K. Kumar
K. Kumar (1894–1973) was an Indian orator, reformer and writer of the Indian pre-independence era. He was one of the earliest socio-political leaders to have brought Gandhi's message and the spirit of the national movement to the erstwhile Travancore State.[2][3][4][5][6][7][8] A gifted translator, he traveled with Gandhi during his Kerala tours, interpreting his English speeches in Malayalam. He was also an Advisor to the Nehru government. Kumarji was the President of the Travancore Congress Committee and was also in charge of Gandhiji's Travancore tour more than once. He served on the AICC (All India Congress Committee) and on the working committee of the AICC (CWC or Congress Working Committee), TC-PCC/ KPCC ( Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee ) heading its Constructive Work Committee during crucial years of the freedom movement. He also functioned as the Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee of Travancore[9] (Also known as: Travancore Kumar, Elanthur Kumarji; Kumarji, Elanthur Gandhi and Kuzhikala Kumar)[10][11][12][13][14][15]
K. Kumar | |
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![]() K. Kumar at 80 | |
Personal details | |
Nationality | Indian |
Spouse | The late T.S.Bhadrakumari |
Children | one (KB Kumar, a Developmental Educationist), Grandchild : Divya Bhadrakumar, an Embedded System Engineer[1] |
Alma mater | Madras University Presidency College, Chennai, American College, Madurai |
Early life
"Kumaran" or "Kumar" for short, is K. Kumar's given name (full name: K. Kumaran Nair). ‘K’ stands for ‘Krishnan Nair’, his maternal uncle. Matrilineality was a tradition of Kerala and it was customary to attach the name of the maternal uncle to a child's first name as 'patronymic'. K Kumar was the eldest son of a traditional Nair family in the Elanthur village of Pathanamthitta district (old Quilon/ Kollam District), Kerala, (the Kaduvinal-Thazhayamannil Tharavad). His father, Shri K. Padmanabhan Nair, was a powerful social figure who also was a Revenue Officer of great standing under the Princely State of Travancore. A close friend of the High-court-judge-turned veteran freedom-activist Changanassery Parameswaran Pillai (1877–1940),[16] and teacher-turned advocates and judges Sankaravelil Parameswaran Pillai and Vaikom Narayana Pillai, he shared a balanced outlook on the socio-political realities surrounding the British-driven Princely State. His mother was Kunju Pennamma. Friends and colleagues close to ‘Kumaru’ called him ‘Kumar’, ‘Kumarji’ or later on ‘Bapu’. He was also a contemporary of Mannathu Padmanabha Pillai and helped him in making Nair Service Society a reality without being even remotely sectarian. Mannathu Padmanabhan also helped him back by participating in Kumar's political campaigns. Many early references to K. Kumar may appear simply as "Kumar" or "Kumarji" and rarely though as 'Kumaran' or 'K. Kumaran Nair'.[17][18]
It is said that young Kumar used to come home with children of Harijan workers, give them a bath outside the house and feed them in the family kitchen. This was against all norms and social traditions! Those were days when caste and rank based discrimination was still at its zenith and the practice of 'Theendal'[19](untouchability)[20] was upheld openly as a social virtue. Kumar's egalitarian outlook while still a boy, had a transforming influence on his tradition-bound mother. She soon took upon herself the job of feeding the children brought home by her son. However, she insisted that her son himself had a bath in the pond in front and changed into a fresh pair of clothes before entering home..... It seems that the family's scholarly tradition also had an influence on the noble lady to change her outlook on the down-trodden.
