Vimochana Samaram
Encyclopedia
The Liberation Struggle (1958-59) (Vimocana Samaram) is an anti-Communist socio-political agitation started in 1958 against the first elected government in Kerala state, India
under Communist
Chief Minister
E. M. S. Namboodiripad
. It was organized primarily by the Catholic Church in Kerala (the Syro Malabar Catholic Church and the Latin Catholic Church), along with the Nair Service Society
(under the leadership of Mannathu Padmanabhan
), the Indian Union Muslim League
and the Indian National Congress Party.
In 1957, E. M. S. Namboodiripad
led the Communists to a famous victory in the first election for the state government of Kerala. His government soon introduced the Education Bill
(and the Land Reform Ordinance). This was followed by the Liberation Struggle and the government was dismissed on July 31, 1959 by the Congress ruling Central Government of India, which invoked the controversial Article 356 of Indian Constitution.
by the then Education Minister Joseph Mundassery
. The bill had revolutionary content that could have had an impact on the administration of educational institutions financially aided by the government. Many of these institutions at that time were under the control of the Church and a few under the Nair Service Society (NSS). The Education Bill
claimed to regulate appointments and working conditions of teachers in government aided schools. Salaries of teachers were to be paid directly through the government treasury. There was a provision for takeover of the management of educational institutions financially aided by the government if the changes in the new bill were not implemented by the management of the aided institution and the non-fulfillment of certain conditions.
community.
, Praja Socialist Party
(PSP), Muslim League
, Revolutionary Socialist Party, and Kerala Socialist Party
rallied together demanding the dismissal of the EMS ministry. The active participation of the leaders like Kumbalathu Sanku Pillai, Mathai Manjooran
, Fr. Joseph Vadakkan
, B. Wellington, P. T. Chacko, Pullolil
, N. Sreekantan Nair
, R. Sankar
, C. H. Muhammed Koya, and Bafaqi Thangal further increased the momentum of the movement.
, the Catholic Church actively participated in the struggle mobilizing massive support. For the Church, it required huge investments to acquire the land, construct the buildings and cultivate the scholastic environment for the educational institutions; often, the Church gathered the capital for these investments by weekly collections and donations from the members. Even the poorest of the poor set aside a handful of rice each time they prepare a meal and contributed it on a weekly basis, called pidiyari. The Church alleged that it was on these assets that the atheist government set its eyes. This issue infuriated the Christians.
Altogether, people resented the day-to-day inteference of the local Communist Party functionaries in the societal and personal matters. This interference was termed as Cell Rule and it became a major cause for the large participation of common people in the agitation.
, Pulluvila, Vettukadu, and Cheriyathura, police resorted to firing resulting in the death of 15 people. The death of a pregnant fisher woman, named Flory, by the police firing aggravated the situation.
177,850 people (including 42,745 women) were arrested and all the jails became full. 700 out of the total 894 Panchayaths, and 26 out of total 29 municipalities of Kerala passed resolutions asking the Governor to dismiss the Government. One notable feature of the movement was massive participation of school and college students supporting the movement; the Kerala Students Union
also played a role.
in the state under Article 356 of the constitution
.
Soon after the dismissal, a state election was declared and the United Front, led by Indian National Congress, won with a clear majority, a ministry under Pattom A. Thanu Pillai
took office.
. The struggle showed that the Communist Party could be challenged by people's movements. Eventually, the communist parties had to change their tactics in dealing with the problems of the people. They became apologetic for Stalinist
policies. Time and again, they had to declare (with doubtful credibility) that the religious sentiments of the people would be taken care of.
The interest of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) in the struggle is depicted in the work of Daniel Patrick Moynihan
, United States' ambassador to India (1973–75) in his 1978 book - A Dangerous Place - ISBN 0316586994. His statements are corroborated by Howard Schaffer, the biographer of Ellsworth Bunker
, who was the US ambassador during 1956-61. Bunker is quoted confirming American and his involvement in funding the agitation against the EMS's communist government to prevent "additional Keralas".
