Vimochana Samaram
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Vimochana Samaram or ‘The Liberation Struggle’ in Kerala history is the political agitation that started in 1958 against the first Communist government in Kerala under the chiefministership of E.M.S. Namboodiripad. The main forces behind the Vimochana Samaram were the Church along with social organizations like the Nair Service Society (under the leadership of Mannathu Padmanabhan) and the Muslim League. The immediate cause of the outbreak of the Vimochana Samaram was the introduction of an Education Bill by the then education minister Joseph Mundassery.
Besides the socio-religioius organizations all the major opposition parties including Indian National Congress, Praja Socialist Party (PSP) , RSP, Muslim League, KSP all rallied together for the dismissal of the EMS ministry. Massive rallies and demonstrations against the government took place throughout the state. In places like Angamaly, Pulluvila, Vettukadu and Cheriyathura police resorted to firing resulting in the death of 15 people. The active participation of the leaders like Mathai Manjooran, R. Sankar, Fr. Joseph Vadakken among a host of others gradually turned the tides against the government.
The immediate effect of the Vimochana Samaram was the dismissal of the Communist government under E.M.S. on July 31, 1959 and President’s rule was established in the state under Article 356. One notable feature of the movement was its massive student participation led by the student leaders like A.K. Antony, Ommen Chandy, etc.
