When the British announced their exit from India, some princely states created trouble for Sardar Vallabai Patel and his team. Under its able diwan, Sir C.P. Ramaswami Iyer, Travancore was the first state to question the right of Congress to succeed the British. This spices-rich state was strategically placed at the extreme south of the Peninsula, nearer to the international maritime route, with reserves of Monazite. At last, without much trouble, Travancore was integrated into the Indian Union.

HISTORY OF TRAVANCORE

The name Travancore is the abbreviated English form of “Srivazhumkodu” or “Thiruvithamkodu“. The ruling family traces its descent from ancient Chera kings. Later, the country was split up into several petty principalities like Trippapur Swarupam or Venad.

When Anizham Tirunal Marthanda Varma ascended to the throne of Venad, he consolidated the other small principalities into one unit using the iron and blood policy. He modernised the army of Travancore ( this modernised army later became the ninth and sixteenth battalion of the Madras regiment, Indian army) and restructured the administrative structure. Due to this, Marthanda Varma is known as the architect of modern Travancore.

On January 3, 1750, Marthanda Varma surrendered his kingdom to his tutelary Deity, Sree Padmanabha Swami and pledged to rule the country as a servant of Sree Padmanabha Swami. Later, all of his successors followed his path and ruled the country as a servant of the Deity.

The Travancore is bounded on the north by the Cochin state and the Coimbatore district of Madras presidency. The Western Ghats form the boundary in the East and the Arabian Sea in the West. The total area is 7091 square miles.

INDEPENDENT TRAVANCORE

In 1946, Sir C.P Ramaswami Iyer made his stand crystal clear. Once the British left, Travancore would become an independent country, as it had been before 1795. Now, a question will arise. Why did he mention the year 1795? The answer is simple. In 1795, Travancore signed its first treaty with the English East India Company. So naturally, once they leave India, Travancore will Become independent.

He also remained about the battle of Colachel and the Dutch defeat in 1741. It is the only naval defeat ever inflicted by an Asian country on a European power. Moreover, he pointed out Travancore’s unique position compared to other princely states. The Country was dedicated to The tutelary Deity, “Sree Ananthapadmanabha Perumal“. After the dedication of the state or “Thrippadidanam”, the Deity was considered the real king, and Kings ruled as servants of the Deity or “Sreepadmanabhadasa“.

JINNAH’S STAND AND PAKISTAN’S POSITION ON INTEGRATION OF TRAVANCORE.

Mohammad Ali Jinnah welcomed Sir C.P. ‘s remarks. He also sent a cable indicating that his country, Pakistan, was ready to formally establish a relationship with Travancore, which would be of mutual advantage.

Later, Diwan informed the Madras government of his decisions. He pointed out his willingness to sign a treaty between the independent sovereign state of Travancore and both India and Pakistan.

AMERICAN MODEL REFORMS.

In 1946, Diwan announced his proposal for American model constitutional reforms. In this plan, Dewan’s position will be irremovable, and he will be conferred unlimited power.

With this statement, the people of Travancore realised the truth. The king is under Diwan’s control, and Diwan makes all the decisions.

The people of Travancore and the state congress rejected this newly proposed scheme. They organised a state-wide protest with the slogan “American model arabi kadalil“, or American model in the Arabian Sea.

TRAVANCORE DIWAN’S RETALIATION.

To counter the state congress movement across the state and the communist camp at Vayalar, Dewan assumed supreme command of the police and Travancore state forces.

On October 25, he declared martial law in Alappuzha and Chertala. On October 27, forces fired against the communist camp at Vayalar. Later, police terror was unleashed against people in many parts of Travancore.

This Iron Hand attitude of Diwan further reinforced the people’s attitude against Dewan. Later, people’s agitation intensified when the idea of his independent Travancore was announced. Due to the repressive measures and police firing at Pettah, Thiruvananthapuram killed three persons, including a student named Rajendran.

ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT ON SIR C.P RAMASWAMY IYER, THE DIWAN OF TRAVANCORE.

A few days after the Pettah firing incident, the country was going through a vortex of struggle; an assassination attempt was made on Sir C.P.’s life.

