CHAPTER I

ORIGIN AND DEVELOPMENT OF SNDP YOGAM

By the end of the 19th century, the English educated among the Ezhavas

showed resentment against the inequalities and social injustices suffered by their

community and other downtrodden communities in Travancore and started

seeking methods to solve the same. The Ezhavas, who were the highest in the

hierarchy of the low casts, championed the cause of the back word communities.

As stated another, because of age old customs and lack of a well built

organization on their part, their grievances are looked upon with decision by the

official circles. The need to from an organization for the redressal of their

grievances was strong felt.

In Travancore, the initiative for organizing the Ezhava community was

taken by Dr. Palpu'. However, his relentless efforts to solve the grievances of

the community did not bring about the desired effect. This proved that without

organized agitation, the conditors of the community could not be changed.

Dr. Palpu, therefore, made attempts to form an organization called the Ezhava

Mahajana Sabha, the necessary regulation for it was formed and published in a

journal from Quilon. Several meeting were held at Mayyamad and Paravoor.

1 Dr. Palpu, - the Patron of SNDP Yogam & the founder Cum - Organiser of Ezhava
Mahajana Sabha.
2 Velayudhan Panikkassery, Dr. Palpu,{W), p.95; the publications committee of
S.N. Centenary Celebrations, Narayana Gum Antholog\\ p. 62.

34
However, Dr. Palpu's attempt failed to create any enthusiasm among the Ezhava

masses.

As his earlier attempts failed and as all successful movements of any

importance in India had for the past several centuries been connected with

religious revival of some sort or other, Dr. Palpu made attempts in this way. It

was the words of Swami Vivekananda who on a visit to Mysore in 1891

suggested Palpu that they should organize under a religious or spiritual leader

and put forth their demands, that prompted Dr. Palpu to meet Narayana Guru

and form the Ezhava Mahajana Sabha? So he went to Aruvippuram, near

Thiruvananthapuram, where Narayana Guru had begun his attempts at spiritual

resurgence. In obedience to the advice of Swami Vivekanada. Dr. Palpu

resolved to reform society through the means of religion. He discovered a great

man capable of doing this in the person of Narayana Guru who had already

constituted a committee consisting of twenty-four members, with the objective

of conducting deity poojas and celebrating annual festivals at the temple at

Aruvippuram, known as \hQ Aruvippuram Kshetra Yogam.'^

Dr. Palpu informed Narayana Guru of his desir to from an organization to

fight the prevalent injustice under the guru's spiritual leadership. After obtaining

Kerala Kaiimiidi, 13 Feb, 1988; M.K. Sanu, Narayana Guru Swami, p.60;
M.K. Kumaran , SNDP Yogam and the progressive institution of Kerala;
SNDP Yogam platinum jubilee souvenir, p. 29.
Mitavadi. Vol.1, No.l, 1913, P.16; Address of M. Hovidan in the 12th meeting at
Travandrm in 12 and 13 May 1915; 1st Report in 1904; Vivekodavam, Vol.1,
No.l, 1904; P. 15.

35
the consent of the Guru, Dr. Palpu made arrangements with Kumaran Asan and

convented a preliminary meeting at Aruvippuram temple, at which it was

decided to transform the Aruvippuram Kshetra Yogam into Sree Narayana

Dharma Paripalana (SNDP) Yogam^

As Kumaran Asan observes that at an entraordinary meeting of the

Aruvippuram Kshetra Yogam, convened by the Swamy the rules and regulations

regarding the SNDP Yogam, written earlier, were read out. All those present

were agreeable to the Swamy's desire that the Yogam should be registered as a

Joint Stock Company and entrusted the temple Manager P. Parameswaran and

Marthandan Krishnan to register the Yogam.''

An application for registering the SNDP Yogam as a Joint Stock Company

was submitted to the Dewan on 8"' January 1903, who granted the licence in

March 1903.^

The objectives of the Aruvippuram Kshetra Yogam were further expanded

and it was transferred into the SNDP Yogam. Kumaran Asan States that the

early history of the SNDP Yogam was mostly the unwritten history of the Siva

5 Mitavadi, Vol. 1, No. 1, 1913, P. 16; 1 st Report in 1904; Vivekodayan, Vol. 1, no. 1,
1904, PP.23-4; Rates of the SNDP Yogam, Quilon, 1952, P.2.
6 Vivekodayam, Vol. 1, no. 1, 1904, P. 19. Thus the SNDP Yogam was registered on
15 May 1903, according to Regulation 100 1063 M.E. (number b. 10 of in the
Company's Act of 1882).
7 File No. 8338 of 1903, purpose regarding the registration of the SNDP Yogam
under seetion 26 of Regulation 1 of 1063 M.E, English Records. 1st Report
in 1904; 'Historical records about the registration of the Yogam; in Kerala
Kawnudi. 7 Dec. 1978; Dr. K.K. Rahulan. -SNDP Yogam in its 9th year \
Mathruhhiimi. 15 May 1993.

