Kerala Charithram

by A. Sreedhara Menon

ഗതകാലസത്യങ്ങളെ തമസ്കരിച്ചുകൊണ്ട് സ്ഥാപിതതാല്പര്യങ്ങൾക്കുവേണ്ടി ചരിത്രത്തെ നിർമ്മിക്കുന്ന ഈ കാലഘട്ടത്തിൽ ശരിയായ ചരിത്രാവബോധം വളരെ നിർണായകമാണ്‌. അതുകൊണ്ടുതന്നെ 1967-ൽ ആദ്യമായി പ്രസിദ്ധീകരിച്ച പ്രൊഫ. എ, ശ്രീധരമേനോന്റെ കേരളചരിത്രം എന്ന ഗ്രന്ഥത്തിന്റെ സമകാലിക പ്രസക്തി വിലപ്പെട്ടതാണ്‌. പ്രത്യശാസ്ത്രകാർക്കശ്യങ്ങളും മുൻവിധികളും ഇല്ലാതെ ചരിത്രത്തെ വസ്തുനിഷ്ടമായി അപഗ്രഥിച്ചും ലളിതമായി അവതരിപ്പിച്ചും തയ്യാറാക്കിയിരിക്കുന്ന ഈ ഗ്രന്ഥം ചരിത്രവിദ്യാർത്ഥികൾക്കും സാധരണ വായനക്കാർക്കും ഒരു അമൂല്യസമ്പത്തായിരിക്കും.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, India, Academic

432 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 1967

About the author

Professor Alappat Sreedhara Menon was born on December 18, 1925 at Eranakulam, India.
He completed his M.A. Degree in history as a private candidate from the University of Madras with first rank in 1948.
Went to Harvard University on a Fulbright Travel Grant and a Smith-Mundt Scholarship and secured Masters Degree in Political Science from there with specialization in International Relations.
Worked in various capacities such as Professor of History, State Editor of the Kerala Gazetteers, Registrar of the University of Kerala and UGC visiting Professor in the University of Calicut.
He held many other positions during his eventful career. Apart from compiling eight District Gazetteers of Kerala he has written more than 25 books in English and Malayalam.
In 2008, Indian Government honored him by giving the Padma Bhushan award, India's third highest civilian honor.
His Padma Bhushan citation describes him as
"a distinguished academician from Kerala who has rendered meritorious service to the cause of education and Literature... (and) left his mark as a teacher of History, author of historical works and educational administrator."

Reviews

[Dr. Appu Sasidharan (Dasfill) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the best book discussing Kerala History I have read so far in my life. It will answer most of the questions you had in your mind in different stages of your life regarding Kerala history. This is a book you should never miss if you are a history buff who wants to learn more about the history and heritage of Kerala.

[Jaise Joseph · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the first book of this kind I ever read. It true that it took time to complete the book, I think it is of the information packed in this. Got a brief introduction o the history of Kerala. Looking forward to read more. I don't know what to write as a review but one thing I know, This book will help you to understand about Kerala and will give a new look to the History we heard till date.

[Vinay · Rating 4 out of 5]

A comprehensive and complete survey of the history of Kerala from Neolithic to the present day. The archaeological and historical records are not overly discussed in detail, with the writer preferring the narrative nature of history rather than being too pedantic. This is an easy and quite interesting read for history enthusiasts. Admittedly it doesn't go into too much detail given that it covers three millennia of history.

That said, the author does give us a vaguely emotional/judgemental picture of some parts of history rather than be perfectly objective as an unaffected narrator. This gave the feeling of judging history from the 20th century standpoint which I feel isn't the right way to judge our past.

I'd definitely recommend the book to both the casual reader and history enthusiasts alike.

[Nirmal Kumar · Rating 4 out of 5]

A authentic History book on Kerala Based on systematic and scientific study

[Midhun Jose · Rating 5 out of 5]

കേരളത്തിന്റെ ചരിത്രത്തേക്കുറിച്ചു എഴുതപ്പെട്ട ഏറ്റവും ആധികാരികവും ആധുനികവുമായ ഒരു ഗ്രന്ഥം ആയിരിക്കും ഇത്. എല്ലാ ചരിത്ര വിദ്യാർത്ഥികളും അതുപോലെ തന്നെ കേരളത്തിന്റെ വർത്തമാനകാല സംസ്കാരത്തിലും പുരോഗതിയിലും അഭിമാനിക്കുകയും ജീവിക്കുകയും ചെയ്യുന്ന എല്ലാവരും തീർച്ചയായും വായിച്ചിരിക്കേണ്ട ഒരു ഗ്രന്ഥം കൂടിയാണ് ഇത്.

