Kollam’s Class and Culture in a NUTSHELL

Mullakkara Ratnakaran
Former Minister

The old saying, Kollam kandavanu Illam venda, means that anyone who came to Kollam could feel at home. The Kollam port was the main face of the Arabian Sea coast that attracted the world. Kadappakkada, Shyamakada (Chamakudi), Chinnakada, Anandavalleeswaram, Vaadi, all were born with the glory of trade and the glamorous life. Arabs, Chinese and Europeans associated with foreign trade had active relations with Kollam. The main resources of Kollam, such as pepper, cashew nuts, coir and fish, helped in the concentration of workers in large quantities. The Ashtamudi Lake and the nearby fresh water lake Sasthamkotta are the aquatic presence that added to the beauty of Kollam. A secular community as pure as the Sasthamkotta fresh water lake has grown into the working class of Kollam. Their main contribution is reflected in the commercial, cultural and political sectors of Kollam. The most important of these is related to the cashew sector.

A Cradle for Political Leadership

Communist leader P Krishna Pillai sent workers from Alappuzha to organise the cashew workers in Kollam. Following this, the first cashew workers’ organization called the Quilon Factory Workers Union was born. P N Krishna Pillai and K C Govindan were its early office bearers. Later, many individuals who worked as part of the national movement intervened in this field. M N Govindan Nair, known as MN, was a prominent leader among them. C Kesavan, an important leader in Travancore, made significant contributions to the cashew workers’ struggle. The role of cashew workers, their class-conscious politics and the struggles they carried out, shaped the political leadership of Kollam, including Sreekandan Nair and T. K. Divakaran. This was crucial not only in politics but also in culture and art.

Reviving the Glory

Storytelling, drama, political journeys on popular issues have turned Kollam’s evenings and nights into festive gatherings. As a traditional sector and an industry that earns a large amount of foreign exchange, the Union government should take a helpful stance in every sense to successfully meet the challenges faced today in a manner befitting the world and the times. Cashew is not only Kollam’s industry, it is the heart of Kollam. If it does not work, Kollam will suffer a heart attack. It will make art, culture, trade and all spheres of life devoid of vitality. For this, the first responsibility to start an all-encompassing project should be on the Central government and the State should be able to cooperate with it and actively intervene.