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By one theory, Kottayam literally means the interior of a fort - Kotta + Akam. Rulers of Munjanad and Thekkumkur had their headquarters at Thazhathangadi in the present Kottayam town. Marthanda Varma of Travancore attacked Thekkumkur and destroyed the palace and the Thaliyil Fort. The remnants of the palaces and forts are still seen here. It is a major city in Idanaad.
Kottayam District was a part of the erstwhile princely state of Travancore. Earlier, the Travancore state consisted of two revenue divisions viz. the southern and northern divisions, each under the administrative control of a 'Diwan Peshkar'. In 1868 two more divisions Quilon (Kollam) and Kottayam were constituted. The fifth division Devikulam came next, but was added to Kottayam. At the time of the integration of the State of Travancore and Cochin (Kochi) in 1949, these revenue divisions were renamed as districts and the Diwan peshkars gave way to District Collectors, paving the way for the birth of the Kottayam District in July 1949.
Kottayam has played its role in all the political agitations of modern times. The 'Malayali Memorial ' agitation is said to have its origin in Kottayam. The 'Malayali Memorial' sought to secure better representation for educated Travancoreans in the Travancore civil service. The Memorial, which was presented to the Maharaja Sri Moolam Thirunal (1891), was drafted at a public meeting held in the Kottayam Public Library. The event marked the beginning of the modern political movement in the State.
Vaikom, a taluk of Kottayam district is famous for the Vaikom Satyagraham (1924-25), an epic struggle for eradication of untouchability. Scheduled castes and other backward classes in Travancore were denied entry into temples and access to temple roads. National leaders like Mahatma Gandhi, C. Rajagopalachari, Acharya Vinoba Bhave and E.V. Ramswami Naykar associated with this struggle.
The 'Nivarthana' agitation of the early thirties, to secure adequate representation for the non-caste Hindus, Christians and Muslims in the State Legislature, enjoyed considerable support from this district.
The district was also a centre of the agitation led by the State Congress for responsible Government in Travancore. The agitation had a triumphant end, with the overthrow of Sir. CP Ramaswami Iyer, the Dewan of Travancore.
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