Abstract
The history of the library established in 1927, brings along with it the history of the intellectual evolution of the villagers of that time. The period saw the emergence of patriotic feelings as well as that of printing press and print media. Maniyat is a remote village in Kasaragod where the villagers were mostly illiterate as in any other village in the late 1920s. So, the establishment of Vigyanadayini library was a new and enlightening experience to the village folk in having relevant knowledge on freedom movement which was gaining strength in the second and third decades of the 20th century. In no time, the library turned into a cultural hub, shaping the social awareness and political consciousness of a people who until then had no such ideas of historical development in them.
Keywords
Vigyanadayini Library
Maniyat
Library Movement
Print Culture
Political Consciousness
References
1. Stella Joseph, Print and Public sphere in Malabar: A Study of Early Newspapers (1847-1930), Unpublished PhD thesis, University of Calicut, 2008, pp. 19-21
2. R. Raman Nair, Role of Public Libraries in the National Movement in Kerala, International Congress on Kerala Studies, 1994, Trivandrum, AKG Centre for Research and Studies, Volume 3, Session 55/7, p. 6.
3. Ibid. p. 3.
4. Raman Nair, Op. cit., p 9.
5. Indiayile Adhyathe Public Library, Interview with Pirappancode Murali, The Kerala Library Movement Interviews, Memoripedia, Episode 1, 14 March 2026. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I298K2sjR2A&list=PLFGu2905bo9_6Cg1LDvrULZVBAB6dbcKL&index=27
6. Ibid.
7. Moyarath Sankaran, Atmakatha Moyarath Sankaran (Mal.), Sahithya Pravarthaka Co-Operative Society Ltd, Kottayam, 2021, p. 214.
8. Haritha John, Polarised by Religion: How trust deficit is widening communal schism in Kasaragod, The News Minute, 03 Oct 2022, 5:45 pm. Online Magazine. https://www.thenewsminute.com/kerala/polarised-religion-how-trust-deficit-widening-communal-schism-kasaragod-168528
9. Indiayile Adhyathe Public Library, Op. cit.
10. K. S. Ranjith, Rural Libraries of Kerala, Discussion Paper No. 78, Kerala Research Programme on Local Level Development, Centre for Development Studies, Thiruvananthapuram, 2004, p. 7.
11. Raman Nair, Op. cit., p. 5.
12. 4th All Kerala Political Conference at Payyannur, presided over by Jawaharlal Nehru, served as a prelude to Civil disobedience movement.
13. Raman Nair, Op. cit., p 5
14. K. S. Ranjith, Op. cit., p.8
15. Sudha Azhikodan, Public Libraries in Malabar: Genesis and Development, e-Lis Repository, 2009, p. 1. http://eprints.rclis.org/13343/1/Azhikodan.pdf
16. K. S. Ranjith, Op. cit., p. 8.
17. Sudha Azhikodan, Op. cit., p. 2.
18. Ibid.
19. S. Harikrishnan, Communicating Communism: Social Spaces and the Creation of a “Progressive” Public Sphere in Kerala, India, Special Issue: Communicative Socialism/Digital Socialism, Vol. 18 No. 1 (2020), tripleC 18(1): 268-285, 2020, p. 275. https://doi.org/10.31269/triplec.v18i1.1134
20. Kelu Nair: The multifaceted freedom fighter who died at 27, Independence Day Special, Online Article,
21. On Manorama, August 15, 2023 10:54 am. https://www.onmanorama.com/news/kerala/2023/08/15/kelu-nair-the-multifaceted-freedom-fighter-who-died-at-27.html
22. Present day Sree Nilakanta Government Sankrit College in Pattambi, it founded in 1899 by Sri Punnasseri Nampi Neelakanta Sarma, A. K. Nambiar, Vidwan P. Kelu Nair (Mal.), in “Vidwan P. Kelu Nair Smaranika”, Sree Vidya Publication, Trichur, May, 1989, p. 53, also in, K. K. N. Kurup, Payini Kelu Nairum Desiya Prasthanavum (Mal.), in “Vidwan P. Kelu Nair Smaranika”, Sree Vidya Publication, Trichur, May, 1989, p. 43.
23. A. K. Krishnan, Vidwan P. Kelu Nair Oranusmaranam (Mal.), in “Vidwan P. Kelu Nair Smaranika”, Sree Vidya Publication, Trichur, May, 1989, p. 47.
24. C. P. Sreedharan, Nadakamahakaviyum Nadakangalum (Mal.), in “Vidwan P. Kelu Nair Smaranika”, Sree Vidya Publication, Trichur, May, 1989, p. 14.
