CHAPTER IV

TRAVANCORE TAMIL NADU CONGRESS AS A

POLITICAL MOVEMENT

The 1947 Allan Memorial Hall meeting was an epoch making event

in the saga of suffering leading to victory. A. Nesamony framed the party rules and

regulations. The enrolment of members, who could work sincerely, began. Soon

after people like Razaak of Edalakudi, who was the leader of the Muslim league

joined the TTNC. A. Chithambaranatha Nadar, P. Ponnappan Nadar, Sivathannu

Pillai, T.T. Daniel, Shanmugam Pillai, Meethan Pillai, Abdul Khadar, Sainul Abdeen

of Kaliakkavilai and R.K. Ram also became active members of the party1. N. Sam

Nathaniel was the party President A. Nesamony became a very important leader of

the party. He consolidated and strengthened the party. He got the support and good

will of the intelligentsia.

Soon they launched an intensive campaign throughout the Tamil

areas. Shortage of man power and the poor financial position of the party proved to

be a handicap for full fledged propaganda. Hence they launched a vigorous

1 A.A. Razaak, Nesamony Oru Charithra Thiruppam (Tamil), Samythoppu,1998, p.55.

105

membership drive along with a fund collection campaign in enlistment of members

and collection of funds began in earnest.2 Within a short time they raised a sum of

Rs.7000 and enlisted over 10,000 members. In the course of the campaigns and

through many road side meetings they secretly prepared a list of persons who were

willing to make sacrifices for the cause of the party.3 They printed a pledge form

which read as follows, “I will abide by the instructions of the TTNC and will be

prepared to undergo any sacrifice for achieving its object”.4 A. Nesamony visited

Madras on 27 September, met a few leaders in Madras, apprised them of the latest

situation in Travancore and secured some money for the TTNC. fund.5

Ideologically, TTNC had modelled itself upon the Indian National

Congress. It maintained contact with eminent National leaders like Mahatma Gandhi

and M.P. Sivagnanam Gramani. M.P. Siva Gnanam Gramani took up the cause of

the Tamils in his Tamil monthly Tamil Murassu. He began to advocate a “Puthiya

Tamilakam” (New Tamil Nadu) and emphasised the need for a United Tamil Nadu.

3000 copies of the monthly were printed and circulated in the Tamilian centres by

the TTNC leaders. M.P. Sivagnanam Gramani was invited by the TTNC leaders to

visit the Tamil area6. Accordingly he visited Nanjinad on 24 October 1946. He

addressed many TTNC. meetings held at Vadasery, Colachel, Eraniel, Mylaudy and

2 D.Dis. No.423/1947/ Confidential Section (C.S). Report from the Inspector General of Police to the

Registrar, Secretariat, Trivandrum, 10 October 1947, State Archives, Trivandrum. 3 D.Dis 423/1947/(C.S), Daily Report (Extract) 23 September 1947. 4 D.Dis. No.423/47/C.S. Report from the Inspector General of Police, 19 October 1947 to the

Registrar, Secretariat Trivandrum, 19 October 1947, State Archives, Trivandrum. 5 D.Dis. No.424/1947/C.S. Secret Report of Inspector General of Police, Trivandrum, 10 October,

1947. 6 M.P. Sivagnanam, Enathu Porattam (Tamil), Chennai, 1947, p.37.

106

other places7. Eventually, TTNC struck deep roots in South Travancore. In due

course M.P. Sivagnanam Gnamani’s Tamil Arasu Kazhagam was organised in South

Travancore. It earned the support of many youngsters like P.S. Mani, M.

Sankaralingam, Nanchil Mani Varman, A. Nagalingam, and P.J. Ponnaiah. Holding

of propaganda meetings became a day to day event in towns and villages. The Nadar

community extended their whole hearted support to this party. On 11 November

1947 a meeting was conducted in Pacode under the Presidentship of Advocate

Mythin Pillai, Shanmugam from Boothapandy, Abdulkhader from Peruvilai and V.

Dhas exhorted the youth to join this organisation. About 500 Nadars attended a

meeting held on 12 November 1947 in Panchivilai of Vilavancode Taluk.8 A similar

meeting was presided over by Sam A. Nathaniel and attended by about 500 persons,

mostly Nadars of the locality9. The speakers appealed to the Tamilians in general

and Nadars in particular to stand united under the Tamil Nadu Congress banner.

They also warned the Nadars against being duped by the State Congressites who

were out to get the support of the Nadars in the elections. On 16 November a

meeting was held in Mylode in Kalkulam, A. Chidambaranathan Nadar presided

over the meeting. About 5000 Nadars participated in the Meeting10

. In the course of

their propaganda they printed and published posters with the map of Travancore as

per the Census Report of 1941, highlighting the places with Tamilian Majority11

7 P.S. Moni, Thiru-Tamilar- Iyakkathil Ma-Po-S.i (Tamil), Nagercoil, 1956, pp.5-9 8 D.Dis. No.424/1947, C.S., State Archives, Trivandurm. 9 File No. Ibid., Report from Inspector General of Police to the Registrar, Huzur Secretariat, 14

November 1947, State Archives, Trivandrum. 10 Ibid. 11 D.Dis. No.228, 1948, C.S. Report from the Inspector General of Police (with the copy of the poster

of the map of Travancore) to the Registrar, Trivandrum, 24 September 1947, State Archives,

Trivandrum.

