The importance of the notion of a united Kerala reached the people along with the emergence of the national movement. The people of Kerala, in spite of speaking the same language, had earlier the experience of living under different political systems. The distinct existence of the regions of Travancore, Cochin and Malabar stood in the way of the Malayali’s sense of unity

On the occasion of the meetings of different organizations, resolutions in favour of a united Kerala were adopted. The Congress Session held at Payyanur in 1928 demanded that Kerala should be reorganized as a separate state when a constitution for independent India would be given shape.

Going beyond resolutions, the demand for a united Kerala took shape as part of the freedom struggle. Indeed, in the Vaikom Satyagraha of 1924 and the Guruvayur Satyagraha of 1931-1932, people from all parts of Kerala were participants. A committee to discuss the formation of a united Kerala was constituted in 1945.

A United Kerala Convention was held at Thrissur in 1947 on this basis: Its President was K. Kelappan and it was inaugurated by then Raja of Cochin. The Dhar Commission appointed by the Constituent Assembly came to Kerala and collected evidence.

With the merger of Travancore and Cochin on 1 st July 1949, the movement for a united Kerala gained strength. The legitimacy of a united Kerala was brought home by a book Onnekalkodi Malayalikal by

E.M.S.Namboodirippad. The self sacrifice of Potti S.reeramulu in Andhra accelerated the process of state formation on linguistic basis.

When, finally, the state of Kerala came into existence by joining together the regions where Malayalam is spoken, the Thovala, Agastheesvaram, Kalkkulam and Vilavankodu taluks of Trivandrum district became part of Madras State. Similarly the Kasargode and Hosdurg taluks, which were parts of the district of South Canara, were added to the State of Kerala. Thus came into existence a new state of Kerala comprising Malabar, Cochin and Travancore.