36
temple and Mutt at Aruvippuram.*^ The activities of the SNDP Yogam with

Narayana Guru as its permanent president, Kumaran Asan as General Secretary,

and Dr. Palpu as Patron, made the Yogam popular throughout Travancore within

a short time. With the formation of the Yogam, other local organizations of

Ezhavas in various parts began to merge with it.''

Even though the SNDP Yogam was formed in Travancore, within four

years it extended up to Kannur in north Kerala. This organization became a

common organization of the Ezhava or Tiya community residing in the various

parts of Kerala.'" As Mitavadi reports, the SNDP Yogam soon became the

common institution of the Ezhavas of Travancore, Chovas of Cochin and Tiyas

of Malabar as well."

Though Dr. Palpu gave shape to the SNDP Yogam, for reasons unknown

many were reluctant to accept this.'"^ The general belief is that Narayana Guru

was the founder. Nityachaitanya Yati rightly observes that Narayana Guru was

not the founder of the SNDP Yogam.'" When Dr. Palpu"s individual attempts to

solve the grievances of the community failed, he approached Narayana Guru in

8 1" Report in 1904.

9 Vivekoclayam, Vol.1, no.5, 1905, P.46; K. Sreenivasan, Sree Narayana Gum.
PP.71-2,
10 4* Report in 1907.
11 Mitavadi, Vol. 1, No. 1, 1913 p. 16.
12 Address of Prathap Singh, General Secretary of the Yogam, at the symposium on
D. Palpu and the SNDP Yogam at Aruvippuram in to connection with the
centenary celebrations of Aruvippuram installation in Kerala Kaitmiidi,
14* February 1988.
13 Reply of Nitya Chaithanya Yati to a letter sent to him by one Biju, entitled
1 Dean Biju, Kerala Kaiimiidi, weekned Magazine, 15''' December 1991.

37
obedience to the advice of Swami Vivekananda. This meeting resulted in the

transformation of the Aruvippuram Kshatra Yogam in to the SNDP Yogam.

This explicitly reveals that Dr. Palpu was the person responsible for the

formation of the Yogam. Nitya Chitanya Yati accepts this fact and observes,

"It was Dr. Palpu who transfonned the Aruvippuram Kshetra Yogam into the

SNDP Yogam" C.R. Kesavan Vaidyar, former president of the Yogam

Prathap Singh, former General Secretary of the Yogam, acknowledged Yatis

observation.'^

Though Dr. Palpu did not bear any official post of the Yogam, he was the

soul of the Yogam during that time. The credit for the formation of the Yogam

and its growth in the early phase goes largely to Dr. Palpu. It does not mean that

other leaders head no role in it. Narayana Guru's presidentship had a magical

effect on the existence and prosperity of the organization. The activities of

Kumaran Asan as General Secretary also contributed a lot to the fame and

progress of the SNDP Yogam in its early stage.

Actually these three personalities were responsible for the progress of the

SNDP Yogam in one way or other. There were also a large number of

prominent Ezhava members who worked sincerely for the progress of the

14 Ibid.,
15 Address of C.R. Kesavan Vaidyar and Prathap Singh, inaugurating the
Symposium at Aruvippuram on Dr. Palpu and the SNDP Yogam, during the
Centenary Celebrations of Aruvippuram installation, Mathnihhiiini, 14" February
1988.

38
Yogam. Besides, the influence of Dr. Palpu in transforming Kumaran of

Kayikkara into Kumaran Asan, the social reformer is very great. As a social

reformer, Kumaran Asan became popular through the SNDP Yogam. All these

are self - explanatory of how Dr. Palpu helped the Yogam in its formative days

to shape a successful future.