Kumar had his early education at Paravoor English School and Mannar Nair Society High School in Quilon District in Kerala. He, then, moved on to Madurai American College for intermediate education and later, to Madras Presidency College for higher studies. He was a bright student and was among the earliest in the State to have received University Education. Patriotism and Gandhi's call for non-co-operation [21] took the better of him during the days and he began plunging himself into Gandhian work for 'social reconstruction' which affected his further studies. It was primarily North India that he chose for his early engagement.[22][23]
Beginnings of Sociopolitical Involvement
K. Kumar became a member of the Indian National Congress in 1912.[24] INC had only limited members in those days. Inspired by Gandhiji, he later left higher studies[25] at Presidency College and served the Congress from Trivandrum as one of its very few full-time workers of Kerala.[26][27][28][29] He lived in Trivandrum in those days.[30][31] V. Achutha Menon, was another veteran who also was into full-time Congress work. (Like Kumarji, Achutha Menon also has been forgotten by people and historians). Kumarji's 'speeches made waves among both the intelligentsia and the laymen of the State'[32][28][33][34][35] Dr. G. Ramachandran, former Chairman of Khadi Commission and Founder Vice-Chancellor of Gandhigram Rural University says: "In this area of agitation for political freedom, there hardly was another voice more eloquent and moving than that of Kumarji. I looked upon him as an elder brother in politics and constructive work." Former Minister K.A. Damodara Menon Archived 25 December 2019 at the Wayback Machine speaks of his trans-formative, early days when he used to go to the "Trivandrum Beach" to listen to the speeches of K.Kumar and Paliath Kunjunni Achan.[36][37] "There hardly was a political meeting in Trivandrum" in those days "without Kumarji being the star speaker".[38][39]
During the twenties, Kumarji revived the ‘Swadeshabhimani’[40][41][13]) (the news-paper founded by Vakkom Moulavi and run and edited until 1910 by the deported Swadeshabhimani Ramakrishna Pillai), as part of his effort to invigorate the political scene and set the tone for the national movement in Kerala. He also became the Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of the paper after Ramakrishna Pillai.[42][29][41] This was a daring move which nearly froze the government. However, the government wisely chose not to react or retaliate immediately. K. Narayana Kurukkal (author of the novels "Parappuram" and "Udayabhanu") and Barrister A.K. Pillai helped Kumar in his efforts. Kurukkal was a colleague and friend of Swadeshabhimani Ramakrishna Pillai. Besides Narayana Kurukkal, R. Narayana Panikker, renowned political critic Raman Menon, Swadeshabhimani Ramakrishna Pillai's wife B. Kalyani Amma and other prominent writers, contributed articles to the paper on a regular basis. Kumar also used to write editorials and articles. K. Narayana Kurukkal and Barrister A.K. Pillai °(See Note 2) assisted Kumar[43] to edit the paper which was headquartered at the present DPI Office (Office of the Director of Public Instruction, Government of Kerala) in Thycaud, Trivandrum. Writer and Rabindranath Tagore's disciple K.C. Pillai, who was a student at that time °(See Note 1), used to go the newspaper-office to help Kumarji with back-end office-duties. The paper was run on the lines of "Modern Review" published from Calcutta by Ramananda Chatterjee and used to carry weighty articles besides regular editorials written by Kumar himself. K.C Pillai°(See Note 1) and Evoor S. Gopalan Nair opine that "Swadeshabhimani" remained a publication of the highest standards so long as it was under the leadership of Kumar.[44][45] It appears that the editorship of ‘Swadeshabhimani’ got passed on to A.K. Pillai[46] by 1932. K.Kumar had an important role in at least two other influential nationalist papers of the era – the ‘Swarat’ run by A.K. Pillai°(See Note 2) himself and the ‘Mahatma’ run by the Amsi brothers.[47][48] Swadeshabhimani Ramkrishna Pillai's work had a serious impact on Kumarji. He thus chose Cannanore as one of his chief venues for breaking the Salt Law[49][50][51] and became instrumental in erecting the statue of Swadeshabhimani Ramakrishna Pillai in the capital city of Trivandrum and organising an annual commemoration of the deportation for a long time to come[52][13]
Into the thick of Freedom Struggle
During the thick of the freedom struggle, Kumarji was the President of the Travancore Congress Committee and was also in charge of Gandhiji's Travacore tour more than once. He served on the AICC and on the working committee of the TC-PCC/ KPCC heading its Constructive Work Committee during crucial years of the freedom movement.[53][54][13][15][55]
Note:The Pradesh Congress formed early in Malabar which was part of the Madras Province of the British, had little local standing in the Princely State of Travancore. Responding to the need the "Travancore State Congress" was formed under the leadership of K. Kumar (Kuzhikkala Kumar), G Raman Menon and V R Nanu in 1930, says Pattom Thanu Pillai. However, in the circumstances that prevailed, it became inactive by 1936.[56][57] The Travancore State Congress was reconstituted with new objectives in 1938 under Pattom Thanu Pillai. Since the character of the newly constituted party was not to his taste, Kumar preferred to remain inactive from it.