107

On November 16 at Chennithottam in Vilavancode Taluk about 4000

Nadars assembled for a meeting. V.Dhas presided over the meeting. All the speakers

condemned the attitude of the Nairs towards the Tamilians12

. In the Vanniyoor

meeting which was presided over by R.K. Ram, about 2000 persons, mostly Nadars,

were present.13

Such another meeting was conducted at Cherupalur in Kalkulam

Taluk on 21 November, and presided over by Ponnappa Nadar. Meetings were also

held on November 22 in Viralikad under the Presidentship of Sivarama Pillai, and at

Chennithottam in Vilavankode Taluk under the leadership of George and attended by

about 5000 Nadars of the locality14

. In the meeting conducted at Keezhkulam on

27 November, under the leadership of A. Nesamony, 5000 persons, mostly Nadars,

attended the meeting.15

Thus the TTNC. launched intensive campaigns throughout

the Tamil areas.

The ever increasing members at the TTNC meetings necessitated the

use of microphones and the loudspeakers16

. The crowds were orderly and sat for

long hours and even late into the night and dispersed quietly. Cries of “Travancore

Tamil Nadu Congress ki jai” rent the air. The crowds were thinner at the State

Congress meetings. Hence the leaders resorted to the use of police force to nullify

the activities of the TTNC. The State Congress began to threaten businessmen,

arrack and toddy shop contractors and the P.W.D. contractors17

. The newly formed

12 File Ibid., Report from the Inspector General of Police (I.G) to the Registrar Huzur Secretariat, 18

November 1947. 13 Ibid 14 Ibid 15 File Ibid., Report from the Inspector General of Police to the Registrar, Huzur Secretariat, 27

November 1947. 16 A. Nesamony, Inside Travancore Tamil Nadu, Nagercoil, 1948, p.6. 17 Ibid.

108

Textile Advisory Committee of Vilavancode and Kalkualm was not allowed to

function, as the members were suspected to be active members of the Tamil Nadu

congress.

The Chief Engineer abolished the Town Planning section of the

Nagercoil Municipality after having approved the layout for the extension of the

Town. The construction of the Perunchani Dam and the Channels from the weir at

Thirparappu was practically given up. Excessive procurement of paddy and rice

with the aid of reserve police was resorted to in Thovala and Agasteeswaram18

Conflict between State Congress and TTNC

TTNC leaders gave undue importance to their demand for securing a

separate province for the Tamils in Travancore. But the Travancore State Congress

planned to retain the Tamil areas with the proposed Kerala state. The working

committee of TTNC met at Nagercoil on 20 September 194619

. It deplored the

actions of those individuals and associations which demanded the inclusion of the

Tamil areas in the proposed Kerala province. It demanded that Thovalai,

Agasteeswaram, Kalkulam, Vilavancode part of Neyyattinkara lying South of

Neyyar river, Shancottah, Devikulam and Peermede be merged with Tamilnadu and

the Malayalam areas merged with Kerala. It further urged the Travancore State

Congress to confine its activities to the Malayalam area. Moreover, it sought the

Constitution of a State Congress Committee each for the two provincial congress

organisations (Kerala Pradesh congress and Madras Congress) to represent the

18 Ibid. 19 D. Daniel, Travancore Tamils Struggle for Identity 1938 – 1956, Part I, Madurai, 1992, p. 96.

109

Malayalis and Tamilaians of Travancore.20

Also, it reiterated its right to be

consulted when any change was effected in the Constitution of Travancore21

.

On 25 November 1946, a TTNC meeting was held at the Thampanoor

maidan, Trivandrum. About seventy five persons attended the meeting. Important

members like V. Dhas, R.K. Ram, P. Veerabhadran and V. Narayanan spoke in

favour of a separate Tamil province for the Tamilians in Travancore. In the

meanwhile the Travancore State Congress decided to hold its annual conference at

Nagercoil from 19 to 21 January 1947. Vettukathy Subbaian. an ex-convict,

became the volunteer Captain for their programme. To counter this, the TTNC

nominated Gandhi A. Raman Pillai of Eraviputhoor as its volunteer Captain. In the

working committee meeting of TTNC on 14 December 1946 strong exception was

taken to the proposed meeting of the State Congress in Tamil areas.

The conflict between TTNC and Travancore State Congress

manifested itself at the annual markazhi car festival at the Suchindrum temple on 5

January 1947. The usual pulling of the car (ratham) began at 9 AM. Some members

of the State Congress insisted that the procession should proceed only with the

tricolour Congress flag hoisted on the top of the car. The Devaswom authorities and

the District Magistrate tried to persuade them to remove the flag. But Sivan Pillai

and his brother Dr. Muthu Karuppa Pillai did not agree this. The police arrested A.

Sankaran Pillai, a lawyer and leaders of the divisional committee of the Congress

party. A few other members were also arrested.22

To check violence the police

20 Ibid, p. 97. 21 The Hindu (English Daily), 29 September 1946. 22 A.A. Razaak, Nesamony Oru Charithra Thiruppam, op.cit., p.47.

110

made a lathi charge and opened fire. Four persons by name Arunachalam, Patchayya

Nadar, Umaithanu Pillai and Tiraviam Pillai died; many were wounded. Fearing

further tension the State Congress postponed the conference to 8 and 9 April, 1947.

The Sucindrum incident discredited the State Congress leaders in the eyes of the

religious minded Tamils. The trust of the Tamils in the State Congress leadership

was also shattered. The TTNC. made capital out of this imbroglio and mounted a

propaganda blitz. The Tamils joined the TTNC in large numbers.

