Early Political Agitations in Cochin

As in Travancore, in Cochin too the desire for good government asserted itself even in the early days of British rule. A notable instance of an organised political move to change the status quo was in 1834. This was against the corrupt and inefficient administration of the Diwan, Sankara Menon. There was a similar move against Diwan Venkata Rao who had also proved himself to be unpopular.

The National movement in British India under the leadership of the Indian National Congress had its echoes in Cochin. A Committee of the Indian National Congress was functioning in Trichur, even as early as 1919. Several congressmen from the state took part in the various Non Co-operation movements and Civil Disobedience movements carried on under Gandhiji's leadership..

The most spectacular of the agitations in Cochin was the one organised in Trichur town in 1936. It was a protest against the decision of the Cochin Government under the Diwan Sir.R.K.Shanmukham Chetti to entrust the distribution of electricity in the town to a private company. This helped to bring the people of all castes and communities on a common platform. It was a truly popular movement.The Government of Cochin adopted repressive measures to put down the agitation and ultimately it fizzled out.

In the late thirties the Cochin District Congress Committee actively participated in the public life of Cochin. While in Travancore the Government tried to suppress the political agitations for responsible government in that state, its counterpart in Cochin adopted an enlightened policy of meeting the demand in stages.

A scheme of Diarchy on the pattern under the Montague-Chelmsford reforms was introduced in Cochin. A popularly elected Minister chosen by majority vote from among the members of the Cochin Legislative Council was given charge of certain Departments of the state Government. In the elections held under the new scheme two distinct groups emerged in the Cochin legislature viz the Cochin Congress, under the leadership of Ambat Sivarama Menon and the Cochin State Congress under Dr.A.R.Menon.

The experiment in Diarchy did not satisfy the progressive sections of the population of Cochin. Hence in 1914 a new organisation called the Cochin State Praja Mandal was formed with declared objectives of starting an agitation for the achievement of responsible government. The "Quit India" movement of 1942 tied to the revival of political activity in Cochin. Several demonstrations and meetings were held in the State under the auspices of the Praja Mandal and many of its active workers were arrested. The movement gave an opportunity to the Praja Mandal to rehabilitate itself.

In the general elections held to the Cochin Legislative Council in 1948, the Praja Mandal returned with a clear majority. By this time the organisation had merged in the Indian National Congress and hence the First Congress Ministry assumed office in Cochin with Ekkanda Warrier as Chief Minister. During his tenure of office, the state of Cochin was merged with Travancore, and the new state of Travancore-Cochin came into existence. The Gateway to Kerala