ECONOMIC HISTORY OF

ECONOMIC HISTORY OF

KERALA FROM 1800 TO 1947 AD

PART I : MALABAR
Change in Agriculture, Industry, Transport

and Education
B. A. Prakash
Thiruvananthapuram Economic Studies Society
November 2018
1
Contents
Preface
1 Agricultural Backwardness 4
Introduction – Agricultural situation – colonial policies – Feudal land

tenure system – Colonial extraction of agricultural surplus – Prices of
agricultural products – colonial policies in non-agricultural sector –
institution of caste system
42 Industrial Change 35
Industrial situation – Colonial policies – growth in traditional industries

– Large scale industries – Industrial employment
3 Transport Sector 45
Colonial policies – Development of in-land water transport – Ports –

Roads – Road transport – Railways
4 Educational Change 56
Educational situation – Colonial policies – Basel mission – Growth in

educational institution – Literacy rate – Educational change among
different communities
5 Conclusion 64
2
Preface
Though a lot of literature is available on political and social history of Kerala, not much
attempts have been made to study the economic history. As a scholar interested in Kerala‟s
economic studies, I made some attempts to study the economic history of Kerala during the
period 1986 and 1989, when I was a visiting scholar at Centre for Development Studies,
Thiruvananthapuram. Based on my research, a few papers were published on agricultural
backwardness of Malabar (Social Scientist, June-July 1988), survey of studies on
Agricultural Development from 1800 AD to 1980 AD (Centre for Development Studies,
Working Paper No. 220), land tenures, agrarian change etc. Though I wish to publish my
studies in a book form, it has not materialised. In this context, I publish my studies on
economic history of Kerala covering the period between 1800 AD and 1947 AD in two parts
viz. Malabar and Travancore in the website www.keralaeconomy.com. The first part is
presented here.
Thiruvananthapuram B A Prakash
November 2018
3
Chapter 1
AGRICULTURAL BACKWARDNESS
Introduction
The erstwhile Malabar district of Madras Presidency, forming the northern region of present
day Kerala State is economically backward in many respects. The region was under colonial
rule since the English East India Company conquered Malabar from the Mysoreans in 1792
till attainment of independence in 1947. Though Malabar had been a major exporter of a wide
variety of agricultural products to Europe for more than two thousand years and consequently
exposed to influences from abroad, it still remains an underdeveloped region with a backward
agricultural sector.
Except for a study by T.W. Shea, no attempts have been made to examine the causes
1
of agricultural backwardness in Malabar. Shea emphasises six barriers to economic growth
in the region, viz. the immobility of the caste structure, the traditional occupational
distribution of the elite, the absence of systematic government in the pre-British period, the
pattern of land tenures, the structure of family property laws and the pattern of population
growth during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. In explaining the barriers to economic
growth, he puts forward the hypothesis that businessmen in Malabar made no concerted,
systematic attempts to rationalise agricultural production, and that because of their lack of
interest in bringing about changes in productive techniques in agriculture, the development
inhibiting social and economic barriers were never directly challenged. Though the study
highlights a few barriers to the economic development of Malabar, a major limitation of the
study is that it has completely ignored the impact of colonial policies.
In this study our objective is to present an alternative explanation for the agricultural
backwardness of Malabar during the colonial period, in which we emphasise two factors, viz.
(1) the unfavourable and extractive policies pursued by the colonial power in the spheres of
agriculture, industry, infrastructure, trade and commerce; and (2) the caste system, and the
social practices arising out of the system, that prevailed in Malabar.
4
The Causes of Agricultural Backwardness of Malabar
Agricultural Performance under Colonial Rule
The British Malabar comprised of a vast region covering an area of about 6262 square
miles. It was divided into 18 taluks and 2222 villages for administrative purposes by the
beginning of 19th century2. Malabar was richly endowed with natural resources such as soil,
climate, rainfall, etc., favourable to the growth of a wide variety of plants and trees. A large
portion of Malabar to the east is mountainous and overrun with forests3. Some of the
evergreen forests of Kerala, such as „Silent Valley‟ and „Attapady Valley‟ are located within
the district. The climate of Malabar is also favourable to the cultivation of grain as well as
plantation crops. The rainfall varies from 50 to 300 inches. The district also has a number of
rivers and backwaters.
At the beginning of the nineteenth century agriculture was the chief economic activity
of the people and provided the means of livelihood to the entire population except a few who
engaged in trade, commerce, cotton weaving, carpentry, smithy, fishing etc. On the basis of
the available information, we estimate that the population engaged in non-agricultural
activities hardly exceeded five percent of the total population in 18374. The agrarian system
was characterised by a hierarchy of land rights in which agrestic slaves stood at the bottom.
Except for the transactions that took place in trading centres with coins, Malabar remained a
non-monetised economy. The region produced a variety of agricultural products like paddy,
coconut, betel nut, ginger, pepper, cardamom and horticultural produce like jack fruits,
plantains, mangoes etc. Among these products, the important items exported were pepper,
coconut, coconut products, betel nut, cardamom and timber during the first decade of the
nineteenth century5. Pepper was the single largest export earner among the products exported
and accounted for about 45 percent of the total value of exports from Malabar in 18046.
Pepper was known as the „black gold‟ of Malabar and the power struggles waged by the
Portuguese, Dutch and English in this region were primarily with the objective of
monopolising the pepper trade. Originally pepper was cultivated only in the two taluks of
Malabar viz. Chirakkal and Kottayam. The composition of exports changed during the first
three decades of the nineteenth century and by the end of the 1830s pepper ceased to be the
largest export earner of Malabar.
5
Coconut and coconut products like copra, coconut oil, coir and coir products were the
second important set of items exported from Malabar. By the 1840s coconut and its products
emerged as the largest export earner for Malabar. Coconut cultivation was largely
concentrated in the coastal regions. Coconut cultivation had not spread to a significant extent
in the inland regions, because of lack of adequate irrigation and the consequent lower yield
from the trees.
Rice was the staple food of the people and the principal agricultural produce. Rice
was cultivated mainly in low lying wet lands and cultivation was mainly dependent on the
monsoon. Traditional methods of cultivation were used for cultivating paddy. The land was
ploughed several times with the help of wooden ploughs and young plants of paddy were
transplanted. A common wooden plough, two hoes, a rake and a leveling instrument were the
typical farming implements used for farming. Ash, cow dung, leaves and grass were
generally used as manure. During the first half of the nineteenth century rice and paddy were
exported from Malabar.
Coffee was introduced to Malabar around the 1820s. During 1829, the East India
Company formulated a policy to encourage coffee cultivation with the objective of expanding
its export and directed the Madras Government to take necessary steps. The Madras
Government had announced the exemption of coffee plantations from land taxes. By the
1840s coffee cultivation was being undertaken on a large scale by European planters in
Waynad taking advantage of the liberal encouragement given by the Government and the
suitability of the local climate and soil for coffee cultivation.
According to Buchanan7, who visited Malabar in 1800, bulls, bullocks, cows and male
and female buffaloes were the important native cattle stock that existed in Malabar. The
native oxen were found to be of poor breed, and smaller in size compared to the oxen of
Coimbatore and Mysore. The farmers who owned cattle used to house them in small huts.
Landlords possessed cows and kept them along with the labouring cattle in small sheds built
for the purpose. Cattle was fed with grass for about four months and straw for the rest of the
year. Buchanan says that horses, asses, swine, sheep and goats were not the native animals of
Malabar. Few of the above categories of animals found in Malabar were brought from outside
the region. Poultry was also not a native item of Malabar, but was brought hereby Europeans.
During the early decades of the nineteenth century a large number of cattle consisting of
bullocks, cows, buffaloes, goats and sheep were brought from outside through Palghat.
6
There was not much change in the State of agriculture during the second half of the
nineteenth century except for the expansion of area under plantation crops. The cultivation of
coffee steadily increased and by the 1870s coffee emerged as the largest export-earner,
accounting for 33 percent of the total export earnings of Malabar8. The decline in the
importance of pepper can be attributed to many factors. One reason was the spread of
cultivation of pepper to other countries. The Dutch took pepper saplings from Malabar
during the 18th century and planted them in Sumatra and other countries. The result was that
by 1940s about 90 percent of world pepper came from Dutch India. The spread of a disease
known as „wilt of pepper‟ during the early decades of the present century badly affected the
crop. It attacks the roots just below the ground and cuts off nourishment with the result that
leaves turn yellow and drop down and the whole vine soon dries up. The fall in the price of
pepper, the high tax levies and unfavourable land tenures also contributed to the decline of
pepper cultivation. As a cumulative result of all these, Malabar gradually lost its monopoly in
world trade and by the 1940s pepper export from Malabar came to a very low level of one
percent of world trade in pepper. Coffee, which emerged as the successor to pepper as
Malabar‟s most important export crop during the second half of the 19th century maintained
its position till the end of the first decade of the present century. But the coffee boom came
to an end with the spread of coffee disease in the twentieth century.
Futher, Malabar, an exporter of rice during the first part of the nineteenth century,
began to import large quantities of rice after 18609. By the 1870s, paddy, rice and other
grains accounted for the bulk of the total value of imports10. This chronic deficit in food
grains may be attributed to the stagnation of agricultural productivity, the slow increase in
area under paddy and the steady growth of population. Due to the lack of growth of industrial
or commercial activities, a vast majority of population (about 80 per cent) depended primarily
on agricultural occupations for their livelihood. According to the 1881 census only 20 percent
of the population was engaged in any activities outside agriculture such as in government
service, army, clergy, trade, commerce, transportation, construction, metal work, weaving,
clay works etc11.
The backwardness of agriculture and the lack of development of other sectors,

coupled with a growing population, created a situation of chronic unemployment and
consequent widespread poverty among the people. A sizeable section of the population was
forced to live near famine conditions. Logan had pointed out that near famine conditions
7
prevailed in Malabar during the months from July to September and the victims were the
poorer sections of the population. Malabar under colonial rule experienced frequent famines
of a severe kind in 1865, 1866, 1876, 1877, 1878 and 1890. A severe famine which raged
throughout the presidency in 1865 and 1866 made its effect felt in Malabar and a daily
average of 6353 people were provided relief during the five months from July to November
186612. During the period from 1876 to 1878, Malabar witnessed a severe famine and the
Government took relief measures by providing rice kanji in many places in the district to the
starving people. It was estimated that more than 40,000 persons were provided with rice
kanji during the year 187713. In 1899, Malabar faced severe scarcity of food grains and the
government was forced to provide relief measures.
Table 1.1
Area Under Rice
Year Year under Rice
(Acres) Index Number
1890-91 9,09,534 100
1900-01 7,17,051 118
1910-11 8,53,030 140
1920-21 8,88,711 146
1930-31 8,79,291 144
1939-40 8,61,744 141
1950-51 8,15,000 134
Source: (1) Govt. of India, Agricultural Statistics of British India, for the years 1890-91 to
1894-95, 1900-1901 to 1904-05, Vol.I and 1906-1907 to 1910-11, Vol.I (2) Govt. of Madras
(Board of Revenue) Season and Corp. Reports of Madras Presidency for the agricultural
years 1920-21, 1930-31 and 1939-40. (3) Got. of Madras, Season and Crop. Report of
Madras State for the Agricultural year 1950-51.
During the first half of the 20th century there was an appreciable change in the
agricultural situation compared to earlier periods. But Malabar continued to remain an
importer of large quantities of food grains. There was considerable expansion in the area
under rice during the first two decades of the present century, but subsequently there was a
decline in area (Table 1.1). The unfavourable land tenure structure and the low share received
by the cultivating tenants may be causes for the decline in area. The productivity of land
8
under food grains, especially paddy was extremely also low. This low productivity was due
to the lack of irrigation, non-introduction of modern methods of cultivation or chemical
manures and the unfavourable structure of land tenure and land rights. The land tenure
system which prevailed in Malabar offered no incentives to the cultivating tenants to increase
agricultural productivity. Commenting on the low level of agricultural productivity, the
Malabar Tenancy Committee had observed in 194014; “The average multiple out turn was
stated to be ten by the Joint Commissions in 1793 and it cannot be said that it is more at the
present day.
Table 1.2
Agricultural Stock
Year Carts Plough Boat

(Nos.) Index No. (Nos.) Index No. (Nos.) Index No.
1884-85 6,521 100 1,66,257 100 3,296 100
1890-91 8,544 131 1,69,136 101 N.A -
1899-1900 10,284 157 1,65,687 99 N.A -
1909-10 12,529 192 1,68,977 101 N.A -
1919-20 13,720 210 1,89,739 114 N.A -
January 1930 12,119 185 1,81,363 109 N.A -
January 1940 10,961 168 1,73,190 104 7,860 238
Census 1951 10,927 167 2,47,900 149 N.A -
Source: Government of India, Return of Agricultural Statistics, India for the year 1884-85;
Agricultural Statistics of British India for the years 1890-91 to 1894-95, 1900-1901 to
1904-05, 1906-1907 to 1910-11. Government of Madras, Season and Crop Reports of
Madras Presidency for the agricultural year 1920-21, 1930-31, 1939-40 and Season and
Crop Report of Madras State for the „Agricultural year 1950-51
Wooden ploughs and other traditional agricultural implements were in use during the first
half of the present century also15. The available evidence suggests that Malabar had about
1.66 lakhs of ploughs in 1885 (Table 1.2). Ernad, Walluvanad, Palghat and Ponnani were the
taluks which had a large number of ploughs. The 1940s witnessed a rapid increase in the
number of ploughs in use. There were no significant efforts at introducing modern
9
agricultural technology till 1940, as evident from the absence of any tractors and other
mechanically operated agricultural machinery (Table 1.3). During the 1950s we find a
sudden shift to the use of agricultural equipment like electric pumps, oil engine pumps,
tractors and sugarcane crushers worked by power (Table 1.3). This shift can be attributed to
the end of colonial rule and the change in agricultural policies of the new government.
Table 1.3
Agricultural stock in Malabar
January 1940 Census 1951
1 Sugarcane crushers worked by power 3 588
2 Sugarcane crushers 202 -

3 Oil engines with pumps for irrigation purposes 57 428
4 Electric pumps for tube welles 8 54
5 Tractors Nil 21
6 Oil Mills 2,200 N.A
7 Looms 13,755 N.A
8 Ghanis N.A 1,533
N.A. Not Available