On 8 April 1947 a meeting was held in the Andraper compound on

the Kottar Parvathipuram Road in Nagercoil. The meeting started at 9 A.M with the

flag hoisting ceremony by Srimathi Lakshmi Bai Bharathi of Madurai. Due to the

boycott of the Tamils only about 400 persons attended it. On the same day TTNC

volunteers busily moved about in different parts of Nagercoil town awaiting the

arrival of T. Prakasam of Madras to participate in the meeting. They had planned to

hold black flag demonstrations at Parvathipuram junction when the car of Prakasam

passed by. But he did not come at the scheduled time since he had missed the

Trivandrum flight. Yet they observed a complete hartal, staged black flag

demonstration against the State Congress and shouted slogans like go back

prakasam,23

and made loud shouts of ‘jais’ to TTNC. The meeting was a miserable

flop. The State Congress lost its prestige in the Thovalai and Agasteeswaram

Taluks. The growth and consolidation of the TTNC posed a great threat for the

political survival of the State Congress party in the Southern areas.

Police Repression

Due to the mass appeal of A. Nesamony and his followers, the centre

23 Bharathi (Malayalam Daily), 9 April 1947.

111

of the Tamil movement was shifted from the Taluks of Thovala – Agastesswaram to

Kalkulam – Vilavancode24

.

The TTNC had printed pledge forms for the new members A.

Nesamony, N.A. Noor Mohamed, C. Madhavan Pillai and a few others had signed

this pledge25

. An intensive campaign was launched throughout the Tamil area26

.

Hand bills were printed and distributed throughout Kalkulam, Vilavancode,

Agasteeswaram and Thovalai Taluks of Travancore. The Tamils demanded that the

Dewan recognise TTNC as the sole political organisation of the Tamils of

Travancore and grant them the right to nominate ¼ of the members to the reform

committee from TTNC. The Government refused to consider the claims of TTNC.27

The Travancore Government was mainly a Nair Government.It identified itself with

the Congress and supported it in all its atrocities28

.

Repression and police Atrocities in Eraniel, Kalkulam and Vilavancode

The TTNC decided to celebrate Gandhi Jeyanthi in 1947 in a grand,

but novel manner. In connection with this, processions and meetings were

conducted in Eraniel. On 6th October a similar meeting was arranged by the

Travancore State Congress. On the same day a mammoth meeting of over 3,000

people was held under the auspices of TTNC at Marthandam. Some of the

prominent members of the movement addressed the gathering. The procession

started at 4.p.m. from Kandanviali with 79 bullock carts. When they approached

24 D. Daniel, Travancore Tamils Struggle for Identity, p.198. 25 D.Dis. No.103/1948/C.S. Report from the District Magistrate, Trivandrum to the Registrar, Huzur

Secretariat, 29 November 1947, State Archives, Trivandrum. 26 A. Nesamony, Inside Travancore Tamil Nadu, p.125. 27

Ibid 28 Personal interview with Thiyagi Singarayar, 12.06.2003.

112

Monday Market TTNC office, a few members of the State Congress tore the placard

and posters sporting the slogan “We will form Tamil province in Travancore”. A

cloth placard of TTNC waving in the air more than 25 feet above the ground was

forcibly removed and torn to pieces. This led to a fight and a few were injured. The

Police failed to protect the life and property of innocent persons. Finally the

procession was stopped29

. News of the hooliganism indulged in by State Congress

volunteers and of the injuries inflicted on the innocent Tamilians in the locality

reached the President of the TTNC.

So, he, accompanied by a few members of the working committee

proceeded to the spot. Based on the information gleaned by him that night, a

phonocom was sent to the Private Secretary to His Highness the Maharaja requesting

immediate interference, as the police force failed to protect the life and property of

innocent citizens. A total one day hartal was observed on 7 October, in Eraniel,

Monday Market and Neyyoor as a protest against the high handed action of the State

Congress. Tamilians lost confidence in the police. After this incident the struggle of

the Tamils spread rapidly.

Kuzhithurai

A Tamil Nadu Congress propaganda meeting was held at Kuzhithurai,

on 15 November 1947. It was a monster gathering of about 30,000 persons30

. It was

presided over by Sivarama Pillai31

. The President of the State Congress of

Vilavancode and other leading Nairs of the locality got two Nair houses in the

29 Ibid. 30 Ibid. 31 D.Dis. No.99/1947/C.S. Report from District Magistrate, Trivandrum to the Registrar, Secretariat,

Trivandrum, 18 November 1947, State Archives, Trivandrum.

113

vicinity vacated for the purpose of harbouring hooligans. The meeting had been in

progress for an hour when stones were pelted at the gathering from those houses;

many in the crowd were injured32

. The next day the District superintendent of police

and other Nair officials came to the spot and a case was filed against 300 unknown

persons including the Municipal councillors of Kuzhithurai Municipality. The

arrested were beaten like rabid dogs. This incident sent a shock-wave among the

Tamils.

Manalikkarai Meeting

In order to get the support of the Catholics, Sam A. Nathniel and Fenn

Rasaliah accompanied by A. Nesamony, met Rev. Fr. Agniswamy, Bishop of Kottar,

Accordingly the Bishop issued secret instructions to the parishes under him to

propagate the views of the TTNC. and preserve the unity of the Tamil Catholics.33

The move was only partially successful, for the parishes under the Malayalee priests

discouraged the Tamil Movement. The State Congress workers challenged the

Tamils’ propaganda work.

The Catholic Christians of Manalikkarai accorded a reception to Miss.

Annie Mascarene, a leading State Congressite34

. The local Parish priest was in

league with the leading Nairs of the locality and some fisherfolk who were the

supporters of the State Congress seized this opportunity to convert the reception into

a State Congress propaganda meeting35

.

32 Letter by M.S. Dhas, Kuzhithurai to the Dewan, 17 November 1947. 33 Ibid. 34 A. Nesamony, Inside Travancore Tamil Nadu, p.11. 35 Ibid.

114

In spite of the warning given her by the leading Catholics of the

locality not to induge in politics, Annie Masscarene appealed to the gathering to

support the State Congress. A section of the audience left the meeting in protest.

