K.C.S. Mani
Encyclopedia
Konattumatam Chidambara Subrahmania Iyer , known better as K. C. S. Mani , was a communist activist of Kerala
who is known for his attempt of assassination on C. P. Ramaswamy Iyer, the then Diwan
of Travancore
(a princely state
in India
). This incident was a turning point in the history of Kerala, forcing the Diwan to leave the Kingdom of Travancore and flee to Madras after assenting to merge Travancore
with the Union of India.
s in India were given a choice to either remain independent, or join either of the states of India
or Pakistan
. C. P. Ramaswamy Iyer, an efficient ruler, but showing signs of dictatorship, wanted to have Travancore
in his clutches. He chose to make Travancore
a sovereign kingdom, with full executive powers vested on the Diwan. He declared this intention in his American model constitution. There were oppositions from all quarters. The Diwan chose to suppress the revolts with raw power. On July 18, 1947, Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma
, the King of Travancore, on advise of the Diwan, made the declaration that, Travancore will announce sovereignty on the 26th of August.
) in Thiruvananthapuram
, following a concert in the evening. Ramaswamy Iyer was wounded. Following the incident on July 25, the King
informed the Viceroy the decision to join the Union of India. On August 19, 1947, C. P. Ramaswamy Iyer formally resigned as Diwan.
from the Kuttanad
constituency in 1965, as an independent candidate (not the nominee of any political party), but without success.
Mani felt alienated by the party as well as the state in the later years of his life. He spent his last days abandoned and struggling with diseases. Mani died on September 20, 1987, at an age of 65, in a T B
sanitorium
in Pulayanarkotta, Thiruvananthapuram
.
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
who is known for his attempt of assassination on C. P. Ramaswamy Iyer, the then Diwan
Dewan
The originally Persian title of dewan has, at various points in Islamic history, designated various differing though similar functions.-Etymology:...
of Travancore
Travancore
Kingdom of Travancore was a former Hindu feudal kingdom and Indian Princely State with its capital at Padmanabhapuram or Trivandrum ruled by the Travancore Royal Family. The Kingdom of Travancore comprised most of modern day southern Kerala, Kanyakumari district, and the southernmost parts of...
(a princely state
Princely state
A Princely State was a nominally sovereign entitity of British rule in India that was not directly governed by the British, but rather by an Indian ruler under a form of indirect rule such as suzerainty or paramountcy.-British relationship with the Princely States:India under the British Raj ...
in India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
). This incident was a turning point in the history of Kerala, forcing the Diwan to leave the Kingdom of Travancore and flee to Madras after assenting to merge Travancore
Travancore
Kingdom of Travancore was a former Hindu feudal kingdom and Indian Princely State with its capital at Padmanabhapuram or Trivandrum ruled by the Travancore Royal Family. The Kingdom of Travancore comprised most of modern day southern Kerala, Kanyakumari district, and the southernmost parts of...
with the Union of India.
Historical background
On July 1947, preparation were in progress in India for the transfer of power from the British colonial rule. All princely statePrincely state
A Princely State was a nominally sovereign entitity of British rule in India that was not directly governed by the British, but rather by an Indian ruler under a form of indirect rule such as suzerainty or paramountcy.-British relationship with the Princely States:India under the British Raj ...
s in India were given a choice to either remain independent, or join either of the states of India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
or Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
. C. P. Ramaswamy Iyer, an efficient ruler, but showing signs of dictatorship, wanted to have Travancore
Travancore
Kingdom of Travancore was a former Hindu feudal kingdom and Indian Princely State with its capital at Padmanabhapuram or Trivandrum ruled by the Travancore Royal Family. The Kingdom of Travancore comprised most of modern day southern Kerala, Kanyakumari district, and the southernmost parts of...
in his clutches. He chose to make Travancore
Travancore
Kingdom of Travancore was a former Hindu feudal kingdom and Indian Princely State with its capital at Padmanabhapuram or Trivandrum ruled by the Travancore Royal Family. The Kingdom of Travancore comprised most of modern day southern Kerala, Kanyakumari district, and the southernmost parts of...
a sovereign kingdom, with full executive powers vested on the Diwan. He declared this intention in his American model constitution. There were oppositions from all quarters. The Diwan chose to suppress the revolts with raw power. On July 18, 1947, Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma
Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma
Chithira Thirunal Maharaja was the last ruling maharaja of the princely state of Travancore, in southern India...
, the King of Travancore, on advise of the Diwan, made the declaration that, Travancore will announce sovereignty on the 26th of August.
The attempt of assassination & after
On July 25, 1947, the Diwan was attacked in front of the erstwhile Music Academy (now the Swathi Thirunal College of MusicSwathi Thirunal College of Music
Swathi Thirunal College of Music is a music college in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India. It was founded in 1939. It was first named as "The Music Academy. The name was renamed as Swathi Thirunal College of Music in 1962. The founder of this institution was L. Muttayyah Bhagavathar.The primary...
) in Thiruvananthapuram
Thiruvananthapuram
Thiruvananthapuram , formerly known as Trivandrum, is the capital of the Indian state of Kerala and the headquarters of the Thiruvananthapuram District. It is located on the west coast of India near the extreme south of the mainland...
, following a concert in the evening. Ramaswamy Iyer was wounded. Following the incident on July 25, the King
Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma
Chithira Thirunal Maharaja was the last ruling maharaja of the princely state of Travancore, in southern India...
informed the Viceroy the decision to join the Union of India. On August 19, 1947, C. P. Ramaswamy Iyer formally resigned as Diwan.
Later life
After the independence, Mani served as a member of the local panchayat for more than a decade. He also contested to the Kerala Legislative AssemblyKerala Legislative Assembly
The Kerala Legislative Assembly more popularly known as Niyamasabha , is the law making body of Kerala, one of the 28 States in India. The Assembly is formed by 140 elected representatives and one nominated member from the Anglo-Indian community...
from the Kuttanad
Kuttanad
Kuttanadu is a region in the district of Alappuzha, in the state of Kerala, India, well known for its picturesque vast paddy fields and its geographical peculiarities. It's the region with the lowest altitude in India, and one of the few places in the world where farming is carried out below sea...
constituency in 1965, as an independent candidate (not the nominee of any political party), but without success.
Mani felt alienated by the party as well as the state in the later years of his life. He spent his last days abandoned and struggling with diseases. Mani died on September 20, 1987, at an age of 65, in a T B
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis, MTB, or TB is a common, and in many cases lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body...
sanitorium
Sanatorium
A sanatorium is a medical facility for long-term illness, most typically associated with treatment of tuberculosis before antibiotics...
in Pulayanarkotta, Thiruvananthapuram
Thiruvananthapuram
Thiruvananthapuram , formerly known as Trivandrum, is the capital of the Indian state of Kerala and the headquarters of the Thiruvananthapuram District. It is located on the west coast of India near the extreme south of the mainland...
.