Source: Government of Madras, Season and Crop Reports for Madras Presidency for the
Agricultural year 1939-40 and Season and Crop. Report of Madras State for the
agricultural year 1950-51.
As far as diversification of the agrarian economy was concerned during the first three decades
th
of this century, tea, which was introduced at the end of 19 century steadily gained ground
and by the 1930s about 12,000 acres of land were brought under tea in the Waynad region.
Rubber, a new plantation crop, also began to be cultivated in Malabar from the early decades
of 20th century. The area under rubber cultivation steadily increased to 23,000 acres by
195016. As a result by 1950, the area under paddy accounted for 55 per cent of the total, that
under coconut 25 per cent, areca nut 6 per cent, plantains 4 per cent, tapioca 3 per cent,
rubber 1.5 per cent, coffee 1.2 per cent and tea 1 per cent of the total area cultivated17.
From the above review we may conclude that Malabar, a very backward agricultural
economy at the inception of colonial rule, remained so till the end of that rule. Due to lack of
10
development of the non-agricultural sectors, these had not been any substantial shift from
agricultural to non-agricultural occupations and a vast section of the population was
unemployed and lived under constant poverty. Famines and situations close to famine were
frequent in Malabar.
Reinstatement of Feudal Land Tenure System
The British conquest of Malabar in 1792 and the subsequent policy of recognising the
Janmi as absolute owner of land and the wrong interpretation given by the courts and
administration of the three types of tenures such as Kanam, Kulikanam and Verumpattom had
severe adverse effects on the agricultural development of Malabar. These steps had resulted
in the creation of a feudal class of janmies who had no interest in cultivation, prevented
emergence of a land market in Malabar and retarded agricultural productivity and expansion
in cultivation.
The original system of land tenure of Malabar was customary sharing of produce with
each customary sharer being permitted to transfer his interest in land freely. The sharing of
the produce of each janmom holding was, in particular, a matter regulated by customary law,
which the janmi, was not at liberty to break. The share of produce left over after providing
liberally for cultivating costs was styled pattom, that is pad (authority‟s share)18. Long before
the Mysorean invasion, hereditary property (janmom) was freely brought and sold in
Malabar. And it was this buying and selling, and in particular the wording of the deeds in
which transactions were recorded, that misled the early British administrators about the land
tenure system that existed in Malabar. Without properly understanding the customary land
relations that existed in Malabar for centuries, the British interpreted the janmi, who had no
interest in cultivation and who considered farming as an inferior occupation earmarked for
agrestic serfs and the lower castes, as absolute owner of land. In the words of Logan19; “The
essential difference between a Roman dominus and a Malayali janmi was unfortunately not
perceived or not understood at the commencement of the British administration. The janmi
has by the action of the Civil Courts, been virtually converted into a dominus, and the result
on the workers, the cultivators, has been, and is, very deplorable“.
One of the major consequences of this new land policy of the colonial rulers was that
it legalised the feudal land relations that existed in Malabar and made janmies a powerful
11
class, who no longer depended for power and influence on protective rulers. Logan provides
an illustration about the janmies20.
The big Janmies‟ property is scattered widely over the face of the country and is
rarely held in compact blocks capable of effective management. Most of them do not know
where much of their property lies, having never even seen it. They do not know the persons
who cultivate it and do not concern themselves as to whether their tenants sublet or not. Most
of them care nothing for the welfare of the tenants. Moreover, the men employed by these
big janmis to manage their scattered properties are all men of common education, who get
very small pay, and their chief duty is to grant receipts for rent collected.
As a result of this new land tenure policy, the other co-sharers like Kanakaran and
Verumpattakaran were pushed down to the status of mere tenant. In the feudal structure the
janmi should at the top while the agrestic serfs stood at the bottom of the hierarchy. Farming
was undertaken either by the poor Karan or Verumpattom tenants or by a class of agrestic
serf known as Cherumar. A large proportion of the agricultural workers were, in the southern
part of the district, until mid 1800s, slaves, subject to purchase, sale and transfer with or
separate from the land they tilled. Though slavery was abolished in 1843 by the colonial
rulers, the agrestic slave system continued in Malabar because of the feudal land ownership
structure that existed. In a stagnant, backward agricultural economy, the serfs, who do not
find any other occupation outside farming, were forced to live as serfs. By 1857 Malabar had
about 1.87 lakhs agrestic slaves, accounting for 12 percent of the total population, who lived
mainly in grain producing taluks21.
Another result of the new land tenure policy was that it prevented emergence of a land
market in Malabar, which is one of the preconditions of commercialisation or capitalist
agriculture. When janmies were conferred absolute ownership of land, they became legal
owners of vast areas of waste land, cultivable waste land and forest lands. As a class, which
had no interest in the land, they found it advantageous to sublet the land, retaining their
ownership right and earn an income, pattom, without making any effort from their side. Since
the colonial administration favoured eviction of tenants, the janmies could evict the tenants
without any difficulty. As a result of this, sales of land became fewer and almost the entire
ownership of land in a village was vested in janmies, temples and native rulers. Village
studies22 conducted during the first decade of 20th century in three villages of Malabar, found
that owing to prestige and social importance of land ownership big janmies never sold their
12
land even at high prices. The ownership of cultivable waste land and forest land by janmies
also discouraged cultivation of coffee, tea, rubber and teak.
The extent of land ownership concentration that prevailed in Malabar during the
1880s was evident from the tax return statement of Malabar. Of the total tax assessment, 78
percent was paid by landlords whose average amount of land tax varied from more than
Rs.10 to more than Rs.1000. (Table 1.4).
Table 1.4
Pattern of land ownership
Pattas Number of Total pattas Land tax
pattas
Single Joint Total % (Rs) %
1 Below 1,41,272 4,090 1,45,365 80.96 3,86,400 21.61
Rs.10
2 Above Rs.10 & below 21,054 927 21,981 12.24 3,70,188 20.69
Rs.30
3 Above Rs.30 & below 5,336 260 5,596 3.12 2,10,672 11.78
Rs.50
4 Above Rs.50 & below 3,894 151 4,045 2.25 2,73,671 15.30
Rs.100
5 Above Rs.100 & below 1,956 73 2,029 1.13 2,99,651 16.75
Rs.250
6 Above Rs.250 & below 393 8 401 0.01 1,35,395 7.57
Rs.500
7 Above Rs.500 & below 98 4 102 0.01 68,726 3.85
Rs.1000
8 Above 28 1 29 - 43,662 2.45
Rs.1000
Total: 100.00 100.00
Source: William Logan, Malabar, Vo.II.P.9
A third consequence of the new land tenure policy was that it did not provide any
incentive to cultivating tenants to increase productivity, make permanent improvements or
resort to extensive cultivation of waste lands and forest lands, leading to stagnation of the
agricultural sector.
The wrong interpretation given by the colonial administration and courts about
traditional tenures such as Kanam, Kulikanam and Verumpattom had virtually resulted in loss
of security of tenure and reduced the share of produce enjoyed by tenants.
13
As a result of Court rulings the Kanam tenure became sometimes a lease or a
mortgage or a mortgage lease. According to Logan, Kanam right in the traditional sense was
the right to supervise or to protect all the inhabitants of a particular Nad or country and for
this service a portion of net produce equal in amount to that enjoyed by the janmi was paid to
kanakaran or supervisors23. At the time of the British take over of Malabar, the net produce
was being divided equally between kanakaran and janmi. But due to wrong interpretation,
the kanam amount was later considered an advance of rent given by a tenant to a janmi as a
security deposit against failure of payment of pattom dues. Later as a result of court rulings
the holder of kanam tenure was made liable to renew the kanam at the end of every twelve
years24. The court ruling helped the janmies to evict a tenant after 12 years or demand a sum
for renewing the kanam tenure. This measure had a very adverse impact on the kanakaran
since it destroyed security of tenure, which in turn prevented tenants from making any
improvements in land. The practice of renewal fees also created a situation in which tenants
might lose their tenantship, if they made any improvements in land. When they make
improvements in land, it became more productive and the janmi could offer the land to others
at a higher rate of renewal fee and kanam. So the wise policy appeared to be not to make any
improvements in land leading to increased productivity.
Later another development took place with regard to kanam tenure, which completely
did away with the security of kanam tenure. This was the practice of putting a clause in
kanam deeds which required that the kanakaran should return the land „on demand‟ before
the expiry of 12 years, introduced around the 1860s. Such clauses were recognised and
enforced by the courts with grave injustice to the cultivator. And the power of eviction
conferred upon the janmi had completely nullified the security which used to prevail. Logan
observed25. The common kanam tenure has degenerated into an outrageous system of
forehand renting, favourable only to the money lender.
In case of Kulikanam tenure also, the courts rulings were highly unfavourable to the
interest of the tenants. The Courts viewed the payment of compensation to kulikanam tenants
not as a compensation to the cultivator for his customary share, but as a compensation for the
customary share due to the janmi26. The courts ruling of the power of ouster of a kulikanam
tenant had completely neutralised the benefits the cultivator derived from his power to sell or
subdivide the holding. The low rates of compensation recognised by the courts were highly
inadequate when compared to the actual cost of improvements valued at current market rates.
14
For crops such as coconut, betel nut, jackfruit, etc. it takes more than 12 years to bring the
trees into full bearing. And during these initial years, the annual expenses are very high.
Hence, the tenant will be a looser if he is evicted at the expiry of 12 years.
The courts also viewed Verumpattom as a tenure extending for a period of one year,
unless the lease specifically provided for otherwise, which was quite contrary to traditional
practice. At beginning of colonial rule, Verumpattom cultivators used to plant up gardens and
reclaim wastes and they were regarded as actual cultivators-cum-part-proprietors. They went
also permitted to sell or subdivided their holdings. The colonial rulers had curtailed all these
privileges and rights enjoyed by them and pushed them to the status of tenant-at-will.
As a result of the above developments, by 1860‟s a large number of eviction suits

were filed in courts by janmies against the tenants. Within a period of 20 years, the number
of eviction suits filed were more than doubled (Table 1.5). Logan observed27. About one in
every twenty cultivators has now a decree for eviction passed annually against him, and the
rate of increase has more than quadrupled itself in 20 years. In Palghat alone, the number of
evictions annually decreed is now 12 times more numerous than it was twenty years ago.
Table 1.5
Number of evictions
Average Annual number of
Qualificational Suits of eviction Persons against Rent decrees,

periods whom eviction excluding small cause
decrees have suits against persons
passed
1862-66 2039 1891 1473
1867-71 2547 3483 2549
1872-76 3974 6286 4314
1877-80 4983 8355 6498
Five years ending 1896 3178 2352 N.A
Source: 1. Willing Logan, Malabar, Vol.I P.583

2. Innes C.A. Malabar, Vol.I.(Madras Govt. of Madras, 1951) P.234.
Using the facility of eviction, janmies also had filed eviction suits against tenants who
possessed land from very early times. As a result of the filing of suits the tenant was always
15
the loser, owing to courts costs and other expenses, though deprived the value of
improvements due to him.
The recognition of waste land, cultivable waste lands and forest lands and forest lands
as janmom land, had also discouraged expansion of cultivation of crops especially
commercial crops, construction of public irrigation works, and stood as a major obstacles to
agricultural development. In Malabar, almost the entire waste land was treated as private
property of janmies. By the 1940s all the waste land in Waynad taluk was in the hands of a
few janmies28. When coffee planting was started in Wayanad, one of the problems faced by
the European planters was the difficulty in getting land for plantation, though large areas of
land were available there29. The entire land belonged to the janmies and one had to purchase
it or take it on lease from them. The first attempt to plant rubber on a large scale at Ingapuzha
at the foot of Tamarasseri ghat was not successful due to the problems connected with the
title deed30. For planting teak at Nilambur, the colonial government was also faced with the
same problem of procuring land, and land was procured either by purchase or lease31. While
examining the reasons for the lack of government sponsored irrigation projects, the Malabar
Tenancy Committee (1940) had found that because waste land, including river beds, was
private property, government had difficulty in acquiring those lands of irrigation projects. To
quote the Committee32. One of the obstacles to state schemes of irrigation is that all land
including the beds of rivers, streams and canals, is regarded as private property and the
government cannot, therefore, interfere with the rights of private owners by constructing
irrigation works.
Thus large areas of cultivable waste land and forest land remained uncultivated in a
region where severe unemployment and shortages of food grains existed. Though about 60
percent of the area in Malabar was cultivable, only 44 per cent of the area was actually
cultivated in 1881. During the period from1890 to 1940, we find that of the total area of
Malabar, cultivable waste land accounting about 20 to 25 per cent remained uncultivated
(Table 1.6). We can attribute this to the wrong land policy of the colonial power which
created a situation where Malabar heavily depended on a large volume of food grain imports
to feed its population, when vast areas of cultivable land remained uncultivated. It was also
paradoxical that despite the fact that vast areas of land remained uncultivated a large number
of people migrated to places outside Malabar in search of employment.
16
Table 1.6
Classification of area
Cultivable Waste Net area sown Total cropped Total
other than fallow during the year area (net area geographical
sown + land area
under misc. trees
and crops)
Year (Acres) (%) (Acres) (%) (Acres) (%) (Acres)
1890-91 723,307 202 909,812 25.4 1,025,895 28.7 3,575,452

1900-01 1,197,677 33.3 940,225 26.1 1,173,065 32.6 3,597,110
1910-11 958,277 25.8 1,309,545 35.3 1,586,375 42.8 3,708,410
1920-21 970,077 26.5 1,308,966 35.5 1,672,916 45.8 3,655,279
1930-31 944,408 25.0 1,489,112 40.0 1,762,632 47.6 3,705,907
1930-31 864,167* 24.0 1,517,672 42.0 1,798,884 50.0 3,595,777
1950-51 N.A 1,674,158 45.0 1,962,435 52.9 3,713,105
* Other uncultivated land excluding current. fallows

Source: (1) Govt. of India, Agricultural Statistics of British India for the years 1890-91 to
1894-95, 1900-1901 to 1904-05 Vol.I and 1906-1907 to 1910-11 Vol.1. (2) Govt.of Madras
(Board of Revenue), Season and Crop. Reports of Madras Presidency for the Agricultural
years. 1920-21, 1930-31 and 1939-40. (3) Govt. of Madras, Season and Crop Report of
Madras State for the Agricultural Year 1950-51.
Colonial Extraction of a Large Share of Agricultural Surplus
We do not have a clear idea about the land tax system that existed prior to the colonial
period33. Buchanan, who visited Malabar in 1800, gives some hints about the extent of land
revenue paid by the cultivators34. According to him the Pattom or rent paid for a Paray
sowing of land in Palghat region varied from 5 to 2 Paray’s of grain depending on the
number of crops cultivated. On an average, rent for one crop land may be about 2.25 Paray’s
for one Paray sowing. And leaving rent and other expenses of every kind, the cultivating
tenant was entitled to get a net gain of about 40 per cent of the gross produce. If we calculate
the value of the rent received in kind at the low prices prevailing at harvesting season, the
landlord would be required to pay about 84 per cent of his rent as land tax. On the other hand,
17
if he sold the rice at other seasons, he was required to pay about 60 per cent of his rent as land
tax. Buchanan considered this as one of the highest rates of land tax, prevailing in any part of
India at that time, which acted as a great disincentive for cultivation. He noted that vast areas
of rice land and coconut gardens remained deserted due to the high tax (26 per cent of the
gross produce) that prevailed in northern Malabar.
In 1804, Thomas Warden35, Collector, had described the method of sharing total
produce between tenant, janmi and government that prevailed in Palghat region. The
cultivator got two-thirds of the total produce, one fifth of one third of the produce went to
Janmkar, and four fifths of one third went to the government as land tax. It was pointed out
that due to the very low prices that prevailed for rice, the share of rice earmarked for payment
of tax was not sufficient to pay the amount and the cultivator was forced to sell a part of his
own share to pay land tax. Thomas Warden attributed this as a major reason for the
widespread poverty and perpetual indebtedness among the Malabar peasantry.
With a view of remedy the extreme inequalities of assessment that prevailed, the
colonial administration had introduced a new guideline for revenue assessment on 21 July
180536. Accordingly, for wet lands and garden lands the following rates were fixed: (1) On
land, after deducting from the gross produce, the seed and exactly the same quantity for
expenses of cultivation, and allotting one-third of the balance as the cultivator‟s share, the
residue or pattom was to be divided in the proportion of 60 per cent and 40 per cent between
government and Janmi respectively and the government‟s share was to be commuted into
money „under a consideration to local value of the several articles in the different districts‟;
(2) on garden lands, one third of coconut, and jack tree produce was deemed sufficient for the
kudian, the remainder or pattom was to be equally divided between the government and the
Janmi; (3) on dry grain lands, the government‟s share was to be half of the Janmi’s varam or
what was actually cultivated during the year.
The result of this standardization of revenue assessment was that the colonial
government and the janmies were entitled to a larger share of total produce as their share,
when compared to their previous position. In the new definition of gross produce, the
customary shares of produce given in harvesting operations to carpenter, blacksmith and
other amounting in all to about 20 per cent of the gross produce were not deducted.
Secondly, according to the new method of assessment, the total cost of cultivation
was defined as the amount of seed required and exactly the same quantity for expenses of
18
cultivation. This implies that for clearing land, ploughing, sowing, tansplanting, manuring,
watering etc. the cultivator was entitled to get a measure of produce equivalent to the quantity
of seed. Thus the share of produce earmarked as cultivation cost was highly insufficient for
grain crops. The cultivators of garden crops such as coconut, betel nut and jack trees were
also provided with a very low share of the total produce (one third). The crops, especially
coconut and betel nut, required regular watering in dry seasons and the share earmarked to
cultivators of these crops was very meagre.
Another serious problem created by the new assessment was the calculation of tax in
money terms. Due to lack of development of roads, other a transportation network and
marketing system, there were considerable variation in the prices of the same agricultural
product in different taluks. But for tax purposes the money assessment fixed was uniform
throughout Malabar. This affected the tax payers adversely in taluks where the prices were
lower. Because of the extremely low prices for agricultural products that prevailed in
Malabar till 1831, the cultivators, especially those belonging to north Malabar, were forced to
pay a larger share of their produce as tax as compared with their counterparts in south
Malabar.
Thus as a result of this new assessment, the colonial power was able to enhance land
tax rates and extract about 35 per cent of the total produce as land tax. On the other hand the
cultivators share had decreased from about 66 per cent or two-thirds of the total produce to 42
per cent (Table 1.7).
In 1866, an official attempt was made to find out the exact share of total produce received by
actual cultivators and the share given as pattom in Chevayur Village, located near Calicut
town (Table 1.8). Two plots of land were selected for the study, which were cultivated by
Verumpattom tenants. It was found that in single crop paddy land, out of the total produce,
the rent entitlement of the landlord accounted for 42 per cent and land tax for 8 per cent,
implying that the net gain to tenant was just 20 per cent. In case of double crop land the net
gain to the Verumpattom tenant was 27 per cent. But the estimate seems to be an
overestimate as the author takes the full value of rice and straw and fails to include the cost of
manure, credit, renewal fees paid and the customary share given to other persons like the
village barber, etc. If we include the above items in the cost of cultivation we find that the
net share received by the cultivating tenant will be hardly ten percent of the total produce.
Logan‟s enquiry relating to certain plots of land in 1881 also revealed that the actual
19
cultivator, after paying rent, government assessment and amounts paid on entry or renewal,
had left to him a share very much less than the early British administrators had intended37.
Because of the low share of gross produce received by the cultivating tenants, they were
always in poverty and debt. Logan who examined the indebtedness of cultivators found that
56 per cent were in debt, owing on average Rs.395 per head.
Table 1.7
Land revenue assessment
New Assessment* Assessment
dt. 21st July 1805 rates in 1801**

