The Sree Moolam Popular Assembly in the erstwhile state of

Travancore The kingdom of Travancore (), also known as the kingdom of Thiruvithamkoor () or later as Travancore State, was a kingdom that lasted from until 1949. It was ruled by the Travancore Royal Family from Padmanabhapuram, and later Thiruvanan ...

was the first popularly elected legislature in the history of

India India, officially the Republic of India, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, seventh-largest country by area; the List of countries by population (United Nations), most populous country since ...

. Its predecessor legislative council was formed in Travancore in 1888 with eight appointed members. Sri Mulam Thirunal Ramavarma, who became maharajah of Travancore in 1886, established it in an order issued on 30 March 1888. In 1898, the strength of the council was increased to 15, comprising nine officials and six non-officials. In 1904, a lower house called the Sree Moolam Popular Assembly (known in the local language as ''Sree Mulam Praja Sabha'') was formed with 88 members to provide for increased participation of the people in the administration. Its membership was limited to representatives of landlords and merchants. Although not a legislature, it was intended to give the people an opportunity to bring to the notice of the government their requirements, wishes or grievances, and to make government policies and measures better known to the people. The members of the Assembly were not elected but chosen, two from each

taluk A tehsil (, also known as tahsil, taluk, or taluka () is a local unit of administrative division in India and Pakistan. It is a subdistrict of the area within a district including the designated populated place that serves as its administrative ...

, by the District heads from among landholders who paid an annual land revenue of not less than Rs.100, and landholders or traders whose net annual income was Rs.6000 or above. In 1905, the Sree Moolam Popular Assembly began to have elected members. Out of the new strength of 100 members, 77 were to be elected and 23 were to be nominated. Voting right was limited to persons who paid an annual land revenue of not less than Rs.50, or whose net income was not less than Rs.2000. University graduates with not less than ten years of standing, and having their residence in the respective Taluk, were also eligible to vote. In 1907, the Assembly was conferred the right to elect members of the upper Legislative Council. The Upper Council had 15 members—nine officials and six non-officials. In 1919, the Council was remodelled raising its strength to 25, out of which eight were elected members. In October 1921, the total strength of the Council was further raised to 50, with the majority elected members. In 1932, the Legislative Council of Travancore and Sree Moolam Popular Assembly were replaced with a formal

bicameral system Bicameralism is a type of legislature that is divided into two separate assemblies, chambers, or houses, known as a bicameral legislature. Bicameralism is distinguished from unicameralism, in which all members deliberate and vote as a single ...

consisting of an Upper House, the Travancore Sri Chitra State Council, and a Lower House, the Sree Moolam Assembly. This bicameral system continued to function until September 1947 when it gave way to a constituent assembly that later led to the merger of

Cochin Kochi ( , ), formerly known as Cochin ( ), is a major port city along the Malabar Coast of India bordering the Laccadive Sea. It is part of the district of Ernakulam in the state of Kerala. The city is also commonly referred to as Ernaku ...

state and its accession to India following independence.

Members

Among the Sree Moolam Popular Assembly members were: * K.T. Michael Karippaparambil-Kanjirappally, (Michael Vakkil) Sreemoolam Praja Sabha and M.L.A 1944 * Dominic Thomman Karippaparambil, (Valia Vakkil) Sreemoolam Praja Sabha 1914 and 1920 * K.M. Thomas Karippaparambil, (Kochu Vakkil) Sreemoolam Praja Sabha 1920 * Jacob Thomas Karippaparambil, Sreemoolam Praja Sabha 1926 * Dominic Joseph Karippaparambil, MLC Sreemoolam Assembly 1931 and 1944 * Vallakalil J Oommen, (Oommachen), MLC Sreemolam Praja Sabha 1920–1931. He is the grandfather of former chief minister

Oommen Chandy Oommen Chandy (31 October 1942 – 18 July 2023) was an Indian lawyer and statesman who served as the 10th chief minister of Kerala, serving from 2004 to 2006 and 2011 to 2016. He served also as the Leader of the Opposition, leader of the opp ...

