Who helped whom?

Kerala has 100% literacy. Also the low castes and low paid daily workers are far better off in Kerala compared to the rest of India. This is as a result of various factors - most important of them was the reformation movement started by Guru and his followers - by followers we mean people belonging to all castes and religion, not just SNDP or one caste. Another reason is the 'unique' mix of Kerala population - 60% Hindus, 20% Christians, 20% Muslims (roughly). Christian Churches also played a major role in the field of spreading education. No one can deny that.

This being the case, we get a surprise, when the Communist parties and leaders try to take the sole credit for literacy and social progress and try to install EMS as the "acharyan" of reformation in Kerala! Many today mistakenly try to give the credit for 100% literacy in Kerala to Communist movements. This is flatly wrong. How come West Bengal, which has been continuously ruled by CPM for the last 33 years, does not have even 70% literacy?

Changes started even before the Communism got a stronghold in Kerala. The fall of feudalism was brought about by the inevitable changes in the society, in which Communist parties played a role, but a role not bigger than anyone else. Reformation movements started by Guru and his disciples played a much more vital role. Vaikom Satyagraha was conducted even before Communism took its grassroots in Kerala, in fact, within a decade of the Bolshevik Revolution in Russia. Guru's teachings were far ahead of his times. As many have pointed out since then, Guru gave self respect and dignity to the people in the lowest strata of the society.

Low caste people got into colleges as early as 1920s and 30s and were in the forefront of reformation and progressive movements. The following picture is from 1932-33, celebrating the Soviet achievments as well as symbolically showing protest against the colonial rule.



Most in the picture are from Ezhavodayam Lodge in Trichur. Many are students of St Thomas' College Trichur. This was taken even before EMS (who was a student in St Thomas College at that time) was a communist! The photo was banned by the British Govt and the Studio was confiscated. Second from right in the middle row wearing Khadi is K.T.Achuthan, former minister in the Shanker Cabinet!

The fact of the matter is that Communist Movement in Kerala was benefitted from the reformation movements, and not the other way. The same happened in Bengal, where the religious and cultural reformation of the Calcutta elites helped the party. Having come to power in both the states, did the party help the movements, in return? Here and there, but largely not! The recent 'punhayam' event, the people's flocking to godmen, miraclemen and cult leaders, the general slowing down of reformation process etc show that the 'leftist' rule did not have a positive effect on the reformation process at all.