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...
under Communist
Communist Party of India
The Communist Party of India is a national political party in India. In the Indian communist movement, there are different views on exactly when the Indian communist party was founded. The date maintained as the foundation day by CPI is 26 December 1925...
Chief Minister
Chief Minister
A Chief Minister is the elected head of government of a sub-national state, provinces of Sri Lanka, Pakistan, notably a state of India, a territory of Australia or a British Overseas Territory that has attained self-government...
E. M. S. Namboodiripad
E. M. S. Namboodiripad
Elamkulam Manakkal Sankaran Namboodiripad, , popularly known as EMS, was an Indian Communist leader and the first Chief Minister of Kerala. As the first non-Congress chief minister in independent India, he became the leader of the first democratically elected communist government in the world...
. It was organized primarily by the Catholic Church in Kerala (the Syro Malabar Catholic Church and the Latin Catholic Church), along with the Nair Service Society
Nair Service Society
The Nair Service Society is an organization created for the uplift and welfare of the Nair community. It was established under the leadership of Mannathu Padmanabhan...
(under the leadership of Mannathu Padmanabhan
Mannathu Padmanabhan
Mannathu Padmanabhan was a social reformer and a freedom fighter from the State of Kerala, India. He is recognised as the founder of the organisation called the Nair Service Society. This organisation represents the Nair community which constitutes almost 14.5% of the population of the state...
), the Indian Union Muslim League
Indian Union Muslim League
Indian Union Muslim League is a state political party in the state of Kerala, India. The chief support base of the party falls inside northern and central Kerala...
and the Indian National Congress Party.
In 1957, E. M. S. Namboodiripad
E. M. S. Namboodiripad
Elamkulam Manakkal Sankaran Namboodiripad, , popularly known as EMS, was an Indian Communist leader and the first Chief Minister of Kerala. As the first non-Congress chief minister in independent India, he became the leader of the first democratically elected communist government in the world...
led the Communists to a famous victory in the first election for the state government of Kerala. His government soon introduced the Education Bill
Education Bill
The Education Bill was introduced in the Kerala assembly by Prof. Joseph Mundasseri, the then education minister for the first elected Communist Party of India government...
(and the Land Reform Ordinance). This was followed by the Liberation Struggle and the government was dismissed on July 31, 1959 by the Congress ruling Central Government of India, which invoked the controversial Article 356 of Indian Constitution.
Education bill
The immediate cause of the outbreak of the Liberation Struggle was the introduction of Education BillEducation Bill
The Education Bill was introduced in the Kerala assembly by Prof. Joseph Mundasseri, the then education minister for the first elected Communist Party of India government...
by the then Education Minister Joseph Mundassery
Joseph Mundassery
Joseph Mundassery was a renowned literary critic and Indian politician from Kerala state. He was one among the towering literary critics in the Malayalam language and literature...
. The bill had revolutionary content that could have had an impact on the administration of educational institutions financially aided by the government. Many of these institutions at that time were under the control of the Church and a few under the Nair Service Society (NSS). The Education Bill
Education Bill
The Education Bill was introduced in the Kerala assembly by Prof. Joseph Mundasseri, the then education minister for the first elected Communist Party of India government...
claimed to regulate appointments and working conditions of teachers in government aided schools. Salaries of teachers were to be paid directly through the government treasury. There was a provision for takeover of the management of educational institutions financially aided by the government if the changes in the new bill were not implemented by the management of the aided institution and the non-fulfillment of certain conditions.
Land Re-distribution Bill
The NSS was not happy with the Land Reforms Bill either, because it might adversely affect the land owners, many of whom belonged to the NairNair
Nair , also known as Nayar , refers to "not a unitary group but a named category of castes", which historically embody several castes and many subdivisions, not all of whom bore the Nair title. These people historically live in the present-day Indian state of Kerala...
community.
Political parties
Besides the socio-religious organizations, all the major opposition parties including Indian National CongressIndian National Congress
The Indian National Congress is one of the two major political parties in India, the other being the Bharatiya Janata Party. It is the largest and one of the oldest democratic political parties in the world. The party's modern liberal platform is largely considered center-left in the Indian...
