July 1: A Historic Day in Indian History

July 1 is a significant yet often overlooked date in Indian history. On this day, one of the longest-existing kingdoms in India ceased to exist as an independent entity and became part of the Union of India.

The Princely State of Cochin, previously known as Perumpadappu Swaroopam, Mada Rajyam, Kuru Swaroopam, or Gosree Rajyam, had a royal family with an unbroken lineage from its inception. On this day, the royal family relinquished their sovereignty and integrated the kingdom with the Indian Union bringing to end centuries of rule.

Cochin was the first among the approximately 550 princely states to declare its intention to join the Indian Union if the British left India, even before others had begun to consider their future. This declaration was made by Maharaja Ikyakeralam Thampuran in July 1946.

Interestingly, Cochin was also the last of these princely states to sign the Covenant of Accession, which took place on May 29, 1949.

Below are excerpts from news reports published on July 1, 1949, in The Indian Express (Madras) and The Bombay Chronicle (Bombay). These reports feature messages from the last Maharaja of Cochin, Darshanakalanidhi Sri Rama Varma Kunjunni Thampuran, popularly known as Pareekshith Thampuran.

For more detailed and clearer news articles, please refer below.

The Indian Express, 1st July 1949

GREATER PROSPERITY THRO' INTEGRATION

COCHIN MAHARAJA'S MESSAGE TO HIS PEOPLE

ERNAKULAM, June 30.

His Highness Rama Varma, Maharaja of Cochin, will relinquish his onerous duties as the head of the State on Friday, July 1, 1949.

The Maharaja, in a message to the people on the eve of the integration of Travancore and Cochin, has expressed the hope that the step he was taking would bring greater contentment and prosperity to the people of Cochin. He had, therefore, in deference to the wishes of the people as expressed by his Ministers and having due regard to the advice tendered by the Ministry of States, signed the Covenant of Integration.

The Maharaja said: "Tomorrow, the first of July, 1949, is destined to be one of the most important dates in the his-tory of Cochin. As a separate State, Cochin existed for about fifteen centuries. Its fortunes were, of course, varied it had its own ups and downs in the past. But culturally, this small State of ours always occupied a pre-eminent position in Kerala. I am happy and proud to recall that, during all these long ages, in prosperity as well as in adversity, the relations between the rulers and the people were always close and cordial.

"We all know", the Maharaja continued, "that with the march of time, and especially during the last few years, the ideas and ideals of humanity in general have changed. A thirst for independence and a strong desire for the achievement of responsible govern-ment became manifest all over India, Progressive Cochin, under my illustri-ous predecessors, not only responded to this call, but also gave a splendid lead for others to follow. It was the first Indian State to establish in effect a system of full responsible government on solid foundations even before India attained its independence".

The Maharaja pointed out that it was the declared policy of the Praja Mandal Party (now the Congress Party) in the Legislative Assembly, which was return-ed with a very large majority in the general elections recently held on adult franchise, to create a Kerala province in as short a time as possible. As a first step to it, the Party recently expressed its desire for the integration of Cochin with the neighbouring State of Travancore. At the same time, the reduction of number of Indian States by inte-gration of merger with adjoining State or province is the policy of the Govern-ment of India. Therefore, in deference to the wishes of the people of Cochin as expressed by Ministers and having due regard to the advice tendered by the Ministry of States, I have, as a constitutional ruler, signed the Covenant of integration in the presence of the Elaya Raja, the adviser to the Ministry of States and my Prime Minister, invoking the blessings of the Almighty on you all."

In conclusion, the Maharaja expressed his thankfulness to his ministers and Government officers of all ranks for the valuable help and co-operation they had rendered to him in the discharge of his duties and requested them, one and all, to overlook his shortcomings, if any. The Maharaja said his only consolation now was that he had never knowingly acted against their real interests, but had tried to serve them conscientiously to the best of his abilities.

ARCHBISHOP HAILS THE UNITED STATE

ERNAKULAM June 30.

