Contribution of British in Kerala – Notes, Quiz PDF

The arrival of Europeans marks an important turning point in the history of Kerala. Kerala is in the coastal region and has much to offer in terms of trade. So, after Arabs and Chinese traders, Europeans found their way to Kerala by the end of the 15^th century. The first Europeans to arrive at our cost was the Portuguese. Then comes the Dutch. Britishers arrive in Kerala cost after that. even though they were late, they were the ones who were able to exert the most influence on Kerala’s history and society. So let us learn more about the Contribution of British in Kerala.

Contribution of British in Kerala – Notes, Quiz PDF

The first English man to arrive in Kerala was Master Ralph Fitch. He first came to Kochi.  In 1615, Captain Keeling arrived in Kerala and visited the Samoothiri’s court as a representative of the English East India Company. He was able to sign a trading agreement with Samoothiri. The main warehouses of the English East India Company in Kerala were located in Thalassery, Vizhinjam and Anjuthengu.

Contribution of British in Kerala: Summary

Like all other foreigners who came to our shores, Britishers too brought many changes. They were known as ‘Sheema’ in Kerala’s historical records. The warehouse at Vizhinjam was built in 1644 during the time of Ravivarma. The Ramavarma of the Venad dynasty had agreed with the British.

Key Points

• Law procedures were made in the British-Indian model by Divan Nanjappayya.
• The first British resident was appointed in Travancore during the reign of Dharmaraja.
• The first British resident in Travancore was Colonel Macaulay. (1795- 1810)
• The state of Travancore became completely under British control during the reign of Avittam Thirunaal Balaramavarma.
• Britishers built Thalasseri fort in 1708.
• In 1790, the Britishers took over the Angelo fort and made it their primary military centre in Malabar.
• In 1792, the British took over the control of Malabar after the treaty of Srirangapattanam.

The Contribution of British in Kerala

After gaining control over Travancore, Kochi and Malabar, the British started exerting their influence on the state’s economy and judicial system. Once they took over, they were able to purchase the invaluable raw materials from India at a cheap price and then sell the finished products from Britain at a high cost to Indians. This resulted in the collapse of the self-reliant village economy of Kerala. The foreign trade increased drastically during the British rule. Some important points are mentioned below.

• Coconut, jaggery, cashews, pepper, areca nut, iron ore etc. were exported in massive amounts by the British from Kerala.
• They imported clothing materials, kerosene, sugar, tobacco, metal products etc to Kerala.
• British altered the existing trading laws in Travancore and Kochi to make their trade easier.
• They built roads and railways to make the trade easier.
• The first railway track in Kerala was built in 1861 and was from Beppur to Tirur.
• They used these railways to help export raw materials as well as sell the finished industrial goods to even the remotest villages of Kerala.
• By the beginning of the 20^th century, the entire Kerala was completely linked to the provincial capital of Madras.
• They developed the ports of Kochi, Alappuzha and Kozhikode for easier trading.
• The Farmer’s migration from Travancore to Malabar in the 1930s and 1940s helped in the drastic development of cash crop farming in Kerala.

Agriculture Sector

Some important Contribution of British in Kerala in the in Kerala’s agricultural sector is provided below.

• British aimed for farming methods that were centred on the market.
• Coconut trees were farmed in huge numbers instead of paddy.
• Thus, the reduced farming of paddy resulted in less rice production and hence famine in Kerala.
• To prevent famine, they started farming cassava in huge numbers in Kerala.

Plantation crops also gained popularity during this time. Let us look at some important points.

• In hilly regions, cash crops like coffee, teak, tea, cardamom, rubber trees etc were farmed in large amounts.
• Henry Valentine Canoli was given the duty to plant teak trees in huge amounts for industrial purposes.
• A 1500-acre plot was planted with teak trees during 1823- 38. This place was in Nilambur and was known as Canoli plot.
• They started plantations in Wayanad and Idukki.
• The plantation crop farming flourished more in Travancore than in Malabar. This was because the soil quality and altitude of the plantations were higher in Travancore.

Economy

• The prominent plantation economy zones in Kerala were Mardoc Brown, Kannan Devan Company and Malayalam Plantations etc.
• Coconuts, coir, cashews, handlooms beedi etc are the traditional trades in Kerala.
• The main centre of the coconut oil trade was in Alappuzha.
• James Dara started the coir factory in Alappuzha in 1859.
• Cashew export factories saw huge growth in Kollam.
• Many bronze companies came up in Farrook, Kollam and Ollur.
• Many handloom production units came up in places like Kannoor and Kozhikode.
• In the 20^th century, Beedi production companies started working in Kerala. Kannoor district was the centre of this trade.
• Modern trades in Kerala were improved by the building of the Pallivasal Electricity project.
• The first bank formed in Kerala was Nedungadi Bank.