Besides Mahatma Gandhi, Kumarji had close ties with Rajaji, Pandit Nehru, C.R.Das and other prominent leaders. Late Shri Kurur Neelakanthan Nampoothiripadu (Ex MLA and veteran Gandhian) observes: "Kumarji was one of the most strenuous of our freedom fighters who took active part in practically all agitation for Indian freedom"[58][59][60].[61][45] Most notable of these were the leadership of the Salt Satyagraha (in Kozhikode, Tellicherry and Cannanore,[62][63][64][65][66][67][68][69][70][71][72] the Civil Disobedience or foreign cloth boycott and picketing at Alleppey[24] and other areas[73][74][75] and the prominent role he played in the Temple Entry Movement and eradication of 'untouchability',[76][77][78][79] the Vaikom Satyagraha,[80][81][13][15][82][83][69] the Nagpur Flag Satyagrha" Archived 9 August 2016 at the Wayback Machine and other significant social unity moves.[84][85] These earned him at least 21 months of imprisonment[86] with 9 months rigorous imprisonment.[87][88][89][90] -.[91] The year-long agitation at Alleppey and Trivandrum brought about mass conversions to the Gandhian ideology and Khadi. His leadership of the Swadeshi Movement and Foreign Cloth Boycott at Alleppey also inspired many prominent, educated women to come to the forefront and offer mighty support of the national movement. The role of the wife of the last Diwan of Travancore and Kumarji's classmate P. G. N. Unnithan and the daughter of P.G Govida Pillai, Government Pleader,[92] wife of Swadeshabhimani T.K. Madhavan and M. Karthyayani Amma deserve special mention.[93][94][95]
Khadi, Harijan Welfare, Sarvodaya & Communal Harmony
By late thirties, Kumarji turned all his attention to Harijan Welfare, Sarvodaya, Education and Khadi[96][97] He toured the state delivering lectures and establishing scores of schools (said to be 96 to 110) including Harijan and Sarvodaya Schools. A few of these survived into the sixties and early seventies. In course of time, he passed on the management of most of these institutions to the Head teacher or an educated member of the depressed class. He started a school for Harijans named "Kumbazha Pravarthi Pallikudam" which later became a life-giving tributary to the present Government VHSS Elanthoor.[98] Besides, he continued to undertake promotion of Khadi as a life-mission. Gandhian Dr. G. Ramachandran, the former Chairman of the Khadi Commission is emphatic when he says: "His (Kumarji's) double passion consisted of Khadi and prohibition... In fact Kumarji was Khadi and Khadi was Kumarji... To him must belong more than anyone else in Travancore, the irresistible appeal of Khadi that came into the lives of thousands of our people"....[99] G. Ramachandran got drawn to Kumarji through his public speeches and sought to live and work with him in Trivandrum to undertake Khadi work. He reminisces that along with Kumarji, he went hacking Khadar from house to house in Trivandrum in the early twenties.
