Maritime contacts Sangam period Tamilakam Cheras Spice trade Ays Ezhil Malai Confluence of religionsMamankam festival Calicut Venad - Kingdom of QuilonValluvanad Kolattunadu CochinArakkal kingdom Minor principalities Age of Discovery Portuguese period Dutch period Rise of Travancore Mysorean invasion British PeriodBattle of TirurangadiMalabar DistrictNorth MalabarSouth Malabar Battle of Quilon Communism in KeralaLakshadweep Economy Architecture Historians like Prof Sreedhara Menon[2] (though it is claimed that he had retracted his views later[3]) maintain this was a proper struggle against the declaration of 'Independent Travancore' by the then Travancore.

Sir CP Ramaswami Iyer had proposed constitutional reforms making Travancore an independent country, not joining Indian Union.

In response, over 2,000 communists attacked police stations all across Alappuzha and practically established their independent government free from the monarchy.

The Avarna communist cadres were armed with country weapons, especially varikundams (spears made out of arecanut tree stems).

In order to achieve this aggressive police response, the Diwan C. P. Ramaswami Iyer had sidelined his General Officer Commander (G.O.C.

When, on 3 June 1947, United Kingdom accepted demands for a partition and announced its intention to quit India within a short period, the Maharaja of Travancore desired to declare himself independent.

[5][6][7] Supported by the Diwan C.P.Ramaswami Iyer, the Maharaja Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma issued a declaration of independence on 18 June 1947.

[6][9][10] Post-independence and Cold War Contemporary history Historian Manu S. Pillai described Punnapra-Vayalar as an Ezhava uprising against the Travancore Kingdom and its Nair aristocracy.

Punnapra-Vayalar is described by Robin Jeffrey as the only moment in history when an organised working class led an armed revolt against a British-backed kingdom.