Cultural Sector

• Jesuit Missionaries showed major interest in creating Malayalam grammar textbooks as well as dictionaries.
• Angelos Francis prepared the first Malayalam grammar textbook.
• Arnos Pathiri prepared the first Malayalam dictionary.
• Samshkepa Vedartham (1772) was the first text to be completely printed in Malayalam.
• Benjamin Bailey created the English Malayalam dictionary in 1846.
• Dr Herman Gundert prepared the Malayalam English dictionary.
• The first authentic Malayalam grammar text was also prepared by Herman Gundert.
• The first Malayalam newspapers, ‘Rajyasamacharam’ and ‘Pashchimodayam’ were published by him in the year 1847.

Education

• Providing everyone with education without taking into consideration their caste became popular as a result of the work of missionaries.
• Rulers of both Travancore and Kochi donated land to the missionaries to start educational institutions.
• Bernadain Bechinelli who was the bishop of Varapuzha, Rev. Mead, Rev. Dowson and Rev. Habeek provided leadership for educational works done by missionaries.
• Mead belonged to the London Missionary Group.
• CMS established a college and seminary in Kottayam.
• Dowson led the establishment school in Mattanchery in 1818.
• Twinkle Tab was a missionary associated with the Salvation Army and helped spread English education in the southern part of Travancore like in Nagercoil.

Let us discuss some more important points.

• In 1841, an English school was established in Barnasseri, Kannoor under the leadership of missionary Rev. Habeek.
• English School was established in 1848 in Kallayi under the leadership of BEM.
• The first English school in Thalassery in 1856 under the leadership of BEM.
• Brunnan School was opened in Malabar and offered education to students of all religions and castes.

Medicine

• British rule increased the importance of modern medicine in Kerala.
• The first vaccination against smallpox was conducted in Malabar.
• Government hospital was established in Malabar, Travancore and Kochi.

Law System

• Britishers brought lots of changes in the Law system of Kerala.
• Before that caste-based law system was followed in Kerala. Sathyapareeksha is one such tradition.
• Rule of law and equality before the law were two foundations of the laws introduced by the Britishers in Kerala.
• The same kind of punishment was given for the same kind of crime without considering a person’s caste, that too only after lawful prosecution. This made everyone equal before the law.
• Various courts were established for inquisition and judgment.
• British rule brought massive changes in the rights various types of people had on land.
• Local lords and Janmis were made landlords and the tax they had to pay to the British was predetermined.

Contribution of British in Kerala: Quiz PDF

Click here to download the Contribution of British in Kerala Quiz PDF!

Contribution of British to the Kerala Quiz

1. Who was the Divan who made law procedures in Kerala in British- Indian Model?

• Veluthambi Dalawa
• Raja Kesavadas
• Nanjappayya
• Mallan Shankara

2. When was the first railways in Kerala made?

• 1861
• 1860
• 1862
• 1863

3. Which were the starting point and destination of the first railways in Kerala?

• Aluva to Kochi
• Alappuzha to Kollam
• Beppur to Tirur
• Palakkad to Beppur

4. Which crop was introduced in Kerala as a result of famine induced by the reduction in paddy cultivation?

• Wheat
• Coconut
• Sweet potato
• Cassava

5. Where is Canoli Plot located?

• Aluva
• Kottayam
• Kollam
• Nilambur

6. Which was the first complete work to be printed in Malayalam?

• Indulekha
• Samshkepa Vedartham
• Rajasamacharam
• Pashchimodayam

7. ‘Rajyasamacharam’ and ‘Pashchimodayam’ started publishing in which year?

• 1846
• 1847
• 1845
• 1849

8. Where did the first smallpox vaccination in Kerala take place?

• Malabar
• Kochi
• Travancore
• None of these

9. What were the foundations of the laws made by Britishers in Kerala?

• Rule of law
• Equality before law
• Both are correct
• None of these

10. Which district was considered the centre of the Beedi industry in 20^th-century Kerala?

• Kannur
• Kozhikode
• Malappuram
• Palakkad

Contribution of British in Kerala Quiz Answers

1. Nanjappayya
2. 1861
3. Beppur to Tirur
4. Cassava
5. Nilambur
6. Samshkepa Vedartham
7. 1847
8. Malabar
9. Both are correct
10. Kannur