The SNDP Yogam was an organization for the spirimal and material

advancement of the Ezhava community. As has been noted in part III of the

Yogam, its aims were (a) to manage the temple, to perforai daily poojas and

celebrate armual festivals, etc, in the Aruvippuram temple and sub other temples

under it, and (b) to foster and promote the religious, secular educational,

agricultural and industrial prosperity of the Ezhava community, to establish

temples, ashrams, schools, etc, and to give financial assistance for the

development of all the above mentioned.

In the words of Dr. Palpu, the objects of the Yogam were the educational,

industrial, religious and social advancement of the Ezhava or Tiyas. The said

aims of the Yogam were clearly stated in the request for the registration of the

16 Vivekodayam, Vol. 1, No.5, 1905.

17 Address of Dr. Palpu as exhibition committee president in the 2nd meeting in
1905; presidential Adress of Dr. Palpu in the 5th meeting at Trivandrum on 17
and 18 April 1908; Welcome Address of Dr. Palpu in the 6th meeting in 1909
and ll"' meeting at Always on 8 May 1914 respectively; Presidential Address of
Dr. Palpu in the 17th meeting at Alleppey in 13 and 14 May 1920.

39
Yogam and repeated in the annual general meeting of the Yogam by General

secretaries and prominent members of the community."^

Vivekodayam, the official journal of the SNDP Yogam was started in 1903

with. M. Govindan as the editor. Later on, Kumaran Asan became its editor.

Some called this journal as the 'Ezhava Gazette'^** Kumaran Asan observes that

Viviekodayam aimed "not simply to infonn readers of ordinary incidents and

their results, but to record than and there all the major developments that take

place among us commonly. It must be a credile record concerning the progress

of the Yogam.'

The magazine served the twofold purpose of interpreting the acts of the

government to the public and of espousing the grievances of the backward

communities for the information of the governing authorities. Vivekodayam is a

great treasure house of knowledge regarding the activities of the Yogam and the

social conditions of Kerala. Besides Vivekodayam, Desabhimani of

T.K. Madhavan, Kerala Kawnudi of C.V. Kunjuraman, and Mitavati of

C. Krishnan served the cause of the Ezhavas.

18 The request submitted by P. Paramesvvaran for the registration of the Yogam,

report of the Tahsildar and the declaration of Kumaran Asan noted in Kerala
Kawnudi, 1 Dec. 1978; Presidential Addresses of M. Govidan at the 8th meeting
hold at Varkala on 7 Oct. 1911 and in the 12"' meeting in 1915; Presidential
Address etc. Krishnan in the 19th meeting in 1912.
19 2"'' Report in 1905-and S'"* Report in 1906.
20 Vivekodayam, vol. 15, no. 1, 1921, P. 15; P.R. Sastri; Elkaloka Pravachakan, (M),
P.70; Editor's Note, Vivekogayam, vol.3, nos.l 1,12, 1907, P.3.
21 Five/toc/avam, vol.12 no. 1, 1915, P.53 and nos. 2,3,1915, P.54.

40
 To promote its aims and ideals and to create public opinion, annual

conferences of the Yogam were held at different parts of Kerala. The Yogam

succeeded in enlisting participation of members of the royal families, Davans,

government nominees and prominent members of the communities in the public

meeting held along with the annual sessions. T.K. Madhavan observes that the

addresses of Dr. Palpu on these occeasions helped to win their favour towards

the Yogam and to create firm belief and respect towards its activities.^"^ Besides

this, reports about these meetings were published in almost all leading

newspapers, both vernacular and English language.

The Yogam was registered with Aruvippuram in Neyyattinkara Taluk,

about 25 kms south of Travancore, as its headquarters. On the basis of the

resolution passed in the second annual general meeting of the Yogam, it was

decided to shift the registered office from Aruvippuram to Trivandurm.^ Later,

it was shifted to Quilon""* to Alleppey '^ and finally to Quilon.'^*' During the

tenure of R. Sankar as the General Secretary of the Yogam, the headquarters

was permanently established at Quilon. "^^

22 T.K. Madhavan, Dr. Palpu, pp. 1191 -20.

23 2"''Report in 1905.
24 17th Report in 1920.
25 Request submitted to the Registrar of Joint stock companies, Trivandrum, by.
K.M. Kesvan, the General secretary of the SNDP Yogam. Reports of official
correspondence Chercafter Records, kept by K.M. Kesavan as General secretary
of the Yogam. dated 11 July 1933. P. 148.
26 Records kept by General secretary C. Kesavan with letter No. 4043, dated 30
Sept. 1933 and of General secretary, K.N. Kunju Krishnan, dated 11 July 1933,
P. 148.
27 Ibid..