. *

Ayyankali Mahatma Ayyankali (മഹാത്മ അയ്യൻകാളി; 28 August 1863 – 18 June 1941) was an Indian politician, prominent social reformer, educator, economist, lawmaker, and revolutionary leader. He worked for the advancement of ...

: He became a member of the Prajasabha on 5 December 1911 and held that position for 25 years * H.B. Mohamed Rowther * C.A. Angoor Meera Rowther, Member of Sree Moolam Assembly 1903 * Perekkattu Curuvilla Mathen Mappila Member Sree Moolam Praja Sabha 1911. 1912 & 1921 for Meenachil * Ninan Xavier Palakunnel Nadakkapadom MLC(1927) * C. Kesavan * E. V. Krishna Pillai *

Iype Thoma Kathanar Kovoor Iype Thoma ''Kathanar'' (1842–1917) (Malayalam: കോവൂർ ഐപ്പ് തോമാ കത്തനാർ), popularly known as Kovoor Achen, was a renowned and pioneering clergyman of the Mar Thoma Syrian Church. Together with ...

, 1904, 1905, 1911, 1914, 1915, Thiruvalla Taluk *

J. Thomas Kayalackakom J. Thomas Kayalackakom (1884–1968) was a politician and public figure of the erstwhile Travancore-Cochin State of pre-independent India (which became part of Kerala after India's independence). He was an elected member of the Sree Moolam Popula ...

K. C. Mammen Mappillai Kandathil Cherian Mammen Mappillai (1873 – 31 December 1953) was an Indian journalist who became editor of the Malayalam-language daily ''Malayala Manorama'' after the demise of his paternal uncle Kandathil Varghese Mappillai. Besides being a ...

Kumaran Asan Mahakavi Kumaran Asan (12 April 1871 – 16 January 1924) was a poet of Malayalam literature, Indian social reformer and a philosopher. He is known to have initiated a revolution in Malayalam poetry during the first quarter of the 20th century, ...

* M. K. Mackar Pillay *

Muloor S. Padmanabha Panicker Mooloor S. Padmanābha Panicker (a.k.a. Mooloor Asān or Sarasa Kavi, meaning "humour poet") (1869-1931) was a poet and a prominent social reform activist from the Travancore region of present-day Kerala. Early years Padmanābhan was born in h ...

* T. K. Madhavan * T. M. Varghese * Kochu Hassan Kunju Bahadoor *

Pallithanam Luca Matthai Pallithanam Luca Matthai (also known as Pallithanathu Mathaichan) was born in 1880 in Kainady village, Kuttanad, British India. His father, Mathai Luca Pallithanam, was among the pioneers of kayal cultivation (reclamation of cultivable land fro ...

* Poykayil Yohannan * Pattom A. Thanu Pillai * N. J. Kuncheria * Alummottil kochu kunju channar * Sahib Bahadur Athan Ahamed: Kunnathunad Taluk Group II * A.R Raman Pillai: Parur Taluk * Narayana Pillai Krishna Pillai: Kunnathunadu Taluk Group I * Aipe Antony: Muvattupuzha Taluk * Kavarikulam Kandan Kumaran, member from 1915 to 1932 * Komalezhathu Kunjupillai Chekavar (He was the maternal uncle of

T. K. Madhavan T. K. Madhavan (2 September 1885 – 27 April 1930), also known as Deshabhimani Madhavan, was an Indian social reformer, journalist and revolutionary, who was involved with the Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana Yogam (SNDP Yogam). He hailed from ...

* Kunjan Velumban, member 1930 *K. Govindappillai (Kankku Govindappillai Karthikappalli Taluk - * K.C Shadanan Nair Kizhkulam (Vilakki thala Nair)

References

{{reflist Political history of Kerala Kingdom of Travancore Legislatures in Indian princely states