AIKYAKERALAM MOVEMENT
As soon as India became free, the movement for a united Keralam picked up momentum. K.Kelappan, from Malabar, was in the forefront. I believe, the people of Travancore were not even aware of it.
The reasons were many. Malabar was the backyard of Madras province, with the high court in Madras(Chennai). At that time there was a District board which was taken over by the communists who were hated by the upper strata of society. Perhaps they hoped to be liberated from the yoke of communism and Tamil hegemony. The people of Cochin State, already under Thirukochi, after merger of Cochin and Travancore States, which they did not like, hoped to get better bargaining chances. I remember accompanying my uncle to Trichur to attend a conference, organized by Aikyakeralam movement, which was addressed by Kelappan.
Our hopes were soon belied. Like H1N1 virus, corruption, almost unknown till then, before the formation of United Keralm, spread to all branches of Government. The High Court in faraway Trivandrum became more unapproachable, with few (or no)
direct trains. Madras was easily reachable by Mail train. Political power remained with Rubber growers. Migration from thickly populated south to thinly populated Malabar became unbearable.The forests in the mountains were destroyed by the immigrants who were hard working. S.K.Pottekad’s novel ‘vishakanyaka’ is a vivid account of this process.
The liberation struggle of 1959 to oust the elected government of EMS Namboodiripad was entirely backed by non Malabaris.
These are unpleasant facts worth recalling. There is a movement for smaller states like Konkan Sate and division of Uttar Pradesh into five states. We can revert to earlier status and maintain better relations among the brother Malayalikal.
As soon as India became free, the movement for a united Keralam picked up momentum. K.Kelappan, from Malabar, was in the forefront. I believe, the people of Travancore were not even aware of it.
The reasons were many. Malabar was the backyard of Madras province, with the high court in Madras(Chennai). At that time there was a District board which was taken over by the communists who were hated by the upper strata of society. Perhaps they hoped to be liberated from the yoke of communism and Tamil hegemony. The people of Cochin State, already under Thirukochi, after merger of Cochin and Travancore States, which they did not like, hoped to get better bargaining chances. I remember accompanying my uncle to Trichur to attend a conference, organized by Aikyakeralam movement, which was addressed by Kelappan.
Our hopes were soon belied. Like H1N1 virus, corruption, almost unknown till then, before the formation of United Keralm, spread to all branches of Government. The High Court in faraway Trivandrum became more unapproachable, with few (or no)
direct trains. Madras was easily reachable by Mail train. Political power remained with Rubber growers. Migration from thickly populated south to thinly populated Malabar became unbearable.The forests in the mountains were destroyed by the immigrants who were hard working. S.K.Pottekad’s novel ‘vishakanyaka’ is a vivid account of this process.
The liberation struggle of 1959 to oust the elected government of EMS Namboodiripad was entirely backed by non Malabaris.
These are unpleasant facts worth recalling. There is a movement for smaller states like Konkan Sate and division of Uttar Pradesh into five states. We can revert to earlier status and maintain better relations among the brother Malayalikal.
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