On July 25, 1947, the Dewan was enjoying the Carnatic music, which was organised as part of Swati tribunal centenary celebrations at Trivandrum Music College. Subramaniya Iyer alias K.C.S. Mani attacked him, but the attempt failed, and Dewan escaped with major injuries. This incident forced him to resign. The Dewan tendered his resignation on August 19, 1947.

The next Dewan was P.G.N. Unnithan, and on July 30, Maharaja Sree Chitra Tirunal Balarama Varma informed the viceroy of his decision to integrate Travancore into the Indian Union.

OATH OF OFFICE AND MAHARAJA’S INABILITY.

The Maharaja was not ready to take the oath of office as head of the state. He was at the peak of devotion to Sree Padmanabha Swami. According to him, he rules the state as a servant of Sree Padmanabha Swami and has already taken an oath in the name of his tutelary Deity. His stand resulted in a new crisis. The government of India required an assurance from the Maharaja that he would be faithful to the constitution of India.

Finally, Mr. V.P. Menon suggested a solution. The Maharaja will address a letter with the wordings according to the provision of clause 159 of the constitution bill.

“On assuming the position of Rajapramukh of the United States of Travancore and Cochin, I give my solemn assurance to the Government of India that to the best of my ability, I shall preserve, protect, and defend the constitution of India and that of the United States of Travancore and Cochin and devote myself to the service of the people of India.”  

The Chief Justice will read this letter in the presence of the Maharaja at the time of the inauguration of the new union.

THE COVENANTS OTHER MAJOR DECISIONS.

1. The Maharaja want to be Rajapramukh for life. The government agreed because they already had similar demands from the Maharajas of Gwalior, Jaipur and Patiala. The Maharaja will have the title for life.
2. The Maharaja objected to the position of Uparajapramukh. According to him, the Chief Justice should officiate for him in his absence. But this was rejected.
3. The Maharaja of Travancore should be allowed to resign if he finds his new position irksome in any way.
4. Another demand was that instead of Rajapramukh, he should be styled Perumal (according to the custom of Travancore). This request was also rejected because it is unconstitutional as per the new constitution of India.
5. Management of government-maintained temples and the properties attached to the temples of Devaswoms were peculiar to both Travancore and Cochin. A Dewasom board will be formed to manage these temples. An annual payment of rupees fifty-one lakh will be continued by the new government, and out of 51 lakh, 6 lakh will be given to the maintenance of the Sree Padmanabha Swami Temple.
6. The privy purse was fixed at rupees 18 lakh, and a sum of rupees 10 lakh will be paid to his successors.
7. The Maharaja voluntarily surrendered his Kandukrish land, which comprised nearly 60,000 acres and had a revenue of rupees 5 lakhs.

BUCH COMMITTEE.

The government of India formed a committee to examine various problems connected with the integration of Travancore and Cochin. Its official chairman was N. M. Buch I.C.S.

The other members were V.O. Markose, a minister of Travancore and Panampilli Govinda Menon, a minister of Cochin.

PROBLEMS WITH TRAVANCORE INTEGRATION.

1. Travancore had Tamil-speaking people. The Travancore Cohin amalgamation antagonised them. Travancore Tamil Nadu congress raised their concern. Later, the southern parts of Travancore were merged with Madras state.
2. The selection of capital also became a problem. For convenience, Thiruvananthapuram was selected as the capital of the new union, and Ernakulam became the high court seat.
3. Travancore was deficient in food and also faced financial difficulties.
4. According to Ramachandra Guha, the state is rich in Monazite reserve. So, the British government preferred its independence, at least for the time being.

TRAVANCORE-COCHIN UNION.

The Travancore Cochin union, with an area of 9155 square miles, was inaugurated on July 1, 1949. Sardar Vallabhai Patel, the Iron Man, was absent, but Mr V.P. Menon attended the inauguration event. This union ranks second in population and revenue among unions. The population density was highest in India, with 1015 people per square mile.

The Maharaja of Travancore became the Rajapramukh. The legislature and ministries of Travancore and Cochin were combined to form the legislature and ministry of the new union.

Thus Travancore became a part of Indian Union.