Socio-cultural Processes and Livelihood Patterns at Tirurangadi - CDS

The impact of the new political formation and institutions was not immediately visible.
The condition of the people remained miserable and they were oppressed by landlordism
as well as the socio-economic effects of war. However, one change was visible,
that of the emergence of new social groups. A new group of merchants were prospering
in the war conditions, making use of the scarcity of essential commodities and soaring
prices, and also by entering into arrangements with the merchants in Calicut, Coimbatore
and other places. The rise of these merchants was important culturally also, as they
financed the madrasas and yatheem khanas that were being set up. An educated elite was
gradually developing, who studied in Calicut and other neaby towns, bringing along with
them new ideas, both religious and secular. People were migrating to other parts of India
and outside in search of opportunities, and they were beginning to bring their savings. A
number of people also joined the army during war time, and they stood the chance of
getting opportunities as ex-servicemen.
Early years of Independence
India’s independence was greeted with a lot of enthusiasm, while partition created its
own tremors in the region. People shouted slogans for Pakistan, and when the opportunity
came for migration, some people migrated. According to one informant, about 200
people migrated from the area of Kundoor. Apparently, the cause of the migration was
the search for better livelihood and opportunities, rather than any national and religious
feeling. It was not the well to do people who were migrating, and many of them returned,
when they found that the opportunities were limited there and also because they were
forced to be separated from their families who were Indian citizens. The fact that the
families were left here in many cases showed that they were looking for better
opportunities. One ex-serviceman remembered that he was serving in Karachi when India
became independent. Those in the service were given the choice of citizenship in