Fading Into Oblivion
Though measures taken in the late twenties did not prove useful enough to unite all communities as he had dreamed,[100] K. Kumar renewed his efforts for communal harmony. With K. Kelappan, K. Kumar had already become the first to remove the suffix to his name that suggested caste status.[101] In course of time, Kumar became "a potent anti-communal force trusted by every community".[102][103] However, political bigotry and manipulative tactics (during elections in Travancore after independence) dealt a ruthless blow to the secular sentiments of Travancore, painstakingly built up over the years and rendered Kumarji a victim of his ideological steadfastness. He contested the historic election against T.M. Varghese[104] as an independent candidate wedded to ideology and lost by a narrow margin in an election that played the communal card powered with big money. However, it is said that Pattom Thanu Pillai did his best, supported by T.M Varghese, to induct him[105] into the Pattom Thanu Pillai Ministry as Home Minister. Kumarji refused the offer on ideological grounds. Independent India failed to recognize him and utilize his exceptional qualities, but he continued to guide and mold a good number of public men and political leaders. Besides, he became active in local development work on a massive scale. He was also able to exert a transforming influence on the people through movements like "Community Feasts", "Thoppippala Agitataion", the Akhila Thiruvithamkoor Parayar Mahasabha and Kuravar Maha Sabha that he took initiative in founding.[106][107][108] Note: The Varkala SK Raghavan fraction and the PC Adichan fraction met at Elanthoor and formed the Travancore Kuravar Mahasabha in 1937, though later, it seems to have split again [108]
Notes
1. K.C. Pillai: Disciple of Rabindranath Tagore, writer and translator (transliterator) of Tagore's works into Malayalam. He was also owner of The Trivandrum Hotel (founded in 1934) in Statue (Trivandrum) which hosted several significant political and social gatherings during the freedom movement. Several of KC Pillai's books were published by DC Books. They may also be available at:[109]
2. A.K Pillai: Barrister AK Pillai, left his higher studies at Oxford University around 1920 and joined the Indian National Movement. Besides involving in social and political work on a massive scale, he helped K. Kumar to sub-edit the revived "Swadeshabhimani" and himself started the "Swarat" (Swarad) newspaper with the support of K. Kumar to promote the spirit of the national movement. (Ref: Articles of G. Ramachandran and K.C. Pillai in Kumarji Smaraka Grantham; Other sources including :[110]
3. The empathy for the underprivileged must have driven K. Kumar to dedicate much of his time for Harijan service, Harijan Education, development of Harijan organizations and the establishment of a unique Harijan Rehabilitation Colony in Elanthoor. The colony's life was built around programs for social refinement and economic self-sustainability. It had proximity to a very special school which he founded to educate kids during the day and the laboring classes after sun-down. This unique concept in schooling had a running water system energized by rural technology. It also ran centres of production for goods of regular consumption like match-boxes, soap and candle. These products could bring in supplementary income to the needy learners. It added a thoughtful dimension to the need for "vocationalising" education***. A special parliamentary delegation is understood to have visited Elanthoor to study these developmental experiments. The delegation published a paper or a report titled "Look at Elanthoor", praising and recommending the work as highly worth replication. The remains of the said school are still visible in Elanthoor close to the Harijan Colony. This most noted colony of the past began deteriorating into an absolutely unenviable state even towards the last days of Kumarji. (***Secondary Note: In the late sixties and early seventies, this school-building housed a part of the century-old Government High School nearby. After the government school shifted, seemingly in the early seventies, local people started usurping the remaining land and the property)
4. During the visit of the Prince of Wales (1921), mass protests and "hartals" were organised in all major towns of Travancore. Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Alappuzha [111] and other towns witnessed unprecedented popular agitation. Two Muslim activists and three Congress leaders - K. Kumar, A K Pillai and Thoppil Padmanabha Pillai - were taken into custody by the government in this case. K.Kumar was awarded one year of imprisonment. Ref:[112]
References / General References / Citations
- Government records pertaining to births, deaths etc
- Freedom Fighters of Kerala - Government of Kerala - 1974
- A Social History of India By S. N. Sadasivan - Page 535
- K.C.Pillai, Avoor S. Gopalan Nair and others - 1974 - K. Kumarji Smaraka Grandham
- Mannam Shathabdi Smaraka Grandham - NSS- 1964
- Dr G. Ramachandran - "Memories of Kumarji" - 1974 - Elanthoor
- Kumar K, Sarva Vijnana Kosham (Malayalam), Government of Kerala
- K.A. Damodara Menon : Thirinju Nokkumbol (Malayalam) - NBT 1981 - Page 23
- Unsung Heroes Detail-Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav - K. Kumar, Trivandrum: https://amritmahotsav.nic.in/unsung-heroes-detail.htm?11202 ; Retrieved on 31 Jan 2023
- Trade Union Movement in Kerala ‘ K. Ramachandran Nair, Kerala Institute of Labour and Employment (in association with Manak Publishers) 2006- Page 12
- G. Ramachandran - "Memories of Kumarji" and other references quoted
- The History of Freedom Movement in Kerala (1885 - 1938) – Government of Kerala (Government Press - 1972) - P.K.K Menon – : Page 197
- Kumar.K: Sarva Vijnana Kosam (Encyclopaedia in Malayalam) - Government of Kerala
- Keraleeya Gramangaliloode (Malayalam) - Kattakkada Divakaran - SPCS 1967 : ref to the Chapter titled K. Kumarinte Nattil (Malayalam) while talking about Pathanamthitta
- Mahacharita Samgraha Sagaram (A Compressed Encyclopaedia of the Renowned (in Malayalam)– Pallippattu Kunjukrishnan - SPCS and NBS - Pages 220 and 221
- Changanassery Parameswaran Pillai and the Socio-political Evolution of Modern Travancore - K.R. Ushakumari - 2009 - Trivandrum
- The Collected Works of Mahatma Gandhi Volume 34, page 416 – letter from Gandhi to Rajaji
- Dr. G. Ramachandran ("Memories of Kumarji" - 1974)
- Theendal : the belief that seeing or interacting with a member of a "low caste" could pollute a caste Hindu – untouchability or caste discrimination in its extreme form once practiced in Kerala
- "The curse of Untouchability | Mind of Mahatma Gandhi".