41
 In the Aritcles of Association of the Yogam-part II, h was mentioned that

the membership of the Yogam should be granted only to Ezhavas.^^ Initially,

membership was limited to those Ezhavas who pay Rs.lOO/-. So, only the well -

to - do had the privilege of membership and this only a few became members.

Later, there rules were liberalized, and membership was given to those who paid

Rs.25/- as membership fee."^'^

In 1920, Kerala Kaumudi, through an editorial requested the Yogam that

membership be opened to member of all castes who were willing to pay Rs.5/-.^"

By this time, Narayana Guru, was reluctant to co-operate with an organization

like the Yogam, which was sectarian in character. To pacify the Guru, a

resolution was passed in 1920 to extend the membership of the Yogam

irrespective of caste and religious difference.

However, by 1922, there was no considerable increase in membership. In

1925, membership fee was reduced to Rs.5/- and two types of membership were

introduced Permanent and temporary. Those who paid Rs.5/- and above were

given permanent membership and those who paid an amount below Rs.5/- were

considered temporary members till they paid Rs.5/-.^ Out of this Rs.5/-, one

28 Vivekodayam, \o\.\,no.5, 1904.

29 Rules of the SNDP Yogam, Quilon, 1950.
30 Kerala Kaumudi. 1 April 1920.
31 Resolution No.24, Proceedings of the 17th meeting in 1920.
32 27th Report in 1930; Vivekodayam. vol.20, no.6, 1930, P.25.

42
rupee was to go to the pennanent fund of the Yogam and Rs.4/- to the permanent

fund of the local branch of the Yogam.''^

Later, T.K. Madhavan, as organizing secretary, make attempts to extend

the membership of the Yogam to all genuine sympathizers irrespective of social

or religious differences. Owing to his efforts, a few Christians and Nairs

accepted the membership of the Yogam. He made attempts to extend the

organizational work of the Yogam even to remote villages. Despite the work of

the Yogam for around twenty-five years, the membership of the Yogam was

only 4000, out of a population of five lakhs. ^^ One of the important messages of

the Guru was to strengthen the organization. It was T.K. Madhavan, who put

this message into practice and succeeded in raising the membership of the

Yogam to about 60,000, and the number of branches to more than a hundred the

largest single social organization of Kerala.

Organizational work of T.K. Madhavan

Even after twenty years of its inception, the SNDP Yogam failed to

become a strong organization with considerable membership comparing to the

numerical strength of the Ezhavas. In order to rectify this defect of the Yogam,

T.K. Madhavan raised the slogan of Narayana Guru, "Organize and be strong".

33 Ibid., 29th Report in 1932.

34 M.P. Ayappan, " T.K. Madhavan ', Sree Narayana Yoga Prahhavam P. 133.

43
 T.K. Madhavan and K. Ayyppan were selected as the Joint Secretaries of

the Yogam in the 18"' Annual General Meeting, where it was decided to

establish branches of the Yogam at the village and taluk levels.^^ With the

objective of organizing the community, Madhavan convened a meeting at

Karunagapally in which he made on eloquent speech explaining the need and

importance of organizational strength.'*' This speech revealed his opinion and

master plan about the organization, which is a historical record in the

organizational history of SNDP Yogam. He distributed a pamphlet explaining

the need for strong organization. To increase the membership of the Yogam

and to make Ezhavas aware of its activities a committee to was formed

consisting of C.V. Kunjuraman, T.K. Madhavan, K. Ayyappan, Swamy

Sathyavrathan, and T.K. Narayan. '

In 1927, in a special meeting held at AUepay, Madhavan was elected as

Organizational Secretary of the Yogam.^'^ He began his organizational work at

40
Kuttanad in Allepey District.

Within fifteen months he was able to rise the membership of the Yogam

from 3,878 to 50,684 and fifty five branches were organized. '^' Within a few

35 Resolution No.7, Proceedings of the 18th meeting in 1921.

36 For details of the speech sec P.K. Madhavan, T.K. Madhavan, pp.483-7.
37 Kerala Kaumudi, 10 July 1924.
38 19th Report in 1922; Kerala Kiimiuli, 24 May 1923.
39 Resolution No. 12, proceeding of the special meeting of the Yogam held at
Alleppey in 1927.
40 27th Report in 1930.
41 Report of the Organizational Secretary T.K. Madhavan in the 2'"^ meeting at
Neyyattinkara in 1928.

