Sree Moolam Popular Assembly
Encyclopedia
Sree Moolam Popular Assembly of Travancore
was the first popularly elected legislature in the history of India
.
Its predecessor legislative council was formed in Travancore in 1888 with 8 appointed members. Sree Moolam Thirunal Ramavarma who became king of Travancore in 1886 set up this unique institution through an order issued on March 30, 1888. In 1898, the strength of the Council was increased to 15, nine officials and six non-officials.
In 1904, the Sree Moolam Popular Assembly (known in local language as Sree Moolam Praja Sabha) was formed with 88 members to provide for increased participation of the people in the administration. Its membership was limited to representatives of landlords and merchants. Although not a legislature, it was intended to give the people an opportunity to bring to the notice of the Government their requirements, wishes or grievances, and to make the policy and measures of the Government better known to the people. The members of the Assembly were not elected but chosen, two from each Taluk, by the District heads from among landholders who paid an annual land revenue of not less than Rs.100, and landholders or traders whose net annual income was Rs.6000 or above.
It was in 1905, that the Sree Moolam Popular Assembly began to have elected members. Out of the new strength of 100 members, 77 were to be elected and 33 were to be nominated. Voting right was limited to persons who paid an annual land revenue of not less than Rs.50, or whose net income was not less than Rs.2000. University graduates with not less than ten years of standing, and having their residence in the respective Taluk, were also eligible to vote.
In 1907, the Assembly was conferred the right to elect members of the upper Legislative Council. The Upper Council had 15 members, 9 officials and 6 non-officials. In 1919, the Council was remodeled raising its strength to 25, out of which 8 were elected members.In October 1921, the total strength of the Council was further raised to 50, with a majority of elected members.
In 1932, the Legislative Council of Travancore and Sri Mulam Popular Assembly were replaced with a formal bicameral system consisting of an Upper House, the Travancore Sri Chitra State Council, and a Lower House, the Sri Mulam Assembly. This bicameral system continued to function till September 1947, until it gave way to a constituent assembly that later led to the merger of Cochin state and the eventual joining into the Indian Union.
(List is not complete)
Travancore
Kingdom of Travancore was a former Hindu feudal kingdom and Indian Princely State with its capital at Padmanabhapuram or Trivandrum ruled by the Travancore Royal Family. The Kingdom of Travancore comprised most of modern day southern Kerala, Kanyakumari district, and the southernmost parts of...
was the first popularly elected legislature in the history of India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
.
Its predecessor legislative council was formed in Travancore in 1888 with 8 appointed members. Sree Moolam Thirunal Ramavarma who became king of Travancore in 1886 set up this unique institution through an order issued on March 30, 1888. In 1898, the strength of the Council was increased to 15, nine officials and six non-officials.
In 1904, the Sree Moolam Popular Assembly (known in local language as Sree Moolam Praja Sabha) was formed with 88 members to provide for increased participation of the people in the administration. Its membership was limited to representatives of landlords and merchants. Although not a legislature, it was intended to give the people an opportunity to bring to the notice of the Government their requirements, wishes or grievances, and to make the policy and measures of the Government better known to the people. The members of the Assembly were not elected but chosen, two from each Taluk, by the District heads from among landholders who paid an annual land revenue of not less than Rs.100, and landholders or traders whose net annual income was Rs.6000 or above.
It was in 1905, that the Sree Moolam Popular Assembly began to have elected members. Out of the new strength of 100 members, 77 were to be elected and 33 were to be nominated. Voting right was limited to persons who paid an annual land revenue of not less than Rs.50, or whose net income was not less than Rs.2000. University graduates with not less than ten years of standing, and having their residence in the respective Taluk, were also eligible to vote.
In 1907, the Assembly was conferred the right to elect members of the upper Legislative Council. The Upper Council had 15 members, 9 officials and 6 non-officials. In 1919, the Council was remodeled raising its strength to 25, out of which 8 were elected members.In October 1921, the total strength of the Council was further raised to 50, with a majority of elected members.
In 1932, the Legislative Council of Travancore and Sri Mulam Popular Assembly were replaced with a formal bicameral system consisting of an Upper House, the Travancore Sri Chitra State Council, and a Lower House, the Sri Mulam Assembly. This bicameral system continued to function till September 1947, until it gave way to a constituent assembly that later led to the merger of Cochin state and the eventual joining into the Indian Union.
Members of Sree Moolam Popular Assembly
The following were some of the members of the Sree Moolam Popular Assembly:- Augusthy Augusthy Ponnatt
- A. Damodaran Asan
- AyyankaliAyyankaliAyyankali was a leader of the Indian lower caste Dalits known as the Untouchables. He pioneered many reforms to improve the lives of the Dalits. In 1937 he was praised by Mahatma Gandhi when he visited Venganoor, Ayyankali's home town...
- C. KesavanC. KesavanC. Kesavan was the Chief Minister of Travancore-Cochin during 1951–1952.-External links:*...
- Ittiavira Chacko Kalathoor
- Dominic Joseph Kariappaparambil
- E. V. Krishna PillaiE. V. Krishna Pillai- Biography :E. V. Krishna Pillai was a renowned writer of Malayalam literature. Born on 14 September 1894 at Kunnathur Taluk. Father: Pappu Pillai Mother: Karthyani Amma....
- J. Thomas KayalackakomJ. Thomas KayalackakomJ Thomas Kayalackakom was a politician and public figure of the erstwhile Travancore-Cochin State of pre-independent India...
- Jacob Thomas Karippaparampil
- Joseph Vitayathil
- K. Damodaran Potti
- K. C. Mammen MappillaiK. C. Mammen MappillaiK. C. Mammen Mappillai became editor of the Malayalam language daily called Malayala Manorama after Kandathil Varghese Mappillai died. Besides being a noted journalist, he was a freedom-fighter. He was a member of the Sree Moolam Popular Assembly...
- K. M. Thomas Karipaparampil
- K. T. Michael Karippaparampil
- K. V. Mathew Kollamkulam
- George Joseph Kottukapally
- Jacob Kurien of Mavelikera
- Kattiyattu Sivarama Panicker
- Kochu Kunju Shanar
- Kochu Kunju Vaidian
- Ulahannan Ulahannan Vadakkan
- Komalezhathu Kunju Pillai Chevakar
- Kumara Gurudevan
- Kumaran AsanKumaran AsanN. Kumaran Asan , also known as Mahakavi Kumaran Asan , was one of the triumvirate poets of Kerala, South India...
- Lonan Pillai
- Luka Mathai Pallithanam (alias Pallithanathu Mathaichen)
- Malloor Govinda Pillai
- Mikhail Alummoottil Kasheesho
- Muloor S.Padmanabha PanickerMuloor S.Padmanabha PanickerMooloor S. Padmanābha Panicker was a poet and a prominent social reform activist from the Travancore region of present-day Kerala.-Early years:...
- Nalpathamkalathil Kunjeria
- Pattom A. Thanu PillaiPattom A. Thanu PillaiPattom A. Thanu Pillai was a participant in the Indian independence movement who later served as the Chief Minister of Kerala from 22 February 1960 to 25 September 1962....
- P. K. Kunju
- P.K. Narayana Pillai
- S. J. Nair
- S. Ramanatha Pillai Pangapatt
- T. K. MadhavanT. K. MadhavanT. K. Madhavan was an Indian social reformer from Kerala. He led the struggle against untouchability which was known as Vaikom Satyagraha.-Early life:...
- T. K. Velu Pillai
- Agasthy Mathan Kallarackal
- T. M. Varghese, Thandaneth
- V. J. Oommen
- V. K. Velappan
(List is not complete)