- Noncooperation movement Indian history:By The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Article History
- Sarva Vijnana Kosam (Malayalam Ecyclopaedia - article titled 'Kumar K - Kerala Government publication
- Article by K. Raman Nair in Kumarji Smaraka Grandham
- List of Freedom Fighters, The Regional Records Survey Committee, Government of Kerala
- K.C Pillai - K.Kumarji Smaraka Grandham - 1974
- Sarva Vijnana Kosam (Malayalam Encyclopedia), Government of Kerala
- Thirinju Nokkumbol - Autobiography of K. A. Damodara Menon, former Minister of Kerala
- K. Kumar and the Indian National Movement : Puthenkavu Mathen Tarakan 1974
- Nair Service Society: Suvarna Grantham (Malayalam) - 1964 - Page 666
- G. Ramachandran - Memories of Kumarji
- Sarva Vijnana Kosam, Encyclopedia in Malayalam, Government of Kerala
- Evoor S. Gopalan Nair 1974
- Kumarji, the Immortal: Veloor Krishnan Kuty (1974) - Kumarji Smaraka Grantham
- K.C. Pillai - K. Kumarji Smaraka Grandham - 1974
- G. Ramachandran
- K.A Damodara Menon - Thirinju Nokkumbol (First Edition- 1981; Page 23 etc.)
- History of Indian Literature: 1911-1956, Struggle for Freedom : triumph and ... Sisir Kumar Das - Page 305 etc
- Memories of Kumarji- G. Ramachandran
- Evoor S. Gopalan Nair, Editor, 'Service' Weelky Newspaper
- K.C Pillai on K. Kumar - 1974
- The History of Freedom Movement in Travancore, C. Narayana Pillai, Page 401
- K.C. Pillai°(See Note 1) and others - 1974- K. Kumarji Smaraka Grandham (Elanthoor)
- K.C Pillai on K. Kumar
- K.C Pillai's article in K. Kumarji Smaraka Grandham published from Elanthoor in 1974
- K. Kumar, the Epitome of Service and Sacrifice : Evoor S. Gopalan nair - Article 1974
- Cogressum Keralavum - AK Pillai
- Dr G. Ramachandran -1974
- KC Pillai - 1974
- The History of Freedom Movement in Kerala (1885 - 1938) ORIGINAl from THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN – Government of Kerala (Government Press 1972) -P.K.K Menon – Page 197
- Athmakatha (Malayalam)- Moyyarathu Sankaran - Page 164
- History of Trade Union Movement in Kerala -2006- K. Ramachandran Nair
- Kumarji Smaraka Grandham - K.C Pillai and others - Elanthoor (1974)
- K. Karunakaran Nair - Freedom fighters of Kerala - 1975 (Pref original Michigan Edition)
- No Elephants for the Maharaja: Social and Political Change in the Princely State of Travancore (1921 – 47): Author: Louise Ouwerkerk, Editor: Dick Kooiman, Manohar Publishers 1994 – Original: University of Michigan
- Nair Service Society Suvarna Grantham - 1964
- Statement issued to the Press by Pattom Thanu Pillai: File No 1092/36/C.S.Cellar Records, KGS, TVM
- MJ Koshy, Last Days of Monarchy in Kerala (Trivandrum 1973) page 148. Note that Government records speak of the formation of the Travancore State Congress as 1931 with headquarters in Quilon and branches in Trivandrum and other places
- Notes / Letters of Kurur Namboodiripad found at Sree Gandhi Mandir - 1972 (?)