44
years, the membership of the Yogam rose to 63,674 and there around 300

branches."*^

The SNDP Yogam was a communal organization in nature. Narayana

Guru social times objected to this and refused to co-operate with the SNDP

Yogam. To, consider the opinion of the Guru, a resolution was passed in the

17th Annual General Meeting of the Yogam by which it was deeded to throw

open the membership of the Yogam to all genuine sympathizers perspective of

social or religious differences. At for that, Narayana Guru gave the message to

admit all classes of people to SNDP Yogam with out religious or caste

differences. Even though T.K. Madhavan tried to give membership to other

communities and other religionists, his attempts did not bear fruit. Keraka

Kaumudi reported that only eight or ten people joined from other communities

and other religions.'*^

The main reasons for the survival of the SNDP Yogam for more than nine

decades are its organizational solidarity and administrative efficiency. The

Yogam is functioning at state, taluk and village levels, and known as SNDP

Yogam, SNDP union, and Samajam respectively.'^'*

At the time of the formation of the Yogam, (1903) its leaders had the

intention to form branches. But the condition for the formation of branches was

42 P.K. Madhavan, op.cit., part II, P.521.

43 Edictorial. "SNOP Yogam', Kerala Kaiiimuli, 19 March 1936.
44 Rules of SNDP Yogam, (M.), Quilon.

45
that it would be allowed only if two hundred members jointly made a request up

to 1922, no branches were formed. In 1922 this condition was changed, so that

branches could be registered if seven members jointly made a request and

remitted Rs.l5/- to the Yogam."*^ The idea was to have a unit in every village,

and such units were to be controlled and co-ordinated by the Taluk Unions. ^^

Even in Tamil Nadu, branches of the Yogam were opened. The Tamil

Nadu SNDP Union had eighteen branches."*^ The administration of the Yogam

was carried on by a General Body consisting of Directors and a council

consisting of the president of the Yogam, the General Secretary, the

Organizational Secretary and some councillors elected at the annual general

meeting of the Yogam.

The General Body is the supreme authority of the Yogam and it consists of

the Board of Directors, President of the Union and permanent members elected

on the basis of the membership of each branch. The Board of Directors is

elected partly by the district unions and partly by the General Body. The

administration of the SNDP Yogam is entrusted to the Board of Directors.

45 27* Report in 1932.

46 Rules of the SNDP Yogam, Quilon, 1950.
47 This was the first union outside Kerala. K.K. Rahulan, President of the SNDP
Yogam, observed that there are about ten lakh members, 32 Taluk Unions and
3600 branches special all over Kerala, and the activities of the Yogam have begun
in Madras, Bangalore, Calcutta, Bhopal, America etc. Dr.K.K Rahulan, op.cit..
48 29th Report in 1932; Rules of SNDP Yogam, Quilon, 1974.
49 Rules of the SNDP Yogam, Quilon, 1974.

46
There is also a still smaller executive council to look after the affairs of the

SNDP Yogam.

Below the General Body are the unions which are organized and formed

with several branches in one or more taluks. Below the union are the local

branches. All Unions and branches are coming under the Yogam. The General

Body generally meets at least once in a year.

The Board of Directors of the SNDP Yogam has many powers and duties,

some of them are to implement the aims and decisions of the Yogam, to decide

commission for membership of the Yogam to fill the vacancy of the President

and General secretary fill the next annual general meeting, by electing one from

among the Board. The Board has also powers to make rules for the proper

functioning of the branches and unions of the Yogam.^"

For the administration of the internal officers of the Yogam, there is a

council consisting of not more than fifteen members including the President,

Vice-president and Davaswom Secretary. With the sanction of the Board, the

council has to manage and administer the properties of the Yogam. It is the duty

of the council to keep all records of the Yogam properly. It has many important

powers also.

In the administration of the Yogam vast rights and duties are vested with

the president. He has to preside over the General Body meeting, Board meeting

50 Ibid..'g.\\.

41
and the council meetings. In the absence of the President, the Vice - President

will take over the charge. ^'

The General Secretary of the SNDP Yogam is the kingpin of the

organization. Usually the council and the Board meeting, and if necessary the

branch and union meetings, are convened by the General Secretary.^"^

For the administration of the temples under the SNDP Yogam, there is an

officer called Devaswom Secretary, For the administration of the branch

Yogam, there is an administrative body consisting of a committee of eleven

members including one President, one Treasurer and one Secretary. This

committee is known, as the Managing Committee.^

The Yogam achieved tremendous progress within a short span of time.