25. K. Madhavan, Ente Gurunathan (Mal.), in “Vidwan P. Kelu Nair Smaranika”, Sree Vidya Publication, Trichur, May, 1989, p. 31, also in K. Madhavan, Payaswiniyude Theerathu (Mal.), Prabhath Book House, Trivandrum, 1987, p. 75, also in C. P. Sreedharan, Ibid., p. 14.
26. K. Madhavan, Ente Gurunathan (Mal.), Op. cit., p. 28.
27. Vidwan K. K. Nair, Vidwan P. Kelu Nair (Mal.), in “Vidwan P. Kelu Nair Smaranika”, Sree Vidya Publication, Trichur, May, 1989, p. 76.
28. Ibid.
29. K. Madhavan, Ente Gurunathan (Mal.), Op. cit., p. 28.
30. Ibid.
31. A. K. Nambiar, Vidwan P. Kelu Nair (Mal.), Op. cit., p. 54.
32. Vidwan K. K. Nair, Vidwan P. Kelu Nair (Mal.), Op. cit., p. 76.
33. K. Madhavan, Ente Gurunathan (Mal.), Op. cit., p. 30.
34. Ibid., p. 28.
35. K. K. N. Kurup, Payini Kelu Nairum Desiya Prasthanavum (Mal.), Op. cit., p. 43, also in K. Madhavan, Ibid., p. 28.
36. K. K. N. Kurup, Ibid., p. 44.
37. A branch of Bharat Yuvak Sangh founded by T. L. Vaswani was opened at Vellikoth Vigyanadayini Sanskrit School under the leadership of Vidwan P. Kelu Nair, K. T. Kunhiraman Nair and A. C. Kannan Nair. Vidwan K. K. Nair, Vidwan P. Kelu Nair (Mal.), Op. cit., pp. 77-78.
38. K. K. N. Kurup, Payini Kelu Nairum Desiya Prasthanavum (Mal.), Op. cit., p. 44.
39. Ibid., also in Vidwan K. K. Nair, Vidwan P. Kelu Nair (Mal.), Op. cit., p. 78.
40. Vidwan K. K. Nair, Ibid., p. 78.
41. Railway station existed in Thrikkaripur and Cheruvathur as early as 1904. however, chandera railway station was established in 1948. The distance to Vigyanadayini library is 4.1 km from Thrikkaripur, 5.1 km from Cheruvathur, and 1.3 km from Chandera. Njan Adhyam Kanda Pusthakam, Interview with E. P. Rajagopalan, The Kerala Library Movement Interviews, Memoripedia, Episode 15, 4 April 2026. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-KhBx6fIYjs&list=PLFGu2905bo9_6Cg1LDvrULZVBAB6dbcKL&index=13
42. Kala-Samskarikam Chanderayude Mannil (Mal.), in “Aksharavelicham”, Chandera Government UP School Sathabdi Smaranika, Malabar Printers, March 2016, p. 43.
43. Ibid.
44. A. M. Damodharan Nair, Ente Achan (Mal.), in “Vidwan P. Kelu Nair Smaranika”, Sree Vidya Publication, Trichur, May, 1989, pp. 38-42.
45. Vidwan K. K. Nair, Vidwan P. Kelu Nair (Mal.), Op. cit., p. 78.
46. Kelu Nair: The multifaceted freedom fighter who died at 27, Independence Day Special, online article,
47. On Manorama, August 15, 2023 10:54 am
48. Kala-Samskarikam Chanderayude Mannil (Mal.), Op. cit., p. 43.
49. Lanka Dahanam, Padhukapattabhishekam, Pakanar Charitham, Sreekrishna Leela or Janardhanadasa Charitham.
50. K. Balakrishnan Nambiar, Vidwan P. Kelu Nair: Jeevithavum Krithikalum (Mal.), Kerala Sahitya Akademi, Thrissur, 1992, p. 99.
51. C. P. Sreedharan, Nadakamahakaviyum Nadakangalum (Mal.), Op. cit., pp. 14-16.
52. After the formation of the state of Kerala in 1956, the Akhila Thiruvithaamkoor Granthasala Sangham was renamed the Kerala Granthasala Sangham (KGS). The unified body was formed by merging library networks from Travancore, Cochin, and Malabar under the leadership of P. N. Panicker. Indiayile Adhyathe Public Library, Op.cit.
