Role of public libraries in the national movement in Kerala

Abstract(s)

High degree of participation by all classes of people at various levels was the distinctive feature of national movement in Kerala. This was made possible by the wide public library network that existed in the region. In Kerala the national movement evolved from a series of movements. Most of them were geared up by groups of people connected to library movement. The village libraries acted as discussion forums for the common man by extending the reach of the regional press, regularly conducting classes on political and social aspects, and organizing cultural and literary programmes. By following a participatory governing system the libraries trained the people in democratic form of government also. With the libraries enabling the emergence and marshaling of peoples’ opinion, all classes of people in Kerala exhibited a high degree of political and social consciousness. The rural libraries thus helped the national movement go far beyond its original elite intellectual confines. The entry of the masses into active political life, which they facilitated, helped the quick elimination of princely states in Kerala, and establishment of parliamentary democracy based on universal franchise. The class character of the national movement in Kerala was more or less based on the proletarian characters and that aspect was responsible for bringing leftists into political power for which contribution of the village libraries was unique. [Extended abstract and full paper available in archive]