Museum of Kerala History

"History is the essence of innumerable biographies"- Thomas Carlyle.

Introduction to Kerala History

Before we go on to the visuals it will be interesting to take a quick look at the pre-history of Kerala, which is lost in mists of myths and legends. However fanciful these are, they help to establish the Geographic and Political identity of this strip of land lying along the South West coast of the Indian Peninsula, which was known as Kerala even in pre-history.

The great Indian Epic,Mahabharata,which has been dated between 1500 BC and 1000 BC has many references to Kerala; so has the Ramayana, the other Indian epic.

Puranas which are mainly legendary stories involving Gods and Godesses of the Hindu pantheon and generally dated between 500 BC and 500 AF contain references to Kerala. An interesting one comes from Kalidasa the famed Indian poet and dramatist ( circa 4th Century AD) who in his Raghuvamsa describes the march of King Dilipa and his army all through the sub-continent of India. Arriving in Kerala, the women run in fright, their lovely tresses laden with the dust raised from the advancing army.

Kerala !

The social, cultural and political history of Kerala is linked to India history. Even though it may not reflect poet Kalidasa's picturesque imagery,the state's natural beauty is beyond question.

Mulk Raj Anand, the well-known doyen of Indian writers visited this Museum and wrote a commemorative article.

Extract:

Let us praise you ! Kerala !
Warm Paradise ! Evergreen !
with your mountains and valleys and rivers :
The sea worships your shores :
The rains give you plenty :
And numble air of the seas makes your palms
Sway and fill your coconuts with the elixir of life :

Museum

Welcome to the Museum of Kerala History.

This 'live' Museum is not just a retelling of the past but is a Light and Sound show of three-dimensional visuals. 87 figures who shaped the history and culture of Kerala in the last two thousand years have been represented here in Light and Sound Tableaus. The story, from the Early peoples of Kerala to the modern age is interspersed with Social, Cultural and literary facets is a fascinating one.

The known history of Kerala is represented in 36 visuals which cover the sweep of history over the last two thousand years. These visuals are

1. Nannan of Ezhimala
2. Senguttavan and Ilango Venmani
3. Ay Andiran of Pothiyilmala
4. The Aryan Immigration
5. St. Thomas
6. Sankaracharya
7. Kulasekhara Alwar
8. Cheraman Perumal Nayanar
9. Mar Sapir Iso and
Ayyan Adikal Thiruvatikal
10. Bhaskara Ravi Varman
and Joseph Rabban
11. The Devadasis
12. Ravi Varma Kulasekhara
13. Vasco da Gama
14. Mamankam
15. Kalari
16. Kunjali Marakkar

17. The Oath of the Coonan Cross
18. Marthanda Varma
19. Tipu Sultan
20. Kathakali
21. Revathi Pattathanam
22. Astronomy in Kerala
23. Thunjath Ramanujan Ezhuthachan
24. Van Reede and Itti Achutan
25. Kunchan Nambiar
26. Rama Varma Sakthan Thampuran
27. Kerala Varma Pazhassi Raja
28. Velu Thampi Dalava
29. Swathi Thirunal Rama Varma
30. Dr. Herman Gundert
31. Raja Ravi Varma
32. Chattambi Swamikal, Sri Narayana Guru
33. Shri Chithra Thirunal Balarama Varma
34. Sir Robert Bristow
35. Vallamkali
36. Democratic Elections in Kerala Leading to
a succession of Congress and Communist
Governments

A few of the above visuals are described below to give you an idea of the condensed history that these represent; the actual script for the sound track for these 36 tableaus take about half an hour.

Click on each link to find out more..

Aryan Immigration and the spread of the Hindu faith (Visual No.4)

St. Thomas and Christianity in Kerala - the Confluence of Religions (Visual No.5)

Sankaracharya and his philosophy (Visual No.6)