Confusion prevailed and the meeting ended abruptly36

. Enraged at this, the Nairs

and the Catholic priest instigated one of the fisher folk to complain to the police that

a shop of him, a mobile one, was broken open and vandalised. There upon the

Inspector of police, Thiruvattar, came to the scene the following day, assaulted with

lathis all innocent passers by, filed a case against Tamil Nadu Congress volunteers

and sympathisers, broke into their houses at odd hours of the night, beat them,

belaboured them and carried them in police vans and threw them into the lock up at

Thiruvattar37

. In a phonocom, S. Nathaniel informed the authorities about these

incidents38

. When this matter was referred to the Assistant Superintendent of police,

Nagercoil for necessary and appropriate action, the latter turned it down on the

ground that “there is absolutely no truth in the allegations in the phonocom”39

.

Attoor

On 23 November A. Nesamony presided over a huge meeting of over

7000 persons at Attoor in Kalkulam Taluk. In the course of his speech he referred to

the disturbances at Kuzhithurai and the ruthless police action and exhorted the

people to court arrest and fill the police lock ups in thousands40

. He criticised the

reports of the Reform committee and pointed out the inadequate representation given

36 Ibid 37 Ibid., p.12. 38 D. Daniel, Travancore Tamils- Struggle for identity 1938-1956, p.163. 39 D.Dis. No.117/1948/C.S. Report from the Assistant Superintendent of Police, Nagercoil, to the

Inspector General of Police, Trivandrum, 9 December 1947. 40 D.Dis. No.103/1948/C.S. Report from the District Magistrate, Trivandrum to the Registrar,

Secretariat, 29 November 1947.

115

to SIUC Christians in the Reform Committee. Other depressed classes such as

Asaris, Kammalars etc. in the Tamil area were also largely under represented.

Aruvikarai incidents

Violence was unleashed on anyone thought to be actively involved in

the TNCC affairs. Travancore Tamil Nadu Congress volunteers were returning

home after attending a meeting at Attoor when they were pelted with stones at

Aruvikarai. They escaped with minor injuries under cover of darkness. Next

morning the glass ventilators of the pakuthi cutchery at Aruvikarai were found

considerably damaged. Over eighteen volunteers were charged with this and

arrested. Four of them were arrested on the road41

.

Next day those arrested at Aruvikara and Manalikara were chained

two by two and marched as the local Congressities and the Nairs assembled along

the two sides of the road and mocked at them saying. “Here are Tamil Nadu bastards

carrying the Tamil province on their heads two by two”42

. Later they were brought

to Vilavancode Magistrate by bus. The Magistrate remanded them to custody. The

next day the volunteers were beaten cruelly with the butt end of the guns by the

police. Cries of agony and pain could be heard outside the Jail premises. Therefore,

an attempt was made to move the local Magistrate to inspect the lockup that night

and record the statement of the injured, but no action was taken on it. The next day

another petition was moved and it was forwarded to the local Medical officer. He

noted serious injuries on the persons of more than 4 under trials. Since the Medical

41 A. Nesamony, Inside Travancore Tamil Nadu, p.12. 42 Ibid, p.13.

116

officer was a Tamilian, he was immediately transferred. However the Session Judge

granted bail immediately, but observed that the cases were mere exaggeration.

The Kuzhithurai, Manalikarai and Aruvikara incidents produced

consequential outbursts. The Tamilians who had been under the subjugation of their

Nair landlords for generations found in the TTNC., a socio-political saviour to

deliver them from Nair control.

The working committee of TTNC. housed in the party office at

Nagercoil reviewed the situation in Kalkulam – Vilavancode. They also received

reports daily in their office regarding the high handed activities of the police towards

the Tamils43

.

Pacode

In connection with the case at Kuzhithurai several persons from the

neighbouring village of Pacode were arrested. A rich and influential Nair of that

place was selling paddy at night in the black market. This was discovered by the

local TTNC. volunteers who obstructed the transportation of the Paddy by the

purchaser and reported the matter to the local Thassildar. The informants, the

attestors to the Mahasar and other witnesses were all impleaded as accused in the

Kuzhithrai case. Lorry loads of Reserve police were rushed to this village. The

police arrested and belaboured a large number of villagers. Houses were broken

open by the police at night to effect arrests44

.

43 D.Dis No.104/1948/C.S. Letter from S. Nathaniel, TTNC., Nagercoil to Dewan, Trivandrum, 1

December 1947, State Archives, Trivandrum. 44 A. Nesamony, Inside Travancore Tamil Nadu, p.14.

117

Thikkanamcode

Much worse persecution was to ensue. The Reserve police under the

command of V.K George, Inspector of police, Eraniel, started the game of man

hunting. One day more than fifty persons who were passing along the road leading

to Mangarai, Kottethi and Pallapallam were assaulted with lathis and kicked. This

Inspector did not spare even school children. At Thikkanamcode he gave chase to

the school boys who were returning home after school. One of them entered the

house of Varuvel Savarimuthu for shelter and ran out of the house for his life when

the police entered the house and beat up the inmates – young and the old people

alike.45

At Madichal there was long standing enmity between a Nair and his

neighbour, a Nadar Palmyra – climber. The Nair informed the Reserve police that

this poor Nadar was one of those involved in the Kuzhithurai case and that he should

be arrested. He was set upon by the Reserve police, thrashed, and carried away. The

following night somebody assaulted the Nair when he was returning home after his

usual machinations with the police. The next morning the reserve police entered the

village in batches from different directions. They got into every house, almost 300

in number, and assaulted with lathis and the butt ends of the rifles every adult male

they came across and some women except the very old ones and children. Most of

the Tamils (Nadars) deserted the village and fled for their lives46

.

