Independence Day: Memorials in Thiruvananthapuram that are reminders of India’s struggle for independence

On the Occination of the 79th Year of India’s Independence, Here is a look at how the freedom movement swept through thiruvananthapuram, then a part of travancore and the monuments built in memory of free -free Reminder of their Sacrifice. These are living stories of courage and resilience.

“The Fight was spented by travancore state congress formed in February 1938 to work Towards Responsible Governance. The Congress was up Against Not Just the British but also also Iyer, who resorted to brutal measures to crush the agitations, “Says Historian Malayinkil Gopalakrishnan.

Remembering the bloodshed

Neyyattinkara witnessed the death of eight people, including a homemaker, when the british army opened fire on a March protecting the Arrest of Several Congress, NK Padmanabhan pillai on August 31, 1938. Leaders who were killed were killed were killed were kalluvila podiyan, nadorakolla kuttan pillai, maruthan pillalai, maruthan pillai, maruthan pilla Vasudevan, kanchampazhinji kuttappan nair, and varuvilakom padmanabhan pillai, besides a woman, kali. In 2020 a Memorial was unveiled at athazhamangalam, the Native Place of Veraraghavan. Funded by the Municipal Corporation, it is a relieve sculpture depicting the police firing. It has been made by an artists’ Collective Neyyar Varamozhi.

The Town is also home to Madhava Mandiram, the house where mahatma gandhi styed on January 1, 1937, on his way to kanyakumari. Located at oorutukala, it is now a museum. The cot Gandhiji used, a charkha and brass urn that contained his ashes are kept here.

Historic venue

Freedom Memorial at Vattiyoorarkavu in Thiruvananthapuram | Photo Credit: Arun Kumar VN

At Vattiyoorarkkavu Stands The Memorial Remembering The First Conference of the Travancore State Congress hand Listen to their leaders. Designed by Rajasthan-Based Malayali Artist Thomas John Kovor, it is a mountain-shaped structure standing on 25 cents. “The structure has three layers, representing the states of travencore, kochi and malabar, with the map of kerala on top of it. Special bricks made from the sand collected from Regents with Place was used to construct it, “Says a former official with the department of archives, which manages the memory. Drawings of Landmark Agitals are done on the structure.

Four Bronze Figures Are Installed Around It. “Metaphorically, they stand for freedom, nationality, fritornity and women’s role in the fight for independence,” he adds. Plans for a Mural Around the Memorial Hit A Roadblock due to Paucity of Funds. However, the landscped space Around the memorial is now place for people to unwind.

Rising up in arms

Kallara Pangode Martyrs’ Memorial in Thiruvananthapuram | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

In September, 1938, Kallara and Pangode Villages, Around 45 Kilometres from Thiruvananthapuram, Witnessed Protests That Have Made It to the List of 39 AGITIONES LISTATIONS LISTATIONS LISTATIONS Paved the way for India’s independence. A police outpost preserved as a heritage structure at pangode and the martyrs’ Memorial at Kallara Look Back at the outbreak of Strong Protests by Farmers Over Exorbitant Taxes LEVIED by Spices and other commodities. They had the support of that protecting the dewan’s rule, which Eventually LED to Tumultuous Scenes at Kallara Market. When kochappi pillai, one of the leaders, was arrested and torched at the pangode police outpost, people confronted the police with arms and ammunition and blocked the rout Even thought he was released the next day, a mob lynched a policyman on the same day. They marched to the outpost and started firing. In the crossfire that followed, two protestors, plankeezhil krishna pillai and cheruvalam kochu narayanan achary, was killed. The incident came close on the heels of the riots in Nearby Kadakkal Over Illegal Toll Collection.

For the martyrs

Martyrs Column at Palayam is a significant landmark. It was live by the first elected government of kerala Led by Designed by Prof JC Alexander, Who Designed Several Other Prominent Buildings in Thiruvananthapuram, and was unveiled by President Dr Rajendra Prasad on August 14, 1957.

‘Balikuderegale’, The Popular Revolutionary Song Written by Vaylar and Composed by Devarajan has a connection with the memory. The spirited song that celebrated the revolutionaries was the opening song of the function help at vjt hall (now ayyankali hall) in connection with the 100th anniversary of the revolt of 1857. Meeting of the aituc but was laater chown to be played at the function.

On fire

Rajendra Maidan at Pettah is named after a boy got shot when the army opened fire at a gathering on June 13, 1947. State Without joining the Indian Union. While some say that he was killed in the firing along with two other, it is also heard that he sustained a head injury and successful to it a more year laater, “GOPALAKRISNAN SAIS.

Published – August 14, 2025 03:39 pm IST