, Praja Socialist Party
Praja Socialist Party
The Praja Socialist Party was an Indian political party in existence from 1952 to 1972. It was founded when the Socialist Party, led by Jayprakash Narayan, Acharya Narendra Deva and Basawon Singh , merged with the Kisan Mazdoor Praja Party led by J.B. Kripalani...
(PSP), Muslim League
Indian Union Muslim League
Indian Union Muslim League is a state political party in the state of Kerala, India. The chief support base of the party falls inside northern and central Kerala...
, Revolutionary Socialist Party, and Kerala Socialist Party
Kerala Socialist Party
Kerala Socialist Party was a political party founded under the leadership of Mathai Manjooran on September 21, 1947 at Kozhikode. It began as a small party, but its front-line leaders compelled the party deep into the public imagination....
rallied together demanding the dismissal of the EMS ministry. The active participation of the leaders like Kumbalathu Sanku Pillai, Mathai Manjooran
Mathai Manjooran
Mathai Manjooran was an Indian independence activist from Kerala, socialist revolutionary, Member of Parliament, Minister of Labour in the second E.M.S...
, Fr. Joseph Vadakkan
Fr. Joseph Vadakkan
Fr. Joseph Vadakkan was a political activist priest of Kerala in India, freedom fighter, and the founder of the political party known as Karshaka Thozilali Party . Vadakkan organised many agitations and took part in protest marches, satyagrahas, and rallies. He was also arrested and jailed. He...
, B. Wellington, P. T. Chacko, Pullolil
P. T. Chacko, Pullolil
P. T. Chacko was a prominent politician of Travancore and later Kerala. He was the Home Minister of Kerala during 1960-64.He was born on April 9, 1915 as the son of Thomas Pullolil and Annamma Thomas at Chirakkadavu, in Kottayam District. A lawyer by profession, he served as a member of Travancore...
, N. Sreekantan Nair
N. Sreekantan Nair
N. Sreekantan Nair was a long time Member of Parliament of Kollam, Freedom Fighter, Trade Unionist and Writer.-Early life:He was born to N. Neelakanta Pillai M.A. , , , who was a Principal of Govt.Sanskrit College, Trivandrum and who has authored several books in the three languages and JanakiAmma...
, R. Sankar
R. Sankar
R. Sankar was an Indian politician and the third Chief Minister of Kerala. He was born on April 30, 1909 in Kuzhikkalidavaka village in Kottarakkara.-Education and public life:...
, C. H. Muhammed Koya, and Bafaqi Thangal further increased the momentum of the movement.
Involvement of Catholic Church
Following the Angamaly FiringAngamaly Firing
The Angamaly Firing was an incident that took place in Angamaly, Kerala, on June 13, 1959, when police opened fire on protesters who had been demonstrating against Kerala's communist government...
, the Catholic Church actively participated in the struggle mobilizing massive support. For the Church, it required huge investments to acquire the land, construct the buildings and cultivate the scholastic environment for the educational institutions; often, the Church gathered the capital for these investments by weekly collections and donations from the members. Even the poorest of the poor set aside a handful of rice each time they prepare a meal and contributed it on a weekly basis, called pidiyari. The Church alleged that it was on these assets that the atheist government set its eyes. This issue infuriated the Christians.
Cell rule
Altogether, people resented the day-to-day inteference of the local Communist Party functionaries in the societal and personal matters. This interference was termed as Cell Rule and it became a major cause for the large participation of common people in the agitation.
Agitations and reprisals
Massive rallies and demonstrations against the government took place throughout the state. Women and school children were in the forefront in spite of police actions. The Law and Order situation in the state was hit worst by the struggle. In places like AngamalyAngamaly
Angamaly is a satellite town of the city of Kochi, situated north of the city center and a municipality in Ernakulam district, Kerala, India. It is one of the entry points or gateways to Ernakulam district from northern Kerala...