45 Ibid., p.15. 46 Ibid.

118

The next day on 8 January A. Nesamony accompanied by A. Appavoo

Panicker and A Gabriel Nadar visited Madichal and the surrounding villages It was

a heart rending Scene. Houses were deserted except for starving children and weird

looking women in tears. Climbing of Palmyra tree had come to a stand still. Fear

and terror reigned supreme in that area. Day and night people lived in fear of being

tortured. People were forced to accept the State Congress as their organization. If

they did not accede to it they were threatened with dire consequences, assaulted with

lathis and guns, herded like animals in police vans, and subjected to untold

humiliations and torture47

. The old and the very young were at their mercy and

women too did not escape their hands. Many of those assaulted feared for their lives

and sought treatment in various hospitals. Some of the prominent Nadars of the

village also were not spared. They were mandhandlled and their houses broken

open.

Muthunayagom of Mettukumel, while undergoing treatment in L.M.

Hospital, Marthandan went to see his relative. On the way he was severely

belaboured. A broken lathi, and the broken handle of an umbrella which he had been

carrying were recovered from the spot and preserved as sacred relics at the TTNC

office to remind the Tamilians of what a Malayalee regime meant48

. On that day the

Padanthalamudu evening market was not held as people did not step out of their

houses and were in hiding.

47 A. Nesamony, Inside Travancore Tamil Nadu, p.16. 48 Ibid., p.17.

119

A. Nesamony requested the local Magistrate “to order the Reserve

police to stop this orgy of man hunting and to make a local inspection of this area to

ensure safety of person and property to the public”. But nothing was done.

Reports of police excesses were pouring into the office from all

quarters49

Representations were made to the Dewan, the District magistrate and to

His Highness the Maharaja. No redress came. The police patrolled the areas and

carried on a systematic campaign of terrorising Tamil Nadu Congress volunteers and

workers.50

They drove along the roads, got down whenever they found a volunteer

or a group of Tamilians who were out on their peaceful avocation of life, assaulted

them with lathis or the butt end of their rifles kicked them and threw them on the

road side. Sometimes they were carried in their vans and thrown out far away from

the places they had been picked up from.

Prohibition of Meetings

The Government now entered upon the next phase of repression

against the Tamil Nadu Congress. Public meetings organised by TTNC were

banned, leaders intimidated and vindictive cases registered to scare away the

voters.51

On 16th

November, 1947 a TTNC meeting was held in Kalkulam Taluk at

Brahmapuram. It was presided over by Madhavan Pillai. State Congress hooligans

were transported in police vans and stationed by the side of the place where the

meeting was to take place. Police in mufti were present at the meeting to create

confusion. Congress volunteers who marched to the meeting from different

49 Ibid. 50 Personal Interview with A. Johnson, Sub-Registrar, Karumpadu, 01.01.2004. 51 D.Dis. No.2079/48/Judicial Department, Letter from S. Nathaniel to the Maharaja, 3 January 1948,

State Archives, Trivandrum.

120

directions were stopped enroute by the police. The local Magistrate ordered the

conveners to dissolve the meeting52

. All along the way to the meeting the Reserve

police and hooligans indulged in indiscriminate assault. Though this was brought to

the notice of the authorities no action was taken.

Yet the Tamil Nadu Congress was not intimidated. A meeting was

advertised to be held at Munchira. On the way to the meeting a number of police

vans were lined up to threaten the people. A small number of Nairs and employees

of the Local Taluk office and Devaswom Department obstructed the movement of

Traffic and did not allow the car in which the speakers were travelling to proceed

further. In the meanwhile a huge crowd gathered at the meeting place. But the

Convener of the meeting was ordered to disperse the meeting immediately.53

Similar

meetings at Elanthavilai and Nattalam were also dispersed by the police. It had

become the pastime and a sport for the police to hunt out Tamilians, subject them to

inhuman torture, and then let them go. Innumerable young men and respectable

persons dared not stir out of their houses or move in public places as they lived in

constant fear of being assaulted and falsely implicated in cases. In the meanwhile

changes began to take place in the Travancore Government.

Inauguration of Representative Body

The Government constituted a Representative body consisting of

members elected on adult franchise as a prelude to the establishment of a responsible

government. It also appointed a Reforms Committee to submit proposals for a new

52 Ibid. 53 A. Nesamony, Inside Travancore Tamil Nadu, p.20.

121

Constitution54

. The committee consisted of fifteen members with A. Thanu Pillai as

President and T.M. Varghese, C. Kesavan, A.J. John, P.S. Nataraja Pillai, T.A.

Abdulla, M. Ramakrishna Pillai, P. Vivekanandan and Mannathu Padmanabha Pillai

as members. Regarding qualification of electors the committee proposed that

normally all persons shall be entitled to vote provided they were nationals of

Travancore and had completed 21 years of age. Candidates contesting the election

should have completed 25 years of age55

on the date of filing the nomination papers.

There was widespread criticism about the representation on the

committee because it did not give full representation to all the political parties. The

TTNC. submitted a memorandum claiming ¼ of the committee’s membership56

.

