Society in Kerala was based on caste system in the 19th century. The lower castes were treated as untouchables and unapproachables. Many social evils and superstitions existed in all castes. The Keralites realized the stupidity of caste system and superstitions with the spread of modem education and western ideas.

Many social reform movements sprang up to fight the inequalities and social evils in society. The major social reform movements of this period were Samathwa Samajam, Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana Yogam, Sadhujana

Paripalana Sangham, Nair Service Society and Yogakshema Sabha. Vaikunda Swami, Sree Narayana Guru, Ayyankali, Mannath Padmanabhan, V.T.Bhattathiripad and Sahodaran Ayyappan were the important social reformers of this time.

Social reform movements fuelled the agitations for social changes. The Channar women of South Travancore fought for the right to cover their upperbody. Following the prolonged struggle, the Maharaja Uthram Thirunal of Travancore was forced to issue an order allow¬ing Channar women to wear jackets in 1859.

Sree Narayana Guru was one of the chief architects of social renaissance in Kerala. The lower castes including Ezhavas were not permitted to enter temples and worship. Sree Narayana Guru challenged this and made history by consecrating a Shiva Temple at Aruvippuram in 1888. Consequently, the lower castes gained the right to perform poojas and temple rituals.

He exhorted the people to gain strength through union and enlighten through education. The working and messages of Sree Narayana Guru were based on noble human love and fraternity among all religions.

Vaikom Satyagraha of 1924 was a major struggle for the right of travel in Kerala. Following the Satyagraha under the leadership of T.K.Madhavan, the lower caste Hindus secured the permission to travel through the road around the Mahadeva Temple at Vaikom. The Guruvayur Satyagraha was started in 1931 with the demand that all castes of Hindus should be allowed to enter the temple. As a result of these popular protests, the Maharaja of Travancore Sri Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma issued the famous Temple Entry Proclamation in 1936, allowing all I * the Hindus to enter the temples in Travancore.

British imperialism. Protests were held at Kayyoor, Morazha, Karivellur, etc. Protests relating to Quit India Movement witnessed destruction of government buildings, bridges, etc.

Travancore: 

Political agitations began in Travancore with the Malayali memorial. Malayali memorial was a memorandum signed by more than ten thousand people and submitted to the Maharaja under the leadership of Barrister

G.P.Pillai in 1891, demanding that the Travancoreans should be given proportionate representation in government jobs.

The Ezhava memorial was submitted Under the leadership of Dr.Palpu, raising the problems faced by the Ezhava community. The deportation of Swadeshabhimani Ramakrishna Pillai for criticising the Dewari of Travancore caused significant political break throughs. Christians, Muslims and Ezhavas started the Nivarthana Prakshobham demanding the reservation of their communities in the legislature and government jobs in proportion to their population.

The Travancore State Congress was formed in 1938 with Pattom Thanu Pillai as President. With this, political activities gained momentum in Travancore. The working class entered into the political arena with the Punnapra-Vayalar protest of 1946, organized against the administrative reforms of Dewan C.P.Ramaswamy Iyer.

Kochi: 

The struggle for responsible government began in Kochi with the Electricity Agitation of 1936. With the formation of Kochi Rajya Praja Mandalam in 1941, political agitations strengthened in Kochi also. E.Ikkanda Warrier and Panampilly Govinda Menon gave leadership to Kochi Prajamandalam