There were innumerous revolts against the British Supremacy from very early times due to their ruthless exploitation and domination and by the near the beginning of 19th century, the infuriated masses tried to throw off the yoke of British domination. Crowds were greatly agitated owing to the contemporary social iniquities such as untouchability and unsociability. In Travancore, Velu Thampi Dalawa revolted against the British due to Lord Macaulay' demand of high taxes from the state which suffered from serious economic crisis. He was destroyed and finally ended himself. However the early upheavals and clashes against the Colonial power, like the Mappila Rebellion of 1921, Pazhassi revolt led by Varma Pazhassi Raja of the Kottayam royal family were crushed effectively by the British.

The British powers were weakened by the World Wars and this resulted in the growth of the nationalist movements within the country. In 1922 there were students protesting against the rise in fees of the educational institutions. Khilafat Movement followed and Hindus and Muslims united against the British hegemony in the Malabar region. Tremendous police activity and Martial law accompanied by mass killing and British gained control over the disconcerted situation with the help of police, particularly the Malabar Special Police, which is still considered as a dreaded symbol of colonial subjugation till this day.

Mahatma Gandhi provided the impetus to this national movement and had a remarkable influence.The lower strata of the society were not allowed to enter the temple roads of Kerala. The non-violent Guruvayoor Satyagraha movement and the passive Vaikom Satyagraha movement, led by Gandhiji helped the ingress of the backward social classes to the public roads adjoining the Vaikom temple. In 1936, the Temple Entry Proclamation was issued in 1936 by Sree Chithira Thirunal Balaramavarma Maharaja, the ruler of Thiruvithamcoore and people of all castes were allowed in this temple. In 1930, British imposed high revenues on salt also restricted the production of salt. This enraged masses throughout the nation and in Kerala, under the headship of K. Kelappan, the law was confronted with resistance and salt was produced. Other eminent leaders were K.P. Kesava Menon, Muhamed Abdurahiman and K. Madhavan Nair.

Soon a large number of organizations started agitating for their rights. The Samyukata Rashtriya Congress consisting of a confederation of Christian's -Muslims - Ezhavas (a powerful community of Kerala) formed merged to create reservations in Government and thus community based party system came into Kerala's background for the first time.

In Thiruvinthamkur the caste organizations fought for social justice and proper representation for people of backward social strata in the legislature and government jobs. The Travancore State Congress was also founded and some notable leaders were TK Madhavan, TM Varghese, C Kesavan and Pattam Thanupilla. In Cochin, Prajamandalam came into existence and the significant leaders were Panampilly Govinda Menon and Ikkanda Warrier. Other prominent persons who were a part of Indian National Congress from Kerala were G.P. Pillai, Rairu Nambiar and Sir. C. Sankaran Nair.

Laborers and peasants organization also demanded reforms and by 1930s a predominant leftist movement formed in Kerala and the leaders were EM.S. Nambuthiripad and P.S. Krishnapillai. Finally Communist Party of India came into being in Kerala in 1939. The Quit India movement in 1942 had its affected Kerala. . The Punnapra Vayalar revolt of 1946 led by the communists was a part of the nationalistic struggle.

The people of Cochin also actively took part in upheavals like the Electricity agitation and so on. There were uncountable small and big rebellions until the land was unchained from the shackles of Colonialism.
In 1956, 1st of November, modern Kerala emerged from Malabar which was a part of the Madras Presidency, Kochi and Travancore as The Malayalam-speaking areas of Malabar and Thirukochi were amalgamated as one state and called Kerala.

Last Updated on 31 May 2011