Malabar History journal

He studied Malayalam and Sanskrit at a school in Manjeri. He also studied at Manjeri lower secondary school and Kozhikode Vidyasala, presently known as Guruvayur Appan college. He passed his matriculation from Manjeri with distinction. Further, he studied Bachelors in Law at Madras Christian College in 1898. Further, he worked as a teacher and a principal at Samoothiri Guruvayurappan college. His wife was practicing as a lawyer at Manjeri and Kozhikode courts at the time.

Though he started his career as a lawyer, he soon became attracted to the anti-colonial movement of Malabar. He was the first president of the Grama panchayat of Manjeri.

He was a theosophist who adopted Swami Vivekananda’s teachings and later, belief in Buddhism. In 1903, he became a member of the theosophical society. In 1911, he joined Mithavadhi C Krishnan, who converted to Buddhism later and struggled along Rama Iyer against child marriage, untouchability and many other social evils. In February 1915, Rama Iyer was expelled from his caste for eating at the marriage function of his friend from a lower caste. After that, he became a member of the theosophical society. He also adopted Buddhism and renamed himself Angarika Raman. Further, he became a staunch proponent of the Home Rule league of Annie Besant in Calicut. He also became its president while Keshava Menon became its secretary. Apart from the self-rule of India, the Home rule league addressed issues on sanitation and elementary education. He died in 1958.

Major Contributions

Anti-British struggle

Ram Iyer began his anti-British struggle by being part of the Home Rule League of Annie Besant. He took the initiative to start local units of the Home Rule League in Malabar. He was also a member of the Home Rule Committee that visited London to demand self-rule in India on behalf of the Home Rule League in India. He opposed fierce attacks of Mappilas in Malabar Rebellion and also criticized the use of military force by the British to oppress the Mappila Rebellion of 1921. After the Wagon massacre of 19 November 1921, Ram Iyer was appointed to the investigation committee led by the British to investigate the issue. The committee was expected to favour the British by distorting the information. However, Ram Iyer carried out a serious investigation and argued that those responsible be punished. He opposed the caste system in Malabar and was an active member of Brahma Vidhya Sangam.

References

Manjeri Rama Iyer — A Social Worker and Freedom Fighter. (n.d.). Maddy’s Ramblings. Accessed on 30/11/22 from Link.

Manjeri Rama Iyer. Unsung Heroes Detail. Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav. Accessed on 30/11/22 from Link.

ബ്രിട്ടീഷ് വാദങ്ങളുടെ മുനയൊടിച്ചത് രാമയ്യർ. മഞ്ചേരി രാമയ്യർ – നീതിയുടെ പ്രകാശ ഗോപുരം. Mathrubhumi. 19.11.22.