- Keralathile Congress Prasthanam (Malayalam)- Perunna KN Nair, Prathibha Publications- First /Revised Edition: 1967 / 85; Pages 24, 25, 28, 60, 209, 210 etc
- Census of India 2011-Kerala - District Handbook- Page 11 - http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011census/dchb/3212_PART_B_PATHANAMTHITTA.pdf
- K. Kumar and the Indian national Movement : Mahakavi Puthenkavu Mathen Tharakan (article :1974)
- Keralathile Congress Prasthanam (Malayalam)- Perunna KN Nair, Prathibha Publications- First/ Revised Edition: 1967 /85; Pages : 60 etc
- Atmakatha (Autobiography), Moyyarathu Sankaran, Page 168
- Swathantryathinte Akasham (Malayalam) (Horizons of Freedom), pages 68 and 69
- The Indian States and the Civil Disobedience Movement - P. Sudhir- Proceedings of the Indian History Congress
- Jawaharlal Nehru to K. Kumar File No G -29 etc. referred to in The Indian States and the Civil Disobedience Movement by P; Sudhir
- The History of Freedom Movement in Kerala (1885 - 1938) – Government of Kerala (Government Press - 1972) - P.K.K Menon – (Original from the University of Michigan): Page 197
- No Elephants for the Maharaja: Social and Political Change in the Princely State of Travancore (1921 – 47): Author: Louise Ouwerkerk, Editor: Dick Kooiman, Manohar Publishers 1994 – Original: University of Michigan:Page 117
- List of Freedom Fighters, Regional Records Survey Committee, Government of Kerala
- Research Guru (UGC Approved Journal): Volume-12, Issue-2, September-2018 (ISSN 2349-266X)- Page: 1141 - Salt Satyagraha in Malabar - Vimal Kumar CL
- Salt Satyagraha and the Non-cooperation Movement -Page 97 - A History of Modern Kerala, Core Course for BA History - CUCBCSS 2014 admn. inwards - School of Distance Education University of Calicut
- The History of the Trade Union Movement in Kerala, K. Ramachandran Nair, Kerala Institute of Labour and Employment (e-Book Page: 436) -2006
- Women's Movements in Kerala – Challenges and Prospects – Majula Devi's thesis work – page 140
- Keralathile Congress Prasthanam (Malayalam) - Perunna KN Nair
- Copies of the records maintained at the office of the Supdt. Of Jails of Cannanore, Vellore and Bellary (showing RI from 27-5-1930 to 26-2-1931) etc.
- Gandhi's talk at Elanthoor on 20 January 1937
- Epic of Travancore - Mahadev Desai - Navjeevan Publishers - Page 37
- Temple Entry Proclamation
- Last Days of Monarchy in Kerala – MJ Koshy – Kerala Historical Society- 1973 - Page 119
- Who is Who of Freedom Fighters in Kerala, Karunakaran Nair -1975 - Page 271, 272 etc
- Page 1214 entry number 9, Appendix VI vide answer of Chief Secretary to an interpellation (number 373 raised in the Travancore Legislative Council) on 12 June 1924 by member Sri V. Kunjukrishna Pillai of Chirayinkil
- Selected Documents on Vaikom Satyagraha, S. Raimon, Kerala State Archives Department, Government of Kerala 2006
- The History of the Trade Union Movement in Kerala, K. Ramachandran Nair, Kerala Institute of Labour and Employment -2006
- The Epic of Travancore - Mahadeva Desai, Navjeevan Karyalaya, Ahmedabad (1937) - Original from the University of Michigan – page 37 of First Indian Edition
- G. Ramachandran's article
- Note: Arrived at from only pre-verified sources: His actual imprisonment may be many years more
- Page 1214 entry number 9, Appendix VI vide answer of Chief Secretary to an interpellation (number 373 raised in the Travancore Legislative Council) on 12th June 1924 by member Sri V. Kunjukrishna Pillai of Chirayinkil
- Copies of the records maintained at the office of the Supdt. Of Jails of Cannanore, Vellore and Bellary (showing RI from 27-5-1930 to 26-2-1931)"History". Archived from the original on 29 July 2009. Retrieved 27 August 2009.
