Twentieth Century was a turning point in the history of Kerala. The impact of new ideologies
and the willingness of people to internalize those ideologies have created an atmosphere that is ready to
accommodate new struggle and social values. This atmosphere has worked for converting and restructuring
Kerala in all its domains. Although we became politically independent in 1947, social independence which
liberates people from the clutches of traditional value and social systems was yet to be attained. Therefore
the struggle for the emancipation had to be continued even after the attainment of independence. The
Satyagrahas of Vaikom and Guruvayur and its popular content, acted as catalysts for further movements.
The Temple Entry Proclamation pronounced in the princely State of Travancore in 1936 opening all the
State owned temples for the members of Hindu Religion, is a direct result of these struggles. But the people
of Kochi and Malabar had to wait further for the temples to be opened before them. In the circumstances,
the people of Cochin and Malabar had to continue their struggles even after Independence. The importance
of Paliyam Satyagraha is to be viewed in the above background. The Paliyam road near the Paliyam
Kovilakam belonging to the Family of erstwhile Chief Minister of State of Cochin remained closed before
the lower castes even after India became independent. The people of the region were therefore, forced to
organize themselves to conduct a mass struggle in Gandhian way for the right to travel through Paliyam
road.
The present study entitled “Paliyam Satyagraha: A Struggle for Public Domain” seeks to analyze the
historical importance of Paliyam Satyagraha. Even though there are numerous works that highlight the
importance of Vaikom and Guruvayur Satyagrahas, the Paliyam Satyagraha has not been given its due
importance. No serious attempt has been made to analyze Paliyam Satyagraha in an academic sense. This is
a humble attempt to fill up the gap.