Merger of Kanyakumari with Madras State

The present-day Kanyakumari district and parts of Tenkasi district of Tamil Nadu state in India was originally a part of the Travancore-Cochin state. Between 1945 and 1956, especially after the Government of India announced plans to reorganize states along linguistic lines, the people of Tamil-majority Kanyakumari campaigned for its inclusion in the Madras State (later Tamil Nadu) instead of the Malayalam-majority Kerala state. In Tamil, the campaign is also known as Therkku Ellai Porattam ("South Frontier Struggle").

The campaign was successful: Agastheeswaram, Kalkulam, Thovalai, Vilavancode and half part of Shenkottai taluks were merged with Madras as per the States Reorganisation Act, 1956.[1] The first four were combined to form the present-day Kanyakumari district, while Shenkottai was merged with the Tirunelveli district present day tenkasi district

Background

Thus there was a significant Tamil population in the Thovalai, Agastheeswaram, Sengottai, Eraniel, Vilavancode, Kalkulam, Devikulam, Peerumedu, Neyyattinkara, Thiruvananthapuram South and Thiruvananthapuram North taluks of erstwhile Travancore State.[2] In the Tamil regions, Malayalam was the official language and there were only a few Tamil-medium schools. The Travancore State Government continued rejecting the requests of Tamils.[3]

During that period the Travancore State Congress favoured the idea of uniting all the Malayalam speaking regions and the formation of a "Unified Kerala". In protest against this idea, many Tamil leaders vacated the party. Tamils gathered together at Nagercoil on 16 December 1945 under the leadership of Sam Nathaniel and formed the new political party All Travancore Tamilian Congress. That party was continuously compelling for the merger of Tamil regions in Travancore with Tamil Nadu.[4]


Languages

Demographics of Travancore

Census year Total population Malayalam Tamil Others Source
1875 2,311,379 1,902,533 82.32% 387,909 16.78% 20,937 0.91% [2]
1881 2,401,158 1,937,454 80.69% 439,565 18.31% 24,139 1.01% [2]
1891 2,557,736 2,079,271 81.29% 448,322 17.53% 30,143 1.18% [5]
1901 2,952,157 2,420,049 81.98% 492,273 16.68% 39,835 1.35% [6]
1911 3,428,975 2,836,728 82.73% 554,618 16.17% 37,629 1.10% [7]
1921 4,006,062 3,349,776 83.62% 624,917 15.60% 31,369 0.78% [8]
1931 5,095,973 4,260,860 83.61% 788,455 15.47% 46,658 0.92% [9]
Distribution of Language by Division (1881)[2]
Name of Division Malayalam (%) Tamil (%)
Padmanabhapuram Division 11.24 88.03
Thiruvananthapuram Division 87.05 12.09
Quilon Division 92.42 6.55
Cottayam Division 95.19 3.65
Devicolam Division 36.18 59.14
Languages by Taluks (1881)[2]
Name of Taluk Total population Malayalam Tamil Others
1 Thovalai 30,260 190 0.63% 29,708 98.18% 362 1.20%
2 Agasteeswaram 78,979 705 0.89% 76,645 97.04% 1,629 2.06%
3 Eraniel 112,116 9,640 8.60% 102,389 91.32% 87 0.08%
4 Culcoolum 60,908 10,528 17.29% 49,930 81.98% 450 0.74%
5 Vilavancode 69,688 18,497 26.54% 51,172 73.43% 19 0.03%
6 Neyyattinkarai 110,410 97,485 88.29% 12,809 11.60% 116 0.11%
7 Thiruvananthapuram South 51,337 39,711 77.35% 10,522 20.50% 1,104 2.15%
8 Thiruvananthapuram North 51,649 38,979 75.47% 11,102 21.50% 1,568 3.04%
9 Nedoomangad 52,211 48,492 92.88% 3,573 6.84% 146 0.28%
10 Sheraingil 87,072 82,339 94.56% 4,629 5.37% 146 0.17%
11 Kottarakkarai 55,924 51,836 94.56% 3,994 7.14% 94 0.17%
12 Pathanapuram 37,064 35,264 95.14% 1,603 4.32% 197 0.53%
13 Sengottai 30,477 7 0.02% 29,694 97.43% 776 2.55%
14 Quilon 108,469 103,775 95.67% 3,650 3.37% 1,044 0.96%
15 Kunnathur 62,700 60,330 96.22% 2,339 3.73% 31 0.05%
16 Karunagapully 101,039 99,079 98.06% 1,814 1.80% 146 0.14%
17 Karthikapully 81,969 79,705 97.24% 1,059 1.29% 1,205 1.47%
18 Mavelikkarai 111,731 107,404 96.13% 4,139 3.70% 188 0.17%
19 Chengannur 81,301 80,295 98.76% 986 1.21% 20 0.02%
20 Thiruvallai 103,007 101,041 98.09% 1,664 1.62% 302 0.29%
21 Ambalappulay 93,401 82,345 88.16% 5,864 6.28% 5,192 5.56%
22 Sharetala 113,704 107,108 94.20% 2,312 2.03% 4,284 3.77%
23 Vycome 76,414 72,827 95.31% 2,684 3.51% 903 1.81%
24 Yettoomanoor 79,058 75,004 94.87% 3,879 4.91% 175 0.22%
25 Cottayam 64,958 63,831 98.27% 722 1.11% 405 0.62%
26 Chunganacherry 74,154 66,481 89.65% 7,394 9.97% 279 0.38%
27 Meenachel 57,102 55,186 96.64% 1,857 3.25% 59 0.10%
28 Moovattupulay 95,460 93,473 97.92% 1,930 2.02% 57 0.06%
29 Todupulay 24,321 23,227 95.50% 1,085 4.46% 9 0.04%
30 Cunnathunad 109,625 108,083 98.59% 831 0.76% 711 0.65%
31 Alangaud 66,753 65,839 98.63% 571 0.86% 343 0.51%
32 Paravoor 61,966 56,495 91.17% 3,332 5.38% 2,139 3.45%
33 Cardamom Hills 6,228 2,253 36.18% 3,683 59.14% 292 4.69%
- Travancore 2,401,158 1,937,454 80.69% 439,565 18.31% 24,139 1.01%
Further information on the language Nanam Monam, also known as: Naanam Moonam