There were four important phases in the history of the SNDP Yogam, each

related to one leader of the Yogam. The first phase of the Yogam was associated

with the leadership of Dr. Palpu and Kumaran Asan.

Early phases

The SNDP Yogam was established in 1903 with Narayana Guru as

President. Dr. Palpu, the founder of the Yogam, did not bear any official post of

the Yogam. But, as mentioned earlier, he was the patron of the Yogam and

51 Ibid.,
52 Ibid.,p.\\.
53 31''Report in 1934.

48
Kumaran Asan was the General secretary (1903 - 1919) with the exception of

one year. During this time Palpu and Asan worked in close co-operation for

carrying out the work of the Yogam.

Kumaran Asan was the most trusted disciple of Narayana Guru. Even

though there were several disciples of the guru staying at Aruvippuram, the

responsibility of keeping the key of the safe and checking the accounts

periodically was entrusted by Narayana Guru to Kumaran Asan.^"* He had heavy

responsibilities, like organizing Samajam by bringing together the unorganized

members of the community in various parts of Kerala, implementing the

directives of the Guru and the Yogam, mnning Vivekodayam, Yogam's journal,

making representation in his capacity as a member of the Praja sabha, solving

the members of the community in the matter of education and in getting jobs,

and meeting the authorities and correspond ding with them for the sake of job-

seekers from the community.

To organize a socially, economically and educational backward

community of millions suppressed by age-old conventions was no easy task.

Apart from arousing the social consciousness of the Ezhavas in and around these

places, Palpu and Kumaran Asan also served to demonstrate that, unity is

strength and to foster a sense of solidarity among the Ezhavas from Cape

Comorin in the south to the border of Kamataka in the north.

54 Asan's Dairy of Jan. 1911 quoted by K. Prabhakaran, 'Through Asan 's Diaij
Asan Smaranika, vol.1, no.4, 1986, P.25.

49
 As a member of the Prajasabha, Asan took the legislative work in right

earnest, using his position in ventilating the grievances of the downtrodden

communities and offering several constructive suggestions for solving them. As

a poet, Kumaran Asan fought against social disabilities like unapproachability

and untouchability. The themes of his poems were the social inequalities that

were existing in Kerala.^^

The period of Kumaran Asan's General Secretaryship was a period of

constitutional agitation and is known as a period of representation. Through

prayers, petitions, memorials and representations, he succeeded in getting for his

equalities community man of the civic rights which had been denied to them.

In the initial stage of the Yogam, its financial position was very weak

Kumaran Asan had to try hard to manage the affairs of the Yogam, on account of

lack of necessary funds. This fact is clear from the letter sent by Kumaran Asan

to C.Krishnan, the edictor of 'Mitavadi'. "There have been just a clerk and

myself in the SNDP Yogam office for the past several months. Owing to lack of

funds, we have not been drawing any salary for the past many months.

Even important letters of the welfare of the community cannot be sent for

leak of funds. Funds are urgently need to purchase items of stationery, stamps,

and printing. So convene the next general body of the Yogam. So Directors

who have defaulted in the payment of their monthly subscriptions are requested

55 Ibid.,

50
to pay at least a part of their arrears and others are requested to donate whatever

they can." ' From this, we can understand the financial stringency faced by

Kumanran Asan, as General Secretary, of the Yogam.

Even though Asan devoted the good years of his life to the service of the

community, he had to face severe opposition from a group of people of his

community. T.K. Madhavan wanted to become the General Secretary of the

Yogam. As Kumaran Asan was an obstacle in his way, opposition against

Kumaran Asan began to mount.^' In the 9"' meeting held at Varkala along with

the installation of the Sarada temple at Sivagiri, and in the succeeding sessions

of the Yogam, Kumaran Asan expressed his desire to relinquish the

Secretaryship of the Yogam.^*^ "Thirteen years of my life", Kumaran Asan

wrote, "have been spent in his effort. I am decided to give up the General

Secretaryship. The 12"^ sessions of the Yogam granted bh one years leave. But

he was again elected, in the 13"' general meeting, as General Secretary.^^ Finally

in 1918, he wrote to Narayana Guru about his desire to relinquish the General

Secretaryship of the Yogam. ^" Finally in 1918, he wrote to Narayana Guru

56 Letter sent by Kumaran Asan to C. Krishnan with Letter no.216 on 8 March 1916
from the Yogam office Records, Trivandurm, Kumaran Asan, as General
Secretary of the Yogam.
57 N.K. Damodaran, 'Kumaran Asan and T.K. Madhavan.' Asan Smaranika vol.1,
No.3, 1985, PP.34-35.
58 M.K. Kumaran and K. Sreenivasan, Kumaran Asan, (M.), P. 187.
59 Letter of Kumaran Asan dated 12 May 1915, Vivekodayam, vol. 12, no.l, 1915.
60 Mitavadi, June 1910 quoted in M.K. Kumaran and K. Sreenivasan,
op.cit.. PP. 190-91.

