Question

Which among the following are associated with K. Kelappan? i. Vaikom Satyagraha ii. Salt Satyagraha iii. Travancore Legislative Council iv. Malayali Memorial

• A. Only i & ii
• B. Only i , ii & iii
• C. Only i & ii
• D. All of the above

Answer 1

Answer:

A. Only i & ii

K. Kelappan: The Kerala Gandhi

• K. Kelappan (1889-1971) was a prominent freedom fighter, social reformer, and an ardent follower of Mahatma Gandhi, earning him the title 'Kerala Gandhi'.
• He played a pivotal role in various nationalist and social reform movements in Kerala, especially during the Kerala Renaissance period.

I. Associations with K. Kelappan:

• Vaikom Satyagraha (1924-1925)

  • This was a non-violent protest against untouchability and for the right of lower castes to use public roads around the Vaikom Mahadeva Temple in Travancore.
  • K. Kelappan actively participated in the Satyagraha, leading batches of volunteers and was arrested for breaking the police cordon around the temple roads.
  • Other key leaders included T.K. Madhavan, K.P. Kesava Menon, and later supported by Sree Narayana Guru and Mahatma Gandhi.

• Salt Satyagraha (1930)

  • Inspired by Mahatma Gandhi's Dandi March, the Salt Satyagraha in Kerala was launched as part of the nationwide Civil Disobedience Movement.
  • K. Kelappan led the Salt Satyagraha in Kerala, specifically the march from Calicut (Kozhikode) to Payyannur.
  • He symbolically broke the salt law by manufacturing salt at Payyannur on April 21, 1930, leading to his arrest.

• Guruvayoor Satyagraha (1931-1932) - Additional Key Association for Competitive Exams

  • Though not listed as an option, this is a crucial movement associated with K. Kelappan and often asked in exams.
  • This Satyagraha aimed for the entry of all castes, especially untouchables, into the Guruvayoor Temple.
  • K. Kelappan undertook a historic fast unto death (indefinite fast) for the temple entry rights, which was later called off at the request of Mahatma Gandhi and other national leaders.
  • A.K. Gopalan served as the volunteer captain during this Satyagraha.

II. Not Associated with K. Kelappan:

• Travancore Legislative Council

  • While K. Kelappan was a prominent political figure in Kerala, his primary activism focused on broader nationalist movements and social reforms, particularly in Malabar.
  • The Travancore Legislative Council was a legislative body established in the princely state of Travancore. Leaders like C. Kesavan, T.M. Varghese, and others associated with the Travancore State Congress were more directly involved in legislative reforms and demands for responsible government within Travancore.
  • Kelappan's main political struggle was against British rule and social evils across the entire Malayalam-speaking region, not primarily within the specific legislative framework of Travancore.

• Malayali Memorial (1891)

  • The Malayali Memorial was a landmark petition submitted to the Maharaja of Travancore in 1891, demanding government jobs for native Travancoreans over foreigners.
  • Key figures associated with the Malayali Memorial include C.V. Raman Pillai, G.P. Pillai, and K.P. Sankara Menon.
  • K. Kelappan was born in 1889, making him only two years old at the time of the Malayali Memorial. Therefore, he could not have been associated with this movement.