Travancore Tamil Nadu Congress (T.T.N.C)

In the working committee meeting of Tamilian congress at Eraviputhur on 30 June 1946, the name of the political party was changed to Travancore Tamil Nadu Congress (T.T.N.C). T.T.N.C was popular among the Tamils living in Thovalai and Agateeswaram Taluks. Mr. Ma. Po. Sivagnanam (Ma.Po.Si) was the only leader from Tamil Nadu who functioned in favour of T.T.N.C.[10]

After the independence of India, State Assembly Elections were announced in Travancore. As a consequence, T.T.N.C improved its popularity among Tamils. A popular and leading advocate from Vilavancode Mr. A. Nesamony organised a meeting of his supporters at Allan Memorial Hall, Nagercoil on 8 September 1947. In that meeting it was declared that they must achieve their objective through their political organisation, the T.T.N.C. And T.T.N.C started gaining strength and momentum in Kalkulam - Vilavancode Taluks.[11]

1948 police firing

During the election propaganda campaign, clashes occurred between the Tamil speaking communities and the Malayalam speaking communities at various places in Kalkulam - Vilavancode Taluks. police force suppressed the agitating Nadars. In February 1948 police opened fire and two Tamil speaking Nadars were killed.[10]

T.T.N.C won in 14 constituencies in the election to the State Legislative Assembly. Mr. A. Nesamony was elected as the legislative leader of the party. Then under his leadership, the awakened Tamil population was prepared to undergo any sacrifice to achieve their goal.[12]

1952 general elections

In 1950, a meeting was held at Palayamkottai to make compromises between state congress and T.T.N.C. The meeting met with failure and Mr. Sam Nathaniel resigned from the post of president of T.T.N.C Mr. P. Ramasamy Pillai, a strong follower of Mr. A. Nesamony was elected as the New President.[11]

The first general election of Independent India was held on 1952. T.T.N.C won 8 legislative assembly seats. Mr. A. Chidambaranathan became the minister on behalf of T.T.N.C in the coalition state government formed by the Congress. In the parliamentary Constituency Mr. A. Nesamony was elected as M.P. and in the Rajyasabha seat. Mr. A. Abdul Razak was elected as M.P. on behalf of T.T.N.C.[11]

In due course, accusing the Congress government for not showing enough care the struggle of the Tamils, T.T.N.C had broken away from the coalition and the Congress government lost the majority. So fresh elections were announced. In 1954 elections, T.T.N.C gained victory in 12 constituencies.[11]

