Malayali Memorial

Last updated

The Malayali Memorial was a petition given on 1 January 1891, during the time of Sri Moolam Thirunal Maharaja in Travancore, with the demand that Malayalis should be given importance in high official positions in Travancore. [1]

Contents

History

Only the Tamil Brahmins held high official positions in Travancore during the 19th century. Against this inequality, 10028 signatures were collected under the leadership of Barrister G. P. Pillai, K. P. Shankaramenon, Dr. Palpu, C. V. Ramanpilla, C. Krishnapilla, Kavalam Neelakanta Pillai, K. C. Shadananan Nair and gave it to the Dewan of Travancore. [2] Among the signatories were Nairs, Ezhavas, Latin and Syrian Christians, Anglo-Indians and even a few Namboothiris. [2] The other main demands of this petition were that local people should be given priority in jobs without regard to caste and religion and should have proportional predominance in appointments. K. P. Shankara Menon first signed the Malayali Memorial followed by GP Pillai and Dr Palpu. Eminent lawyer Eardley Norton provided legal assistance in its preparation. Malayali Memorial's flag bearer and writer C.V. Ramanpilla wrote an editorial about the Malayali Memorial in his newspaper Mithabhashi. This was later published as a book titled "Foreign Dominion". [3] The Dewan responded negatively to the demands, saying that the Ezhavas were not sufficiently educated, and that Syrian Christians were already being inducted into the administration gradually. He opined that any change would lead to disorders amongst the communities. [2]

Counter Memorial

Meanwhile, a memorial signed by people of various sects like Tamil Brahmins, Hindu Malayalis and Christian Malayalis with the intention of demolishing the Malayali Memorial was submitted to Sri Moolam Thirunal on 3 June 1891. This came to be known as the counter memorial. [4]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Travancore</span> Kingdom in southern India from 1729 to 1949

The Kingdom of Travancore, also known as the Kingdom of Thiruvithamkoor or later as Travancore State, was an Indian kingdom that lasted from c. 1729 until 1949. It was ruled by the Travancore Royal Family from Padmanabhapuram, and later Thiruvananthapuram. At its zenith, the kingdom covered most of the south of modern-day Kerala and the southernmost part of modern-day Tamil Nadu with the Thachudaya Kaimal's enclave of Irinjalakuda Koodalmanikyam temple in the neighbouring Kingdom of Cochin. However Tangasseri area of Kollam city and Anchuthengu near Attingal in Thiruvananthapuram were parts of British India.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Malayalam literature</span> Literary traditions of the Malayali people of India

Malayalam, the lingua franca of the Indian state of Kerala and the union territories of Lakshadweep and Puduchery, is one of the six classical languages of India. Malayalam literature comprises those literary texts written in Malayalam, a South-Dravidian language spoken in the Indian state of Kerala. The first travelogue in any Indian language is the Malayalam Varthamanappusthakam, written by Paremmakkal Thoma Kathanar in 1785. Malayalam literature has been presented with 6 Jnanapith awards, the second-most for any Dravidian language and the third-highest for any Indian language.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma</span> Last ruling Maharajah of Travancore from 1924–1949

Sree Padmanabhadasa Sree Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma, popularly known as Sree Chithira Thirunal, was the last ruling Maharaja of the Indian princely state of Travancore, in southern India until 1949 and later the Titular Maharajah of Travancore until 1991. His reign is known for several notable reforms that have indelible impact on the society and culture of Kerala.

Pillai or Pillay, meaning "Child of King" (Prince) or "Child", is a surname found among the Malayalam and Tamil-speaking people of India and Sri Lanka.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">G. P. Pillai</span>

Govindan Parameswaran Pillai, also known as Barrister G. P. Pillai, was a freedom fighter, social reformer, barrister, journalist, and publisher. He established the first English language newspaper in South India, The Madras Standard. He drafted the Malayali Memorial in 1891. Pillai is the only Malayali whom Mahatma Gandhi has mentioned in his autobiography. He regularly wrote columns in various newspapers. Pillai stood against autocratic governance in Travancore and promoted civil rights and equal opportunity among all classes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Moolam Thirunal</span> Maharaja of Travancore from 1885–1924

Sir Moolam Thirunal Rama Varma (1857–1924) was Maharajah of the princely state of Travancore between 1885 and 1924, succeeding his uncle Maharajah Visakham Thirunal (1880–1885). Moolam Thirunal is considered as the first in Indian to implement the concept of public participation in governance through the formation of Travancore Legislative Council.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Padmanabhan Palpu</span> Indian social reformer and freedom fighter

Padmanabhan Palpu was a physician from the Kingdom of Travancore who served as a chief medical officer of Mysore State.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nidhiry Mani Kathanar</span> Catholic prist of the Syro Malabar Church

Mar Emmanuel Nidhiri, also known as Nidhiry Mani Kathanar, was a significant figure in the history of the Syrian Malabar Nasrani church in Kerala. He led the community against the European hegemony over the Saint Thomas Christians and was accepted by the factions in the Kerala church. Nidhiri was the second Vicar General of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ezhava</span> Hindu community of Kerala, India

The Ezhavas are a community with origins in the region of India presently known as Kerala, where in the 2010s they constituted about 23% of the population and were reported to be the largest Hindu community. The Malabar Ezhava group have claimed a higher ranking in the Hindu caste system than do the others, although from the perspective of the colonial and subsequent administrations they were treated as being of similar rank.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">C. V. Raman Pillai</span> Indian novelist and playwright

