Kanyakumari, the southernmost district in mainland India was created on this day by merging four taluks from Travancore state. The newly formed district was then annexed with Madras State (now Tamil Nadu) on the same day. The birth of a new state is well known across India with the creation of Telangana, but is not the same for districts. Created on the same day, Madras State was renamed as Tamil Nadu in 1969, Travancore — Cochin State as Kerala and so on.
Though a lot of states were created on this day, not a lot of districts were reorganised. The States Reorganisation Commission (aka Fazal Ali Commision) was created in 1953 by the Central Government, to reorder and align states for easy ruling and governance. In the final report the commision recommended the district be separated from the state of Travancore — Cochin and instead join Madras State. The government accepted this later, but other important reasons can be credited to the development of the district.
Kanyakumari was the seat of Travancore — Cochin rulers from 1949–1956 after successfully defending the British for a long time involving wars both on land and water. Caste played a huge role in the history of the district and untouchability peaked during the Kingdom’s reign. Breast Tax (aka Mulakkaram) was imposed on the women of lower castes for the right to cover their breasts in public, with tax amount being judged by inspecting the size of the breasts. Men had a similar system in place to cover their heads (aka Talakaram). Men and women who were suppressed felt the need to stop this shameful practice, eventually joined hands and embraced other religions. Protests against the king were a common sight citing this disgraceful act, but were crushed with force almost every time, other than in 1859 when a particular group of women were allowed the right to cover their breasts. This practice followed until 1924 after which it was challenged with violence which led to the people asking the then government of British India for a merger with the neighbouring state. The neighbouring state of Madras (later Tamil Nadu) where Periyar politics had rapidly changed the caste based oppressive regime.
A. Nesamony (aka Marshal Nesamony), born in 1895 is known as father of Kanyakumari district for his valiant efforts to resurrect and ensure the merger of the district with its mother land of Madras State. Having graduated from Tirunelveli and influenced by Gandhi at Congress meetings, Nesamony was active in both local and national politics. Student leader at a very young age at college and the President of Lawyer’s Association in his district taught him the grassroots of politics. This handy craft later allowed him to take on the post of the chairman of Nagercoil Municipality and further an MP and an MLA. He also started a political party Travancore Tamil Nadu Congress (TTNC), with the only goal of redeeming Kanyakumari district from Travancore — Cochin state, and it turned out to be successful after voicing concerns and demands in the parliament, only supported by the States Reorganisation Commission.
The tamil speaking population of Kanyakumari district felt oppressed and wanted to reunite with their mother land. This was followed by peaceful protests and agitations against the King of Travancore — Cochin State. TTNC (Travancore Tamil Nadu Congress) was fundamental in creating mass sentiment across the minds of the people led by A. Nesamony. The police firing in 1948 ended up killing two people of a certain community in a clash amongst two groups. This act of violence awakened the minds of tamil speaking population that had been suppressed all these years. In 1954, peaceful protests across the district were again shot at and the authoritarian Travancore government ended up killing huge numbers of people. This forced a lot of people from neighbouring regions especially tamil speaking population from across the border to take to the streets resulting in the government being toppled.
As a collective result of the protests by agitated common people, initiatives by A. Nesamony and, at the recommendation of the States Reorganisation Commission, the district was finally merged with Tamil Nadu, where it once (and always truly) belonged. November 1 of every year is celebrated by the people of Kanyakumari district until date as Kanyakumari Liberation Day, joining other districts of the state rejoicing the state’s official creation on Nov 1, 1956.
