CHAPTER I

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF EDAICODE

Early History

History of Edaicode is the history of the largest unity of Travancore.

Travancore has a long history which can be traced from the Sangam age (the
first 2 centuries of Christian era). The Ays were the earliest rulers of
Edaicode, a part of South Travancore. They ruled the tract of the land that
existed between Tirunelveli and Trivandrum with Aykudi as its capital. 1 The
Ays had a continuous history from the second century B.C to ninth century
A.D. Like the Chera, Chola, Pandyas, they also rose to prominence as a
ruling dynasty. The Sangam literature also refer some important Ay kings
like Ays Antiran, Titiyan Porunan«and Atiyan.

But in due course, the kingdom became a buffer state between

the Pandya and Chera kingdoms. So the Pandyan kings were ever
anxious to annex the Ay territories with their kingdom. To achieve their
mission, they carried their successive raids in the Nanjilanadu area. The
Pandyan kings such as Jayantavarman (645-670 A.D) and his son, Arikesri
Maravarman (670-700 A.D) got some victories over South Travancore
region .

During the region of Maravarman Rajasimha II (905 - 920) A.D the

last Pandyan ruler, South Travancore came under the control of Cholas.
Parantaka Chola I ( 907 - 955 A.D) annexed the Pandyan kingdom
including the Nanjilnad region with Chola Empire.5 However the
supremacy of the Chola was established in South Travancore during the
region of king Raja Raja I (985-1016 A.D)6. Subsequently after the decline
of the Cholas, South Travancore came under the control of Venad kings.

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 During the accession of Venad kings, Travancore was divided
into number of principalities. This division is because of Chera, Chola,
Pandya conflicts and their Nairs . So Venad king Ramavarma Kulasekhara
united and consolidated Travancore under one umbrella. His kingdom
extended form Kollam to Kanyakumari . This successors ruled Travancore
for many centuries. In 1729, Marthandavarma came to power in Travancore
and started its modern history.

Modern Travancore

Marthanda Varma ruled South Travancore from 1729-1758 . He is

considered as the maker of modern Travancore. Prior to Marthanda Varma,
Nairs were the janmis and the feudal lords during this time. They occupid
very high status in the socisty and enjoyed all the rights and privileges. 9 But
Marthandavarma gave more importance to Brahmins.10 Thus he indirectly
suppressed the Nairs. Then he suppressed Ettuveetil Pilllamars. (Feudal
Lord's) and maintained peace and order in the society."

Marthanda Varma was succeeded by Karthikai Tirunal Rama Varma

(1758-1798). His generosity and devotion to duty won him the esteem and
the affection of people who called him as " Dharma Raja". . He divided the
whole kingdom into three viz., southern, central and western division.

South Travancore was included in the southern division. Each division

placed under the control of Sarvadhikaryakkar.'3 This officer must be a
Brahmin or a Nair. He had direct contact with the people and insists the
people to obey old barbarious customs. They collected more and more taxes
from the poeople1. The South Travancore was under the control of the King
Balarama Varma (1798 - 1810). During his time, London Missionary Society was
founded in 1806 by Ringle Taube in Mylaudy, near Nagercoil. 15 Missionaries not
only spread Christianity but also introduced several social reforms. Many people

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converted to Christianty. The new converts refused to perform the age old customs
and Oozhiyam services.

After Balarama Varma, South Travancore was came under the control of
Rani Lekshmi Bai (1810-1815) By longstanding custom, the inferior class of the
population were forbidden to wear upper cloth.17 Violation of this custom was
severely punished by the authorities. Col. Muntro was the then Dewan of
Trvancore. He issued an order in 1812 that the Christian women had right to cover
their bosoms as obtains among Christian in other countries. But other people had
no right to cover their bosom. Another social evil Slavery also existed in South
Travancore in its cruel form. So col. Muntro advised Rani Lekshmi Bai to issue an
order against slavery. Consequently Rani issued a proclamation on December 5,
1812 for the prohibition of the purchase and sale of slaves. 19 But this act was not
practiced by government servants.

Gauri Parvati Bai (1815-1829) became the next ruler of South Travancore.
During her time, upper cloth revolts were took place in places such as Kalkulam,
Eraniel, vilavancode, Attoor etc. Though she was a woman, she declared in 1829
that low class women had no right to wear upper cloth and behaved she was
second to none social suppression. So upper cloth revolution continued.

After Gauri Parvati Bai, Ramavarma Swati Tirunal (1829-1847) became the
ruler of South Travancore. His period is hailed as the golden age of Travancore
because of all round development. But he also suppressed the low class people to
the maximum level. He arrested Vaikunda Swamigal of South Travancore, a socio-
religious reformer due to his preaching. Vaikunda Swamigal was detained for 110
days . During his time, missionaries under the leadership of Charles Mead
continued their work in South Travancore. Charles Mead constructed number of
schools for women. So he is considered as the father of Female Education in
Travancore.

