Kerala reformation movement


The Reformation movement in Kerala refers to a socio-cultural movement that began towards the end of 19th century and led to large scale changes in the social outlook of the southern Indian state of Kerala.

Background

The foundations of social changes in Kerala goes back to the 16th century.
The formation of Malayalam language in its modern form and the development of the Bhakti movement under the influence of authors like Thunchaththu Ezhuthachan helped break the monopoly of the Brahmins over literature and knowledge.
The arrival of Europeans beginning with Portuguese followed by Dutch, then the English became a catalyst in these changes. The arrival of missionaries from European nations lead to a rise in educational institutions in Kerala and the rise of an educated class among
caste groups like Ezhavas.
The changes in the political order of Kerala with the establishment of centralized monarchies in Travancore and Cochin that lead to the decline of old feudal order was also a crucial factor that set the stage for reformation. The Mysorean invasion of Kerala shook the hold of elites like Brahmins or Namboothiris and Nairs on Kerala society. Mysoreans had almost no regard for the caste structures in Kerala, inevitably most Brahmin and Nair families had to flee to southern Kerala to avoid persecution by Mysorean forces.
In contrast with North India, enlightenment in Kerala was driven by lower castes. Kuriakose Elias Chavara, Narayana Guru, Ayyankali, etc. belonged to caste groups considered lower in the social settings of 19th century Kerala. Hence most of them emphasized the need for abolition of caste system rather than a reformation of caste.

Leaders

Prominent leaders of Kerala reformation include :
Kuriakose Elias Chavara
Father of Literacy in Kerala, School along with every Church system, Pidiyari system
Vaikunda swamikal / Ayya vaikundar
Mudichoodum perumal
Thycaud Ayya / subharayan
Shivaraja yogi, Supperintent ayya, Hadayogopadeshta, pandi parayan,
Chattampi Swamikal
Sree Narayana Guru
Naanu asan, The second budha,
Agamananda Swami
Krishnam Nambyathiri
Ananda Theerthan
Anada Shenoy
Brahmananda shiva yogi / Karat Govinda menon
'Guru of Atheists', purusha simham, Swami of alathur
Vagbhatanandan / V.K. Gurukkal
Vyleri kunjikannan, balaguru
Arattuppuzha Velayudha Panicker
kallissery Velayudha Chekavar, panicker Title was given by Maharaja of Travancore,
He actually belongs to Ezhava community
Kurumban Daivathan
Naduvathamman
Pampadi John joseph
C. V. Kunhiraman
Mahathma Ayyankali
Ghandiji called 'pulaya raja' and 'untiring warrior', Indira Gandhi called 'Great son of India',
'Aali kathiya theepori', Father of modern Dalit, known as Kerala's Spartacus.
Dr. Palpu
padmanabhan, 'Political father of Ezhava community'
Kumaranasan
kumaru, sneha gayakan, ashaya gambheeran, leelavathi called him 'divya kokilam',
Joseph mundassery called him Viplavathinte Shukra nakshatram.
Sahodaran Ayyappan / K. Ayyappan
Pandit Karuppan
shankaran, sahithya kudeeram, Lincoln of Kerala,
kerala varma called him 'vidwan', maharaja of cochin called him 'Kavi thilakam'.
T.K. Madhavan
"Megha Jyothis"
Vakkom Abdul Khadar Moulavi
The father of Muslim renaissance in Kerala
Swadeshabhimani Ramakrishna pillai
Keralan
K. Kelappan
A K Gopalan AKG