ഒരു പക്ഷെ, ചരിത്രപരമായി സാധ്യമായ കാലത്തിന്റെ തുടക്കം മുതൽത്തന്നെ കേരളത്തെ രാഷ്ട്രീയമായും സാമൂഹികമായും സാംസ്കാരികമായും ഭൂമിശാസ്ത്രപരമായും അപഗ്രഥിക്കുന്നതിലും ഏതൊരാൾക്കും മനസ്സിലാവുന്ന തരത്തിൽ അവതരിപ്പിക്കുന്നതിലും ചരിത്രകാരനുള്ള അസാമാന്യ പാഠവം എടുത്തു പറയേണ്ടതാണ്. വിനോദകരവും വിജ്ഞാനപ്രദവും ആയ ഈ ഗ്രന്ഥം വായനക്കാരന്റെ മനസ്സിൽ കേരളത്തിന്റെ വ്യക്തവും വസ്തുതാ നിഷ്ഠവുമായ ഒരു ചരിത്ര ചിത്രം വരച്ചിടുന്നതിൽ വിജയിച്ചിരിക്കുന്നു.

[Akhil · Rating 5 out of 5]

എ. ശ്രീധരമേനോൻ തൂലികയിൽ പിറന്ന മനോഹര കേരള വ്യ ക്യാനം

[Krishnan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quite a dense book but probably one of the most comprehensive books on kerala history out there.

[Rajuda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great work. A reference book indeed

[Santhosh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gistory of kerala was very different

[Shaheen · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are a Malayali, read this book to discover your roots. Knowing one's history makes them own their identity in a much deeper way.

If you are a non-Maliyali, read to get an understanding of why these Malayalis behave the way they do.

Here are my notes:


- Kerala was formed in 1951, from amalgamation of Travancore, Cochin, Calicut, Kannur & Kasaragod. - The language Malayalam in today's form emerged in 800s from Tamil, so relatively new language. - Starting from 1300s Arabs, Portuguese, Dutch and finally British, has had influence and control over Kerala. Portuguese being the most exploitive while Dutch having tried to improve the land. Arabs where traders, but did spread the religion. British where administrators and tactful in managing the fractioned chiefdoms. - Very similar to other history themes, enterprising leaders have used spirituality as a means to control the population for taxation, raising armies and times reining in the chaos. - Brahmins have been portraited as influential group over kings and wielders of power using religion, grasp over languages, understanding of administration, book keeping etc.. of the kingdom. They have been a net negative for the chiefdoms from a long term view of how they suppressed the society by having strict caste codes. - Caste system and its negative impact, is seen by how fragmented the state was always into 5-6 ruling families, easily shifting alliances, ripe for external manipulation. Be it from new religions, trading parties, or western powers. - Key ruling classes in the order of positive impact, longevity and principals. - Zamorins (Samoodiri): They ruled Malabar from Calicut, and unwelcomed Vasco Da Gama and could see through western manipulation. Also had strong administrative and large holdings across Kannur to Cochin and beyond. They where liberal in their approach to religion and people. - Travancore: The reason for Trivandrum being the capital can be traced to the rulers since late 1100s. Clearly they where the most organized of all the ruling chiefs of Kerala. Several Varmas, notable being: **Dharma Raja and Marthanda Varma** #FurtherStudy - Cochin Ruling Family: was always shifting alliances, and had strong but many weak leaders as well. Could also attribute to the central location and the maritime nature of the city, hence all external powers / churches where always influencing the city. - Key figures from Kerala History - Phazi Raja and his struggle for independence - Ali Raja, Bibi and Arakal Family - Only muslim royal family in Kerala, shifted alliances with Kolathiri, Tipu, Haider, Dutch and British. - Haider Ali and Tipu Sultan - #FurtherStudy - Varma kings - Swati Tirunal - Velu Tampi - Ramayyan Dalawa - The prime minister to Marthanda Varma

[Sujith K S · Rating 2 out of 5]

It is certainly not a casual read as it is an organized collection of facts without any effort to make it interesting for an average reader. One can argue that the book is intended primarily for academic audience, but it fails at being that too. References or sources for the facts presented are mostly not provided. Although the appendix provides some references and footnotes are used in some places, one cannot verify the source and authenticity of any information easily using the book. On top of this, many myths and legends are incorporated into the historical facts which makes it confusing or misleading for the reader.

Another problem is that it tells history from the point of view of kings only and not much about the social and cultural background is discussed. For example, many of the social reforms such as temple entry, right to cover breasts, etc are presented as progressive policies by kings while protests and social conditions leading to that is not mentioned at all or not given much importance.

The most enjoyable of the chapters is the final chapter which is a review of art, culture and literature in the recent history with subjective analysis of some. However, this is also not a comprehensive review as it is biased heavily towards temple-related art. There's no mention of art forms of the muslim community and only a word or two about christian art forms.

This book can be a general introduction to for those looking to read something in the background while getting some general insight into Kerala history.

[Plato Puthur · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book every Keralite needs to read
I'm giving this book a full five stars, and here's why: it's an essential read for anyone with ties to Kerala. This isn't just a history lesson; it's a deep dive into how Kerala became what it is today—a state where people generally live in peace.
This book makes it crystal clear that our culture and society didn't just happen by chance. It took immense sacrifice from countless people who fought to change a past that was, frankly, atrocious. The author doesn't shy away from highlighting the bad parts of our history, detailing what was wrong, how it was fixed, and the immense effort it took to get here. It even goes back to a time before Malayalam was even our language.
I could talk about this book all day and still not do it justice. So, do yourself a favor and pick it up. And if you know anyone who engages in "moral policing" in the name of preserving our culture, hand them this book. If they have even an ounce of sense, they'll understand that the only culture that truly matters is the one we're building today—not the one from a difficult and painful past.