Then Uttram Tirunal Marthandavarma (1847-1860) succeeded to the throne

of South Travancore. During his time, the upper cloth revolt reached its climax.

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Agitations were took place such as Kalkulam, Vilavancode and Agasteeswaram
taluks. When the revolt became widespread, the missionaries wrote letter to
the Resident and the King explained the inhuman treatments of high class people.
He issued proclamation in 1859 to wear upper cloth for the low class women.
Slavery also existed in the society during his period in its most heinous forms.
Sustained efforts from the Resident and the Madras Government, he issued a
proclamation in 1865 that the emancipation of all the slaves.

He was succeeded by Ayilyam Tirunal Rama Varma ( 1860-1880).

According to 1859 proclamation, Ezhavas and other sections had no rights to wear
upper cloth. The Christian missionaries fought against this evil and submitted
petition to Maharaja and to Government of Madras, Charles, Trevelyan. The
Governor of Madras and Mathy directed the king to take steps to end such social
evil was unlawful. This proclamation permitted the women of Ezhavas and others
had the right to cover the upper part of their body.

Visakam Tirunal Maharaja ruled Travncore from 1880-1885. According to

the Proclamation of 1855, slaves were only freed from the clutches of high class
people. They had no right to access public courts, highways, and officers. So
people continued their agitation, to gain equal status in the society. Dewan
Ramiengar also induced the king to issue an order against this social evil. So
Visakam Tirunal Maharaja issued a Circular Order on 21 July 1884. It declared
that the courts, offices, public highways and market places were for the use of all
classes of people without distinction of caste or creed. When Srimulam Tirunal
Maharaja ruled Travancore from 1885-1924.

In 1896, Swami Vivekananda visited Travancore. He was very much

irritated to see the barbarous practices in Trvancore in the name of caste and
colour. So he gave an apt name to Travancore as "Land of Lunatics" (Land of mad
people) . According to the Circular Order of 1884, the low class people got only
right to access public highways and courts. The low class children had no right to
got education in public schools without payment. They got education only through

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the private schools like the missionary school. But the low class people also
wanted to study in public schools. So they continued their agitation. This protest
go the ears of the king.31 In 1904 by an order, king Srimulam Tirunal extended the
benefits of education to the backward and the downtrodden people. He decided to
bear the entire cost of the schools of the poor and grant-in-aid code was introduced
in the school of backward classes.

Regent Setulekshmi Bai (1924-1931) became the next ruler of South

Travancore. During her time also certain Communities were not allowed to enter
the temple premises and worship the deity. Because, the large majority of the
Hindu population were treated as outcastes in Travancore society. "So Temple
Entry Satyagrahas decided to meet the Regent in person and to submit a memorial.
So on 7th November 1924, one jatha reached Trivandrum under M.E. Naidu, from
Suchindram in south Travancore. The regent agreed to consider their grievances
favourably, but this was appeared unsatisfactory, so they continued their
agitation.34 In January 1926, Satayagraha campaign was organized at Suchindrum
for gaining the right of entry into the roads around it for the low classes people. It
was led by M.E. Naidu, it continued for about one month and was withdrawn on
receiving assurances from the government. 36 But the action of government was
quite unsatisfactory. So the agitation continued. In 1931, regent Setu Lekshmi Bai
abdicated the throne in favour of his son.

Sri Chitra Tirunal Balarama Varma (1931-1949) became the next and last
ruler of South Travancore. Due to the agitation of Travancore people to enter the
temples, he issued a Temple Entry Proclamation on November 12, 1936. He
proclaimed that "henceforth be, no restriction placed on any Hindu birth of
religion entering and worshipping at the temples controlled by us and our
government. This proclamination of the Maharaja came as a bomb shell in
orthodox Hindu circles, but it gave a message of hope and good cheer to the
downtrodden and backward class people. Thus the agitation of low class people to
gain their right to worship Hindu temples were crowned with success.

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 I July 1949, when the united state of Travancore and Cochin was
inaugurated, south Travancore a part of it. The people of Agasteeswaram,
Thovalai, Kalkulam and Vilavancode taluk, were predominantly Tamil speaking.
So they agitated for the merger of South Travancore area with Madras State.

The State Reorganisation Commission also recommended this. Accordingly

by the States Reorganisation Act was passed in 1956 and the Kanyakumari District
was formed on November 1, 1956, with the four taluks viz., Agasteeswaram,
Thovalai, Kalkulam, Vilavancode and merged with Tamil Nadu.