Kerala History from 18th Century (1800 - 1956)

AD 1800: Malabar district became a province of Madras presidency

AD 1801: The administration of Malabar region is shifted from Bombay presidency to Madras presidency.

AD 1802: Veluthampi Dalawa became Dalawa of Travancore.

AD 1805: Shakthan Thampuran Died.

AD 1805: Pazhassi murdered in November 30, 1805 following the revolt. The second Pazhassi revolt happened between AD 1800 and AD 1805. The Kurichiya group of Wayanad helped Pazhassi in the Revolt. Thomas Harvey Baber who was the sub collector at that time put an end to the revolt.

AD 1807: London Mission in Kerala.

AD 1809: Kundara Proclamation (January 11, 1809).

AD 1809: Velu Thampi suicided by cutting his throat died in the Mannadi Temple of Pathanamthitta.

AD 1809: Paliath Achan, the prime minister of Kingdom of Cochin and a strong supporter of Velu Thambi Dalawa was deported to Madras, where he was kept as prisoner.

AD 1810: Gouri Lakshmi Bai succeeded to the throne of Travancore.

AD 1812: Kurichiya revolt in Wayanad. The revolt occurred as a result of fixing Taxes by the British government on Scheduled Tribes of Kurichiyars and Kurumbers in 1812. They took arms to fight against British, but it ended unsuccessfully. Earlier Kurichiyars helped Pazhassi Raja for fighting against British and also gave shelter to him.

AD 1818: Rev. J. Dosan built an English School and a Dispensary at Mattancherry.

AD 1821: CMS (Church Mission Society) press Built in Kottayam. They also built a school for Girls.

AD 1845: First English Medium School in Ernakulam.

AD 1846: Benjamin Bailey published his first English-Malayalam dictionary.

AD 1847: A German born, Herman Gundert, Basel Mission worker published the first Malayalam newspaper, Rajyasamacharam in 1847 from Illikkunnu in Thalassery. In the same year he also published the newspaper Pashchimodayam.

AD 1853: The slaves are released in Travancore.

AD 1854: The slaves are released in Kochi.

AD 1854: Malabar Special Police (MSP) organized.

AD 1855: Malabar Collector, HV Konoli killed. The people belong to Mappila revolt killed him.Konoli Canal and a teak plantation “Konoli Plot” remains a memory of this Collector.

AD 1858: Sir T Madhava Rao becomes the Dewan of Travancore.

AD 1859: The first coir factory was established in Alappuzha in 1859 in the name of Daras Mail & Co by James Dara.

AD 1860: The first college of Kerala, CMS is established in Kottayam.

AD 1861: Ayilyam Thirunal Rama Varma succeded to the throne of Travancore.

AD 1861: First Railway Line in Kerala, Beypore - Tirur in 1861 started.

AD 1862: The Tellicherry Brennen School started in 1862 by the Basel Mission. Later it is changed to College.

AD 1864: The first Government Hospital of Kerala established in Trivandrum during the region of Ayilyam Thirunal.

AD 1865: Pandara Pattam Proclamation.

AD 1866: The English School built by Swathi Thirunal in 1834 changed into a University. It is today’s University College in Trivandrum.

AD 1869: The inauguration of new Secretariat in Trivandrum.

AD 1872: Herman Gundert wrote the famous Malayalam English Dictionary.

AD 1877: The construction of main central road completed.

AD 1880: The cultivation of tapioca cultivation started.

AD 1883: Land Survey in Travancore Started.

AD 1887: The newspaper “Deepika” published for the first time in 1887 in Maanaath, Kottayam. Today it is the oldest Malayalam newspaper.

AD 1887: Sri Narayana Guru founded Siva temple at Aruvippuram.

AD 1887: First Novel in Malayalam Kundaletha by Appu Nedungadi was published.

AD 1887: The Malabar Manual was published in 1887 by William Logan.

AD 1888: Malayala Manorama Newspaper Company Started.

AD 1889: The first Novel “Indhulekha” written by O. Chandu Menon published.

AD 1889: The First Ayurveda College of Kerala, Ayurvedic Patasala (Kashayappura) started.

AD 1893: The death of Dr Herman Gundert.

AD 1896: The Janmi Kudiyan Regulation Act in Travancore providing security of tenure to the tenants of private lands.

AD 1900: The visit of British Viceroy, Lord Curzon in Travancore and is also the first viceroy to visit Travancore. Curzon mentioned Alappuzha as “The Venice of East”.

AD 1902: Rubber Cultivation started in Kerala for commercial purpose. The first Rubber Plantation was started in Tattekkadu ner Perumbavoor in Ernakulam.

AD 1904: First Railway in Travancore between Thirunelveli and Kollam.

AD 1905: Ayyankali started a school to teach Dalit children at Venganoor.

AD 1906: Raja Ravi Varma (1848 – 1906), great painter Died.

