PEASANT MOVEMENT IN MALABAR 43 conflicts and polemics which ensued, the left wing expanded and consolidated its position. The year 1937 as pointed out earlier saw a rapid rise in Congress membership— a fourfold increase mainly due to the CSP organizational efforts. In 1938 the CSP strength was reflected in the Congress organization when in the KPCC elections the majority of seats were captured by the leftists and their allies, the Muslim nationalists. Mohammed Abdur Rahiman, a staunch anti-imperialist and veteran of the Malabar Rebellion of 1921, was elected president and Namboodiripad as secretary of the KPCC. The most significant fact about the period under review is the success of the GSP men in converting the Congress into a vehicle of militant anti-imperialism based on the workers and peasantry. This success had enormous repercussions for the future of politics in Kerala state later on. The multi-faceted work of the GSP cadres among the workers, peasants, youth, teachers and the national movement steadily bore fruit and the stage was set for the militant upsurge of the peasantry. The development of an all-Malabar peasant union and the peasant struggles of north Malabar, the counter-offensive of the ruling classes, and the heroic struggles against imperialism occupy the stage in the period immediately before and during the Second World War. The emergence of the Communist Party steeled in struggle is also a product of this time. 1 Social Scientist 14 and 15, September and October 1973. a A R MacEwcn, Resettlement Scheme Report for the Eight Plain Taluks of Malabar District Appendix XL-B; and Government of Madras, Revenue Department, Board of Revenue, G 0 No 2654 (MS) dated 24.9.38. The prices of coconuts are per 1000 (husked). 8 Government of Madras, Revenue Department, G 0 No 2259, dated 6.8.1943. 4 A R MacEwcn, op.cit. o The Hindu, 14 May 1934. e Prabhatham, 17 April 19^9; article entitled "Kerala Congress Socialist Party" by P Krishna Pillai, Secretary, Kerala CSP. He wrote, "One fact must be particularly noted: it will not be wrong to say that those who assembled (to form the CSP) there was nobody who had a knowledge of Marxism and scientific understanding of the tasks of a socialist party/* (translated from Malay alam). 7 Interview with A V Kunhambu aud K A Keraleeyan, April-May 1973.E M S Namboodiripad in his autobiography ^4 8 E M S Namboodiripad, Welcome Address (Radical Conference, 15 December 1935) Udyabhanu Press, Shoranur 1935. (translated from Malayalam). 9 Mathrubhumi, 17 December 1935, gives a full report of the proceedings. 10 Mathrubhumi, 14 January 1936, reports 600 workers of Tiruvannur Mills were on strike for over two months. 1' Mathrubhumi, 16 November 1937, gives detailed extracts from the welcome address of Krishna Pillai. la Interview with Namboodiripad, May 1973. He wrote three articles on indebtedness etc. in Mathrubhumi in 1933. 1 8 Namboodiripad, interview, ibid. ' * The Hindu, 20 April 1934. *6 The Hindu, 11 December 1934 and 25 December 1934.