Introduction 1
Prologue: No Elephants for the Maharaja 20
Chapter I Princes and People 22
I.1 The All-India Framework 22
I.2 Progress to Self-Government 23
I.3 The Princes and the Reforms 25
Chapter II The Native State of Travancore 28
II.1 Geography and Climate 29
II.2 Origins of the State of Travancore 32
II.3 Relations with the British 35
II.4 The Social Structure 38
II.5 Relations between the Communities 47
Chapter III The Modernization of Travancore 50
III.1 Hindu Reforms and Christianity 50
III.2 Social Reform in Travancore 52
III.3 Constitutional Developments 64
III.4 The Regency 70
Chapter IV The Communal Problem in Politics 73
IV. 1 The Last Maharaja and the Triumvirate 73
IV.2 The Development of the Communal Problem 78
IV.3 The Legislature 81
IV.4 The Formation of the Joint Political Conference 85
Chapter V The Temple Entry Proclamation 91
V.I The Campaign for Temple Entry in Travancore 92
V.2 The Proclamation (1936) 97
Chapter VI Communal Harmony 101
VI.l The International Fellowship 101
VI.2 The Kesavan Affair 105
VI.3 The Fellowship Council Meeting 108
Chapter VII The Travancore State Congress 111
VII.1 Congress in Travancore before 1938 113
VII.2 Causes of Local Discontent 120
VII.3 The Erosion of Civil Liberties 124
VII.4 The Demand for Responsible Government 126
Chapter VIII Events Leading to Civil Disobedience 130
VIII.1 State Congress Leadership 130
VIII.2 The First Skirmishes 136
VIII.3 The Memorial and the Memorandum 142
VIII.4 The Bank Crash 145
VIII.5 The Budget Session 148
Chapter IX A Year of Struggle 155
IX.1 Civil Disobedience 155
IX.2 The Great Jatha 162
IX.3 Labour and Youth Movements 164
IX.4 Renewed Agitation 169
IX.5 Intervention by Gandhi 176
Chapter X The Attitude of the Paramount Power 181
X.1 The Political Service 183
X.2 Sir C.P.'s Memorandum 188
X.3 Responsibility for Seeing Justice Done: The Bank Case 190
Chapter XI Travancore During the War 199
XI.1 The Indian National Congress and the State Congress 199
XI.2 The Shertallai Famine 205
XI.3 Government versus Christians, State Congress and Labour 207
XI.4 "Quit India" 214
XI.5 The Hunger Years 1943-44 217
XI.6 The General Election of 1944 219
Chapter XII Renewal of Political Activity After the War 225
XII.1 The Cabinet Mission and the States 225
XII.2 Renewal of Agitation in Travancore 23
XII.3 The Dewan's "American" Constitution 236
XII.4 Punnapra- Vayalar 241
Chapter XIII Final Steps to Freedom 249
XIll.l The All-India Background 249
XIll.2 The Proposed Independence of Travancore 251
XIll.3 Plots against the Dewan 260
XIll.4 Exit the Dewan 265
XIll.5 The Semi-non-violent Plot 271
XIll.6 From Union to Responsible Government 274
Chapter XIV Postcript 278
Epilogue No Elephants for the Maharaja 281
Notes 282
Bibliography 296
Index 307
Plates (between pages) 80-81 and 192-193
Map Frontispiece