Genesis of Working Class Movement in Kerala: A 20th Century Perspective

Author(s)	Shobha Karinchan
Country	India
Abstract	The evolution and growth of the working class and trade movement in Kerala is often bonded with the outgrowth of organized trade unions and the growth of left-oriented political awareness during the early twentieth century. Nevertheless, the origin of this movement can be traced back to the thorough and extreme socio-economic transformations that happened before proper and strict labor unions appeared; the underlying conditions necessary for the creation of a working class had already begun to develop under colonial rule. Traditional Kerala society functioned within a rigid caste hierarchy where occupations were largely determined by caste status. Labor was not simply an economic activity but also a social obligation shaped by customary practices. Agricultural workers and manual laborers most of whom belonged marginalized communities were tied to landlords and dominant social groups through long-standing social arrangements. Although exploitation existed in this system, it was embedded within a feudal and caste-based structure rather than understood as a class relationship.
Keywords	working class, trade union, social reform movement, print media, communism, socialism
Published In	Volume 8, Issue 3, May-June 2026
Published On	2026-06-11
DOI	https://doi.org/10.36948/ijfmr.2026.v08i03.80720

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