The government did not agree to it but it agreed to have A. Nesamony as a member

on behalf of the South India united churches (SIUC).57

But A. Nesamony did not

accept the offer. A. Nesamony wrote to the Dewan, “I regret to decline your

invitation since the Travancore Tamil Nadu Congress of which I am a member,

claims to be called upon to nominate its own nominees.58

Yet the government did

not yield. In protest against the stand of the Government, Gandhi Raman Pillai, one

of the leaders of the Travancore Tamilnadu Congress, observed hunger strike at Cape

Comorin from 19 to 26 September 1947.59

No community in the state believed in

the bonafides of the State Congress and every community wanted reservation of

54 Administration Report of Travancore for the year 1947-48, 1948, p.10. 55 Travancore Reforms Committee Report 1947-12, November 1947, p.3. 56 A. Nesamony, Inside Travancore Tamil Nadu, p.3. 57 D.Dis. No.527/1947/C.S. Letter from P.G. Narayanan Unnithan to A. Nesamony, Nagercoil, 14

September 1947, State Archives, Trivandrum. 58 D.Dis. No.527/1947/C.S. Letter from A. Nesamony, Nagercoil to the Dewan, Trivandrum, 15

September 1947, State Archives, Trivandrum. 59 D.Dis. No.424/1947/C.S. Report from Inspector General of Police, Travancore to the Registrar,

Secretariat, Trivandrum, 7 October 1947, State Archives, Trivandrum.

122

seats. The State Congress which claimed to represent all communities was faced

with a difficult problem and the solution they found was most disappointing.60

The

members of the committee represented nobody except themselves and every one of

them was keen to create a constituency for himself. Thus every community was

given reservation, and communal feelings were aroused as never before.

The Reform committee under the leadership of Pattom Thanu Pillai

submitted its report on 20th November, 194761

. The following is the list of

representations given to each community.

1) Muslim - 9

2) Paraya - 2

3) Latin Catholic - 9

4) Hindu Nadar - 5

5) SIUC - 2

6) Kammala - 5

7) Araya - 1

8) Tanadan - 1

9) Kurava - 2

10) Pulaya - 4

Total - 40

The report submitted by the committee was never published for public

scrutiny. The rules framed by the committee were never published in the

60 A. Nesamony, Inside Travancore Tamil Nadu, p.4. 61 The Hindu (English Daily), 24 November 1947, p.10.

123

Government Gazetteer. The government passed orders accepting the

recommendations and rules as proposed by the committee and ordered elections to

the representative body. The report was most damaging to the Tamilians. It

recommended one representative for 50,000 people and wanted to constitute the

representative body with 120 members.62

Only 40 constituencies were to be reserved

seats and the remaining 80 became general seats.63

Two more general seats ought to

have been allotted to the Tamil area. The constituencies of Agasteeswaram and

Vilavancode were the two largest constituencies with a voting strength of 1,01,000

and 1,03,000 respectively. There were 140 and 146 polling stations in them, while

the constituency for which the President of the State Congress competed had fewer

than 20,000 voters and 32 polling stations.64

This was because TTNC was

considered disloyal to the government.

The Government ordered elections to the Representative Body in

January – February 1948. On 12 December 1947, the TTNC held its General Body

meeting in its office at Nagercoil, Sam. A. Nathaniel Presided over the meeting.

They decided to take necessary measures immediately for setting up candidates for

various constituencies in the Tamil areas and to contest all the seats, general as well

as reserved, in the Tamil taluks of Thovala, Agasteeswaram, Kalkulam, Vilavancode,

Neyyatinkara, Devikulam and Peermade. 5th January, 1948 was fixed as the last

date for the receipt of applications at the TTNC. The TTNC flag was green in colour

with a golden colour pot symbol in the centre. Since low caste women were once not

62 Travancore Reforms committee Report 1947 – 12 November 1947, Trivandrum, p.3. 63 A.A. Razaak, A. Nesamony Oru Charithra Thiruppam, p.58. 64 A. Nesamony, Inside Travancore TamilNadu, p.5.

124

permitted to carry pots on their hip, this symbol was selected. This flag was first

hoisted by A. Nesamony in Chemmanvilai near Mangad.65

By now, A. Nesamony had emerged as a powerful spokesman of the

TTNC66

. On 3rd January, 1948 he participated in a Nadar conference at

KanjiramKulam near Neyyatinkara. Due to his efforts A. Kunjan Nadar, a State

Congress man along with a group of Nadar Congressites, joined the TTNC. The

TTNC party members held many election propaganda meetings. But, the Reign of

Terror by the Reserve police still continued.67

Volunteers underwent humiliations

and torture. Under the pretext of the impending elections, the Nairs indulged in acts

of vengeance against the TTNC men.

People began to realize more and more why the TTNC struggle

against the Malaylees was vital for their welfare and freedom. They also saw how

the struggle bound them in a rare camaraderie. TTNC devised ways and means to get

all the Tamil votes, particularly those of the Nadars who constituted a major vote

bank among the Tamils of the Southern Taluks.

Visit of Kamaraj

It was at this time that the Tamil Nad Congress appealed to kamaraj

Nadar to visit Travancore. He visited Travancore on 4 December 1947.68

Kamaraj

was received at the Trivandrum Airport by TTNC Leaders like A. Nesamony, M.

Siva Thanu Pillai, A. Ponnappa Nadar, M. William, V. Ponnaiah and a few others.69

65 Personal interview with Thiyagi Singarayar, 12.06.2003. 66 A.A. Razaak, Nasamony Oru Charithra Thiruppam, Nagercoil, 1998, p.64. 67 A. Nesamony, Inside Travancore Tamil Nadu, p.22. 68 Ibid. 69 S. Manickam (ed), Reflection on Trends and Themes in History, Madurai, 1999, p.108.

125

In the evening he spoke at a public meeting at Eraniel.70

On 5th and 6th December

Kamaraj addressed a few public meetings at Karungal, Nagercoil and Cape Comorin

and held private talks with the leaders of both the TTNC and the State Congress. In

his address to 20,000 people at Ramavarmapuram, Nagercoil on 5th December at

7.30 P.M., he pleaded for an amicable settlement between TTNC and the State

Congress and discouraged the idea of a separate province for the Tamilians in the

State and deprecated the idea of dividing the people as Tamilians and Malayalees.