- EMERGENCE OF THE TRAVANCORE STATE CONGRESS AND EARLY ACTIVITIES OF THE PARTY -M. Sumathy "From Petitions to Protest - A Study of the Political Movements in Travancore 1938-1947" Thesis - Department of History, University of Calicut, 2004
- Article by K. Kumar published in Young India -19 June 1924 titled "Charkha in Trivandrum Jail"
- "Bandhanathil Ninnu" by K.P. Kesava Menon
- see : P.G.N Unnithan, Wikipedia Article P. G. N. Unnithan
- Women's Movements in Kerala – Challenges and Prospects – Majula Devi's thesis work – (http://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/7172/10/10_chapter%203.pdf)
- K. Kumar and the Indian National Movement - Puthenkavu Mathan Tharakan - 1974
- The Epitome of Service and Sacrifice - Evoor S. Goplan Nair - 1974
- Vishwa Vijnana Kosham (Malayalam Encyclopedia), Government of Kerala - 1972- Volume II- Page 646
- Thiruvithamkoor Swatantrya Samara Charitram - C. Narayana Pillai- Second Edition September 2004; Page : 401
- http://schoolwiki.in/%E0%B4%97%E0%B4%B5.%E0%B4%B5%E0%B4%BF.%E0%B4%8E%E0%B4%9A%E0%B5%8D%E0%B4%9A%E0%B5%8D.%E0%B4%8E%E0%B4%B8%E0%B5%8D.%E0%B4%8E%E0%B4%B8%E0%B5%8D_%E0%B4%87%E0%B4%B2%E0%B4%A8%E0%B5%8D%E0%B4%A4%E0%B5%82%E0%B4%B0%E0%B5%8D%E2%80%8D
- G. Ramachandran - See the article linked
- A Social History of India : S.N. Sadasivan -2000- page 535
- Evoor S Gopalan Nair (?) - 1974 - K. Kumarji Smaraka Grantham
- Dr G. Ramachandran : Memories of Kumarji (Page 19)
- The Epic of Travancore, Mahadeva Desai, Navjeevan Karyalaya, Ahmedabad (1937) - Original from the University of Michigan – page 37 of First Indian Edition
- Politicisation of Caste Relations in a Princely State, A Shaji, Zorba Books
- K. Raman Nair : Kumarji Smaraka Grantham
- "Akhila kerala kuravar Mahasabha". Archived from the original on 30 June 2016. Retrieved 13 June 2016.
- http://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/15828/12/12_chapter%204.pdf as retrieved on 13 June 2016
- Major Dalit Movements in Pre Independence Era - Pages 138and 139 (pdf copy at : http://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/15828/12/12_chapter%204.pdf) - retrieved at 12.17 pm IST on 13 June 2016
- http://www.sbcollege.org/library/authcat.php?idauth=K%20C%20Pillai%5B%5D
- http://www.kamat.com/database/biographies/a_k_pillai.
- Keralathile Congress Prasthanam (Malayalam) - Perunna KN Nair - Page 210
- K. Kumar and the National Movement - Puthenkavu Mathan Tharakan
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GENERAL REFERENCES:
K.Kumar, Pathanamtitta [1]
Agniveedhikal -Auto Biography of NS Shekhar
Unsung Heroes: K. Kumar, Trivandrum:[2]
Freedom Fighters of Kerala: [3]
Important Freedom Fighters of Kerala: YouTube : കേരളത്തിലെ സ്വാതന്ത്ര്യ സമരസേനാനികള്.[5]
9 Freedom Fighters from Kerala : Govindan K[7]
Five Freedom Fighters of Kerala (കേരളത്തിലെ 5 സ്വാതന്ത്ര്യസമരസേനാനികൾ):[8]
History of Kannur Ref: 1. Salt Satyagraha 2. Civil Disobedience Movement
- Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav : Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India - http://india.gov.in/ https://amritmahotsav.nic.in/unsung-heroes-detail.htm?3660 Created: nic: National Portal of India: 12 July 2022 : K Kumar, Pathanamthitta, Kerala Retrieved 23 Jan 2023
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