For wet lands Paras of Paddy Percentage Percentage
1. Gross Produce (5 Para x 15) 75 - -

2. Deduct cultivation expenses
(5 paras for other expenses) 10 - -
Net produce 65 - -
3. Cultivators share (one third of
net produce) 21.66 - -
4. Total share of cultivator (21.66+10) 31.66 42.2 66.6
5. Govt‟s share as land tax
(60% of the pattom of 43.34 paras) 26 34.7 26.8
6. Janmi‟s share (40% of the pattom
of 43.34 paras) 17.33 23.1 6.6
Total 100.00 100.00
* William Logan, Malabar, Vol.I P. 665

** Report of Mr. Thomas Warden, Collector dt. 19th March 1801 on the Conditions of
Palghat, Congasd etc. of the District of Malabar, P.8.
The important reasons for the indebtedness were, house and land improvements,
purchase of stock, excessive rents, renewal fees, fines, bad seasons, wedding expenses and
maintenance of families (Table 1.9). It is evident from the table that 26 per cent of the
persons incurred debt in order to maintain their families and another 15 per cent due to
excessive renewal fees and rents38.
20
Table 1.8
Cost of cultivation and cultivator’s share (in 1866)
Single crop land (Kamal) Double crop land (Karnal and
Magaram)
Description Rs. Anna % Rs. Anna %
1. Area (One Acre) (92 cents)

2. Land 4 - 14 8.1 3 - 2 3.0
3. Rent 25 - 0 41.7 32 - 0 32.0
4. Seed 6 - 0 - 12 - 0 -
5. Cultivation expenses 12 - 2 - 26 - 0 -
6. Total cost of cultivation 18 - 2 30.2 38 - 0 38.0
7. Net gain to tenant 12 - 0 20.2 26 - 14 27.0
8. Gross produce (inclusive
of the value of straw) 60 - 0 100.00 100 - 0 100.00
Note: 16 Annas was one Rupee
Source: Cameron J.Report of the Village of Chevayur 1866 (Calicut Malabar) Govt. Press,
1868) P.8
Neglect of Irrigation and infrastructure.
Total neglect of irrigation and infrastructural works also contributed to the

backwardness of agriculture. During colonial rule, the rulers had made no attempt to
construct irrigation projects which would help to expand cultivation. By 1800, agricultural
operations were carried out mainly with the help of rain and only in a few places of South
Malabar, a second crop was cultivated with the help of small water reservoirs, constructed
and maintained by farmers39. These reservoirs gave water only for a few weeks. In the
geographical survey of Ward and Connner in the 1820s, it was revealed that Palghat and
Bettudnad were the taluks where irrigation facilities existed40. In Bettudnad taluk with the
help of natural streams, a few areas were irrigated. The report pointed out the destruction of
vast areas of crops due to overflow of rivers and streams in rainy seasons. No attempts were
made to construct bunds to save crops from floods. P. Clementson, Collector of Malabar, in
his report in 1838 stressed the need for changing the agricultural policy by constructing
irrigation projects to promote agriculture. Here, Clementson argued for providing irrigation
because he feared that if it were not provided, it would affect agricultural production and
thereby the revenues of government41.
21
Table 1.9
Indebtedness of cultivators (1881)
Reasons No. of persons Percentage
1. House and land improvements 736 12.9

2. Purchase of stock 182 3.2
3. Excessive of stock 221 3.9
4. Excessive fines, renewal of leases etc. 644 11.3
5. Bad seasons 1,222 21.3
6. Loss of stock 214 3.7
7. Wedding and ceremonies 671 11.8
8. Sickness 114 2.0
9. Family maintenance 1,498 26.2
10. Others 207 3.6
Total 5,709 100.00
Source: Malabar Special Commission 1881-82, Malabar Land Tenures Report, Vol. I
(Madras: Govt. of Madras, 1896) Chapter IV, Para - 89.
During first part of the nineteenth century till the 1860s public works mainly
consisted of road, communications, military and civil building works42. Here the interest
behind these expenditures was to strengthen road and communication systems to facilitate
quick movement of troops. But since 1879, a small amount was earmarked for repairing
tanks, channels and small anicuts43. The amount was so small that it varied between 6 and 14
per cent of total public works expenditure of imperial funds. During 1880s some attempts
were made to construct a few small tanks, channels, anicuts and wells, bringing about 23,635
acres of land under irrigation by the end of the 1880s, mainly in four grain producing taluks
viz. Ernad, Walluvanad, Palghat and Ponnani (Table 1.10).
Even during first half of the present century, there was no considerable change with
regard to irrigation facilities. By 1951, besides a number of tanks, canals and wells, Malabar
had about 49 anicuts inclusive of three minor dams44.
The neglect of development of road and inland water transportation was another factor which
adversely affected agricultural development. In the pre-Mysorean period, the country was
split up into small principalities and roads were not a necessity. During Mysorean rule, roads
were constructed taking into consideration the requirements for military movements. A few
roads were constructed connecting the inteior places of Malabar till the middle of the
nineteenth century. Because of the numerous rivers and backwaters, it was not possible for
22
bullock carts to carry goods from one place to another especially in the rainy seasons, without
constructing bridges. This very much affected the marketing of the agricultural products and
resulted in stagnation of prices for the products. It was pointed out that even by the 1880s,
there was no considerable shift in traffic from water ways to road transport, due to the lack of
a road net work connecting interior areas of Malabar. To quote Logan45. „The chief traffic of
the country was and in great measure still is, carried on as already alluded to in this sector of
rivers etc. by water and not by land‟.
Table 1.10
Source of irrigation belonged to Govt. (by the end of 1880’s)
Tanks Channels Anicuts Wells
Taluks: No. Average No. Average No. Average No. Average
extent of extent of extent of extent of
cultivatio cultivatio cultivatio cultivation
n within n within n within within the
the last 5 the last 5 the last 5 last 5 years
years years years (Acres)
(Acres) (Acres) (Acres)
Ernad 8 82 97 3073 4 95 252 318
Walluvana 174 1467 61 4347 - - 55 496
d
Palghat 135 5001 82 2213 24 1690 - -
4
Ponnani 158 485 12 575 5 3639 - -
Cochin - - - 3 172 - - -
Total 169 7035 252 10208 36 5596 307 814
4
Source: William Logan, Malabar, Vo.II P.24
No attempts were made to improve the waterways till 1865, when

measures were taken to construct a few canals having a distance of 46 miles. Instead of
considering ferries as public utilities, colonial rulers viewed the ferries numbering about 250
as sources of revenue to government. Tolls were levied at these ferries, the collection of
which was generally leased to renters. Though the colonial government earned a
considerable amount as revenue from this account even from the beginning of the eighteenth
century, the government had not spent any amount for its improvement till the 1960s.
23
Lower Price for Agricultural Products
The general level of prices that prevailed for agricultural products were lower
throughout the colonial period. By 1800 A.D. we have evidence to show that lower prices
prevailed for paddy and landlords were forced to sell a larger share of pattom for paying land
tax46. Logan pointed out that, during the early decades of 19th century, upto 1831, prices of
agricultural products were „abnormally low‟47. Clementson also discusses the very low prices
prevailed for grains in 1835 and the consequent decline in price of labour and land48. Though
there had been a marginal increase in prices in 1831, 1833 and 1836, the general level of
prices of agricultural products continued to remain lower till 1850s49.
But there had been a marked change in prices of agricultural products such as paddy,
ginger, pepper and coffee since 185250. This price hike had provided some relief to
cultivating tenants due to increase in their incomes. But with the higher prices, the landlords
now found it more profitable to lease his land to tenants who were prepared to pay a higher
amount of rent. Consequently this had also led to filling of a large number of eviction suits,
since 1860s. Thus in effect the greater part of the benefit of this price hike had gone in
favour of the land-lords.
Between 1860 and 1880, though there had been a marginal increase in the price of
paddy (3%), prices of ginger, coconut and arecanut registered a fall51. A significant aspect of
the prices were the wide variation in the prices prevailed in different taluks of Malabar for
same commodity. The price of paddy varied between Rs.82 and Rs.72 per 1000 Maclead
seers in 1880. In the case of ginger we can notice a variation between Rs.125 and Rs.239 per
1000 Maclead seers. There were also considerable variations in the price of coconuts and
arecanuts prevailed in different taluks of Malabar. This wide variation in prices of
agricultural products can be attributed to lack of development of road and other
communication network, marketing facilities and the widespread unemployment prevailed
leading to less demand for products. The low prices, made agricultural activities and
unprofitable occupation and acted as a great disincentive to agricultural development.
Impact of Colonial Policies in Non-Agricultural Sector
During the colonial rule, the policies followed by the colonial power on imports,
exports and taxation had very unfavourable effect on the generation of economic activities
and employment outside agricultural sector. The policy of importing large quantities of mill
24
made cotton cloth had destroyed the cottage weaving industry that thrived in some parts of
Malabar. As early as 1800 A.D. cottage weaving handloom units producing coarse varieties
of cloth existed in a few places of South Malabar. The observation made by Clemenston,
Collector of Malabar in 1838, gives an idea about the extent of damage done to the industry
by the import policy of colonial government. To quote Clemenston52.
“Malabar has never been famous for manufactures - coarse cotton cloth is
manufactured in the Palghat and Temalpooram Taluks and here and there on the coast; the
vast quantity of Europe piece goods imported - and which are procurable at very cheap prices
- have discouraged this branch of industry, so much so that the poorer class find it more
profitable to turn their lands to agriculture”.
Besides cloth, a large number of consumer goods were also imported to Malabar,
discouraging the growth of cottage industries. By the 1880s its industries consisted of
weaving, coffee and ginger processing, oil extraction, coir making and manufacture of toddy
and liquor.
But by first half of 20th century, there had been a slight change in the position and a
few large scale industries were started. The important large scale industries include, cotton
spinning, weaving, saw mills, match factories, brick and tile works, handloom weaving, coir
factories and printing works, employing about 2883 persons in 1951. The cottage and small
scale industries also witnessed some change. The important industries coming under this
sector were cotton spinning, weaving, rope making, mat making, manufacture of dairy
products, fish preservation, manufacture of beedies, copper and bellmetal works, pottery and
basket making. The total employment in this sector was found as 62,221 by 1951 Census53.
The colonial taxation policy as stood as a barrier to expansion of economic activities

and employment generation outside agricultural sector Colonial administration imposed
taxes on skilled workers such as carpenters, ironsmiths, etc. and also on implements such as
handlooms, oil presses, fishnets, etc. We have evidence to show that a very high rate of tax
was levied on this category of people during the early decades of 19th century. The toddy
tappers were required to take licenses and had to pay tax at the rate of one silver Fanam per
month or Rs.2 and two-fifth per year in 181354. A direct tax was also levied on the fishing
net, and the hut of fishermen, thereby discouraging fishing activities. The policy of declaring
salt as a state monopoly and importing the entire quantity of salt from outside Malabar has
25
resulted in loss of employment to many fisher-foil whose side occupation was salt making55.
The ferry tax was levied in such a way that it favoured the rich people with tax concessions
while full rates of tax was collected from poor people. To quote Sullivan56, in 1841.
The ferry tax in Malabar is one respect more obnoxious than that of the tobacco tax.
All the classes are subject to the latter but while the carriage and the palanquin of the wealthy
area allowed to pass toll free, the poor woman whose livelihood depends upon the bundle of
sticks which she is carrying cannot pass until she had paid so hardly does this tax press upon
the lower orders that lives have been lost in attempts to swim the rivers for the purpose of
avoiding it.
Taxes were also levied on carpenters, ironsmiths, boatmen, gold and silversmiths and
on implements such as looms, oil presses, fishermen net and carts. Houses, shops and bazars
were also not spared from the tax (Table 1.11). Instead of encouraging this skilled category
of people to engage in productive occupations, the colonial power had discouraged them and
even prevented them to engage in productive occupations through the wrong extractive
policies of taxation. The ultimate result of this policy was that people were either prevented
or discouraged from moving from agricultural to non-agricultural occupations.
The Institution of Caste System
The institution of caste system and its associated evils of caste pollution and system of
inheritance stood as a major social obstacle to agricultural development in Malabar. The
Nambudiri Brahmins, descendants of Aryan settlers of Malabar, were able to introduce a
caste system in which they installed themselves as undisputed masters in the society. Castes
were arranged in a hierarchical order from the highest and most sacred to the lowest and least
worthy. Caste system also recognised caste pollution. Every man considered himself polluted
by the touch of one of a lower caste, and there were castes low in social scale which mutually
convey pollution to each other. Again, there was a recognised scale of distance at which
members of each of the polluting castes must stand from a man of higher caste or his house.
In the caste hierarchy Nambudiri Brahmin stood at top followed by foreign Brahmins,
Nayars and their sub groups, Tiyas, artisan groups such as Kammalans and at the lowest
bottom Parayas and Pulayas, constituting agrestic serfs. The Nambudiri Brahmins, a priestly
caste and dominant land owners of the district were, the least commercially oriented and most
tradition-bound people of Malabar. For generations subsequent to colonial rule, they firmly
26
rejected exposure to western education and took no active part in commerce, industry or civil
service. Their consumption habits were meagre and rigidly subscribed by tradition. They
deliberately avoided social contacts with other lower castes except ruling Nayars, on the
ground of caste pollution. By custom they were prevented from other occupations except
religious exercises and had no interest in cultivation, which they considered as an inferior
occupation meant for lower castes. A Nambudiri Brahmin‟s typical life style is depicted by
Innes as follows57.
Table 1.11
Particulars of Moturfa Tax levied
1833 A.D 1863 A.D
Items taxed No. Amount of No. Amount of
tax (Rs) tax (Rs)
1. Houses 1,68,075 89,391 98,304* 82,568

