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= Kanyakumari Merger Struggle = There was a popular agitation to liberate the Tamil areas comprising the present Kanyakumari District in the erstwhile Travancore state and got it merged with Tamilnadu. This is known as the 'Kanyakumari Liberation Struggle'. This is also mentioned as 'South Frontier Struggle' (Therkku Ellai Porattam). This struggle gained momentum between 1945 and 1956 witnessed many human sacrifices.

Preliminary History:
Tamil speaking people (Tamils) lived in large numbers in the Thovalai, Agastheeswaram, Kalkulam, Vilavancode, Neyyatinkarai, senkottai, Devikulam and Peermedu Taluks of erstwhile Tranvancore State. In the Tamil regions, Malayalam was the official language and there were only a few Tamil medium schools. So the Tamils met many hardships. Travancore State Government continued rejecting the genuine requests of Tamils.1

During that period 'Travancore State Congress' favoured the idea of uniting all the Malayalam speaking regions and the formation of an 'Unified Kerala'. In protest against this idea, many Tamil leaders vacated the party. They gathered together at Nagercoil on 16th December 1945 under the leadership of Sam Nathaniel and formed the new political party 'All Travancore Tamilian Congress'. That party was continuously compelling for the merger of Tamil regions in Travancore with Tamilnadu.2

Travancore Tamilnadu Congress (TTNC):
In the working committe meeting of Tamilian congress at Eraviputhur on 30th June 1946, the name of the political party was changed to 'Travancore Tamilnadu Congress' (TTNC). TTNC was popular among the Tamils living in Thovalai and Agateeswaram Taluks. Mr. Ma. Po. Sivagnanam (Ma.Po.Si) was the only leader from Tamilnadu who functioned in favour of TTNC.3

After the independence of India, State Assembly Elections were announced in Travancore. As a consequence, TTNC improved its popularity among Tamils. A popular and leading advocate from Vilavancode Mr. A. Nesamony organised a meeting of his supporters at Allan Memorial Hall, Nagercoil on 8th September 1947. In that meeting it was declared that they must achieve their objective through their political organisation, the TTNC. And TTNC started gaining strength and momentum in Kalkulam - Vilavancode Taluks.4

1948 - Police Firing:
During the election propaganda compaign, clashes occured between the majority Nadar community and the dominant malayali Nair community at various places in Kalkulam - Vilavancode Taluks. Malayali police force suppressed the agitating Tamilians. On February 1948 police opened fire and two Tamilians were killed.5

TTNC won in 14 constituencies in the election to the State Legislative Assembly. Mr. A. Nesamony was elected as the legislative leader of the party. Then under his leadership, the awakened Tamil population was prepared to undergo any sacrifice to achieve their goal.6

1952 - General Election:
In 1950, a meeting was held at Palayamkottai to make compromises between state congress and TTNC. The meeting met with failure and Mr. Sam Nathaniel resigned from the post of president of TTNC. Mr. P. Ramasamy Pillai, a strong follower of Mr. A. Nesamony was elected as the New President.7

The first general election of Independent India was held on 1952. TTNC won 8 legislative assembly seats. Mr. A. Chidambaranathan became the minister on behalf of TTNC in the coalition state government formed by the Congress. In the parliamentary Constituency Mr. A. Nesamony was elected as M.P. and in the Rajyasabha seat. Mr. A. Abdul Razak was elected as M.P. on behalf of TTNC.8

1954 - Police Firing:
Pattom Thanu Pillai was the chiefminister for Thiru - Kochi legislative assembly. He engaged hard measures against the agitations of Tamils. Especially the Tamils at Devikulam - Peermedu regions went through the atrocities of Malayali Police force. Condemning the attitude of the police, TTNC leaders from Nagercoil went to Munnar and participated in agitations against the prohibitive orders. The leaders were arrested. So an uncalm atmosphere prevailed in South Travancore.10

On August 11, 'Liberation Day' celebrations were held at many places in South Travancore. Public meetings and processions were organised. Communists also colloborated with the agitation programmes. Police opened fire at the processions in Thoduvetty (Martandam) and Puthukadai. Nine humble Tamil volunteers were killed, Against natural justice, thousands of TTNC and and communist wakes and sympothisers were arrested and humuliated in various parts of Tamil main land. At the end, Pattom Thanu Pillai's ministry was toppled and normalcy returned to the Tamil regions.11

States Reorganization Commission:
The central government had appointed Fazal Ali Commission for the states reorganisation based on language. It submitted its report on August 10, 1955. Based on this report, Devikulam - Peermedu and Neyyattinkara Taluks were merged with Kerala state.12

On 1956, Nov 1 - four Taluks Thovalai, Agastheeswaram, Kalkulam, Vilavancode were recognised to form the New Kanyakumari District and merged with Tamilnadu State. Shenkottai Taluk was merged with Tirunelveli District. The main demand of TTNC was to merger the Tamil regions with Tamilnadu and major part of its demand was realised. So TTNC was dissolved thereafter.13

Reference:

 * 1) V. S. Sathianesan - Tamil Separatism in Travancore
 * 2) R. Isaac Jeyadhas - Kanyakumari District and Indian Independence Struggle (Tamil)
 * 3) D. Daniel - Travancore Tamils: Struggle for Identity.
 * 4) B. Yogeeswaran - History of Travancore Tamil Struggle (Tamil)
 * 5) D. Daniel - Travancore Tamils: Struggle for Identity.
 * 6) D. Peter - Malayali Dominance and Tamil Liberation (Tamil)
 * 7) B. Yogeeswaran - History of Travancore Tamil Struggle (Tamil)
 * 8) B. Yogeeswaran - History of Travancore Tamil Struggle (Tamil)
 * 9) B. Yogeeswaran - History of Travancore Tamil Struggle (Tamil)
 * 10) R. Kuppusamy - Historical foot prints of a True War (Tamil)
 * 11) D. Peter - Malayali Dominance and Tamil Liberation (Tamil)
 * 12) B. Mariya John - Linguistic Reorganisation of Madras Presidenty
 * 13) D. Peter - Malayali Dominance and Tamil Liberation (Tamil)