53. Kala-Samskarikam Chanderayude Mannil (Mal.), Op. cit., pp. 43-46, also in K. Balakrishnan Nambiar, Vidwan P. Kelu Nair: Jeevithavum Krithikalum, Op. cit., p. 98
54. E. P. Rajagopalan, Vishadha Gandhi, in “Varayile Gandhi”, Mathrubhumi Weekly, 10 October 2021, pp. 20-21.
2. R. Raman Nair, Role of Public Libraries in the National Movement in Kerala, International Congress on Kerala Studies, 1994, Trivandrum, AKG Centre for Research and Studies, Volume 3, Session 55/7, p. 6.
3. Ibid. p. 3.
4. Raman Nair, Op. cit., p 9.
5. Indiayile Adhyathe Public Library, Interview with Pirappancode Murali, The Kerala Library Movement Interviews, Memoripedia, Episode 1, 14 March 2026. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I298K2sjR2A&list=PLFGu2905bo9_6Cg1LDvrULZVBAB6dbcKL&index=27
6. Ibid.
7. Moyarath Sankaran, Atmakatha Moyarath Sankaran (Mal.), Sahithya Pravarthaka Co-Operative Society Ltd, Kottayam, 2021, p. 214.
8. Haritha John, Polarised by Religion: How trust deficit is widening communal schism in Kasaragod, The News Minute, 03 Oct 2022, 5:45 pm. Online Magazine. https://www.thenewsminute.com/kerala/polarised-religion-how-trust-deficit-widening-communal-schism-kasaragod-168528
9. Indiayile Adhyathe Public Library, Op. cit.
10. K. S. Ranjith, Rural Libraries of Kerala, Discussion Paper No. 78, Kerala Research Programme on Local Level Development, Centre for Development Studies, Thiruvananthapuram, 2004, p. 7.
11. Raman Nair, Op. cit., p. 5.
12. 4th All Kerala Political Conference at Payyannur, presided over by Jawaharlal Nehru, served as a prelude to Civil disobedience movement.
13. Raman Nair, Op. cit., p 5
14. K. S. Ranjith, Op. cit., p.8
15. Sudha Azhikodan, Public Libraries in Malabar: Genesis and Development, e-Lis Repository, 2009, p. 1. http://eprints.rclis.org/13343/1/Azhikodan.pdf
16. K. S. Ranjith, Op. cit., p. 8.
17. Sudha Azhikodan, Op. cit., p. 2.
18. Ibid.
19. S. Harikrishnan, Communicating Communism: Social Spaces and the Creation of a “Progressive” Public Sphere in Kerala, India, Special Issue: Communicative Socialism/Digital Socialism, Vol. 18 No. 1 (2020), tripleC 18(1): 268-285, 2020, p. 275. https://doi.org/10.31269/triplec.v18i1.1134
20. Kelu Nair: The multifaceted freedom fighter who died at 27, Independence Day Special, Online Article,
21. On Manorama, August 15, 2023 10:54 am. https://www.onmanorama.com/news/kerala/2023/08/15/kelu-nair-the-multifaceted-freedom-fighter-who-died-at-27.html
22. Present day Sree Nilakanta Government Sankrit College in Pattambi, it founded in 1899 by Sri Punnasseri Nampi Neelakanta Sarma, A. K. Nambiar, Vidwan P. Kelu Nair (Mal.), in “Vidwan P. Kelu Nair Smaranika”, Sree Vidya Publication, Trichur, May, 1989, p. 53, also in, K. K. N. Kurup, Payini Kelu Nairum Desiya Prasthanavum (Mal.), in “Vidwan P. Kelu Nair Smaranika”, Sree Vidya Publication, Trichur, May, 1989, p. 43.
23. A. K. Krishnan, Vidwan P. Kelu Nair Oranusmaranam (Mal.), in “Vidwan P. Kelu Nair Smaranika”, Sree Vidya Publication, Trichur, May, 1989, p. 47.
24. C. P. Sreedharan, Nadakamahakaviyum Nadakangalum (Mal.), in “Vidwan P. Kelu Nair Smaranika”, Sree Vidya Publication, Trichur, May, 1989, p. 14.
25. K. Madhavan, Ente Gurunathan (Mal.), in “Vidwan P. Kelu Nair Smaranika”, Sree Vidya Publication, Trichur, May, 1989, p. 31, also in K. Madhavan, Payaswiniyude Theerathu (Mal.), Prabhath Book House, Trivandrum, 1987, p. 75, also in C. P. Sreedharan, Ibid., p. 14.
26. K. Madhavan, Ente Gurunathan (Mal.), Op. cit., p. 28.
27. Vidwan K. K. Nair, Vidwan P. Kelu Nair (Mal.), in “Vidwan P. Kelu Nair Smaranika”, Sree Vidya Publication, Trichur, May, 1989, p. 76.