2. Shops and bazars 6,073 8,719 11,497 12,040
3. Looms 3,150 3,106 5,018 3,339
4. Oil Presses 2,840 3,377 5,555 4,790
5. Gold and Silversmith 730 411 1,287 647
6. Carpenters 1,895 1,107 3,534 1,769
7. Iron Smith 799 452 1,333 625
8. Boatman 888 1,138 2,126 1,964
9. Fishermen‟s net 409 3,278 8583,014 -
10. Pack Bullocks 1,483 847 4,131 1,446
11. Carts - - 3,214 3,197
12. Other Sundries - 928 - 2,838
Total - 1,12,754 - 1,18,237
A Nambudiri should rise very early at about 3 A.M and immediately bath in a
tank; he should then proceed to his religious exercise in temple. After that and till eleven O‟
Clock he should read or recite the Vedas; then comes the principal meal followed by a period
of rest, including the keeping of solemn silence. At sun set he should bath in oil and then
again resort to temple till 9 P.M.
In the caste hierarchy, Nayars and their sub-castes like Kurup, Nambiar, Adiyodi,
Pillai, Kartha, etc. enjoyed a dominant position because of their relation with Nambudiris
through „sambandham‟. In the pre-colonial days, they played the roles of statesmen, soldiers,
27
administrators and almost exclusively engaged in activities directly or indirectly connected
with warfare. As a caste whose tradition was warfare, the Nayars imitating the Nambudiris
also considered cultivation as an inferior occupation.
Next comes Tiyyas, a lower cast in the caste hierarchy, with traditional occupation of
toddy tapping. During the course of colonial period they have emerged as a commercially
oriented caste engaging in all economic activities such as cultivation, industrial activities,
commerce, trade etc. Below them comes the section of polluting castes such as Mukhuvas or
fishermen, Kammalans, goldsmith, carpenters and blacksmiths. And at the bottom of the
caste hierarchy was the agricultural serf known as Cherumar consisted of Pulayas and Parays,
who have no recognised place in society. The agricultural serfs consisted the section of
population, who supplied almost the entire labour for cultivation to the landlords and higher
caste tenants.
Thus the caste system of Malabar did not recognise agricultural occupation as a
respectable. And farming work became a degraded work of the lowest castes, who neither
had ownership of land, nor had a fair share of agricultural produce as the reward for their
labour. The practice of caste pollution and consequent untouchability, unapproachability and
restricted inter-course between various castes living in a society, prevented occupational
mobility and stood as an obstacle to the economic development of Malabar. It retarded
expansion of activities in agriculture, commerce and industry by preventing movement of
working population from custom-bound occupations to new occupations outside agriculture.
The tradition-bound life styles of various castes prevented introduction of new goods, new
consumption habits and limited their wants and material requirements.
The inheritance laws followed by various land owning castes also acted as a major
barrier to agricultural development in Malabar. The Nambudiri Brahmans and Nayars were
the two castes of dominant land owners possessing the larger part of the land consisted of
cultivable lands, waste and forest lands. Among them let us examine the inheritance systems
of Nambudiri Brahmans. The Brahmans followed a type of patrilineal system of inheritance
in which the eldest son alone was recognised as legal heir of property. Till the enactment of
Nambudiri Act of 193358, the eldest son alone was recognised as the legal heir to inherit
properties of a Nambudiri family. It is interesting to note that only eldest son alone was
allowed to marry a Nambudiri girl, while younger brothers were given freedom to have
relations with Nayar girls through „Sambandham‟. The clever Brahmans made such a
28
tradition primarily with objective to preserve landed properties of the family from sub
division or transfer of its ownership to outsiders. This had resulted in concentration of land
ownership in a few hands and totally prevented transfer of ownership.
And vast areas of cultivable, cultivable waste and forest land in villages began to
remain under the ownership of a few Brahman janmies who neither cultivate land nor
prepared to sell land, due to prestige and social importance of land ownership. Even if waste
lands were given for improvements, because of extreme uncertainty prevailed with respect of
security of tenure, tenants would not be prepared to make any significant improvements in
land.
Village studies in Kothachira (Ponnani Taluk) and Vatanamkurussi (Walluvanad

Taluk) in 1918 revealed that owing to prestige of land ownership, owners never sell their
lands even for good prices unless driven to it by extreme necessity. To quote A. Krishna
Warriyer59.
“An acre of land costs from Rs.200 to Rs.300. But purchases on janmi tenure are
worth above Rs.500. But it is impossible to acquire janmom property except for janmies; for
the janmies are jealous guardians of their lands and never sell lands once acquired. Direct
threatening and indirect intimidation are used by them to obtain the janmom right of lands if
held by any lesser land owner.”
Thus the system of inheritance which prevented transfer of ownership from a class of
feudal janmies who had no interest in cultivation, to actual cultivators, stood as a barrier to
the emergence of a land market, which is considered as a prerequisite for capitalist
development in agriculture.
The next dominant land owners were Nayars, who followed matrilineal system of
inheritance known as „Marumakkathayam‟. The Marumakkathayam joint family or tarward
consisted of all the descendants of a common ancestress in female line only. The tarward
property is joint property of all members and each member is entitled to get maintenance
right, but not entitled to claim partition. But partition may be effected by a mutual agreement
between all the members. In a tarward, every member is entitled to dispose the property
acquired by him as he wishes, but at death any property which may not have been disposed of
by gift or otherwise will lapse to the tarward. It is usually managed by the eldest male
29
member termed Karnavan, who can only be removed for mismanagement only by a decree of
a civil court.
Though the Malabar Marriage Act of 1869 provided for the optimal registration of
sambandham, it had not become popular due to the provisions containing legal obligation to
maintain wife and children and restrictions imposed on a formal divorce. But the enactment
of the Madras Marumakkathayam (Matrilineal Inheritance) Act of 193360, contributed
towards the disintegration of the tarawad system.
The system of inheritance had a very unfavourable effect on agricultural development.

Firstly it prevented transfer of property from the tarward to the members of family thereby
giving opportunities for them to utilize the land in a better manner; secondly it resulted in
mismanagement of properties because vast areas of landed property were owned by tarwards.
Thirdly, it created a lot of discontent and frustration among its younger members, because
they were not given a chance for better management or better utilization of land. Thus the
system of inheritance discouraged more intensive as well as extensive cultivation. It also
stood as an obstacle to create favourable conditions for the emergence of a land market.
Even after the enactment of the Act in 1933, free sale of the tarward’s properties became not
so common because of frequent disputes between numerous members and the difficulty in
obtaining a clear title of land from the legal owners. It is common that the number of legal
owners in most of the cases were more than 200 per family.
To sum up, the foregoing analysis has shown that, despite the fact that the areas under
cultivation of various crops had shown an increase during the colonial period, the agricultural
sector remained as backward. The colonial policies such as reinstation of feudal land tenure
system, neglect of irrigation and infrastructural works, extractive taxation on skilled category
of workers, native productive equipments, etc. and the unfavourable policies on trade and
industry had prevented the process of agricultural development. The social institution of caste
system and its associated evils and the inheritance system followed by the dominant land
owning castes also stood as major barriers for any change favourable to agricultural
development.
30
Notes and References
1. T.W. Shea, „Barriers to Economic. Development in Traditional Societies: Malabar, A
case study, The journal of Economic History, Vol.19, No.4, December 1959.
2. Ward and Corner, A Descriptive Member of Malabar, 1821, Calicut, Collectorate Press,
1901. P.1
3. The rich variety of forests of Malabar may be classified into six classes viz. (1) Zone of
deciduous forests, (2) Tropical evergreen forest, (3) Evergreen shola forest, (4) Scrub
shola forests, (5) Mixed deciduous and evergreen forest and (6) Heavy deciduous
forests. For detailed discussion of the forests of Malabar see William Logan, Malabar,
Vol.I, Govt. of Madras, 1951, reprint, Chap.1
4. The total number of shops, looms, oil presses, gold and silver smiths, carpenters, iron
smiths, boatmen and fishermen nets on whom the Moturfa tax levied was 16,784 in
1833. Assuming that shops, looms and oil presses employ more than one person and
taking the possibility of underreporting, we may place three times of the above figure as
the total employed in non-agricultural activities. It works out to be 4.3 per cent of the
total population of Malabar in 1837.
Source: Statistics of Malabar 1873-74 P.23
5. Clementson P, A Report on Revenue and other Matters connected with Malabar, dt. 31
December 1938, Calicut, Collectorate Press, 1914, p.p.19-23.
6. Ibid, p.p 19-23
7. Buchanan, Francis A, A Journey from Madras through the Countries of Mysore, Canara
and Malabar, Vol.II Madras Higgin Botham and Co. 1870, p.p. 74-76.
8. William Logan, Malabar, Vol.II, p.36.
9. Statistics of Malabar 1873-74, p.17
10. In 1876-77, of the total imports of Malabar, grains inclusive of rice and paddy accounted
62 per cent of the total value of imports.
Source: William Logan, Malabar Vol.II, p.35.
11. William Logan, Malabar Vol.II p.p.6-7
12. Innes C.A, Malabar Vol.I, Madras, Govt. of Madras Press, 1951-reprint, p.281.
31
13. William Logan, Malabar, Vol.I, p.215.
14. Report of the Malabar Tenancy Committee, Vol.I Madras, Govt. Press, 1940, p.14
15. Ibid, p.14
16. Govt. of Madras 1951 Census Hand Book - Malabar District, (Madras: Govt. of Madras,
1953) p.9.
17. Ibid, p.9
18. William Logan, Malabar Special Commission 1881-82, op. cit. Chapter IV, para.3
19. William Logan, Malabar, Vol.I, op.cit, p.604.
20. Ibid, p. 584.
21. William Logan, Malabar, Vol.II p.175.
22. Salter, Gilbert (ed.), Economic Studies, Vol.I Some South IndianVillages, Madras,
Oxford University Press, p.173 and 195.
23. William Logan, Malabar Special Commission 1881-82, op cit, Chapter IV, para 106.
24. On 5 August 1856, the Sadr Court Defined the various tenures and fixed the tenure of
Kanam, Kilikanam tenures as redeemable tenures after 12 years. For details see Kurup,
K.K.N, William Logan - A study in the Agrarian Relation of Malabar, Calicut, Sandhya
Publications, 1981, Chapter 3.
25. William Logan, Malabar, Vol.I, op. cit, p.583
26. William Logan, Malabar Special Commission 1881-82, op cit. Chapter 4, para 119.
27. Ibid, Para 151.
28. Sullivan, Report on the Province of Malabar and Canara dt. 29th January 1841, Calicut,
Collectorate Press, 1916. p.9
29. Robinson W, Report on the History, Condition and Prospects of the Taluk of Waynad
dt.22nd August 1857, op.cit, p.9
30. Innes C.A. Malabar op. 227
31. Bourne R, Nilambur Valley Working Plan, Vol. I Op.cit, p.40.
32. Malabar Tenancy Committee (1940), Vol.I, op.cit, p.50
32
33. It is often cited that during the Mysorean rule, Arshed Beg Khan, the Mysorean
Governor had introduced a systematic land tax system, which was later copied by the
early colonial rulers of Malabar. But Logan points out that prior to colonial rule, the
country was not settled enough for the introduction of any systematic land tax system.
Logan further says that the Joint Commissioner in 1792-93 obtained from a Brahman
named Jinnea, a statement purporting to give details of Arshed Beg Khan‟s settlement of
southern portion of the district for the year 1784-85, and on this basis they framed
guidelines for the introduction of tax system in the southern districts. But later in 1822,
it was proved beyond doubt that the information supplied by Jinnea was false. See
William Logan, Malabar, Vol. I op. cit, p.p 621-627.
34. Buchanan, Francis, op. cit, p.66
35. Thomas Warden, op. cit, p.p. 7-10
36. For the text of the proclamation see: William Logan, Malabar, Vol. II Appendix V,
P.250.
37. William Logan, Malabar Special Commission 1881-82, op. cit. Chapter IV, paras 160-
162.
38. Logan says that the reasons attributed to excessive renewal fee, and rent are probably
under reported because the tenants give the information in the presence of landlords or
their agents.
39. Burchanan, op.cit, p.69.
40. Ward and Conner op. cit, p.86 and 138.
41. Clementson P. op.cit, p.3.
42. Statistics of Malabar 1873-74, p.19.
43. William Logan, Malabar,Vol.II op. cit, p.22.
44. 1951 Census Hand Book - Malabar District, op. cit, p.4.
45. William Logan, Malabar, Vol.I, op.cit, p.62.
46. Buchanan says that Landlords had to pay a larger share of rent ranging from 60 per cent
to 84 per cent as land tax to the government because of the low price prevailed. The land
tax was required to pay in money See: Buchanan, op.cit, p.67.
33
47. William Logan, Malabar, Vol.I, p.614.
48. Clemenston P. op.cit, p.4.
49. William Logan, Malabar Vol.I, p.614.
50. Ibid, p.718.
51. Willaim Logan, Malabar, Vol.II, op. cit, p.p.252 & 254-56.
52. Clemenston P. op, cit, p.2.
53. 1951 Census Handbook - Malabar District, p.13.
54. Thomas Warden, Report on the Revenue System in Malabar, dt. the 10th June 1813.
Calicut, Collectorate Press, 1916, p.4.
55. Ibid, p.4.
56. Sullivan, Report on the Provinces of Malabar and Canara dt. 29th January ` 1841,
Calicut, Collectorate Press, 1916, p.6.
57. Innes C.A, Malabar, op.cit, p.106, See also Wlliam Logan, Malabar, Vol. I p. 156 and
157 for a detailed list of customs of Malabar Brahmans.
58. The main provisions in this Act were that the younger Nambudiris may marry
Nambudiri girls and that the Illom property can be inherited by these younger sons.
Because of the new law, there was a gradual change, and many Illoms were dividing
mainly due to quarrels between the members. For details see: Adrian Mayar C, Land
and Society in Malabar, Bombay, Oxford University Press, 1952, Chapter 5.
59. Krishna Warriyer A, in Salter Gilbert (ed.) op. cit, p.177.
60. This Act made tarward partiable and legalised inheritance from father to son. The
effect of the Act had led to split up both the partilineally and matrilineatly inherited
estates. Before this Act, a Nayar Tarward could divide only with the consent of the
Karnavan. A tarward under this Act can divide if it has previously been voted as a
potentially divisible tarward by a majority of its members.
****************
34
Chapter 2
INDUSTRIAL CHANGE
In this chapter an attempt is made to examine industrial change of Malabar during 19 th

