Travancore–Cochin

Travancore–Cochin or Thiru–Kochi was a short-lived state of India (1949–1956). It was originally called United State of Travancore and Cochin and was created on 1 July 1949 by the merger of two former kingdoms, Travancore and Cochin with Thiruvananthapuram as the capital. It was renamed State of Travancore–Cochin in January 1950.

United State of Travancore and Cochin (1949–1950) State of Travancore-Cochin (1950–1956)
1949–1956
Travancore-Cochin in India, 1951
Capital	Trivandrum
Common languages	Malayalam, English
Government	State
Rajpramukh
• 1949–1956	Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma
Chief Minister
• 1949–1951	Parur T. K. Narayana Pillai
• 1951–1952	C. Kesavan
• 1952–1954	A. J. John
• 1954–1955	Pattom A. Thanu Pillai
• 1955–1956	Panampilly Govinda Menon
History
• Established	1949
• Disestablished	1956
Currency	Indian rupee
Preceded by Succeeded by Travancore Kingdom of Cochin Kerala Madras State

History

Paravur T. K. Narayana Pillai, the Congress Prime Minister of Travancore, became the Chief Minister of Travancore–Cochin. First elections were held in 1951 and A. J. John, Anaparambil from Congress party was elected as the Chief Minister, ruling until 1954.[1]

The ruler of Travancore was appointed as the governor (known as "Rajpramukh") of Travancore–Cochin. The Maharajah of Cochin was offered to be addressed as Uparaja Pramukh, but he did not want any title after handing over the power. The Maharaja politely said that the eldest member of Cochin Royal Family should be called Valiya Thampuran and gave up royal powers unconditionally for the good of the people.[2] While Pattom A. Thanu Pillai was the Praja Socialist Party Chief minister in 1954, Travancore Tamil Nadu Congress launched a campaign for the merger of the Tamil-speaking regions of Southern Travancore with the neighbouring area of Madras State. The agitation took a violent turn and civilians and local police were killed at Marthandam and Puthukkada, irreparably alienating the entire Tamil-speaking population from merger into Travancore-Cochin.

Under State Reorganisation Act of 1956, the four southern taluks of Travancore, namely Thovalai, Agasteeswaram, Kalkulam and Vilavancode and a part of the Chencotta, Tenkasi Taluk was merged with Madras State. On 1 November 1956 Travancore-Cochin was joined with Malabar District of Madras State to form the new state of Kerala, with a governor, appointed by the President of India, as the head of the state instead of 'Rajapramukh'.

Travancore-Cochin postal stamp

Chief Ministers

		Chief Minister	Took office	Left office	Term	Party	Region came from
	1	Parur T. K. Narayana Pillai	1 July 1949	January 1951	1	Indian National Congress	Travancore
	2	C. Kesavan	January 1951	12 March 1952	1	Indian National Congress	Travancore
	3	A. J. John, Anaparambil	12 March 1952	16 March 1954	1	Indian National Congress	Travancore
	4	Pattom A. Thanu Pillai	16 March 1954	10 February 1955	1	Praja Socialist Party	Travancore
	5	Panampilly Govinda Menon	10 February 1955	23 March 1956	1	Indian National Congress	Cochin
		President's rule	23 March 1956	5 April 1957

Subdivisions

The state had 4 districts which were divided into 36 taluks.[3]

District	Taluks
Thiruvananthapuram	Thovala, Agastheeswaram, Kallkkulam, Vilavancode, Neyyattinkara, Thiruvananthapuram, Nedumangad, Chirayinkeezhu
Kollam	Kollam, Kottarakkara, Pathanapuram, Sengottai, Tenkasi Kunnathoor, Karunagappally, Karthikappally, Chengannur, Mavelikkara, Adoor, Thiruvalla, Ambalappuzha, Cherthala
Kottayam	Kottayam, Changanasserry, Vaikkom, Muvattupuzha (including Kothamangalam), Thodupuzha, Meenachil, Devikulam, Peermade
Thrissur	Paravur, Kunnathunad, Kochi-Kanayannur, Kodungallur, Mukundapuram, Thrissur, Thalapilly, Chittur

References

1. A. J. John, Anaparambil Archived 1 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine
2. "Glimpses of a historic moment". The New Indian Express.
3. K. M. Mathew, ed. (2006). Manorama Year Book. Malayala Manorama. p. 116.