He put forward two suggestions. The State Congress and TTNC. should co-operate

with each other and a separate province for the Tamils, was not feasible. Barring a

few, all in the TTNC did not like the suggestions of Kamaraj.

He tried to induce the State Congress to come to terms with the Tamil

Nadu Congress. His attempts failed. The Malayalam papers Swatantrakakalam and

Kerala Kaumudi indulged in misrepresenting what he stated. When he was informed

of the pernicious propaganda carried on by the Malayalam press, he issued a

statement to the Associated Press of India advocating the formation of the Southern

Taluks of Travancore into a Separate Revenue Division with necessary safeguards

for the Tamilians.71

The TTNC had fondly wished to enlist Kamaraj’s support for their

cause and was disappointed. They had thought of making use of the political

influence of Kamaraj to counter the State Congress Leadership in the Tamil areas.

But his views created difference of opinion among the TTNC. Already a split had

70 D.Dis. No.104/1948/C.S. Report of the Special Branch officer, Nagercoil on visit of K. Kamaraj, 4

December 1947, State Archives, Trivandrum. 71 D.Dis. No.1948/C.S. Report of the TTNC. Committee, Martandam (leaflet in Tamil), 10 December

1947, State Archives, Trivandrum.

126

come in the organisation. One section was resentful of the suggestions of Kamaraj.

They believed that even if the State Congress leaders were able to arrive at a

settlement over the Tamilian question in the presence of Kamaraj, that settlement

would be only on paper and would not last long. They believed that anything short

of a Tamil Administrative unit in the State would not be beneficial to the Tamilians.

Another section, viz., Sam A. Nathaniel, K.Sivarama Pillai and others inflenced by

A. Nesamony and M. Sivathanu Pillai, were not critical of the suggestions of

Kamaraj and wanted the present deadlock to be solved some how or other without

greatly impairing the prestige of the organisation.72

The compromise talks were expected to continue in Madras in the

presence of Kamaraj on or after 20 December 1947. But this did not materialise.

Thanu Pillai did not keep his promise to go to Madras and Kamaraj seems to have

taken no further step in the matter fearing a great victory for the TTNC. The

Travancore Government and leaders adopted unscrupulous means to divide the

Tamils. Their efforts won substantial initial success. The Vellalar Mahasabha

instructed its members to desist from voting in favour of TTNC and advocated a

policy of restraint.

The Kamaraj visit also could not bring any reconciliation between the

State Congress and a majority of Hindu Nadars of Kalkulam and Villavancode. The

Christians rallied under A. Nesamony. The local Magistrates in collaboration with

the State Congressites ordered the dissolution of the TTNC meetings.73

In the course

72 A. Nesamony, Inside Travancore Tamil Nadu, p.22. 73 Ibid.

127

of the election campaign, the open rivalry between the State Congress and the Tamil

Nad Congress was manifest in many areas of South Travancore.

The pre-election harassment by the police did not affect the growth of

the party. When the Travancore Government announced elections to the

representative body, both the TTNC and the State Congress fielded their candidates –

14 in South Travancore and the remaining four in Devikulam, Peermedu and

Shenkottai taluks.

1948 Election

The Election was held from 2nd February 1948 to 16 February,

1948.74

Four days before the election, the Reserve police stationed at Nagercoil

began to assault and terrorise innocent Tamilians at the instance of the State

Congress leaders. Some candidates who stayed in rooms on the second floor of a

building in the heart of the Municipal Town of Nagercoil indulged in vituperative

abuse of the Tamils through loud speakers day in and day out75

.

The Joint Secretary of the TTNC was dragged out of his khadi shop

and was severely beaten up by the reserve police, who fled the scene in a jeep when

respectable citizens sitting in the adjacent shop remonstrated. The next evening there

was a monster gathering at the Municipal ground to protest against this wanton act of

cruelty. This was followed by a complete hartal in the town and the moffusil areas.

The same evening there was a rally of volunteers which was followed by another

mammoth meeting at the Municipal grounds. Soon after this meeting was over a

lorry load of Reserve police led by the local Inspector raided the Tamil Nadu

74 P. John John, Coalition Government in Kerala, Trivandrum, 1983, p.7. 75 A. Nesamony, Inside Travancore, Tamil Nadu, p.22.

128

Congress office. Gandhi Raman Pillai, Janap A. Abdul Khadar and Nagalingam

Pillai were beaten up without any reason whatsoever.

On the way to the local police station, they were kicked with booted

legs assaulted with lathis and butt ends of the rifles and addressed thus, “you

wretched fools! You do not like Pattom’s rule! We will see whether you like it or

not”. As they were being taken to the lockup, they were assaulted by the reserve

police in the presence of the District Magistrate and the District Superintendent of

Police who did not move their little finger to stop this wanton assault.76

A case was

immediately registered against 13 leading Congress volunteers and non-bailable

warrants were issued immediately for their arrest. Those arrested were not allowed

bail by the Magistrate, who purposely avoided attending court. He was taken around

the town in a jeep by the police lest he should hear the bail application. Later, on 30

January, the District Judge granted them bail. Such atrocities earned for the Tamils

sympathy from many quarters. Talented stage artists and cinematists like N.S.

Krishnan and T.K. Shanmugam brothers extended their support to the Tamils.77

The Tamilians went to the polls with a heavy heart, but determined to

end this reign of terror. They cast their Votes in large numbers in favour of the

Tamil Nadu Congress candidates. TTNC election camps also under went thorough

checking by the police. On the eve of the election, the Tamil area looked like an

armed reserve camp.78

. Yet the Tamilians went to the election peacefully. 4th

February 1948, the election day, marked the dawn of a new era for TTNC.