28. Ibid.
29. K. Madhavan, Ente Gurunathan (Mal.), Op. cit., p. 28.
30. Ibid.
31. A. K. Nambiar, Vidwan P. Kelu Nair (Mal.), Op. cit., p. 54.
32. Vidwan K. K. Nair, Vidwan P. Kelu Nair (Mal.), Op. cit., p. 76.
33. K. Madhavan, Ente Gurunathan (Mal.), Op. cit., p. 30.
34. Ibid., p. 28.
35. K. K. N. Kurup, Payini Kelu Nairum Desiya Prasthanavum (Mal.), Op. cit., p. 43, also in K. Madhavan, Ibid., p. 28.
36. K. K. N. Kurup, Ibid., p. 44.
37. A branch of Bharat Yuvak Sangh founded by T. L. Vaswani was opened at Vellikoth Vigyanadayini Sanskrit School under the leadership of Vidwan P. Kelu Nair, K. T. Kunhiraman Nair and A. C. Kannan Nair. Vidwan K. K. Nair, Vidwan P. Kelu Nair (Mal.), Op. cit., pp. 77-78.
38. K. K. N. Kurup, Payini Kelu Nairum Desiya Prasthanavum (Mal.), Op. cit., p. 44.
39. Ibid., also in Vidwan K. K. Nair, Vidwan P. Kelu Nair (Mal.), Op. cit., p. 78.
40. Vidwan K. K. Nair, Ibid., p. 78.
41. Railway station existed in Thrikkaripur and Cheruvathur as early as 1904. however, chandera railway station was established in 1948. The distance to Vigyanadayini library is 4.1 km from Thrikkaripur, 5.1 km from Cheruvathur, and 1.3 km from Chandera. Njan Adhyam Kanda Pusthakam, Interview with E. P. Rajagopalan, The Kerala Library Movement Interviews, Memoripedia, Episode 15, 4 April 2026. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-KhBx6fIYjs&list=PLFGu2905bo9_6Cg1LDvrULZVBAB6dbcKL&index=13
42. Kala-Samskarikam Chanderayude Mannil (Mal.), in “Aksharavelicham”, Chandera Government UP School Sathabdi Smaranika, Malabar Printers, March 2016, p. 43.
43. Ibid.
44. A. M. Damodharan Nair, Ente Achan (Mal.), in “Vidwan P. Kelu Nair Smaranika”, Sree Vidya Publication, Trichur, May, 1989, pp. 38-42.
45. Vidwan K. K. Nair, Vidwan P. Kelu Nair (Mal.), Op. cit., p. 78.
46. Kelu Nair: The multifaceted freedom fighter who died at 27, Independence Day Special, online article,
47. On Manorama, August 15, 2023 10:54 am
48. Kala-Samskarikam Chanderayude Mannil (Mal.), Op. cit., p. 43.
49. Lanka Dahanam, Padhukapattabhishekam, Pakanar Charitham, Sreekrishna Leela or Janardhanadasa Charitham.
50. K. Balakrishnan Nambiar, Vidwan P. Kelu Nair: Jeevithavum Krithikalum (Mal.), Kerala Sahitya Akademi, Thrissur, 1992, p. 99.
51. C. P. Sreedharan, Nadakamahakaviyum Nadakangalum (Mal.), Op. cit., pp. 14-16.
52. After the formation of the state of Kerala in 1956, the Akhila Thiruvithaamkoor Granthasala Sangham was renamed the Kerala Granthasala Sangham (KGS). The unified body was formed by merging library networks from Travancore, Cochin, and Malabar under the leadership of P. N. Panicker. Indiayile Adhyathe Public Library, Op.cit.
53. Kala-Samskarikam Chanderayude Mannil (Mal.), Op. cit., pp. 43-46, also in K. Balakrishnan Nambiar, Vidwan P. Kelu Nair: Jeevithavum Krithikalum, Op. cit., p. 98
54. E. P. Rajagopalan, Vishadha Gandhi, in “Varayile Gandhi”, Mathrubhumi Weekly, 10 October 2021, pp. 20-21.
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Praphul Prabhakar A.
(2026).
From Reading Room to Cultural Hub: A Historical Study of Vigyanadayini Library, Maniyat.
Kerala History and Studies Journal,
1
(1)
, 317-325
.
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Praphul Prabhakar A.. "From Reading Room to Cultural Hub: A Historical Study of Vigyanadayini Library, Maniyat." Kerala History and Studies Journal, vol. 1, no. 1, 2026, pp. 317-325.
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Praphul Prabhakar A.. "From Reading Room to Cultural Hub: A Historical Study of Vigyanadayini Library, Maniyat." Kerala History and Studies Journal 1, no. 1 (2026): 317-325.
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