51
about his desire to relinquish the General Secretaryship of the Yogam/'' In

1918, at the 15"' annual general meeting at Kottarakara owing to the pressure of

many, he was forced to continue as General Secretary for one year. At the 16"'

general session at Kayamkulam he withdrew from the General Secretaryship and

N. Kumaran B.A.,B.L., become his successor.''^

As General Secretary of the Yogam for a period of seventeen years,

Kumaran Asan succeeded in organizing the masses of a downtrodden

community, scattered and confused, to give them asense of purpose and proper

direction with clear social objectives to help them to carry forward the struggle

for progress against heavy odds, by means of organizational work all over

Travancore, public speeches, conferences, private meetings, exhortations

through journals, petitions, to pressurize the government, correspondence work,

and so forth.

Second Phase of Yogam

N. Kumaran took over charge as General Secretary in 1919. In 1921,

T.K. Madhavan became the joint secretary of the Yogam. N. Kumaran's General

Secretaryship from 1919 to 1930 is known as the T.K. Madhavan period and this

was the second phase of the SNDP Yogam.''^ T.K. Madhavan focused attention

on civil liberties, anti-untouchability campaign, public service entry, temple

61 Mtova^/, vol.6, no.3, 1918, P.40; Letter no. 166, dated 4 March 1918, SNDP
Yogam office Trivandrum, records of N.Kumaran Asan, as General sectary.
62 16th Report in 1919; Desahhirnani. 24 May 1919.
63 N.K. Damodaran, op. cit.,

52
entry, prohibition movement, and above all, on the well-imit organization of his

community. His attempts to solve the disabities of the ezhavas spread to an all-

India level. He conducted intersive agitations to end the practice of

untouchability, and brain behind the Vaikom Satyagraha. Besides, he have

leadership to temple road entry movements in Kannahkulangara, Thiruvarpu,

Kalpathi, etc, entry to which were denied to the untouchables. He started a

journal called 'Desabhimani'.

The SNDP Yogam appointed T.K. Madhavan as the Secretary of the

Public Service Bureau stated by it, to prepare statistics of different posts held by

Ezhavas, and other backward communities in different government departments.

The service rendered by T.K. Madhavan in this regard were very great. He

published a number of tables and lists showing representation of various castes

in public service, which helped to open the eyes of the authorities to the rights of

the avamas. In 1922, he began his work to strengthen the Yogam. In the same

yea, he became a member of a committee constituted with the purposes of

increasing the membership of the Yogam. '"* Thus, if we make a study of then

history of Travancore from 1917 to 1930, we can understand that

T.K. Madhavan was the centre of all political and social agitations of the period,

like the efforts of the Civic Rights League, anti-untouchability work, temple-

entry, Vaikom Satyagraha, anti-liquor agitations, and organizational work.

64 8th Report in 1911; Kenika Kaumiuli; 24 May 1923. Other member of the
Committee were C.V. Kunjuraman. K. Ay\'appan. and Swamy Sathyavrathan.

53
The Third Phase

The third phase in the history of SNDP Yogam was associated with

C. Kesavan who was bom (1819) in a wealthy and prestigious family in

Mayyanad. He studied Law and devoted all his energy to the agitation for

political representation for the deprived sections in Travancore state Legislation

and became the General Secretary of the SNDP Yogam. Sahodaran Appyapan

termed this period in the history of the Ezhava community and the history of

Kerala, as the 'Kesavan period".^'^

R. Sankar after graduating in law, practiced as an advocate. By the time he

assumed charge as the Secretary of the Yogam on 20* December, 1944, the

Yogam had already been developed into 9 well-knit organisation. Most of the

disabilities faced by the Ezhavas had already been removed. Socially and

politically, they were greatly cow leaned . Some even went to the extent of

saying that since the community was not having any grievances, there was no

need for maintaining the organization. But Sankar felt that it was suicidal to

abolish the organization. R. Sankar adhered to the slogan of Narayana Guru,

"Liberate through education", for the improvement of the educational status of

the Ezhava community. In the 40"^ annual general meeting at Changassery,

R. Sankar formulated plans for the educational progress, of the community.^^

65 Presidential Address of Sahodaran, Ayyappan at the 33rd meeting in Kerala

Kaiimiidi, 2 l " M a y 1936.
66 4 r ' Annual Report in 1945.

