CONCLUSION
The period of sixteen years from 1931 to 1947 that coincided, by and large with the reign
of Maharaja Sri Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma, was one of social change, administrative reforms, economic development and
political upheavals in the history of modern Travancore. The Maharaja had the illustrious statesman and administrator Sir.
C.P Ramaswami Aiyar as his Legal and Constitutional Advisor from 1931 to 1936 and as Diwan from 1936 to 1947 Sir. C.P who
dominated the political scene in Travancore during this period was able to win for the State a place of pre-eminence on the
political map of India by the bold and innovative steps taken by him to streamline the administration and speed up the industrialization
of the state. Though his contribution in this regard has won praise from knowledgeable quarters, Sir CP’s role in formulating
State policies aimed at dealing with the many political agitations which rocked Travancore during this period has come in
for a great deal of criticism and made him a highly controversial figure in the history of modern Kerala. Especially the strong
action taken by him in putting down the agitation for Responsible Government carried on under the auspices of the Travancore
State Congress and the Punnapra-Vayalar insurrection organized by the Communist Party (October 1946) led to his being depicted
as an oppressor and a tyrant. Towards the end of his Diwanship, his advocacy of the cause of Independent Travancore roused
strong passions among the people at the Central and State levels and even culminated in an attempt on his life (July 25, 1947)
before the State took the final decision to join the Indian Union.
The flying start CP made in respect of industrial policy was generally regarded with admiration, that he was
in hurry in industrialise, Travancore. CP felt that no headway has been made
by the state over the years towards solving the fundamental problem of unemployment. He was never in haste to start any industry.
Nor did his ambitious industrial policy outmatch the resources of the state. He never adopted any programe without sufficient
examination of its practicability. His industrial policy did promote public confidence. He was considered to be the “father
of Industrialization of Modern Travancore” CP was accurate in his calculation that if Travancore did not take immediately
to industrial expansion and economic development, its economic extinction within a decade was certain.
Till now, mostly politicians who were Sir CP’s opponents had given their assessment of his personality and work
and of the events of the period in the shaping of which he had a decisive hand. Such assessment has naturally not been objective.
While the negative aspects of his administration have won more than adequate attention, the positive aspects have received
scant notice. It has also been the fashion to give sole credit to the Maharaja for all the significant achievements of the
reign and foist the blame on the Diwan for all the lapses and failures.
The industrial policy pursued by Sir CP has been subjected to serious criticism from certain quarters within the State.
The main thrust of the criticism was that local enterprise and local capital were ignored and outside entrepreneurship and
outside capital were encouraged while embarking on the programme of industrialization of the State. His argument was that
local capital being shy and local enterprise not coming to the fore, foreign capital and enterprise has necessarily to be
depended upon for realizing the objective of the speedy industrialization of Travancore. He explained the main features if
his industrial policy while formally opening the Trivandrum Rubber Works on January 4,1941 under the new management of the Bombay industrialist, Sir Chinubhai Madhavlal
of Ahemadabad. It was made clear that while the Government was anxious to exploit the natural resources of the State in furtherance
of the cause of industrialization, it had no intention of taking upon itself any commercial enterprise. The Government would
assume the responsibility of water supply, drainage and supply of cheap labour throughout the State to help the industrialists
who come forward to start industries.
The Government
of Travancore have made up their mind that if local enterprise, local capital, local energy, local cooperation and coordination
are forthcoming, they will be stimulated, helped, encouraged and subsidized for the purpose of industrial and manufacturing
enterprises. But it local enterprise, local capital and local energy are not forthcoming, Government dare not, must not and
will not allow this opportunity to escape and rest upon the oblivious past, regardless of the demands of the present and the
exigencies of the future
At the meeting of the State Legislature held on February 19,1945 allegations were made by members that foreigners were
being preferred for starting industries in the State. On the 20th February Sir CP gives a brief account of his one and a half-hour
speech in the Assembly explaining the whole position. He pointed out that in all basic industries Government is taking steps
to get a predominant voice in the management by subscribing for a majority of shares (eg. FACT and others).
The industrial policy of Sir CP was basically sound and it helped the rapid industrialization of the State so as to
make it economically strong. The fact is that even in the post independence period capital in Kerala has been reluctant and
not many indigenous industrialists have ventured to start industries with their own funds. The State had to depend on industrialists
from outside as well as the Central Government to start industries here with
their funds. If this has been the position in the post-independence period one can almost imagine what would have been the
position here in then colonial period when the British authorities were not genuinely interested in the industrial progress
of the land. Infact, they even tried to put obstacles in the way by preventing the purchase of machinery and equipment from
outside which was so badly needed for starting the new industries.
In chapter first, the researcher analysed the magnetic personality of Sir. C.P Ramaswami Aiyar. In the second chapter
the researcher further enquiring in to the life and achievements of Sir CP. The third chapter proposed to highlight the industrial
contribution of Sir CP Ramaswami Aiyar in the context of modern Travancore. The fourth chapter highlights the evaluation of
industrial policy of Sir CP Ramaswami Aiyar in modern Travancore.
In this research project the researcher attempting
to prove that, Sir C.P Ramaswami Aiyar became the father of industrialization of modern Travancore from the controversial
past. I wanted to present them, which Sir CP pursued his goal that quicked the pace of the economic development of Travancore
and enabled the state to secure for itself a place of pre-eminence in Indian polity and economy.