76 A. Nesamony, Inside Travancore Tamil Nadu, p.23. 77 D.Dis. No.2079/48. Speeches of Shanmugam in TTNC Meeting at Karungal and Eraniel held on 22

November 1947, State Archives, Trivandrum. 78 Dinamalar 1 November, 1956.

129

In two constituencies in Kalkulam State Congress goondaism raised

its head with the active support of the Inspector of police of Thiruvattar. At

Kulasekaram the TTNC voters were not allowed to enter the polling booth, a passage

had to be created to let the voters in, still many went home disappointed. At

Thiruvattar ponmanai, Chenkody and Thirunanthikarai the same kind of disruption

happened.79

A feeling of insecurity and danger to life spread in these places. That

affected the polling in the Kalkulam constituency.

The State Congress Goondas drove away the Tamilians who gathered

at Nettancode, Mekode, Alancode, Manavalakurichi and Colachel. Though the

special police soon restored order, many abstained from voting for fear of injury.

Inspite of all such obstacles all the 5 candidates set up by the State Congress were

defeated by an over whelming majority.

The day before the election in Marayur and Vattavada, 2 Tamilian

centres, the Reserve police along with State Congress goondas entered the village,

lathi charged and drove off a good number of the voters who had to hide themselves

for safety till the polling was over. At Chitrapuram and Kallar polling was

effectively stopped by the riots that broke out80

. A Good number of Tamil coolies

living in Devikulam were not included in the voter's list. For these reasons the

TTNC candidates were not able to score a victory.

The Nairs and hooligans also launched planned attacks on Tamils at

Neyattinkara. TTNC polling agents, outside agents and other helpers were assaulted,

arrested in some cases and threatened. Many had to leave the polling booths in

79 A. Nesamony, Inside Travancore TamilNad, p.24. 80 Interview with Late Mr. Johnson, Sub Registrar, Karumpaddu, 01.01.2004.

130

despair. Though the 3 candidates set up by the Tamil Nadu lost their seats, the way

was opened to the Tamilian to venture forth into this citadel of Nair orthodoxy. This

was the first time that Tamilians contested elections in this taluk.

The Vilavancode Taluk was the largest single constituency in

Travancore with 146 polling stations and a voting strength of 1,03,00081

. Tension

prevailed throughout Vilavancode Taluk on the election day. Stone throwing,

assaults, house burning and lawlessness of every sort was resorted to by both sides.

The Reserve police at the instigation of the State Congress terrorised the voters at

Mangad, a big Tamilian centre. Police opened fire and shot down 2 persons.82

One

of them Deva Rayan died.83

Attempts were made to murder important leaders of the

TTNC.

On the polling day, 16th February, at Kollengode an attempt was

made by the State Congress hooligans on the life of A.N. Satyanesan, Editor of

‘Bharati’ a Malayalam daily which espoused the cause of the Tamilians, He narrowly

escaped with a chopper cut. A. Kunjan Nadar escaped an assassin’s dagger at

Mavilai, where the polling had to he stopped for a few hours. An attempt was made

on the life of the President of the TTNC at Painkulam and he somehow escaped.

More than 50 persons were injured84

. In spite of these the Tamilians gathered in

large numbers in all the polling booths.

81 A. Nesamony, Inside Travancore Tamil Nadu, p.25. 82 D.Dis. No.160/48/C.S. Copy of the Report of the Assistant Superintendent of Police, Trivandrum,

11 February 1948, State Archives, Trivandrum. 83 Ibid. 84 D.Dis. No..360/1948/C.S. Copy of a report of Inspector of Police, Vilavancode, 11 February 1948,

State Archives, Trivandrum.

131

Determined to vote against the atrocities of the Malayalees, the

Tamils voted in favour of TTNC. The result was that all the 5 candidates setup by

the State Congress in the Thovala and Agastheeswaram constituencies lost their

deposits. They failed to secure one eighths of the votes polled.

RESULTS OF ELECTIONS – 194885

Constituency and

Name of seat

Name of TTNC

candidate (elected)

Votes

secured

Name of State

Congress

Candidates

defeated

No of

Votes

Secured

Remarks

1 Thovala

(General)

Sivarama Pillai 14,089 T.K. Narayani

Amma

1,196 Deposit

forfeited

2 Agasteeswaram

(General)

K. Raman Pillai 50,911 S.J. Pandia Nadar 6,276 Do

Hindu Nadar P.Thanulingam Nadar 50,311 P. Vivekanandar 5,866 Do

Paraya J. Ponniah 51,804 Rodericz 5,276 Do

Latin Catholic S. Ambrose 51,363 Rodericz 5,489

3 Kalkulam A (General)

T. Kochu Krishna Pillai

33,018 Madavan Pillai 15,807

Latin Catholic A. Elias 32,948 J. Simon 15,765

Hindu Nadar V. Dhas 32,314 Ponmoni Nadar 15,906

4. Kalkulam B

(General)

D. Gnanasigamoni 19,424 C.N. Sivathanoo

Pillai

10,699

Hindu Nadar A. Chidambara Nadar 20,159 Subramania Nadar 10,566

5. Vilavancode

(General)

S. Satha Sivan 50,584 A. Sankara Pillai 28,089

Hindu Nadar R. Chellaswami Nadar 50,707 S. Muthuswami 27,812

Latin Catholic A. Gabriel 51,379 Duraiswami 27,812

SIUC A. Nesamony 51,524 G. Jebamony 27,463

85 A. Nesamony, Inside Travancore Tamil Nadu, p.37.