, Pulluvila, Vettukadu, and Cheriyathura, police resorted to firing resulting in the death of 15 people. The death of a pregnant fisher woman, named Flory, by the police firing aggravated the situation.
177,850 people (including 42,745 women) were arrested and all the jails became full. 700 out of the total 894 Panchayaths, and 26 out of total 29 municipalities of Kerala passed resolutions asking the Governor to dismiss the Government. One notable feature of the movement was massive participation of school and college students supporting the movement; the Kerala Students Union
Kerala Students Union
Kerala Students Union is the Kerala branch of the National Students Union of India, the student wing of the Indian National Congress. KSU was founded on May 30, 1957 in Alappuzha.-About KSU:...
also played a role.
Dismissal and elections
The immediate effect of the Vimochana Samaram was the dismissal of the Communist government under E. M. S. on 31 July 1959 and imposition of the President's rulePresident's rule
President's rule is the term used in India when a state legislature is dissolved or suspended and the state is placed under direct federal rule...
in the state under Article 356 of the constitution
Constitution of India
The Constitution of India is the supreme law of India. It lays down the framework defining fundamental political principles, establishes the structure, procedures, powers, and duties of government institutions, and sets out fundamental rights, directive principles, and the duties of citizens...
.
Soon after the dismissal, a state election was declared and the United Front, led by Indian National Congress, won with a clear majority, a ministry under Pattom A. Thanu Pillai
Pattom A. Thanu Pillai
Pattom 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....
took office.
Appreciation
Supporters of the Vimochana Samaram claim it was a great people's movement that largely enhanced the vibrant democratic system of Kerala. They refer to the stagnation of development in West Bengal which was ruled for three decades by the Communist Party of India (Marxist)Communist Party of India (Marxist)
The Communist Party of India is a political party in India. It has a strong presence in the states of Kerala, West Bengal and Tripura. As of 2011, CPI is leading the state government in Tripura. It leads the Left Front coalition of leftist parties in various states and the national parliament of...
. The struggle showed that the Communist Party could be challenged by people's movements. Eventually, the communist parties had to change their tactics in dealing with the problems of the people. They became apologetic for Stalinist
Stalinism
Stalinism refers to the ideology that Joseph Stalin conceived and implemented in the Soviet Union, and is generally considered a branch of Marxist–Leninist ideology but considered by some historians to be a significant deviation from this philosophy...
policies. Time and again, they had to declare (with doubtful credibility) that the religious sentiments of the people would be taken care of.
Criticism
The Communist Party of India (Marxist) projects Vimochana Samaram as a conspiracy. Some of the key criticism were that it was an anti-democratic, CIA funded, communal movement aimed to shatter the first democratically elected communist ministry. It is further accused that the Indian National Congress had joined hands in public with anti-democratic splinters and communal forces for the downfall of a democratically-elected government.The interest of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) in the struggle is depicted in the work of Daniel Patrick Moynihan
Daniel Patrick Moynihan
Daniel Patrick "Pat" Moynihan was an American politician and sociologist. A member of the Democratic Party, he was first elected to the United States Senate for New York in 1976, and was re-elected three times . He declined to run for re-election in 2000...
, United States' ambassador to India (1973–75) in his 1978 book - A Dangerous Place - ISBN 0316586994. His statements are corroborated by Howard Schaffer, the biographer of Ellsworth Bunker
Ellsworth Bunker
Ellsworth F. Bunker was an American businessman and diplomat...
, who was the US ambassador during 1956-61. Bunker is quoted confirming American and his involvement in funding the agitation against the EMS's communist government to prevent "additional Keralas".
External links
- Report of V. K. Krishna Menon to Nehru on the E. M. S. NamboodiripadE. M. S. NamboodiripadElamkulam Manakkal Sankaran Namboodiripad, , popularly known as EMS, was an Indian Communist leader and the first Chief Minister of Kerala. As the first non-Congress chief minister in independent India, he became the leader of the first democratically elected communist government in the world...
government - A red dawn that set too soon