century and first half of 20th century. Our information about the native industries that existed
in Malabar during the beginning of 19th century is megare1. From the reports of Buchanan
and colonial administrators we will get a rough idea about the nature of industries that existed
during the early decades of 19th century. The available evidence suggests that Malabar was
basically an agricultural economy during the beginning of 19th century and engaged in
production and export of agricultural raw materials. The only processed product exported
from Malabar was coir rope. Buchanan cited the existence of handloom weaving in South
Malabar especially at the Palghat region during 1800 A.D2. He pointed out that majority of
weavers were migrants from the neighbouring places of Palghat taluk and the total number of
looms existed were estimated as around 552. Besides cotton weaving and coir manufacture,
craftman like goldsmith, silversmith, carpenters, ironsmiths, potters, masons etc. also
existed. The Noturfa tax statement gives an idea about the number of persons engaged in the
above occupations for the year 1833 A.D. On the basis of this we have estimated that the
population that engaged in non-agricultural activities hardly exceed five percent of the total
population in 1837.
During the early decades of 19th century, industrial and trade policies pursued by the
colonial government were highly unfavourable to the growth of domestic cottage industries.
After the imposition of colonial rule in Malabar, the colonial rulers began to import large
quantities of mill made cheap cloth to Malabar. The colonial government also started a big
weaving mill at Calicut during the first decade of 19th century3. The investment for the mill
was made by the government of Bombay and the mill was run by the commercial resident of
the Province. These steps had resulted in the total destruction of the cottage handloom
weaving and spinning industry that thrived in different parts of Malabar. The remarks of the
principal Collector of Malabar in 1838 give an idea about the resultant destruction of cotton
handloom industry due to the import policy. To quote him;4 “Malabar has never been famous
for manufactures – coarse cotton cloth is manufactured in the Palghat and Tenalpooram
taluks and here and there on the coast, the vast quality of Europe piece goods imported – and
35
which are procurable at very cheap price – have discouraged this branch of industry, so much
so that the poorer class find it more profitable to turn their hands to agriculture.”
During the first four decade of the 19th Century Malabar remained as an exporter of
agricultural raw materials. By 1840‟s we find that Malabar began to export semi processed
agricultural produce like coconut oil, coir and coir rope, coffee and cotton goods. This
denotes that coir industries, oil extracting industries, coffee processing industries etc. had
started in Malabar by around 1840‟s. The export statistics during 1860‟s and 1870‟s also
shows an increase in the exports of these products in the subsequent decades. Thus it was
evident that a few processing industries were began to grow in Malabar since 1840‟s. During
the decades 1840‟s to 1860‟s among the goods imported, the most important items of export
to Malabar was cotton goods.
The 1871 census, the first census of Malabar gave us some information about the
number of people engaged in industrial occupations. The census classified Hindu castes on
the basis of hereditary occupation or caste guides. The people who were classified under the
head “Mechanics and handicraftman” came to about 12.7 percent of the total population
(Table 2.1). The craftman were classified under the above head were weavers, cobblers,
potters, carpenters, masons, goldsmiths and blacksmiths. As the census classified the
category of workers on the basis of caste, it does not give a correct position of the people
employed in Industrial occupations.
Table 2.1
Industrial Population in Malabar (1871 Census)
No. Persons classified as Mechanics and Handicraft men Number
1 Devangulu (Telugus) 10
2 Kaikalar (Weavers) 20,465
3 Kamsalar or Kammalar (Carpenters, Braziers, stone – masons, 51,553
goldsmiths, Blacksmiths)
4. Kummara or Kushavan (Potters) 11,770
5 Madiga (Workers in leather) 181,614
6 Sale (Weavers) 21,586
7 Seniyan (Tamil – Weavers) 486
Sub Total 287,487
Total Population 2261,250
Industrial population as percentage of total population 12.71
Source: Within Logan, Malabar Vol I,P.81, 114 and 115.
36
The second census conducted in 1881 gives some what a clear picture about industrial
workers engaged in different occupations. The census classified industrial workers into 20
groups. It was found that the industrial workers accounted for 27 percent of the total working
population. But this estimate is likely to be an over estimate as the definition of the industrial
worker included non-industrial workers. If we exclude the category of non-industrial
workers from the category we can see that industrial workers account not more than 10
percent of the total working population.
The Malabar manual gives a brief account of the industries that existed in different
taluks of Malabar during 1880‟s5 According to this account, inferior variety of cloth were
manufactured by using rude appliances in several places of Chirakkal, Kottayam, Calicut and
Palghat taluks. Manufacture of coir and coir goods were a major industrial activity of the
people belonged to Ernad and Cochin taluks. It is pointed out that a large coir factory
providing employment to more than 100 persons were started in Calicut town by a Bombay
merchant during 1880‟s. Among the other industrial activities, the important ones were oil
extraction, arrack and toddy manufacture, metal works, coffee and tea processing. A few
unsuccessful efforts were also made by some companies to mine gold from Wynad. A big
spinning and weaving company was started in 1883 with a capital investment of Rs. 6,00,000
(Rupees Six Lakhs).
The Basel Mission, a Christian missionary society had started a few industrial units in
Malabar. The mission established bigger weaving units at Cannanore, Tellicherry and
Calicut. Tile industry owes its origin to the efforts made by the mission. The first tile factory
was opened by the Mission at Padiyarakallu, near Calicut in 1874. Subsequently two more
tile factories were started by the Mission in 1891 at Kottakkal and Olavakkod. Henke and
co‟s factory at Ferok started in 1894 was the largest factory in Madras presidency. The tiles
of Malabar were famous all over India. Following the Basel Mission a few small scale tile
units were started by local industrialists at Calicut, Shoranur and Palghat. The domination of
the Basel mission on the tile industry of Malabar came to an end during the first world war
when the Mills of the Mission at Cannanore and Calicut were sold to the Common-Wealth
Trust.
37
Industrial change during 20th century
By the beginning of the 20th century the industrial activities which provided the largest
employment in the industrial sector were coconut oil extraction, coir manufacture and coir
goods manufacture6. Coconut oil extraction was the traditional occupation of certain castes,
like Chakkans, Vattakadans and low Nayar sub – Castes. Though traditional types of oil
mills were largely used for oil extraction, a few new oil mills worked by steam were also
started in Cochin and Calicut. The other important industries that existed were timber, tile,
handloom and powerloom. According to the 1901 census it was found that about 25 percent
of the populations were supported by industries7.
Both handloom and powerloom weaving units existed side by side in Malabar.
Handloom weaving units faced severe competition from import as well as the domestic
production of mill made cloth. There was a steady increase in large factory type of weaving
mills run by power. By 1931, the number of such mills had increased to 13 having a total
strength of 1500 looms. Of this, nine mills were located at Calicut and four at Cannanore.
The Common Wealth Trust, M.N. Nayar and Co., and the standard Cotton and Silk Weaving
Company owned majority of them. The mills produced a variety of cloth such as sheets,
towels, shirtings, silk clothes etc. By this time a few knitting factories were also started
producing baniyans at Feroke and Calicut. The yarn for all the factories were obtained either
from Madurai, Tirunelvelly or imported from Britain.
In the handloom sector, the total number of looms came to about 12,000 in 1931. Of
the total looms about one third were fitted with fly shuttles. The handloom weavers were
chiefly Chaliyans, who lived in pockets scattered all over Malabar except Wynad taluk.
Weaving was the hereditary occupation of Kaikolar, Tamil Devanga Chettis and a section of
Rowthers in Palghat and Walluvanad taluks. Each village had its own group of weavers,
while large colonies of them were existed in the suburbs of Calicut, Palapuram in
Walluvanad, Taliparampa, Chirakkal and Tellicherry. Though the handloom units faced
severe competition from powerlooms, the handloom units survived partly because of the
native varieties of cloth produced and partly because of the very low price of the cloth. Due
to the competition from the power looms, the weavers were forced to sell the handloom cloth
at very low price. The low price was made possible by sacrificing the major share of the
38
weaver‟s wages. Due to lack of other remunerative employment opportunities, the weavers
were forced to continue in the handloom weaving industry8.
During the early decades of the 20th century, coir and coir based industries registered
a steady growth. The best variety of coir yarn in Malabar was produced in Vadanapalli and
Venkidangara village in Ponnani taluk. The major share of the coir and coir goods in
Malabar was exported from Cochin and other ports. Timber industry was another growing
activity of Malabar which provided employment to many connected with timber trade,
transportation, saw mills and furniture units. The Beypore river, which tapped the forest of
Nilambur valley and the adjacent hills were connected by canal with Kallayi, the largest
timber mart of Malabar. Steam saw mills were also started in Kallai and Cochin for timber
cutting. By 1919‟s Calicut town had emerged as the second largest furniture making centre
in the Madras presidency. The soap manufacture was introduced to Malabar with the starting
of a soap factory by the government. Later a number of small soap making units were started
in the private sector. Among the other industries existed, mention may be made about fish
oil, jaggery, manufacture of palm leaf umbrellas and baskets, metal and belmetal works,
beedi making, match making, manufacture of household utensils, coffee and tea processing
and umbrella making. Manufacture of country spirits and toddy also constituted an important
activity of the people as evident from the number of retail shops existed (Table 2. 2).
Table 2.2
Number of Liquor Shops in the Malabar in 1992 – 13
Sl. Item Country Toddy Ganga Opium Total
No. Spirit Bhang
1 Number of retail shops licensed. 647 1263 45 27 1982