[Christy Jacob · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an absolute treasure of a book that neatly and factually summarizes the political, cultural, literary and social history of the state of Kerala across the various time periods, with associated references and supporting evidence. Comprehensive and extremely well researched.

I’d highly recommend this book to anyone who wishes to dive into the long and rich history of the state and understand the various influences that played a pivotal role in building the state of Kerala as we know it today.

[Karthik · Rating 4 out of 5]

As the name suggests, it's a survey of our long history. Dense with details, the reader may find it hard to keep up with it but it's something every Keralite must read. It explains our history from not one but many vantages.

[Wafa · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very informative book, however not the kind of book you can finish reading in a few days. Anyone who would love to learn about kerala history can begin with this book. Although it lacks depth in various areas.

[Dr. Stephy · Rating 5 out of 5]

good

[Sreejith · Rating 3 out of 5]

A text book reference on the history of Kerala. Very brief, but covering all the relevant details of the events.

[SUBHASHINI R · Rating 3 out of 5]

Basic and neat history. Very official sort. Good for getting started but not for critical reading purpose.

[Deeksha. I · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book to read

[Shino George · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good book

[Yadhu Krishnan P · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very interesting book to know more about Kerala history.

[Shino George · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super book

[Sunish Palliyath · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice book for those who are interested in Kerala history.

[Prasanthini KA · Rating 5 out of 5]

മുൻപ് വായിച്ചിട്ടുണ്ട് നല്ല ബുക്കാണ്

[Amal Thomas · Rating 3 out of 5]

ആമുഖം.

[Deffrin Jose · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good choice for the beginners in history.

[Balagopal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Being a Malayali, I chose to read this book in its original version in Malayalam. The book is vast in its coverage of the state's known history, but even by the author's candid admission, it only scratches the surface. For me, it was very revelatory as it, to a great extent, satiated my desire to know about how my home state evolved. The chapters are presented more or less in chronological order and Sreedhara Menon also gives adequate coverage to Kerala's contribution to arts and literature as well as its relative ascent from a deeply casteist society to a more egalitarian one today. I would recommend this to every Malayali who loves to read and would like to appreciate our rich heritage. I would also like to think that any non-Malayali who is genuinely eager to know about Kerala's history as it's got a strong umbilical connection to that of the rest of India, read the English version. An interesting takeaway from the book - Buddhism and Jainism were prevalent in Kerala until about the 11th century when Hinduism, as we know it today, took over and and literally displaced them, so much so that several of the popular Hindu shrines today used to be either Buddhist or Jain centres of worship. I had even gone to some of them in the past without actually knowing this.

[Dr. Charu Panicker · Rating 2 out of 5]

കേരളചരിത്രത്തിലെ പ്രാചീനകാലം, മധ്യകാലം, ആധുനികകാലം എന്നീ മൂന്നു ഘട്ടങ്ങളായി തിരിച്ചുകൊണ്ട് രചിച്ചിരിക്കുന്ന പുസ്തകം. കേരള പരാമർശമുള്ള ആദ്യത്തെ സംസ്‌കൃതകൃതിയായ ഐതരേയ ആരണ്യകം മുതൽ കേരള ചരിത്രവുമായി പരാമർശിക്കപ്പെടുന്ന ഒട്ടുമിക്ക ഗ്രന്ഥങ്ങളേയും പരിശോധിച്ചശേഷം രചിച്ചിട്ടുള്ള ഈ പുസ്തകത്തിലൂടെ കേരളചരിത്രത്തെ മനസ്സിലാക്കാൻ സാധിക്കുന്നു. ഭാഷയുടേയും കേരളത്തിന്റേയും ഉല്പത്തിയെപ്പറ്റിയും രാഷ്ട്രീയ സാമൂഹ്യസ്ഥിതിവിശേഷങ്ങളെ പറ്റിയും ബ്രിട്ടീഷ് ഭരണവും രാജവാഴ്ചയും ജനാധിപത്യവും സാഹിത്യ മേഖലയിലെ കാലാനുസൃതമായി വന്ന മാറ്റങ്ങളും എഴുത്തുകാരും എന്നിങ്ങനെ കേരളത്തെപ്പറ്റി, ഇനി പറയാൻ ബാക്കി ഒന്നുമില്ലയെന്ന് തോന്നിപ്പിക്കുന്ന വിധത്തിലുള്ള കൃതിയാണിത്.

[Joseph Malancharuvil · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delightfully informative

This comprehensive and very informative history of Kerala is very entertaining and pleasant to read. The author obviously is a great scholar and produced this book doing extensive research. I enjoyed reading this book.

[Lachu · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like it