on or after the 1st 14. Sex Separate slips were March 1947 or hisjher home in Eastern Pakistan on or used to enumerate after the 15th October 1946 on account of civil males and females. disturbances or the fear of such disturbances or on Question 9 (ii) of 1951 giving the employ account of the setting up of the two dominions of India and Pakistan. ment status of self-supporting persons has no **As the steady growth of population at a high counterpart in 1941. However, four questions in rate is the most urgent aspect of the population problem 1941 are on employment. These are:- in the state and as fertility enquiries were attempted at (8) Number of paid assistants the 1931 and 1941 censuses, permission of the state government was obtained to use this question for a (a) members of household study of the maternity pattern in the state. (b) others
6 (9) (a) .Employed independent worker at the 1951 census while a similar classification was absent in 1941. (b) Unemployed (c) In search of employment S8. Abbreviations were used to record the answers to census questions in the enumeration (d) How long in search? slips. This made the entries precise and ruled (11) Means of Livelihood-period out illegible writing. At the tabulation stage (12) If employed, name of employer's busi there was considerable saving in time also. ness. Question 18 of 1941 in regard to literacy in 39. The size of the enumeration slip was Er:glish has been omitted in 1951. only 4%" x 4lh" nearly and the fourt.een S7. The above comparison shows that the questions were indicated by the numbers 1, 2, 3, important change in the 1951 census is in regard 4, 5, 6, 1, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14. At the top of to the questions regarding economic status and each slip, the district, taluk, village, town or ward means of livelihood. Self-supporting persons and the house number were entered in terms of have been described as employer, employee or location code numbers.