The struggle for European domination in Kerala is a story of sordid intrigue between the foreign powers contending for supremacy and the local rulers. Travancore became a power only in the 18th century under Martan Varma, who not only annexed to his kingdom several principalities but also defeated the Dutch in battle. Travancore and Cochin were the only states to retain their identity after the British gained ascendancy in Kerala following the destruction of Tipu’s power. The rest of Kerala was to become the Malabar district directly ruled by the British as part of the Madras presidency.
Under enlightened princes and their able, though authoritarian, dewans Travancore and Cochin emerged as the most advanced states in India, in some respects for ahead of the British provinces. The last dewan of Travancore, sir C.P Ramaswami aiyar, was dynamic administrator. He took the bold and pioneering step of throwing open the temples to the Harijans and built the nucleus around which Kerala’s present –day industry is based. But he was a ruthless despot and crushed all popular movements in the state. On the eve of the independence of India he made a fantastic declaration that at the time of the transfer of power Travancore would become a sovereign state.
The people rose in revolt against him and an attempt was made on his life. Sir C.P resigned and the Maharaja wisely agreed to the merger of his rajyam in the Indian union. In 1956, Travancore, Cochin and the district of Malabar were united to form the state of Kerala. The district of Kanyakumari was ceded to Tamil Nadu.
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