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HomeHealthWhen Kerala’s communal amity won Mahatma’s praise

When Kerala’s communal amity won Mahatma’s praise

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When Kerala’s communal amity won Mahatma’s praise

The news pages of The Hindu, which featured the reports on Gandhiji’s visit to Cochin and Vaikom a century ago. The pages were retrieved from the archives of the newspaper.
| Photo Credit: Special arrangement

The communal amity and brotherhood that existed in the State “between Hindus and Muslims or between Hindus and other races” received glowing tributes from Mahatma Gandhi a century ago when he reached the erstwhile State of Cochin.

In his address at Cochin on March 8, 1925, Gandhi, who was on his way to meet the volunteers of Vaikom Satyagraha, noted that “it makes no difference whatsoever whether you belong to British India proper or to one of the Protected States, I refer to Hindu-Muslim unity, which is a short form of unity amongst all the races professing the various religions of India. I know that in this State you have no such question, as I understand, as between Hindus and Muslims or between Hindus and other races. It is a matter of great pleasure to me to find that all the races are living in this State in peace, amity, and brotherhood. Let that state of things last forever.”

The historic speech by Gandhi was extensively reported by The Hindu.

The news covering the “hearty and enthusiastic” reception that Gandhi had received at various places, including the railway stations at Arkonam, Katpadi, Vaniampadi, Tirupatar and Salem in Tamil Nadu and Olavakkot, Ottapalam, and Shoranur in Kerala, appeared on the pages of The Hindu on March 9, 1925. The Hindu’s coverage of Gandhi’s tour to Cochin, Vaikom, and other parts of the State was retrieved from the archives of the newspaper.

Gandhi’s tour and public address in Cochin were published under the headlines, ‘Mahatmaji’s Tour,’ ‘Receptions all the way,’ ‘Reply to the Municipal Address,’ and ‘The Spirit of Adventure In National Life.’

The report quotes Gandhi as saying in Cochin that the work of no municipality in India “can be considered to be complete until that municipality had identified itself with the lowest of its citizens.”

“One often learns that the order is really reversed, that is to say, the municipalities give to those who have much and take away much from those who have very little. They care more for the rich and the powerful and little or less for the poor and downtrodden. I hope that it is not true of this town and that you are observing the proper order,” reads the report.

Gandhi’s travel to Vaikom, and his historic meeting with the volunteers and the Orthodox Caste Hindu Oppositionists was covered by the newspaper on March 11, 1925.

“Mr. Gandhi met by invitation, the Orthodox Caste Hindu Oppositionists at the residence of Indamthuruty Nambyathiri. Among those who accompanied Mr. Gandhi were C. Rajagopalachari, Mahadev Desai, Ramdos Gandhi, and Krishna Iyer. He discussed with them over three hours and made certain practical proposals with a view to bring the struggle into a speedy termination,” read the news report.

The centenary of Gandhiji’s visit to Fort Kochi will be marked by a march from Boat Jetty to the beach and to the Jail of Freedom Struggle. The event, organised by the People’s Council for Kochi Development, will be inaugurated by Rahul N. Asher. A commemorative meeting will be held at 4.30 p.m.



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