AD 1907: Kumaran Asan's famous poem, Veena Poovu was first published in the Mitavadi.

AD 1908: Yogakshema Sabha started for the socio-cultural progression of the state.

AD 1911: Kerala Kaumudhi was founded in 1911. Under the leadership of CV Kunhiraman, Aloor S Padmanabha Panicker started Kerala Kaumudhi weekly.

AD 1913: Kodugallur Kunjikuttan Thampuran (1865 - 1913) Died.

AD 1914: Under the leadership of Mannath Padmanabhan, the Nair Bhruthya Janasangham was formed in Mannath Bhavan of Perunna in Changanassery . First president was K Kelappan and Mannam is the first Secretary. It is later changed to Nair Service Society (NSS).

AD 1914: Kerala Varma Valiya Koil Thampuran (1845–1914) died. He is also known in the name of Kerala Kalidasan.

AD 1914: Sree Narayana Guru built Advaita Ashramam at Aluva.

AD 1915: Vagbhatananda Gurudevan (1885 - 1939) born in a backward caste founded “Atma Vidhya Sangam “. He fought against the Caste-Religion System, idol worship and also against alchol Consumption.

AD 1917: Sahodara Sangham established by K Ayyappan. Sahodaran Magazine was established under the editorship of K Ayyappan in Cherai, Vypin of Kochi.

AD 1918: Under the leadership of CP Achutha Menon and TR Ramachandra Iyyer, Cochin Rajya Prajamandalam started. It was also during this year, the first bank of princely state, Cochin started in Thrissur.

AD 1918: CV Ramanpillai wrote his first edition of the novel “Ramaraja Bahadur” in 1918. He published its second edition in 1919. His First novel is “Marthanda Varma” and his second novel is Dharma Raja.

AD 1919: Sir Robert Bristow started the construction of Wellington Island in Kochi. The construction is mainly for increasing the depth and development of Kochi Harbor.

AD 1920: Gandhi visited Kerala for the first time as a part of Khilafat Movement. He came along with Indian Muslim nationalist, Shoukath Ali in Kozhikode.

AD 1920: Sree Narayana Guru spread the message as a part of birthday wish “Liquor is poison, make it not, sell it not, and drink it not”.

AD 1921: The first All Kerala Congress Political Conference held at Ottappalam in April 1921 was conducted under the leadership of Andhra Kesari T Prakasam.

AD 1921: Upon Khilafat Movement, the local Muslims of Malabar grouped and thus they got the strength. This irked the British rulers and they tried to put an end to this which resulted in Malabar Rebellion.

AD 1921: The Wagon tragedy resulted in the death of 64 prisoners on 10th November 1921. The prisoners had been taken into custody as a result of Mappila Rebellion by the British. The ninety of the Muslim freedom fighters were arrested and dispatched by train from Tirur to Bellary Prison. When the wagon opened in Podanur station, 64 of them suffocated to death.

AD 1921: Wagon tragedy (November 10).

AD 1923: Mathrubhumi, a tri weekly news paper in the days of Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday was founded by KP Kesava Menon in 1923 March 18th. Mathrubhumi becomes daily news paper in 1930 April 6. K Madhavan Nair was the first Manager of the news paper.

AD 1923: Vakkom Moulavi founded Kerala Muslim Aikya sangham.

AD 1924: Vaikkom Sathyagraham (March 30).

AD 1924: Kumaran Asan died at the age of 51 in boat accident in Alappuzha in January 1924. He is only Poet who got the title of Mahakavi without writing a Mahakavyam.

AD 1925: Based on Nair regulation in 1925, 'Makkathayam' was introduced.

AD 1925: Cochin legislative Council was inaugurated in April 1925. Thottakkattu Madhaviamma (wife of Mannathu Padmanabha Pillai) was the first woman to be a member of any legislature Council in India.

AD 1927: Third visit of Mahatma Gandhi in Kerala. Under the presidency of Gandhi, a Harijan Meeting was held at Kozhikode. As a result, Kerala Andhiyajanodharana Sangam was formed and C Krishnan becomes its president and Kelapan became its secretary. It later worked in the name of Keralodharana Sangham.

AD 1927: Samastha Kerala Sahitya Parishath was started in April 26th.

AD 1928: Under the presidency of Jawaharlal Nehru, Nattu Rajya Praja Sammelanam was held at held at Ernakulam, passed the Aikya Kerala Movement.

AD 1929: The first film production company of Kerala, Kerala Cinetown started by Ramavarma Appan Thampuran.

AD 1930: Kerala Kalamandalam established near the bank of River Bharatapuzha in Cheruthurutti by king of Kochi. It was shifted to Vallathol Nagar in 1973.

AD 1930: Salt Satyagraha of the nation also created waves in Kerala. Under the leadership of K Kelappan, Salt Satyagraha March started from Kozhikode and ended in Payyanur. Salt was made by violating the Salt Law.

