Kerala, known for its backwaters and lush landscapes, was once divided into three distinct regions: Travancore, Cochin, and Malabar. The journey of these regions merging into the vibrant state of Kerala is a captivating tale. From the royal rule of Travancore to the emergence of a communist-led government, and from early demands for unification to Trivandrum becoming its capital, Kerala's formation reflects a rich and dynamic history.
The princely state of Travancore was under the rule of Sree Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma. Though it had an elected legislature, its powers were limited. On 11 June 1947, the Dewan of Travancore, Sir C.P. Ramaswami Aiyar, announced the state’s decision to remain an independent sovereign entity.
V.P. Menon, Secretary of the States Ministry, met with Sir C.P., urging him to agree to a plan of accession on just three key subjects, leaving most other matters untouched. However, Sir C.P. was keen on creating an American-style model for Travancore.
This move displeased the Communists, who organized a massive uprising against the plan, which culminated in an assassination attempt on Sir C.P. Following this, Sir C.P. resigned, and the Maharaja of Travancore agreed to sign the Instrument of Accession and the Standstill Agreement.
In Cochin, the princely state was ruled by Kerala Varma Thampuran, with a legislative council that had an elected majority since the mid-1920s. As India approached Independence, the Maharaja transferred governance to elected representatives, calling for the formation of a unified Kerala, or Aikya Keralam, by merging Travancore, Cochin, and Malabar.
V.P. Menon supported the idea of Aikya Keralam, noting the shared language, culture, and geography between Travancore and Cochin. However, the central government was hesitant to create linguistic provinces at that time, and thus, Aikya Keralam did not come to fruition immediately.
The Dhar Commission recommended postponing the creation of Aikya Keralam, and the JVP Committee, formed afterward, also cautioned against reorganizing states on linguistic lines due to the potential for disintegration.
Setting aside the demand for Aikya Keralam, the Ministry of States proposed merging Travancore and Cochin, and on 1 July 1949, the United State of Travancore-Cochin was born, with Trivandrum as its capital and the high court situated in Kochi.
In 1953, the Union Government established the States Reorganisation Commission (SRC) to examine state boundaries and linguistic issues, presenting an opportunity to revisit the idea of Aikya Keralam. The Malabar region, which shared linguistic, geographical, and commercial ties with Travancore-Cochin, was part of Madras State but seemed a natural fit for a unified Kerala. The SRC recommended merging Malabar with Travancore-Cochin to create the new state of Kerala. Additionally, the Kasaragod taluk of South Canara was transferred to Kerala, while five Tamil-speaking taluks from the extreme south of Travancore-Cochin were transferred to Madras State.
Another important matter was the administration of the Amindivi Island group (now part of Lakshadweep), which was under South Canara, while the southern Laccadive islands were already part of the Malabar district. The SRC recommended placing both island groups under Kerala’s administration.
On 1 November 1956, the state of Kerala officially came into being, with E.M.S. Namboodiripad from the Communist Party of India (CPI) elected as its first Chief Minister.
Sources:
Administrative Atlas of India (2011); Origin Story of India’s States (2020)
We the People of the States of Bharat (2022) .
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