1954 police firing

Pattom Thanu Pillai was the chief minister for Thiru - Kochi legislative assembly. He engaged hard measures against the agitations of Tamils. Especially the Tamils at Devikulam - Peerumedu regions went through the atrocities of Travancore Police force. Condemning the attitude of the police, T.T.N.C leaders from Nagercoil went to Munnar and participated in agitations against the prohibitive orders. The leaders were arrested and an uncalm atmosphere prevailed in South Travancore.[13]

On 11 August, Liberation Day celebrations were held at many places in South Travancore. Public meetings and processions were organised . Communists also collaborated with the agitation programmes. Police opened fire at the processions in Thoduvetty (Martandam) and Puthukadai. Nine Tamil volunteers were killed and thousands of T.T.N.C and communist sympathizers were arrested in various parts of Tamil main land. At the end, Pattom Thanu Pillai's ministry was toppled and normalcy returned to the Tamil regions.[12]

States Reorganization Commission

The central government had appointed Fazal Ali Commission(1953 dec) for the states reorganisation based on language. It submitted its report on 10 August 1955. Based on this report, Devikulam - Peermedu and Neyyattinkara Taluks were merged with Kerala state.[14]

On 1 November 1956 - four Taluks Thovalai, Agastheeswaram, Kalkulam, Vilavancode were recognised to form the New Kanyakumari District and merged with Tamil Nadu State. Half of Sengottai Taluk was merged with Tirunelveli District. The main demand of T.T.N.C was to merger the Tamil regions with Tamil Nadu and major part of its demand was realised. So T.T.N.C was dissolved thereafter.[12]

Retainment of Devikulam and Peerumedu Taluks in Kerala

See also: Idukki district

Apart from Kanyakumari district, the Taluks of Devikulam and Peermade in present-day Idukki district also had a Tamil-majority until late 1940's.[15] The T.T.N.C had also requested to merge these Taluks with Madras State.[15] However it was due to some decisions of Pattom Thanu Pillai, who was the first prime minister of Travancore, that they retained in the modern-state of Kerala.[15] Pattom came up with a colonisation project to re-engineer the demography of Cardamom Hills.[15] His colonisation project was to relocate 8,000 Malayalam-speaking families into the Taluks of Devikulam and Peermade.[15] About 50,000 acres in these Taluks, which were Tamil-majority area, were chosen for the colonisation project.[15] As a victory of the Colonisation project done by post-independence Travancore, these two Taluks and a larger portion of Cardamom Hills retained in the state of Kerala, after States Reorganisation Act, 1956.[15]

References

  1. ^ Jebagnanam Cyril Kanmony (2010). Human rights violation. Mittal Publications. p. 41. ISBN 978-81-8324-347-6.
  2. ^ a b c d e Report on the Census of Travancore (1881) (PDF). Thiruvananthapuram: Government of India. 1884. pp. 135, 258.
  3. ^ V. S. Sathianesan - Tamil Separatism in Travancore
  4. ^ R. Isaac Jeyadhas - Kanyakumari District and Indian Independence Struggle (Tamil)
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference r1891 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ Iyer, N. Subrahmanya (1903). Census of India-1901, Volume-XXVI, Travancore (Part-I). Thiruvananthapuram: Government of Travancore. pp. 224–225.
  7. ^ Iyer, N. Subramhanya (1912). Census of India – 1911, Volume-XXIII, Travancore (Part-I) (PDF). Thiruvananthapuram: Government of Travancore. p. 176.
  8. ^ Iyer, S. Krishnamoorthi (1922). Census of India, 1921, Volume-XXV, Travancore. Thiruvananthapuram: Government of Travancore. p. 91.
  9. ^ Cite error: The named reference r1931 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  10. ^ a b D. Daniel - Travancore Tamils: Struggle for Identity.
  11. ^ a b c d B. Yogeeswaran - History of Travancore Tamil Struggle (Tamil)
  12. ^ a b c D. Peter - Malayali Dominance and Tamil Liberation (Tamil)
  13. ^ R. Kuppusamy - Historical foot prints of a True War (Tamil)
  14. ^ B. Mariya John - Linguistic Reorganisation of Madras Presidenty
  15. ^ a b c d e f g Ayyappan, R (31 October 2020). "Why did Kerala surrender Kanyakumari without a fight?". Onmanorama. Retrieved 16 June 2021.
allikas: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merger_of_Kanyakumari_with_Madras_State