The Liberation Struggle in Kerala (1958–59) was a period of anticommunist protest against the first elected state government in Kerala, which was led by E. M. S. Namboodiripad of the Communist Party of India. Organised opposition to the state government was spearheaded by the Syro-Malabar Church, the Nair Service Society, the Indian Union Muslim League, and the Indian National Congress. The Communists believed the movement received funds mostly from outside of India, mobilised by the CIA and international Catholic organisations. In the aftermath of the struggle, at least 15 people, mostly Christians and including a pregnant woman, died from various police firings at the hands of communist workers, leading to the Indian central government, under Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, imposing President's Rule and dismissing the state government.

Background

On 1 November 1956, the state of Kerala was formed by the States Reorganisation Act merging most of the Malabar District in Madras state, most of the Travancore-Cochin state and the taluk of Kasargod, South Kanara. In 1957 the first elections for the new Kerala Legislative Assembly were held, and a Communist Party of India-led government came to power, under E. M. S. Namboodiripad. Source: Kerala Government

Education Bill, 1957

Source: Government of Kerala The Education Bill, 1957 was introduced in Assembly by Minister for Education Joseph Mundassery. The bill sought to regulate the Government Grant Aided educational institutions in Kerala. The bill was introduced in July, 1957, passed in September, 1957, later returned by the President for reconsideration, reconsidered and passed again in November 1958 and was made law from January, 1959. It primarily attempted,

Agrarian Relations Bill, 1957

Source: Government of Kerala Agrarian Relations Bill Agrarian Relations Bill, 1957 was introduced by Minister for Land Revenue K. R. Gowri in the Kerala Assembly (introduced in December, 1957 and passed in June, 1959). It primarily attempted,

Interest groups

However, some clauses in the new bills became controversial as those clauses offended several influential interest groups, such as the Catholic Church of Kerala, Muslim League and the NSS.

Agitations and reprisals

A revolt against the Communist government's educational policies took shape. At Angamaly, the prime centre of Christians,, the intensity of fury broke into open violence. The Communist Party government's claim was that the police were forced to open fire on what they claim was a violent mob, who allegedly attempted to attack a police station. The police firing and killing of 7 people is said to have instigated a mass movement against the EMS Government. Rallies and demonstrations against the government took place throughout the state. The protests were spearheaded by the Indian National Congress, the then ruling party of Government of India (Union Government) and were later supported by various religious and communal groups. The communists strongly believed that the Central Intelligence Agency discreetly supported these protests, financially and otherwise. The death of a pregnant fisher woman, named Flory, a Christian woman in the police firing aggravated the situation. One notable feature of the movement was the participation of school and college students supporting the movement; the Kerala Students Union, the student wing of the Indian National Congress also played a role.

Results