Accamma Cherian

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Accamma Cherian
Trivandrum, Kerala, India
NationalityIndian
Political partyTravancore State Congress
SpouseV. V. Varkey
Parent(s)Thomman Cherian and Annamma

Akkamma Cherian was an

Jhansi Rani of Travancore.[3]

Early life and education

She was born on 14 February 1909 in a

Roman Catholic family (Karippaparambil) at Kanjirapally, Travancore, as the second daughter of Thomman Cherian and Annamma Karippaparambil. She was educated at Government Girls High School, Kanjirapally and St. Joseph's High School, Changanacherry. She earned a BA in history from St. Teresa's College, Ernakulam.[citation needed
]

After completing her education in 1931, she worked as a teacher at St. Mary's English Medium School, edakkara), where she later became head mistress. She worked in this institution for about six years, and during this period she also did her L. T. degree from Tri Training College.[citation needed]

Freedom fighter

In February 1938, the Travancore State Congress was formed and Accamma gave up her teaching career to join the struggle for liberty.[4][5]

Agitation for a responsible government

Civil disobedience movement

Under the State Congress, the people of Travancore started an agitation for a responsible government.

civil disobedience movement. Prominent State Congress leaders including its President Pattom A. Thanu Pillai were arrested and put behind bars.[6] The State Congress then decided to change its method of agitation. Its working committee was dissolved and the president was given dictatorial powers and the right to nominate his successor. Eleven 'dictators' (Presidents) of the State Congress were arrested one by one. Kuttanad Ramakrishna Pillai, the eleventh dictator, before his arrest nominated Accamma Cherian as the twelfth dictator.[citation needed
]

Rally to the Kowdiar Palace

Accamma Cherian led a mass rally from

M. K. Gandhi hailed her as 'The Jhansi Rani of Travancore'. She was arrested and convicted for violating prohibitory orders in 1939.[7]

Formation of Desasevika Sangh

In October 1938, the working committee of the State Congress directed Accamma Cherian to organise the Desasevika Sangh (Female Volunteer Group). She toured various centres and appealed to the women to join as members of the Desasevika Sangh.[citation needed]

Imprisonments

Accamma had been imprisoned twice during her struggle for independence.[citation needed]

The Annual conference of the State Congress

The first annual conference of the State Congress was held at

Rosamma Punnose (also a freedom fighter, M.L.A., and a CPI leader from 1948), was arrested and jailed on 24 December 1939.[8] They were sentenced to a year's imprisonment. They were insulted and threatened in the jail. Due to the instruction given by the jail authorities, some prisoners used abusing and vulgar words against them. This matter was brought to the notice of M.K. Gandhi by Pattom A. Thanu Pillai.[9][10] C. P. Ramaswami Iyer, however, denied it. Accamma's brother, K. C. Varkey Karippaparambil also took part in freedom movement.[citation needed
]

Quit India Movement

Accamma, after her release from jail, became a full-time worker of the State Congress. In 1942, she became its Acting President. In her presidential address, she welcomed the

Bombay session of the Indian National Congress on 8 August 1942. She was arrested and awarded one year imprisonment. In 1946, she was arrested and imprisoned for six months for violating ban orders. In 1947, she was again arrested as she raised her voice against C. P. Ramaswami Aiyar's desire for an independent Travancore.[citation needed
]

Life in Independent India

In 1947, after independence, Accamma was elected unopposed to the Travancore Legislative Assembly from Kanjirapally. In 1951, she married V.V. Varkey Mannamplackal, a freedom fighter and a member of

Kerala Legislative Assembly from 1952 to 1954. In 1967, she contested the Assembly election from Kanjirapally as a Congress candidate but was defeated by the Communist Party's candidate. Later, she served as a member of the Freedom Fighters' Pension Advisory Board.[citation needed
]

Death and commemoration

Accamma Cherian died on 5 May 1982. A statue was erected in her memory in Vellayambalam, Thiruvananthapuram.[11] A documentary film was made on her life by Sreebala K. Menon.[12][13][14]

Statue of Accamma Cherian in Vellayambalam, Thiruvananthapuram.
Accamma Cherian Park in Vellayambalam, Thiruvananthapuram

References

  1. ^ "ROLE OF WOMEN IN KERALA POLITICS REFORMS AMENDMENT ACT 1969 A STUDY IN SOCIAL CHANGE". Journal of Kerala Studies. University of Kerala. 1985. p. 21.
  2. ^ K. Karunakaran Nair, ed. (1975). Who is who of Freedom Fighters in Kerala. K. Karunakaran Nair. p. 89.
  3. ^ "Status of Kerala Women". Archived from the original on 26 October 2008. Retrieved 30 October 2008.
  4. ^ a b c Paul Zacharia (20 January 2007). "When friends become statues". tehelka.com. Archived from the original on 10 February 2007. Retrieved 6 November 2008.
  5. ^ The Collected Works of Mahatma Gandhi. Publications Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Govt. of India. 1977. pp. 413, 503.
  6. ^ "Emergence of nationalism". Archived from the original on 11 September 2008. Retrieved 30 October 2008.
  7. ISBN 978-81-230-0575-1
    .
  8. ^ "Memorandum Impasse | Government not satisfied with Gandhiji's draft | Arrests continue". The Indian Express.
  9. ^ Mahatma Gandhi. The Indian States Problem. Navajivan press. p. 167.
  10. ^ V. B. Kher (1967). Political and National Life and Affairs By Gandhi. Navajivan Pub. House. pp. 186, 322.
  11. ^ "Road users at the receiving end". The Hindu. Chennai, India. 15 March 2006. Archived from the original on 13 December 2006. Retrieved 30 October 2008.
  12. ^ "'Remembering the eminent'" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 30 September 2007. Retrieved 30 October 2008.
  13. ^ "Docufest". Retrieved 30 October 2008.[permanent dead link]
  14. ^ "'Docufest' to begin tomorrow". The Hindu. Chennai, India. 3 October 2005. Archived from the original on 23 November 2007. Retrieved 30 October 2008.
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