54
 At the 41" general meeting at Quilon, it was decided to establish a First

Grade College and a Technical School in Quilon.*'^ He influenced the then

Dewan Sir. C.P. Ramaswamy lyear and got an extensive plot in the heart of

Quilon town for the purpose. Immediately a state wide donation campaign was

launched. Within a short period the Sree Naraya Guru College sprang upon the

plot (June 1948). After this, a network of schools and colleges were started

through out the state.

At the 46"^ annual general meeting of the Yogam, it was decided to form

the Sree Narayana Trust (S.N. Trust) to govern the educational institutions.''^

The S.N. Trust came into being in August 1952.^" It was successful in founding

a number of educational institutions. The colleges provided higher education to

Ezhava students who found it difficult to get admission to the educational

institutions, for higher education.

In 1905 itself, there was an Educational Fund under the Yogam. ' Sankar

formed an Education Fund to give financial assistance to the poor students at the

higher education level. Accordingly two Educational Funds were introduced

(1) Primary and Secondary and (2) General Education Fund. " Under his

Secretaryship, the Yogam decided to collect Re.l/- from Ezhava houses and he

67 Ibid..
68 45th Report in 1948; Combined Report.
69 Combined Report for the Years 1961 -63 in 1966.
70 Yoganadam, vol. 19 no.6, 1993, p. 14; M. Sreenivasan, "R. Sankar and S.N. Trust"
Sankar Shastiyabdapurthi Commemoration volume; P. 132.
71 For details See. Chapter FV.
72 45* Annual Report in 1948.

55
succeeded in collecting Rs. 1,50,000 within twenty-four hours. ^^ He introduced

the Primary Educational Fund , and in 1947 the Secondary Education Fund. By

1951, he collected Rs. 1,80,000. This amount enabled him to introduce

scholarship, educational loans, and loans for higher education in foreign

countries for the benefit of poor Ezhava students. ^"^

From 1939 to 1944, the SNDP Yogam remained rather dormant.

Concerning it self with public lost all their faith in the leadership of the Yogam,

its enthusiastic General Secretary R. Sankar tried to infuse new blood into it by

making the Yogam strong and advocating literary service to the masses.^^ The

great contribution of Sankar to the community was the facility provided by to

him for higher education by establishing Collages. Besides, he was responsible

for the formation of the S.N. Trust and his period was resplendent with

educational activities.

The formation of the Yogam and its success prompted other communities

like Playas, Nairs, Nambudiris and other to form their own organizations. As a

result of the successful work of the SNDP Yogam, the Sadhu Jana Paripalana

Yogam came into being in 1904, the Yoga Kshema Sabha in 1909, and the Nair

73 4 1 " Annual Report in 1945.

74 50* Annua! Report in 1953.
75 C.R. Kasvan Vaidyar, 'R. Sankar", Sree Narayana Yiiga Prahhavain, P. 195.

56
Service Society (N.S.S.) in 1914. The change evoked by the SNDP Yogam

opened the eyes of Nairs, Nambudiries, Playas and many others.^"^

The SNDP Yogam was active at the all-Kerala level at a time when the

idea of a united Kerala had not originated among the politically divided Ezhavas

of Travancore and Chovas of Cochin.

The aim of the SNDP Yogam was to restore social rights to a vist segment

of society. The Propaganda and agitations led by the SNDP Yogam against

caste discrimination are a significant chapter in the social history of Kerala.

76 Address of P.P. Thankachan, speaker of Kerala Legislature, Managing the

Navathi (90''' year of the Yogam) celebrations of the Yogam, Mathruhhrwni.
16 May 1993.

57
Organizational set up of the SNDP Yogam.

Office President

Vice-President SNDP Yogam

General Secretary

General Body Unions

+-
Director Board Branches
I
Council

Office
President Union
Secretary HE
General Body

Committee

Council

Office
President BRANCHES
Secretary 4

- General Body

Managing Committee

t
Council

58