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European Journal of Business &
Social Sciences
Available at https://ejbss.org/
ISSN: 2235-767X
Volume 07 Issue 03
March 2019
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Amsi P. Narayana Pillai A Freedom Fighter in Kanyakumari District
Dr. D. Lekha
Associate Proffessor in History,
Sree Ayyappa College for Women, Chunkankadai.
When the struggle for Indian Independence was launched, the Indian National Congress, under
the guidance of Mahatma Gandhi was organized and several patriotic young man all over the
country were attracted, many educated young men and women came forward for fighting the
cause of Motherland. In Travancore the freedom struggle got mixed up with socio-economic
liberation1
. The Socio economic and political struggle was part and parcel of India’s freedom but
Travancore-Cochin-Malabar was also affected by this in a larger magnitude. However it would
be wrong to assume that leaders remained regional and were untouched by nationalism in the
wider sense, Travancore response to the Gandhian call of Satyagraha and was appreciable2
.
Amsi P. Narayana Pillai was a gifted poet who composed the Marching song which highlights
the Indian Independent movement in Travancore-Cochin-Malabar has been faded from public
memory in recent times. He was one of the many illustrious heroes of the freedom struggle and
was born on 10th October 1896. He was born in an ordinary Nair family at Thavaranthottathu
Veedu, Munchirai of South Travancore. His father Thanu Pillai was a Pravarthikar (Village
Officer) a knowledgeable person and had modern outlook. His mother Kunzhulekshmi Amma
who has highly religious faith taught her children the purity of life. In Nair families
Marumakthayam system was practiced so the name of his uncle Parameswaran Pillai was
initialed before his name and they were brought up in a small village named Amsi which was
near to a sea town by name Thengapattanam in Kalkulam Taluk of Kanyakumari District. He
was from Amsi so later he was known by everyone as Amsi Narayana Pillai.
He grew up by hearing the tales of freedom fighters like Rajakeseva Dhasan, Velu Thampi
Dalawa, Ayyapan Marthanda Pillai, Eravikutti Pillai and their spirit inspired him. During his
time the caste system was very rigid and oppressive. Educational facilities were there but they
could not reach the common people. It was against these circumstances he started his education
in Eraniel School. He went to School nearly 25 km by walk on foot from Amsi
3
. After that he
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ISSN: 2235-767X
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went to Trivandrum for higher studies along with his brother Sreedharan Nair and Kollapan
Pillai. He took interest in studies and literary works which helped him to make impressive
extempore lectures in the freedom struggle. As he was a powerful speaker he was popularly
called Orator Amsi and Nimishakavi. By wearing the Kaki Trouser and White Khaddar Shirt he
moved on his cycle through the coastline by expressing his thoughts and spoke about freedom4
.
When he was a student there was a wide spread movement for the rights of the depressed
communities. He displayed keen interest in championing the cause of the depressed and joined
the congress party in 1918. He discontinued his studies and participated in several meetings held
in the state and appeared in public platforms and spoke against untouchability and to struggle for
freedom. He worked as clerk in Travancore Police department and due to the corruption he
renounces the Government job and dedicated his life for the Indian Independence5
.
Amsi Narayana Pillai has ability for original thinking and composed poems which express
nationalistic aspirations. The echos of the rise of backward communities to prominence and fight
for equality is heard in Vaikkom Satyagraha (1924 - 25)6
and Guruvayoor Satyagraha (1931 -
32)7
in which Amsi participated and stirred the nation’s conscience to act
decisively against such practices. Same time he launched the “Mahatma” Weekly at Trivandrum,
with the blessings from Mahatma Gandhi8. The Mahatma aimed at spreading Gandhian values
among the public. He composed “Gandhi Ramayana” a modern version of the great Indian epic
depicting Gandhiji as Rama, the Nation as Seetha, the British Government as Ravana and the
British Flag as Cimpcupa Tree9
. The imaginative prose poem that became highly popular among
the nationalists at that time and the three governments prohibited the prose and poem. Without
fear he wrote “Bhagatsingh Vatham” and Jalianwala Bagh Koottakola” it was also banned. He
was a prolific writer and was deported for writing seditious articles. For the sharp criticism of the
British Government he was arrested and imprisoned. Amsi worked as a sub editor of Swarat a
weekly published by Barrister A.K. Pillai for some time10
.
In 1927 congress meeting was held in Chennai. Amsi Narayana Pillai participated in it as
Malayalees Volunteer Captain11. At Kannur, in the Historic Salt Satyagraha Amsi along with 25
followers marched on foot from Trivandrum and during that time he wrote the Revolutionary
Marching song “Varika Varika Shajare” which highlights the Indian Independence Movement in
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Travancore - Cochin - Malabar and the Governments rose against Amsi Narayana Pillai. He was
brutally assaulted by police and taken to Thrissur 1st class magistrate court and being
questioned. He replied in impromptuverse, emphatically proclaiming the cases of the nation12
.
The Government thought that Amsi Naraya Pillai was an arrogant man and was against the
Government so he was imprisoned in veeyoor jail for 6 months13. He suffered for his role in Salt
Satyagraha.
In 1919, a committee was organized in the state to popularize the idea of civil Disobedience and
Boycott of the Foreign Goods14. In Several places especially Trivandrum, Allappey,
Ambalapuzha shops dealing with Foreign Goods were picketed15. Amsi Narayana Pillai
participated in all agitations including Boycott of Foreign Cloth and Shops in 193116. In Foreign
Cloth Picketing he was imprisoned in Ambalapuzha sub jail for 6 months 20 days17
.
He never spent his days idle from his student life. He was a writer poet who wrote books on
various subjects, novel, dramas, Sanskrit plays and essays on Gandhism / Communism among
others. He was in touch with leaders like M.E. Naidu, K. Kelappan, Ponnara Sreedharan, Juba
Rama krishnan Pillai, Mannath, Pattam, Pandavam, Mohandas Karmamchand Gandhi,
Jawaharlal Nehru and T.K. Madhavan18. His early activities attracted the people and earned him
mass support from all section of people. The leader who took part in these agitations turned into
an active worker in the polities of the state and led to the political awakening in Kerala.
The ardent congress man married Thangammal 27 at the age of 44 and has 4 daughter and 3
sons. After the merging Amsi became the part of Kanyakumari District in the year 195619. As he
was a freedom fighter and imprisoned in Veeyoor and Ambalapuzha jails he was not an eligible
man to get the pension and was explained by the Government. Because the Government said he
was the native of Tamil Nadu but worked in Kerala. He submitted the relevant documents on
1974. But he didn’t get the pension. Later by his wife after Amsi Narayana Pillai’s death on 1981
at the age of 86 she submitted some document to both the Government at last she got the pension
after a long period. In 1941 Amsi Narayana Pillai started a high school “Amsi High School” in
his native village to give education to hundreds of illiterates in that area. He was the founder of
this school. Now it was an aided School managed by Mr. Amsi Narayana Pillai’s family.
