The Christian missionaries played an important role in the social reform movements in Kerala especially in the field of education.
Major missionary groups in Kerala were: London Mission Society, Church Mission Society and Basel Evangelical Mission.
Reformers like Sahodaran Ayyappan, Pandit K.P. Karuppan and Sayed Sanaulla Makti Thangal also helped in creating a new awakening spirit in social and educational fields of Kerala.