2 Number of persons per retail shop 4644 2307 66767 111,278 184,996
3 Gross receipt from duty (Rs.) 298,248 300,556* 56,303 211,160 866,267
4 Gross receipts from rentals (Rs.) 114,142 334,310 16,729 14,930 480,111
* Gross receipts from tree tax.
Source: Innes C.A. Madras District Gazetters – Malabar and Anjengo Vol. II Malabar
(Madras : Govet.press, 1915) P.46.
We may also examine the growth of industries of Malabar during the first half of the
20th century. Though there had been an increase in the growth of industries, the rate of
39
growth was not an impressive one. The 1951 census shows that out of the total population of
Malabar 16.2 percent of the population came under the classification of industries, which is
termed in the census as „ Production other than cultivation‟9. Among the populations coming
under industries, only 32 percent were actually employed and the rest 68 percent were non-
earning dependents. According to the census the total number of large scale units were 488
providing emoployment to about 33,000 people. (Table 2 .3) Among the large scale
industries handloom weaving units provide the largest employment followed by bricks and
tile works, cotton spinning and weaving mills, coir units, beedi unit, saw mills match
factories and general engineering works.
Table 2.3
Large scale industrial in Malabar (1951 census)
Sl. No. Industry Number of Units Persons Employed
Number Percentage
1 Coffee Curing Works 3 553 1.69
2 Cashew nut/processing 3 1464 4.48
3 Cotton spinning and weaving 27 4489 13.75
4 Knitting Mills 8 797 2.44
5 Weaving mills (Handloom) 206 8468 25.93
6 Saw Mills 31 1508 4.62
7 Plywood 2 304 0.93
8 Printing Press 18 500 1.53
9 Match Factories 31 1456 4.46
10 Bricks and tile works 17 4538 13.90
11 Beedi 51 2015 6.45
12 Tobacco - cigar 29 427 1.31
13 Tea factories 19 624 1.91
14 Animal oil and fats 1 45 1.91
15 Soap 3 238 0.73
16 Coir 12 3193 9.78
17 Umbrella 2 204 0.62
18 Furniture 5 349 1.07
19 General engineering 8 702 2.15
20 Motor works 7 205 0.63
21 Metal products 4 355 1.09
22 Glass 1 217 0.66
Total 488 32,651 100.00
Source: 1951 census Hand book - Malabar District, op.cit.p.7.
40
A significant aspect of the industrial growth of Malabar was the localization of large
scale units in two taluks viz. Chirkkal and Calicut. These two taluks accounted for about 90
percent of the large scale industrial units and 85 percent of the total persons employed (table
2.4). On the other hand in four taluks viz. Kottayam, Ernad, Ponnani and Fort Cochin, not a
single large scale industrial unit was started till 1951. In Chirakkal taluk, handloom weaving
was the most important large scale industry. The other large scale industrial units existed in
the taluk were cotton spinning and weaving mills, beedi units, cashew nut processing units,
knitting units, plywood units, bricks and tile works, match factories and printing units.
Table 2.4
Large scale industries in Malabar (1951 census)
Industrial Units Persons employed
Sl. No. Taluk Number Percentage Number Percentage
1 Chirakkal 328 67.21 15810 48.42
2 Wynad 19 3.89 624 1.91
3 Kurumbranad 3 0.61 233 0.71
4 Calicut 112 22.95 12036 36.86
5 Walluvanad 13 2.67 1065 3.26
6 Palaghat 13 2.67 2883 8.84
7 Kottayam Nil -- Nil --
8 Ernad q Nil -- Nil --
9 Ponnani Nil -- Nil --
10 Fort Cochin Nil -- Nil --
Total 488 100.00 32,651 100.00
Source : 1951 Census hand book – Malabar District op. Cit, p.7.
In Calicut taluk, bricks and tiles provided the largets employment followed by a
spinning and weaving mills, saw mills, cashew nut units, coir units, match factories, general
engineering works and furniture works. Tea factories and handlooms units were the large
scale industrial units existed in wynad and kurumbranad taluks respectively. Match, metal
products, bricks and tiles were the important large scale units existed in Walluvanad taluk.
The important large scale units in Palghat taluk were coir, match and glass units.
In 1951 there were 17,000 cottage and small scale industrial units providing
employment to about 62,000 people (Table 2.5). In cottage and small industries sector, the
cotton spinning and weaving constituted the major industrial activity providing the largest
41
employment. Gur manufacture, mainly confined in Palghat taluk, provided the second largest
employment. Coir, rope making, mats and mattings were the third largest employment
providing activity under cottage and small scale industry. The other cottage and small scale
industries which provided sizeable employment were pottery, oil extraction, beedi making,
basket making and umbrella making. In terms of number of units and persons employed,
Palghat taluk stood first followed by Chirakkal and Kurumbranad.
Table 2.5
Cottage and small scale industries in Malabar (1951 census)
Sl. Industry Number of Units Persons Employed
No Number Percentage
1 Cotton spinning and weaving 6958 26,782 43.04
2 Rope making 1264 5,050 8.12
3 Mat weaving 595 1,308 2.10
4 Diary Products 73 232 0.37
5 Fish Preservation 155 682 1.10
6 Oil extraction 1366 3639 5.85
7 Beedi 1168 3,535 5.68
8 Copper, brass and bell metal 352 1,199 1.93
works
9 Pottery 1337 4,229 6.80
10 Basket making 880 3,240 5.21
11 Gur manufacture units 2254 10,017 16.10
12 Umbrella units 245 1,284 2.06
13 Others 304 1,024 1.65
Total 16,951 62,221 100.00
Source : 1951 Census Hand Book – Malabar District, op.cit, P.13.
We may conclude the chapter with the following Observations. The trade and
industrial policies pursued by the colonial government since the take-over of Malabar had
resulted in the decline of the domestic cottage and handloom weaving and spinning industry
that flourished in different parts of Malabar. The import of a number of consumer goods had
discouraged the production of indigenous goods produced by various category of craftmen.
The handloom weaving and spinning industry which provided the largest employment in
industrial sector was forced to sell the products below cost in order to face the competition
from the mill made cloth. The weavers were forced to sell the handloom product below cost
by sacrificing their own wage, in order to sell atleast a part of the products produced by them.
42
During the colonial rule the government took no initiative to start industrial units except a
few weaving and spinning mills. They started these mills anticipating huge profits by selling
the cloth in the domestic market. In the promotion of industries, the Basel mission took an
active part by starting a few big tile factories. The mission also started other industrial units.
If we look the industrial and trade policies pursued by the colonial government throughout
colonial period, we can conclude that the policies were highly unfavourable to the promotion
of indigenous industries. The colonial rulers were mainly guided by two motives –
maximization of trade profits and safeguarding the colonial interest.
******************
Notes
(1) Though a number of reports were prepared by the colonial administration for
administrative purposes during the early decades of 19th century all of them dealt with the
aspects like revenue administration, revenue assessment, land tenures etc. William
Logan‟s Malabar (Vol. II) published in 1887 is perhaps the first source which give some
details about the type of industries that existed in various taluks of Malabar.
(2) Buchanan Fransis, A journey from Madrass through the countries of mysore, Cannara and
Malabar, Vol II, op cit. P. 50
(3) Thomas Warden, Collector dt. 19th March 1801 on the condition of Palghat, Congaad etc.
of the District of Malabar, P. 11.
(4) Clemenston P, A report on revenue and other matters connected with Malabar dt. 31st
December 1838, op. cit. P.2.
(5) William Logan, Malabar Vol. II, Appendix. 21 op. cit .PP. 270-419.
(6) Innes C.A, Malabar Vol. I op. cit. PP. 249-251.
(7) According to 1901 census, the population supported by industries were found as 689,380.
Of this 44 percent of the people were termed as actual workers and 56 percent as
dependents.
43
Source: census of India 1901 – Madrass Part I Report (Madrass Govt. Press, 1902)-
P.216.
(8) Innes pointed out the receipt of the very low wage by the entire family associated with the
work. For the ordinary weaver, his wife and children used to get an income of about six
anas (36 paise) for the entire days work in 1906 AD.
(9) The population which were classified under large scale, cottage and small scale and other
industries were 7.71 lakhs accounting 16.2 percent of the total population of Malabar. Of
this 7.71 lakhs, 32 percent were actually employed and the rest 68 percent were
dependents.
Source: 1951 Census Hand Book – Malabar, op. cit.
44
Chapter 3
INFRASTRUCTURAL SECTOR
In this chapter we examine the infrastructural change of Malabar. The transport system in
Malabar consisted of inland water transport, ports, roads and railways. In this section we
trace the development of the above four modes of transport.
(1) Inland Water Transport.
Rivers and backwaters were the major means of communication net work that
existed Malabar till the Mysorean invasion. The foreigners who came to Malabar prior to
Mysoreans settled closely to the rivers and selected sites. Which had close access to water
transportation net work. Much of the early trade and traffic of Malabar were carried by
means of water communication because wheeled traffic and pack bullock traffic were
unknown to Malabar till the middle of the 18th century1. In these days, sailing of vessels were
not possible during monsoon seasons resulting in abnormal increase in price of food grains.
Even prior to British rule attempts were made to construct canals in Malabar. In 1766, the Ali
Raja of Cannanore constructed a canal known as Sultan‟s canal, having a distance of 2.4
miles, connecting the Mount Delli river with the backwater formed at the mouth of
Taliparamba and Valarpattanam rivers, providing un interrupted water communication at all
seasons2. Country crafts of various types were the principal means of transport used for
transporting goods. Country crafts were kept by private owners for ferrying passengers and
goods over rivers and small contribution towards ferry charge were collected from the
passengers. In some places crafts were maintained by individuals.
But with the inception of colonial rule, the rulers viewed ferry as a source of
revenue and imposed ferry tax. As early as 1801 A D. there were about 250 places where
ferry existed in Malabar3. Instead of considering ferry as a public utility, the administration
viewed it as a source of revenue and imposed a regressive tax which had serious adverse
impact on the local poor people. Sullivan‟s observation about the ferry tax in 1841 gives an
idea about its impact on the local population4.
“The ferry tax in Malabar is one respect more obnoxious than that of the tobacco–
tax. All classes are subject to the latter but while the carriage and the palanquin of the
45
wealthy are allowed to pass toll free, the poor women whose livelihood depends upon the
bundle of sticks which she is carrying cannot pass until she has paid - so hardly does this tax
press upon the lower orders that lives have been lost in attempts to swim the rivers for the
purpose of avoiding it,” From the above observation it is evident that the ferry tax was
regressive in the sense that it levied tax from the poor people while rich were exempted from
tax. Though a fairly good amount was collected as ferry tax, very little was spent either for
the improvement of ferry service or for construction of roads till the first half of 19th century5.
In 1855-56, the administration changed the policy by recognizing the need for diverting ferry
tax for the construction of bridges and roads6. By 1931 there were 304 ferries managed by
the district boards, of which 22 were in Cochin State, the income from which was shared
equally between the Cochin government and District Board7.
The colonial administration took no steps to construct canals till the decade
1840‟s. During 1840‟s taking into account the colonial trade interests steps were taken to
construct a few canals having a distance of about 46 miles. (Table 3.1)
Table 3.1
Expenditure on canals in Malabar.
Sl. Name of Canal Distance Original cost of Expenditure up to 1986-
No (mile) construction before 66 chufty from local
. 1855-56(Rs.) funds (Rs.)
1 Sultan‟s canal 3.0 - 885
2 Badagherry canal 3.0 795 -
3 Payoli canal 1.5 1,195 8,882
4 Conoley canal 6.0 19,360 525
5 Cootay and Tanoor canal 15.5 19,017 7,235
6 Ponnani and Chawghat canal 15.0 12,410 3,849
7 Edaturty 1.0 - -
8 Calicut Bazar 1.0 2,350 11,424
46.0 55,123 32,800
Source : Statistics of Malabar 1873 – 74, P.13
The Payyoli, Conolly, Ponnani and Badagara canals were completed between
1840 and 18608. By 1880‟s with the completion of canals at Ponnani and Chowghat, the
inland water communication network connected Tirur Railway Station to Cochin. The total
length of this system of inland navigation was 93 miles, of which 77 miles were in the
Ponnani taluk. The common country boats were the important vessels used for transport of
46
passengers and goods except a few boats having cabins. The usual type of country boat was
run by two persons and had a passenger capacity of about twenty persons. Calvetty canal,
having a distance of 6 miles, connecting Calvetti to the river at Kallancheri was also
constructed during 1880‟s. There was also new addition of canals and by the first decade of
the 20th century the inland water transport communication network connected Kavvayi in the
extreme north of Malabar to Trivandrum, except with slight interruption.
(2) Ports.
During 19th century among the 26 ports in Malabar Coast, only five of them were major
ports9. The rest of the ports were either minor or small ports where small coasting crafts used
to visit occasionally. The major ports were Cannanore, Tellicherry, Calicut, Begpore and
Cochin.
(a) Cannanore :- Cannanore was one of the earliest ports of Malabar coast, and
the first batch of Europeans who saw it remarked as10 “ a large town of the thatched houses
inside a bag “. By 19th century the port became the headquarters of Malabar and Canara
brigade, the centre of colonial navy. As the port was mainly engaged in the shipment of
troops, very little trade was carried there. By declaring salt as a government monopoly, the
little trade that existed in the port also came to a half. By the last decade of the 19 th century
the average tonnage of the port was about 4.59 lakhs per annum.
(b) Tellicherry : Tellicherry was the port where the first regular settlement of the
East India Company was established in Malabar coast11. The company selected Tellicherry
because they found that it was ideal place for them to engage in pepper trade in the region. A
fort was built by the company on a rocky cliff projecting in to the sea at Tellicherry in 1708
and this place continued as one of the principal trading places of the company till 1792. After
the takeover of Malabar by the company there had been considerable increase in the trade in
the port. By the last decade of 19th century, port handled shipment of a number of articles
like coffee, pepper, rice, salt etc. and the average tonnage was about 6 lakhs per year12.
(c) Calicut : Calicut was established itself as a major port, even during the very
ancient times. It probably rose into importance during the eleventh or twelfth century A D. In
the first half of the 14th century, when Shaik Ibn Batula visited Calicut, was established itself
as a place of great trade and continued its position till the arrival of Portuguese at the end of
47
15th century. Since then its decline was rapid owing to the interference of the Portuguese
with the Muhammadan trade, and Cochin its rival, having greater natural facilities became
the major port in Malabar coast in the subsequent period.
Calicut possessed an iron screw pile pier extending out to twelve feet of water and it had a
light house exposing a good dioptric light. By the last decade of 19th century this port was
one of the largest ports in Madras presidency having an annual tonnage of about 9 lakhs. Its
imports were mainly grain, salt and piece goods and export consisted of coffee, pepper,
timber, ginger etc13.
(d) Beypore : - Beypore port lies on north banks of the Beypore river. The
anchorage for small vessels was inside the river, close to the north bank and immediately
below a reef of laterite rock which project for into the stream. By the last decade of the 19 th
century, the port‟s average tonnage was about 2.76 lakhs per year.
(e) Cochin : - Cochin emerged as one of the largest trading ports in the Madras
Presidency by 19th century. Cochin possessed great natural facilities for trade as it is the
centre of an immense area of rich country, tapped in all directions by navigable inland
backwaters. For centuries Cochin was only a road stead and the boats and lighters took cargo
from the ocean going steamers waiting outside. Though sailing vessels could enter the
natural harbor at cochin, the sand bar at the mouth prevented deeper draft steamers from
using it. As early as 1879, proposal had been made to develop the port by cutting a deep
channel, but nothing happened till 1920. It was the Cochin chamber of commerce mainly
composed of European businessman who first sponsored a proposal in 1879 for construction
of a deep water port by cutting a deep channel through the bar to permit steamers to come
inside. The colonial businessmen taking into consideration their trade and commercial
interest in the region, put pressure on colonial government for constructing a modern port.
The colonial government was also fully aware of the need for modernizing the port for
expanding colonial trade. Finally the colonial government decided to construct a modern
harbour at Cochin in 192014.
Mr. Robert Bristow, a harbour expert was enstructed with the responsibility of
conducting investigation works and prepare a scheme for execution. No harbour project had
around so much technical interest and controversy as the feasibility of opening a deep
navigation channel through the Cochin bar, capable of being maintained at a reasonable
48
expense through out the year. After many daring experiments and surveys, the cutting of an
approach channel from the deep sea across the bar to the harbour was completed in 1929.
The work was done by a dredger by name Lord Willingdon, with a pipe line. The
performance of this dredger had created a world record for speed, cheapness and continuity
of work. In 1930 the port was thrown open for vessels upto 30 feet draft. The project work
had progressed very fast because of the keen interest taken by the governor of Madras.
The harbour development scheme was implemented in four stage. The first stage
consisted of all preliminary works of an investigatory nature done prior to the
commencement of the experiment in cutting the bar in 1920. The second stage consisted
mainly of fore share protection and experimental dredging. The third stage consisted of the
major dredging operation inside and outside, the moorings, a few residences, a large area of
reclamation, and a dry dock. And the last stage included all works connected with making
the harbour a terminal port with rail and steamers meeting at common wharf on the
reclamation, thus linking up the whole port directly with the road and rail net work. In 1936
Cochin was declared as a major port.
With the opening of the harbour the trade of Cochin began to expand. The total
volume of cargo handled increased from 3.17 lakh tones in 1920 to 21.4 lakhs tones in 1936,
when the port was declared as a major port.
(3) Roads.
Prior to Mysorean invasion, Malabar was split into a large number of small
principalities which were in constant rivalry, and roads were not a necessity. The traffic were
carried through inland water ways and wheeled traffic and pack bullocks were unknown to
Malabar till the middle of 18th century. It was only during the Mysorean invasion that
construction of broad roads was necessitated for speedy movement of troops and establishing
Mysorean authority in the region. The Mysorean rulers and constructed an extensive net
work of roads connecting importance places in Malabar. According to the account given by
Sham ninth, following were the gun roads constructed by Tippu Sulthan :-
(1) Feroke, Tipu‟s Capital in Malabar was connected with Coimbatore by a road led via.
Tirurangadi to Venkatakotta and then bifurcated, one going to Coimbatore by Angadipuram,
Mannarghat and the Attappady valley, (2) Coast road from Begpore to Cranganore via.
49
Tanur, Ponnani, Velliyangode and Chettuvayi, (3) A road from Tanur to Palghat through
Pudiyangadi, Trittala and Lakkidi, (4) a road from Palghat to Dindigal and (5) A road
Originating from Palghat and ending at Kollengode.
The conquest of Malabar by the British had temporarily arrested the growth in
construction of roads. During the early years of colonial rule, a number of roads had been
destroyed by the local landowners by gradual encroachment. A number of roads were also
lost its shape due to the poor and hasty construction of roads by the Mysoreans. The colonial
administration also took no interest in maintaining the existing roads, resulting in
deterioration of almost the entire roads of Malabar. In 1848, Mr. Conolly, Collector of
Malabar, reported that there were only two carriage roads in Malabar, one from the border of
Coimbatore to sea and the other from the Mysore frontier to Cannanore and Tellicherry. The
colonial administration was aware of the need for constructing new roads, but no serious
attempts were made to construct new roads except constructing roads to suppress the
rebellion of Pazhassi Raja in Tellicherry, Wynad region. Though the colonial government
received a fairly good amount as ferry tax, the amount was not spent for constructing roads or
improving ferry service till the middle of 19th century.
The frequent occurrence of the Mappila out breaks during 1830‟s and 1840‟s
prompted the government to construct new roads in Malabar to suppress the revolts. During
period from 1836 to 1853 twenty two out breaks took place in Malabar besides numerous
abortive risings and conspiracies. And steps were made to construct new roads and
improving district roads by devoting a share of ferry tax in 185515. Till then, roads were
constructed from the finance of imperial funds. A number of roads were constructed and by
1880‟s Malabar had about 97 roads having a distance of 1568 miles (Table 3.2) of this 97
roads, except seven, the rest were either branch lines or railway feeders. There were seven
main roads having a distance of 482 miles connecting Calicut to different important places,
within Malabar and neighbouring districts. During the last two decades of the 19th century
there had been an increase in the length of roads and by 1901, Malabar had about 1747 miles
of road consisted of 1695 miles metalled and 52 miles unmetalled roads (Table 3.3)
50
Table 3.2
Roads in Malabar ( 1880’s)
Sl. No Category
Sl.No. of Roads Number of Roads Distance
Miles- Furlongs
1 Main Roads 7 481 - 7
2 Branch lines and Railway feeders 90 1086 – 6
97 1568 - 5
Source : William Logan, Malabar, Vol. II Ap. Cit.PP 84 and 85
Table 3.3
Roads in Malabar
Year Roads maintained (Miles )
Metalled Unmetalled Total
1891 - 92 1588 46 1634
1901-02 1695 52 1747
1906-07 1714 63 1777
1911-12 1737 65 1802
Source : Innes C.A. Madras District Gasetters - Malabar Aand Angengo – Vol II Malabar
(Madrass. Sort Paras, 1915) P.2
The introduction of Railways in Malabar during 1860‟s and 1880‟s and its further
extension to Mangalore in 1907 had resulted in a substantial shift of traffic from road to
railways. And by the end of the first decade of the present century, roads were became mere
feeders to Railway lines except in case of a few main roads in the Wynad region, connecting
Wynad with the coastal towns.
In 1920 three major roads were designated as trunk roads and government
undertook the responsibility to provide grants for their maintenance. The roads were (1) the
Madras – Calicut road (94 miles) (2) Gudalur – Calicut road (40Miles) and Gudalur –
Vayittin road (19 miles). Government paid at the rate of Rs.500/- per mile to the District
Boards for its maintenance. For maintaining the rest of the roads, government contributed
half of the cost of maintenance subject to a ceiling of Rs. 1.57 lakhs.
The Mappila rebellion in 1921 prompted the colonial government to construct

