Calicut University digs' out Malabar Conference documents

KOZHIKODE: Calicut University History department in association with Porur Grama Panchayat in Malappuram has started an archive clinic and history workshop at Cherukod KMM AUP School in Wandoor from Friday.   In the three-day clinic and workshop, the research scholars from the university are examining ancient documents and manuscripts found from the ancient houses and temples in and around Wandoor to trace and recorde local history of the area. One of the major documents found during the camp is a rare manuscript of second Malabar District Conference held at Kozhikode on April 23 and 24, 1917.

Speaking to this newspaper, Calicut University History department head Dr P. Sivadasan said that the documents will help get more insights into the historic conference. “The discovery of the documents is important as the historic conference is marking its centenary year this April,” he said. The first Malabar Conference held at Palakkad in 1916 is the first political conference in Kerala. The second edition at Kozhikode was presided over by Sir C.P Ramaswami Iyer, who later became the Dewan of the Kingdom of Travancore.

The conference got national attention with the presence of personalities like Moyyarathu Shankaran, M.P Narayana Menon , K Madhavan Nair and K.P Keshava Menon. The conference is widely regarded as a major influence on renaissance movement in Kerala. It was in Kozhikode the first temple entry protest and other progressive movements took place. The camp was inaugurated by vice-chancellor Dr K. Mohammed Basheer.