Cannankara Velayudhan Raman Pillai, also known as C. V., was one of the major Indian novelists and playwrights and a pioneering playwright and novelist of Malayalam literature. He was known for his historical novels such as Marthandavarma, Dharmaraja and Ramaraja Bahadur; the last mentioned considered by many as one of the greatest novels written in Malayalam.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gowri Lakshmi Bayi</span> Maharaniand regent of Travancore from 1810–1815

Maharani Ayilyom Thirunal Gowri Lakshmi Bayi (1791–1815) was the Maharani of the Indian state of Travancore from 1810 till 1813 and Regent from 1813 till her death in 1815 for her son Swathi Thirunal Rama Varma. She was the only Queen of Travancore to have reigned in her own right which she did for three years before becoming the regent for her son.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Visakham Thirunal</span> Maharaja of Travancore from 1880–1885

Sri Padmanabha DasaSir Visakham Thirunal Rama Varma VFRAS, also known as Rama Varma the Learned, was the Maharaja of Travancore from 1880 to 1885 AD, succeeding his elder brother Ayilyam Thirunal on the musnud, or throne. He was a noted scholar of Sanskrit and literary composer in Malayalam, who reversed his brother's policy, liberally patronizing poet Kerala Varma, while hostile to painter Raja Ravi Varma.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">T. M. Varghese</span>

Thandaaneth Mathai Varghese (1886–1961) was an Indian freedom fighter, lawyer, statesman, former minister and politician from Kerala.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Swadeshabhimani Ramakrishna Pillai</span> Indian journalist and political activist (1878–1916)

K. Ramakrishna Pillai (1878–1916) was an Indian nationalist writer, journalist, editor, and political activist. He edited Swadeshabhimani, the newspaper which became a potent weapon against the rule of the British and the erstwhile princely state of Travancore and a tool for social transformation. His criticism of the Diwan of Travancore, P. Rajagopalachari and the Maharajah led to the eventual confiscation of the newspaper. Ramakrishna Pillai was arrested and exiled from Travancore in 1910. Vrithantha Pathra Pravarthanam (1912) and Karl Marx (1912) are among his most noted works in Malayalam, Vrithantha Pathra pravarthanam being the first book on journalism in Malayalam and Karl Marx, the first ever biography of Karl Marx in any Indian language. But it has been alleged that he plagiarized the biography from an essay, "Karl Marx: A Modern Rishi", by Lala Hardayal, published in 1912 March issue of the Modern Review, published from Kolkata.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vaikom Satyagraha</span> Indian social movement

Vaikom Satyagraha, from 30 March 1924 to 23 November 1925, was a nonviolent agitation for access to the prohibited public environs of the Vaikom Temple in the Kingdom of Travancore. Kingdom of Travancore was known for its rigid and oppressive caste system. The campaign was led by Congress leaders T. K. Madhavan, K. Kelappan, K. P. Kesava Menon. Other notable leaders who participated in the campaign include George Joseph, E. V. Ramasamy "Periyar" and it was noted for the active support and participation offered by different communities and a variety of activists.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pillai (Kerala title)</span> Noble title in Kerala, India

Pillai, meaning Prince, is a title of nobility which can either refer to a ruling chief, members of the nobility, or junior princes of the royal family historically ranked immediately below the king. The oldest lineages of Pillais include not only Kshatriyas but also brahmins who took up the sword. From the early modern period, the title also came to be bestowed upon Savarna subjects by the Kings for services military or political, most of whom were of Nair origin.

Thycaud Ayyavu Swamikal was a spiritualist and a social reformer, the first to break customs related to caste in Kerala when caste restrictions and untouchability were at its extreme.

The Travancore Legislative Council was the governing body of the Travancore princely state from 1888 to 1932. This legislature was the first opportunity in post-medieval India for non-royal natives to interfere, at least to some extent, with the sovereignty of princely states or imperial powers. Shri Moolam Tirunal Rama Varma, the Maharaja (King) of Travancore, is considered as the first Indian ruler to implement the concept of public participation in governance through the formation of this council. After passing through many stages of evolution, this assembly later became the basic framework of the Kerala Legislature and is considered to became the core of the legislative system of Kerala itself, which became a state in independent India.

References

  1. ↑ Division, Publications. Yojana January 2021 (Malayalam)(Special Edition): A Development Monthly (in Malayalam). Publications Division Ministry of Information & Broadcasting.
  2. 1 2 3 Houtart, Francois; Lemercinier, Genevieve (1978). "Socio-Religious Movements in Kerala: A Reaction to the Capitalist Mode of Production: Part One". Social Scientist. 6 (11): 3–34. doi:10.2307/3516609. ISSN   0970-0293.
  3. ↑ Mathew, K. M. (2015-10-25). The Eighth Ring: An Autobiography. Penguin UK. ISBN   978-93-5214-044-2.
  4. ↑ Rāmacandr̲annāyar, Paṭṭaṃ Ji (1987). നായർ സമുദായത്തിന്റെ ഇതിഹാസം: സാഹിത്യമൂല്യമുള്ള സാമൂഹ്യ ചരിത്രം (in Malayalam). Sāhityavēdi.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.