AD 1930: Kerala Kalamandalam was established. It was first built as an arts school in Kunnakulam Kovilakam for the purpose of performing Kathakali under the leadership of Mahakavi Vallathol Naryanan Menon. In 1938, the king of Kochi allotted land for Kerala Kalamandalam in the village of Cheruthuruthy in Thrissur District on the banks of the Bharathapuzha River.

AD 1931: VT Bhattathiripad performed Yachana Yatra (Begger Travel) to collect money from Thrissur to Chandragirippuzha in Kasargod. The aim of this seven day Walk travel is to give the money to poor children for study.

AD 1931: Guruvayoor Sathyagraha headed by K.Kelappan.

AD 1933: United Muslim Association becomes State Muslim Association.

AD 1933: The second Malayalam silent film, “Marthanda Varma” directed by PV Rao based on novel by CV Raman Pillai released.

AD 1934: Mahatma Gandhi’s fourth Kerala travel and the purpose of this travel to collect fund for Harijans.

AD 1934: Split in Congress. Rise of the Leftists and Rightists.

AD 1935: Communist party formed in Malabar by Sri EMS Namboothirippadu and Sri P Krishna Pillai.

AD 1936: AK Gopalan with his 32 followers led the hunger march (Pattini Jatha) from kannur to Madras in July 1936. The main purpose of this march is to find solution for problems of Agricultural Employees, Unemployment, Hunger and Poverty.

AD 1936: Temple Entry Proclamation by Sree Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma.

AD 1936: Electricity agitation in Cochin State.

AD 1937: The fifth and final visit of Gandhi in Kerala.

AD 1938: Communism in Kerala Started.

AD 1938: The first talkie film in Malayalam, Balan Released. Directed by S. Nottani.

AD 1939: Uttaravada Rule in Travancore

AD 1940: Morazha Incident took place in Kannur.

AD 1940: The first hydro electric project in Kerala was started at Pallivasal.

AD 1941: Under the leadership of VR Krishnan Ezhuthachan, Congress members of Kochi formed the Cochin Rajya Prajamandalam.

AD 1941: Kayyur Struggle – The Kayyur Riot against caste system and imperialism was on 28 March 1941 in Kasargod. A policeman is killed related to the incident. The four accused persons were killed by Hanging in 29th March 1943.

AD 1941: Ayyankali died.

AD 1942: The Communist Newspaper, Deshabhimani started. It becomes daily in 1946.

AD 1944: The first novel of Vaikom Muhammad Basheer, Balyakalasakhi published.

AD 1945: National Book Stall started at Kottayam.

AD 1945: Sahitya Pravarthaka Sahakarana Sangham started in Kottayam. The president of Sangham is MP Paul and its secretary is Karoor Neelakanda Pillai. “Thakazhiyude Kathakal” is the first story published by SPDS.

AD 1946: Punnapra-Vayalar Revolt. As a result, about 200 people shot dead in October 27.

AD 1947: Diwan rule in Kochi also came to an end.

AD 1948: First General Election in Travancore.

AD 1948: The first Film Studio of Malayalam, Udhaya started in Alappuzha.

AD 1951: C Kesavan became the prime minister of Thiru-Kochi.

AD 1951: The first super hit film “Jeevitha Nouka” released. The script and story was written by Muthukulam Raghavan Pillai and directed by Vembu. Thikkurishi Sukumaran Nair and BS Sarojam were the main actors of the Movie.

AD 1951: Kerala Peoples Art Club (KPAC) based on Kayamkulam founded.

AD 1953: Resignation of AJ John Government.

AD 1954: The film that received the Silver Medal of President “Neelakuyil” released.

AD 1954: Mayyazhi (Mahe) formerly a French colony got independence. Mahi was then united with Indian Union.

AD 1954: IK Kumaran Master who represented Mayyazhi Mahajana Sabha is also known in the name of Mayyazhi Gandhi.

AD 1955: Pattom Thanu Pillai resigned and Panampilly Govinda Menon became Chief Minister.

AD 1955: President Rule for the first time in Kerala, with Shri PS Rao was appointed as Advisor to Rajapramukh.

AD 1956: The Novel Chemmeen of Thakazhi Sivasankara Pillai was published by Sahitya Pravarthaka Sahakarana Sangham. The novel got Kendra Sahitya Academy award in 1957. The novel was also made into a Movie by director Ramu Kariat in 1964 and released in the name of Chemmeen. In 1965, the movie got Golden Medal from the President of India.

AD 1956: Kerala Sahitya Academy was formed with the aim of progression of Malayalam language and literature. Sardar Kavalam Madhava Panikkar was the first president whereas Vallathol Narayana Menon is the vice president.

AD 1956: Malayalees long time wish happened with the merge of Malabar and Thiru-Kochi to form the Kerala State in November 1st 1956.