more roads in order to send troops to crush any future rebellions. During the decade 1920‟s a
number of new roads were constructed and by 1931; Malabar had about two thousand miles
of roads, maintained by local boards, Muncipal councils and public works department.
51
Most of new roads were constructed in southern region of Malabar. A few new
roads were also constructed during the subsequent decades. And by the end of the colonial
rule the total length of roads in Malabar came to about 2224 miles consisting of national
highways, provincial high ways, major district roads, village roads and municipal roads.
(Table 3.4.)
(4) Railways
Promotion of colonial trading interests and establishing their firm military control over the
entire territory were the chief motives behind introduction of Railways in Malabar. The first
railway line in Malabar connecting Beypore to Tirur, a distance of 19 miles was
commissioned in 12th March 1861. In the same year the Railway line from Tirur was
extended to Pattambi. Work relating Pattambi to Padanur Railway line was completed and
opened up for service in the next year. At first the government decided to fix the terminus at
Beypore instead of Calicut. But later, by taking into account colonial trading interests the
government had decided to extent the line upto Calicut in 1888 A D. The construction of
railway line required the construction of a number of major bridges having a distance ranging
from 100 feet to 840 feet.
Table 3.4.
Roads in Malabar (1951 census) (In miles)
Sl. Taluk Nationa Provincia Major Other Village P.W.D Municip Total
No l High l distric district Roads Roads al roads
. ways Highways t roads
. roads
1 Chirakkal - 38 68 49 31 - 24 210
2 Kottayam - 42 46 40 11 - 19 158
3 Wynad - 26 140 25 23 - - 214
4 Kurumdranad - 30 56 39 11 - - 136
5 Kozhikode - 50 28 40 50 - 70 238
6 Ernad - 67 142 30 67 - - 306
7 Wallunad - 64 142 32 17 - - 256
8 Ponnani - - 90 44 83 - - 217
9 Palghat 42 13 98 90 155 8 67 473
10 For Cochin - - - - - - 16 16
Total 42 330 811 389 448 8 196 2224
Source : 1951 census hand book – Malabar District op.cit, P.4
52
By 1888 A D, a distance of 118 miles of Railway line had been completed in Malabar as
shown below16.
Sl.No Sections Miles Date of opening

1 BeyPore to Tirur 19 12th March, 1861
2 Tirur to Kuttipuram 9 1st May 1861
3 Kuttipuram to Pattambi 12 23rd September 1861
4 Pattambi to Podanur 65 14th April 1862
5 Kadalundi to Calicut 10 02nd January 1888
6 Olavakkot to Palghat 3 02nd January 1888
In the early years of opening of railway service in the above routes, there was little
increase in goods traffic, mainly due to locational disadvantage of terminal station. In case of
third class passengers, the higher fares discouraged train travel. But following some
concessions offered to third class passengers, there had been an increase in passenger traffic.
The government also took measure to expand the railway services in northen parts of
Malabar. In 1907 AD the work relating Calicut Mangalore railway line, a distance of 118
miles had been completed. The dates on which the various sections of railway line between
Calicut to Mangalore was opened are given below 17.
section Date of Opening

Calicut to Badagara 01st October, 1901
Badagara to Tellicherry 01st May 1901
Tellicherry to Cannanore 20th May 1903
Cannanore to Azhikkal 15th March, 1904
Azhickal to Kanhangad 21st August 1906
Kanhangad to Kasargod 01st October 1906
Kasargod to Kumbla 17th November 1906
Kumbla to Mangalore 03rd July 1907
In june 1902, the Shornur-Ernakulam, metre gauge line was opened for traffic. This
metre gauge line was subsequently converted into a broad gauge line in 1935 and further
extended to Cochin harbor on July 1940. The railway net work of Malabar was further
extended with the construction of a Branch line connecting Sharanur to Nilambur, a distance
of 41.5 miles in 1927 at a cost of Rs.70 lakhs by the south Indian Railway. The line
envisaged the development of the area, which remained as a very backward area due to lack
53
of proper transportation facilities. Pollachi – Palghat metre gauge line was another major
construction work completed in 1932. Of the total length of 33 miles, about 20 miles of the
line were run through Palghat taluk. This feeder line connected broad and metre gauges and
gave direct communication between Dindigual on the main southern line and Palghat.
We may sum up the above discussion with the following observations. During the
early periods of colonial rule, the policies pursued by colonial rulers were not helpful for the
development of transport sector. The rulers considered ferry as a source of revenue and
regressive taxes were imposed on it. Road development was neglected except the roads used
for the movement of troops. But since the middle of 19th century some steps were taken to
construct canals and roads mainly safeguarding colonial trade and political interests. The
frequent occurrence of Mappila out breaks were the important factor which prompted the
rulers to construct roads in Malabar. Colonial trading and political interests were the factors
which prompted them to start railways in Malabar and constructing a modern port at Cochin.
***************
Notes
(1) William Logan, Malabar Vol. I op.cit P.8

(2) Ibid. P 10 and 11
(3) Statistics of Malabar. 1873-74, op. cit. P 14.
(4) Sullivan, Report on the provinces of Malabar and Canara dt. 29th January, 1841, op.
cit. P.6
(5) During the period from 1801 to 1855 a sum of Rs. 16 Lakhs were collected as ferry
tax.
Source: Statistics of Malabar 1873-74 op. cit.
(6) Ibid. p.11
54
(7) Innes. C. A. Malabar District Gazetters – Malabar (Madras Govt. Press, 1951) P. 273
(8) Ibid. P. 267
(9) William Logan, Malabar Vol. I op. cit P.P. 69 -80, Vol. II Appendix VIII and IX.
(10) William Logan, Malabar Vol I op. cit. P 70
(11) William Logan, Malabar, Vol. I op. cit. P.62.
(12) Kareem C. K. Kerala District Gazateers – Palghat (Ernakulam, Govt. Press.
1976 P. 372
(13) William Logan, Malabar Vol. P.63
(14) Innes C. A op. cit. P.271
(15) Statistics of Malabar 1873-74, op. cit. P.11.
(16) William Logan. Malabar Vol. I. op. cit P.66.
(17) (a) A. Sreedhara Menon, Kerala District gazeteers Kozhikode (Trivandrum govt.
press. 1962) P. 417
(b) A. Sreedhara Menon, Kerala District gazetters-Cannanore (Trivandrum,
govt. press. 1972) P. 410
55
Chapter 4
EDUCATIONAL CHANGE
In this chapter we present the educational change of Malabar during the 19 th century and first
half of 20th Century. Prior to the introduction of the western type of education in Malabar,
Ezhuthupallies provided facilities to the students to learn reading and writing. The
Ezhuthupallies under the Ezhuthachan or Village school master afforded ample facilities to
students to acquire elementary education1. Students were first taught, to write in sand and the
letters of the alphabet. They were then trained to write an ola (Palm leaf) and commit to
memory short verses of a devotional character. Simple lessons in arithametic were also
taught. Some of the pupils from the rich families were taught science subjects such as
astronomy and astrology. After under-going their primary education in the Ezhuthupallies the
children were sent to the kalaries for being trained in gymnastics and the use of arms or were
sent to study Sanskrit in vedic school under well trained teachers.
Educational institutions of western type started in Malabar by the middle of the 19 th

century. In 1848 the Basel Evangelical Mission started a Primary School at Kallayi. The
educational dispatch of the court of directors of the East India Company (1854) gave high
priority and asked the Basel Mission to expand their activities through education. With the
introduction of the system of grant-in-aid, the Basel Mission started an English School at
Telicherry with 74 students in 1856. The Municipal high school, Cannanore was also started
in 1861. The Brennen school, Telicherry, the present Government Brennen college was
started in 1862 with the donation made by Mr. Brennen, master attendant at Telicherry. The
school was run by the Basel Mission till 1872 when it was taken over by the Government and
was affiliated to the Madras University in 1891. A school started in 1877 for imparting
education to young Rajas was later affiliated to the University of Madras in 1879. Later
students belonging to upper cast Hindus were also given admission to the school.
During 1850‟s the number of students who studied in these schools were below
thousand and the total number of them almost remained at that level till 1863. (Table 4.1)
56
Table 4.1
Number of Students in Malabar
Years University High Middle Elementary Normal Total
School School School
1857-58 - 205 580 116 - 901
1862-63 - 381 577 - 32 990
1867-68 10 753 2012 1013 26 3814
1872-73 32 562 3696 11671 22 15983
1877-78 55 295 1180 27527 90 29,147
Source: William Logan, Malabar. Vol. I. op. Cit. P. 106
But after mid 1860‟s the schools got much publicity and more and more students were sent to
these elementary schools. By the middle of 1870‟s these schools became so popular that there
was in fact, of very heavy rush to join the schools. The increase was so evident that the
number of students, had increased from 1013 in 1868 to 27,527 in 1878. The trend in the
growth of elementary schools were continued in the subsequent decades also. But a major
defect of the colonial education policy was that they encouraged only primary education and
not secondary education. As a result of this, a large section of students completing primary
education were denied secondary education simply because of the lack of secondary schools.
And even after 30 years of educational progress Malabar had only 7 High schools and 35
middle schools (Table 4.2).
Table 4.2
Growth of Educational Institutions in Malabar
Sl. Category 1878-79 1882-83
No Number of Students Number of Students
Institutions Number Percentage Institutions Number Percentage
1 College 1 28 0.12 2 149 0.44
2 High schools 4 213 0.89 7 431 1.27
3 Middle schools 27 803 3.36 35 1375 4.04
4 Primary schools 644 22813 95.30 892 31949 93.90
5 Normal schools 3 80 0.33 N.A. 120 0.35
Total 679 23937 100.00 936 34024 100.00
Note: N.A. : Not Available
Source: William Logan, Malabar. Vol. II. op. Cit. pp. 26 and 27.
57
Colonial policy of education in Malabar was mainly to encourage private agencies
and individuals to start new schools by giving grants. The educational institutions that started
in Malabar can be grouped in to three categories on the basis of the funds received for its
mainatanance viz. (1) maintained from imperial, provincial or municipal funds; (2) aided and
(3) un aided. In 1882-83, among the educational institutions, one college, four High schools,
six middle schools, four primary schools and two normal schools were maintained from
imperial or provincial funds. But majority of the primary schools were aided either by result
grants or aided or by combined salary and result grants. The rest of the institutions were
classified as un aided, but they were given grants on the basis of inspection and there by
satisfying good results.
In spite of the efforts taken to expand educational facilities in Malabar by colonial

government, Christian Missions and private agencies since 1850‟s, the educational facilities
provided to by them were megre compared to the requirements. Even after thirty years of
educational advancement, Malabar could hardly achieve seven percent literacy. The 1881
census, which defined illiterates as „instructed‟ accounted only seven percent of the total
population (Table 4.3). The Taluks which had the lowest rates of literacy were Wayanad,
Ernad and Walluvanad, while Cochin had the highest rate of literacy. Here the literate
populations included the people got instruction in the schools imparting western type of
education and also the numerous Ezhuthupallies that existed in Malabar. Besides them,
Mappila children were taught in local schools attached to Mosque to read and write in
Malayalam and Arabic.
The trend in the expansion of educational facilities continued during the last two
decades of 19th century and the literacy rate rose to ten percent in 1901 A.D.2 The benefits of
the educational facilities were largely gone in favour of males probably due to the social
inhibitions preventing girls to attend schools, and the literacy rate of women stood at 3
percent in 1901 3. By 1911 A.D. the literacy rate had rose to 11.2 percent. Wayanad and
Eranad continued to remain the most backward taluks of Malabar with respect to attainment
of literacy for males as well as females (Table 4.4). It was found that Christians were the
most literate among local population and Christian women had high rate of literacy even
compared to Hindu males4. In 1911 A.D. a sizable local population (about 20,000) were also
attained literacy in English.
58
Table 4.3
Literacy Rates in Malabar in 1881
Sl. No. Taluks Percentage of literates
1 Chirakkal 6.5
2 Kottayam 7.7
3 Kurumbranad 7.7
4 Waynad 4.4
5 Calicut 9.0
6 Ernad 5.0
7 Walluvanad 6.2
8 Palghat 7.5
9 Ponnani 7.0
10 Cochin 18.9
Total District 7.0
Source: William Logan, Malabar. Vol. 1 P. 106
Table 4.4
Literacy Rate in Malabar in 1911
Sl. No. Taluks Literates per thousand of population
Males Females
1 Chirakkal 222 39
2 Kottayam 278 56
3 Kurumbranad 239 38
4 Ernad 111 17
5 Walluvanad 172 36
6 Palghat 189 27
7 Ponnani 157 31
8 Waynad 109 11
9 Cochin 344 139
10 Calicut 236 49
11 Locadive Islands 59 1
Total District 190 35
Source: Innes C. A. Malabar District Gazetters – Vol. II op.cit .p.63
During the 30 years (1883-1913) there was considerable growth with respect to
educational institutions and number of students. While the educational institutions increased
by 223 percent, the number of students had increased by 436 percent during the period (Table
4.2 and 4.5). Among the category of educational institutions the largest increase was with
respect to primary schools (212 percent). Another 612 unaided private schools were also
started during this period. The change in the attitude of higher cast of people towards
59
education and the policy of the government to give grants for elementary schools had led to
increase of both schools and scholars.
Table 4.5
Number of Educational Institutions in Malabar in 1913
Sl. Category of Institutions Educational Institutions Number
No Govt. Munic Local Aided Un Total of
ipal Fund aided Students
1 Arts colleges - 2 - 2 - 4 548
2 High schools 1 4 8 33 1 47 10999
3 Higher elementary schools 11 2 1 18 - 32 4666
4 Lower Elementary schools 10 60 269 911 133 1383 107405
5 Training schools 4 - 3 1 - 8 376
6 Other Special Schools 1 - - 1 - 2 317
7 Advanced schools (Private) - - - - 105 105 5983
8 Elementary schools (Private) - - - - 507 507 18011
Total 27 68 281 966 746 2088 148,305
Source:Innes C. A. Malabar District gazetters – Vol. II Madras Govt. Press. 1915 p. 64.
A serious problem that emerged in the educational front during the period was the
acute scarcity of secondary schools to accommodate the large army of students who
completed primary education. This can be attributed to the peculiar educational policy of
colonial government to encourage only the primary education. Another distressing aspect of
the secondary education was the levy of tution fees for all pupils, and denying opportunities
to those who belonged to poor families.
Among the various sections of people of Malabar, the only section who did not get
much benefit from expansion of educational facilities were Mappila population. Due to
religious taboos, Mappila children were generally sent to Arabic schools attached to
Mosques, instead of schools which imparts western type of education. The colonial
government was fully aware of the mass illiteracy of Mappila population and recognized
spreading education as the best safeguard against recurrence of Mappila outbreaks5. Though
efforts were made on this direction by giving training to Mappila religious instructors and
also starting schools in Mappila areas since the beginning of present century, not much
progress was achieved, due to the indifference of Mappila to secular education.
During the period between 1910 to 1951, Malabar witnessed considerable increase in
the number of educational institutions. The literacy rate had also increased to 31 percent in
60
19516. But the major drawbacks of this expansion in educational institutions were inadequate
number of secondary Schools and the failure to start higher learning institutions to impart
instructions in medicine, engineering, agriculture, industries and science subjects. A close
examination of the type of educational institutions existed in Malabar during 1951 reveals the
following points. (Table 4.6). (1) the educational scene was mostly dominated by elementary
Schools and of the total students 89 percent students were primary students. It is because of
the policy of colonial government to encourage only elementary education. (2). Compared to
the requirement of secondary schools, Malabar had only a few Secondary Schools. Of the
total, students belonging to middle and high schools accounted only nine percent. The
evidence presented earlier and in this table gives the impression that the colonial education
policy did not favoured or encouraged the expansion of secondary educational institutions.
(3). Except having a few arts and science colleges, no encouragement was given to promote
higher learning institution in medicine, engineering, agriculture or allied subjects.
Table 4.6
Educational Institutions in Malabar (1951 census)
Sl. Type of educational institutions Number of Number of students
No. Instituions Boys Girls Total
1 College of Arts and Science 5 2339 327 2666
2 Training College for Men 1 59 22 81
3 Oriental College 4 96 39 135
4 Rural College 1 64 - 64
5 High School for Boys 78 34694 7324 42018
6 High School for Girls 16 349 7470 7819
7 Anglo Indian School 6 787 900 1687
8 Training School for Boys 6 1308 90 1398
9 Training School for Girls 4 - 365 365
10 Training School for girls (Anglo Indian) 1 - 23 23
11 Basic Training School 3 276 - 279
12 Basic Training School for Girls 1 - 79 79
13 Oriental School 4 126 18 144
14 School for Handicapped Children 1 28 - 28
15 Middle School for Boys 6 1470 264 1734
16 Middle School for Girls 2 23 299 322
17 Elementary School 3680 300782 213154 513936
18 Basic School 31 2002 1557 3559
19 Adult School 121 2601 133 2734
Total 3971 347004 232064 579068
Source: 1951 Census Hand Book. Malabar District. P. 12
61
From the above discussion we can conclude as follows Western type of education
started in Malabar around 1850‟s mainly by Christian mission like Basel Mission with the
Patronage of colonial government. The colonial government followed a policy of giving
grants to private educational institutions instead of starting them at their own initiative. The
educational policy pursued since 1850‟s was confined to the attainment of two narrow
objectives of (1) to make people literate and (2) to provide general education and train them
to work for colonial establishment. Behind the objective of increasing literacy, the colonial
government saw the need for making the Mappila population literate and there by prevent the
occurrence of Mappila outbreaks. Though the policy had helped to increase literacy rates and
popularize village schools in the place of Ezhuthupallis, the policy did not help to increase
educational facilities at the secondary or higher levels or provide professional type of
education.
************
Notes
1) Sreedhara Menon. A, Kerala District Gazetters, Kozhikode, Government Press,