The most Rev. Augustine Kandathil Archbishop of Ernakulam stated today that the pooling of spiritual intellectual and material resources of the two enlightened and cultured states of Cochin and Tra-vancore is sure to help the realisation of ideals that have been considered impos-sible till now he added.

In a message issued on the eve of the coming into being of the United State of Travancore and Cochin the Archbishop expressed the hope that the healthy exchanges of ideas current in the north and south will bring to an end the narrow minded provincialism that is characteristic of small political units.

The Archbishop offered his best salu-tations and congratulations to the Rajpramukh of the Union and the royal family and the Maharaja of Cochin.

The Bombay Chronicle, 1st July 1949

STEPPING-STONE TOWARDS KERALA PROVINCE

Cochin Ruler On His State's Union with Travancore 

ERNAKULAM, June 30 (PTI):

MAHARAJA RAMA VARMA of Cochin, who relinquishes his duties as head of the State on Friday. July 1, in a message to the people of the State today expressed the hope that the integration of Travancore and Cochin would bring greater contentment and prosperity to his people.

He said it was in keeping with the wishes of his Ministers and people, and in deference to the advice ten-dered by the Ministry of States, that he, as a Constitutional Ruler, had signed the Covenant of Integration.

Stating that July 1, 1949, was destined to be "one of the most important dates in the history of Cochin," the Maharaja said that culturally the small State of Cochin had always occupied a pre-eminent position in Kerala. Throughout the 15 centuries of Cochin's history as a separate State the relations between Rulers and the ruled were close and cordial.

SPLENDID LEAD

"We all know that with the march of time and especially during the last few years, the ideas and ideals of humanity in general have changed. A thirst for independence and a strong desire for the achievement of responsible Government became manifest all over India. Progressive Cochin, under its illustrious predecessors, not only responded to this call, but also gave splendid lead for others to follow. It was the first Indian State to establish in effect a system of responsible Government on solid foundations even before India attained its freedom".

The Maharaja said that integration was a stepping-stone to create Kerala as a Separate Province in as short time as possible. It was the declared policy of the Prajamandal Party (now the Congress Party) in the Legislature. This merger with States Provinces was also the policy of the Government of India.

The Maharaja, thanked his Ministers and Government officers of all ranks for the "Valuable help and co-operation" they had rendered him, and said he too had tried to serve them conscientiously to the best of his abilities.

UNION OF COCHIN AND TRAVANCORE Simple Ceremony Today

TRIVANDRUM, June 30 (UPA): A

simple ceremony at the Council Cham-ber Hall of Trivandrum will mark the disappearance of two States and the emergence of a union in the south-west strip of India. It is the last of the unions formed under the States Ministry's integration scheme laid down after the advent of independence.

The 36-year-old and widely travelled Travancore's present ruler, Bala Rama Varma, will be the Rajpramukh of the United State. A letter swearing his oath of allegiance will be read by the Chief Justice of the High Court in the former's presence at the Council Cham-ber Hall.

It is understood that messages have been received from Governor-General C. Rajagopalachari, Premier Pandit Nehru and Deputy Premier Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel for the function.

It is further understood that Pre-mier-designate T. K. Narayana Pillai of the United State has received telegraphic communication from the Central Parliamentary Board approving his list of ten Cabinet members which includes a woman Minister, Annie Mascrene.

The new United State will bring about 8,000,000 people under a single administration after centuries of their separate existence.

The Bombay Chronicle, 1st July 1949

Cochin Ministry Resigns

ERNAKULAM, June 30, (P.Τ.Ι.): The Cochin Ministry headed by Mr. Ikkanda Warrier has resigned.

Mr. Ikkanda Warrier and his two colleagues, Messrs. P. Govinda Menon UNKNOWN MALAYALI and Mr. K. Ayyappan, tendered their formal resignations to the Maharaja yesterday, who while accepting the resignations asked them to continue In office until the formation of a Ministry for the United State of Travancore and Cochin.

END