*This Day in Cochin History*
*29th July 1946*
Everyone would have read or heard the “Tryst with Destiny” speech by Jawaharlal Nehru on the eve of Indian Independence towards midnight on 14th August 1947, but not many know that for the Princely State of Cochin and for Kerala, the actual Tryst with Destiny was on 29th July 1946.
Raja Kerala Varma (1946-1948) The Maharaja of Cochin addressed the Cochin Legislative Assembly on 29th July 1946.
He said that he had arrived at the conclusion that Kerala must unite and be one if it were to save itself from cultural extinction.
He said “I earnestly desire to combine my State Cochin with Malabar and Travancore in order to form the Province of Kerala.”
The Maharaja said “I don't seek any reward except the fulfillment of the dream that I have been cherishing all these years - The Unification of Kerala”
The Maharaja also said that he had decided to allow the people of Cochin to elect their representatives to the Constituent Assembly.
This was indeed a seminal moment in Cochin History.
After this epochal speech Raja Kerala Varma came to be popularly known as Aikya Keralam.
Aikya Keralam had sown the seeds of a United Kerala in the minds of the people of Cochin, Travancore and Malabar.
Aikya Keralam had articulated his vision and dream. He had set into motion a chain of events which would eventually lead to a United Kerala
After an illustrious and eventful regime of nearly two and a half years, His Highness passed away on 8th July 1948.
It took another 10 years for Aikya Keralam’s dream to come true.
Cochin and Travancore joined together on 1st July 1949 to form the state of Travancore-Cochin often known as Thiru-Kochi.
Finally on 1st November 1956, Kerala was formed by merging Thiru-Kochi, Malabar and Kasaragod taluk of South Canara.
On the 78th anniversary of the pathbreaking speech, it can be said without any doubt that all Keralites have been beneficiaries of the Vision and Statesmanship of the Maharaja of Cochin (1946-1948) Aikya Keralam.
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