Trivandrum, 1962, p.654.
2) According to 1901 census, the number of literates per 1000 males were 172 and
number of literate per 1000 females were 30.
See: Census of India 1901 – Madras Part I Report (Madras: Govt. Press, 1902) p.87.
3) The number of literates per 1000 males increased from 125 to 175 between 1881 A.D.
and 1901 A.D. During this period the number of literates per 1000 females had
increased from 17 to 30.
See: Census of India 1901, op. Cit. P.87
4) The literates per thousand population in 1911 A. D were as follows:
62
Category Males Females
Christian 417 229
Hindus 222 44
Muslims 110 5
Others 528 161
Source: Innes C.A. Malabar District Gazetters, Vol. II, op. cit, P.63.
5) Innes C. A. Malabar District Gazetters Vol. I. op. Cit. P.300
6) 1951 Census Hand Book, Malabar, op. Cit P.227
63
Chapter 5
CONCLUSION
1. Agriculture
The erstwhile Malabar district of Madras Presidency, forming the northern region of present
day Kerala State had remained as an economically backward region in many respects during
the colonial period. The region was under colonial rule since the English East India Company
conquered Malabar from the Mysoreans in 1792 till attainment of independence in 1947.
Though Malabar had been a major exporter of a wide variety of agricultural products to
Europe for more than two thousand years and consequently exposed to influences from
abroad, it remained an underdeveloped region till 1947. In the study, it is argued that the
region remained as backward due to two sets of factors viz. (1) the unfavourable and
extractive policies pursued by the colonial power in the spheres of agriculture, industry,
infrastructure, trade and commerce; and (2) the caste system, and the social practices arising
out of the system, that prevailed in Malabar.
The British conquest of Malabar in 1792 and the subsequent policy of recognising the Janmi
as absolute owner of land and the wrong interpretation given by the courts and administration
of the three types of tenures such as Kanam, Kulikanam and Verumpattom had severe adverse
effects on the agricultural development of Malabar. These steps had resulted in the creation
of a feudal class of janmies who had no interest in cultivation, prevented emergence of a land
market in Malabar and retarded agricultural productivity and expansion in cultivation.
Famines and situations close to famine were frequent in Malabar. Large areas of cultivable
waste land and forest land remained uncultivated in a region where severe unemployment and
shortage of food grains existed. We attribute this to the wrong land policy of the colonial
power. It was also paradoxical that despite the fact that vast areas of land remained
uncultivated, a large number of people migrated to places outside Malabar in search of
employment.
64
Colonial extraction of a large share of agricultural surplus had resulted in perpetual
misery and poverty to the tenants. The colonial government‟s standardisation of revenue
assessment in 1805 had resulted in the entitlement of a larger share of total produce to the
landlord compared to the previous position. The calculation of tax in money terms is a non-
cash economy created acute problem to the tenants and most of them forced to sell at very
low prices to get cash for tax payment. These changes had reduced the share of the produce
entitled to the actual producer and tenants and forced them to live in perpetual poverty and
debt. Total neglect of irrigation and infrastructure of the colonial government also contributed
to the backwardness of agriculture. The lack of development of road and inland water
transport also affected agricultural marketing and resulted in stagnation of prices of
agricultural products.
The institution of caste system and its associated evils of caste pollution and system of
inheritance stood as a major social obstacle to agricultural development. The system of
inheritance which prevented transfer of ownership from a class of feudal landlords who had
no interest in cultivation, to actual cultivators, stood as a barrier to the emergence of a land
market, which is considered as a prerequisite for capitalist development in agriculture. The
system of inheritance had a very unfavourable effect on agricultural development. Firstly, it
prevented transfer of property from the tarward to the members of family thereby giving
opportunities for them to utilize the land in a better manner. Secondly, it resulted in
mismanagement of properties because vast areas of landed property were owned by tarwards.
Thirdly, it created a lot of discontent and frustration among its younger members, because
they were not given a chance for better management or better utilization of land.
2. Industrial Change
The industrial change that witnessed in Malabar during the colonial rule may be summerised
as follows: The trade and industrial policies pursued by the colonial government since the
take-over of Malabar in 1792 had resulted in the decline of the domestic cottage and
handloom weaving and spinning industry that flourished in different parts of Malabar. The
imports of a number of consumer goods had discouraged the production of indigenous goods
produced by various category of craftmen. The handloom weaving and spinning industry
which provided the largest employment in industrial sector was forced to sell the products
below cost in order to face the competition from the mill made cloth. The weavers were
65
forced to sell the handloom products below cost by sacrificing their own wage, in order to
sell atleast a part of the products produced by them. During the colonial rule, the government
took no initiative to start industrial units except a few weaving and spinning mills. They
started these mills anticipating huge profits by selling the cloth in the domestic market. In
promotion of industries, the Basel Evangelical mission took an active part by starting a few
big tile factories. The mission also started other industrial units. If we look the industrial and
trade policies pursued by the colonial government throughout the colonial period, we can
conclude that the policies were highly unfavourable to the promotion of indigenous
industries. The colonial rulers were mainly guided by two motives – maximization of trade
profits and safeguarding the colonial interest.
3. Infrastructure Sector
Much of the early trade and traffic of Malabar were carried by means of water
communication because wheeled traffic and pack bullock traffic were unknown to Malabar
till the middle of the 18th century. Country crafts of various types were the principal means of
transport used for transporting goods. But with the inception of colonial rule, the rulers
viewed ferry as a source of revenue and imposed ferry tax, which had serious adverse impact
on the local poor people. In 1855-56, the administration changed the policy by recognizing
the need for diverting ferry tax for the construction of bridges and roads. During 1840‟s
taking into account the colonial trade interests steps were taken to construct a few canals
having a distance of about 46 miles. During 19th century among the 26 ports in Malabar
Coast, only five of them were major ports. The rest of the ports were either minor or small
ports where small coasting crafts used to visit occasionally. The colonial government was
fully aware of the need for modernizing the port of Cochin for expanding colonial trade and
constructed a harbour in 1929.
Prior to Mysorean invasion, Malabar was split into a large number of small
principalities which were in constant rivalry, and roads were not a necessity. It was only
during the Mysorean invasion that construction of broad roads was necessitated for speedy
movement of troops and establishing Mysorean authority in the region. The Mysorean rulers
constructed extensive network of roads connecting important places in Malabar. The
conquest of Malabar by the British had temporarily arrested the growth in construction of
roads. The colonial administration took no interest in maintaining the existing roads, resulting
66
in deterioration of almost the entire roads of Malabar. The frequent occurrence of the
Mappila out breaks during 1830‟s and 1840‟s prompted the government to construct new
roads in Malabar to suppress the revolts. During the period from 1836 to 1853 twenty two
out breaks took place in Malabar besides numerous abortive risings and conspiracies.
Promotion of colonial trading interests and establishing their firm military control over the
entire territory were the chief motives behind introduction of railways in Malabar. The first
railway line in Malabar connecting Beypore to Tirur, a distance of 19 miles was
commissioned in 12th March 1861. The government also took measure to expand the railway
services in northern parts of Malabar. In June 1902, the Shornur-Ernakulam, metre gauge
line was opened for traffic. This metre gauge line was subsequently converted into a broad
gauge line in 1935 and further extended to Cochin harbour on July 1940.
4. Educational Change
Prior to the introduction of the western type of education in Malabar, Ezhuthupallies provided
facilities to the students to learn reading and writing. Educational institutions of western type
started in Malabar by the middle of the 19th century. In 1848 the Basel Evangelical Mission
started a Primary School at Kallayi. The educational dispatch of the court of directors of the
East India Company (1854) gave high priority and asked the Basel Mission to expand their
activities through education. With the introduction of the system of grant-in-aid, the Basel
Mission started an English School at Telicherry with 74 students in 1856. The colonial policy
of education in Malabar was mainly to encourage private agencies and individuals to start
new schools by giving grants.
The educational institutions that started in Malabar can be grouped in to three

categories on the basis of the funds received for its maintenance viz. (1) maintained from
imperial, provincial or municipal funds; (2) aided and (3) un aided. During the 3 decades
(1883-1913) there was considerable growth with respect to educational institutions and
number of students. While the educational institutions increased by 223 percent, the number
of students had increased by 436 percent during the period. Among the category of
educational institutions, the largest increase was with respect to primary schools. A serious
problem that emerged in the educational front during the period was the acute scarcity of
secondary schools to accommodate the large army of students who completed primary
education. This can be attributed to the policy of colonial government to encourage only the
67
primary education. Another distressing aspect of the secondary education was the levy of
tuition fees for all pupils, and denying opportunities to those who belonged to poor families.
Among the various sections of people of Malabar, the only section who did not get much
benefit from expansion of educational facilities were Mappila population. Due to religious
taboos, Mappila children were generally sent to Arabic schools attached to Mosques, instead
of schools which imparted western type of education. A major drawback of the educational
development during the period of the first half of 20th century had been the starting of a small
number of secondary schools resulting in denying education to large number of students who
completed primary education and failure to start post-school, higher educational institutions.
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68

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ECONOMIC HISTORY OF

KERALA FROM 1800 TO 1947 AD

Change in Agriculture, Industry, Transport

Thiruvananthapuram Economic Studies Society

Introduction – Agricultural situation – colonial policies – Feudal land

Industrial situation – Colonial policies – growth in traditional industries

Colonial policies – Development of in-land water transport – Ports –

Educational situation – Colonial policies – Basel mission – Growth in

Agricultural Performance under Colonial Rule

The backwardness of agriculture and the lack of development of other sectors,

Year Carts Plough Boat

2 Sugarcane crushers 202 -

N.A. Not Available

Reinstatement of Feudal Land Tenure System

As a result of the above developments, by 1860‟s a large number of eviction suits

Average Annual number of

Qualificational Suits of eviction Persons against Rent decrees,

Source: 1. Willing Logan, Malabar, Vol.I P.583

Year (Acres) (%) (Acres) (%) (Acres) (%) (Acres)

1890-91 723,307 202 909,812 25.4 1,025,895 28.7 3,575,452

* Other uncultivated land excluding current. fallows

Colonial Extraction of a Large Share of Agricultural Surplus

dt. 21st July 1805 rates in 1801**

1. Gross Produce (5 Para x 15) 75 - -

* William Logan, Malabar, Vol.I P. 665

1. Area (One Acre) (92 cents)

Neglect of Irrigation and infrastructure.

Total neglect of irrigation and infrastructural works also contributed to the

1. House and land improvements 736 12.9

No attempts were made to improve the waterways till 1865, when

Impact of Colonial Policies in Non-Agricultural Sector

The colonial taxation policy as stood as a barrier to expansion of economic activities

The Institution of Caste System

1. Houses 1,68,075 89,391 98,304* 82,568

Total - 1,12,754 - 1,18,237

Village studies in Kothachira (Ponnani Taluk) and Vatanamkurussi (Walluvanad

The system of inheritance had a very unfavourable effect on agricultural development.

Source: Statistics of Malabar 1873-74 P.23

6. Ibid, p.p 19-23

8. William Logan, Malabar, Vol.II, p.36.

9. Statistics of Malabar 1873-74, p.17

Source: William Logan, Malabar Vol.II, p.35.

11. William Logan, Malabar Vol.II p.p.6-7

15. Ibid, p.14

17. Ibid, p.9

19. William Logan, Malabar, Vol.I, op.cit, p.604.

20. Ibid, p. 584.

21. William Logan, Malabar, Vol.II p.175.

25. William Logan, Malabar, Vol.I, op. cit, p.583

27. Ibid, Para 151.

dt.22nd August 1857, op.cit, p.9

30. Innes C.A. Malabar op. 227

31. Bourne R, Nilambur Valley Working Plan, Vol. I Op.cit, p.40.

32. Malabar Tenancy Committee (1940), Vol.I, op.cit, p.50

34. Buchanan, Francis, op. cit, p.66

35. Thomas Warden, op. cit, p.p. 7-10

39. Burchanan, op.cit, p.69.

40. Ward and Conner op. cit, p.86 and 138.

41. Clementson P. op.cit, p.3.

42. Statistics of Malabar 1873-74, p.19.

43. William Logan, Malabar,Vol.II op. cit, p.22.

45. William Logan, Malabar, Vol.I, op.cit, p.62.

48. Clemenston P. op.cit, p.4.

49. William Logan, Malabar Vol.I, p.614.

50. Ibid, p.718.

52. Clemenston P. op, cit, p.2.

53. 1951 Census Handbook - Malabar District, p.13.

55. Ibid, p.4.

59. Krishna Warriyer A, in Salter Gilbert (ed.) op. cit, p.177.

In this chapter an attempt is made to examine industrial change of Malabar during 19 th

1 Number of retail shops licensed. 647 1263 45 27 1982

(1) Inland Water Transport.

The Mappila rebellion in 1921 prompted the colonial government to construct

Sl.No Sections Miles Date of opening

section Date of Opening

(1) William Logan, Malabar Vol. I op.cit P.8

Educational institutions of western type started in Malabar by the middle of the 19 th

1862-63 - 381 577 - 32 990