https://indianpedia.org/index.php?action=history&feed=atom&title=Cantonment_MaidanCantonment Maidan - Revision history2026-07-31T05:37:15ZRevision history for this page on the wikiMediaWiki 1.45.4https://indianpedia.org/index.php?title=Cantonment_Maidan&diff=110737&oldid=prev>Missvain at 22:55, 2 June 20212021-06-02T22:55:32Z<p></p>
<p><b>New page</b></p><div>{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2018}}<br />
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2018}}<br />
{{Infobox park<br />
| name = Cantonment Maidan <br>Peeranki Maidan<br />
| photo = Exhibition at Cantonment Maidan, Kollam.jpg<br />
| photo_width = <br />
| photo_caption = An Exhibition going on at Cantonment Maidan<br />
| type = <br />
| location = [[Kollam]], [[Kerala]], [[India]]<br />
| coords = {{coord|8.881625|76.599752||display=inline}}<br />
| area = <br />
| founder = [[East India Company]]<br />
| operator = [[Kollam Municipal Corporation]]<br />
| visitation_num = <br />
| status = <br />
| open = All year<br />
}}<br />
'''Cantonment Maidan''' or '''Peeranki Maidan''' or '''Peeringee Maidan''' is a historical ground in the eastern portion of Old [[Quilon]] town, near S.N College, in [[Kerala]], [[India]].<ref>[http://samanwayam.com/content.php?News%20-%20Incidents/395 Peeranki Maidan - Samanwayam.com]</ref> It is closely associated with the social and political history of Kerala. It hosts the main exhibitions, party meetings and city's main cultural and sports events regularly.{{cn|date=June 2020}} [[Vanitha]] Fest, Mango Fest, Kollam Bible Convention, [[Kerala Kaumudi]] Centenary Expo, various political party meets, Rallies, Cricket & Football Tournaments and other public functions are regularly taking place at Cantonment Maidan.<ref>[http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/article330748.ece CPI state meet in Kollam from 7 February]</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-miscellaneous/in-kollam-today/article3180833.ece | title=In Kollam Today | date=20 February 2006 | newspaper=The Hindu | accessdate=10 July 2018 }}</ref><ref>[http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/article186439.ece PFI takes out rally in Kollam city]</ref><ref>[http://keralaevents.in/events/kollam-mango-festival-2013-2/ PFI Kollam Mango Festival-2013] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150318002235/http://keralaevents.in/events/kollam-mango-festival-2013-2/ |date=18 March 2015 }}</ref><br />
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==History==<br />
Cantonment Maidan is situated at the east of old [[Quilon]] city. Two hundred years back, the maidan extended over a sizeable area of East [[Kollam]]. There were no railway connectivity in South Kerala then. Due to the importance of [[Kollam]] with public offices, [[Kollam Port|Port]] and its trade importance, a [[United Kingdom|British]] [[Garrison]] was stationed in [[Kollam]] - which was subsequently reduced to a native regiment, as a protective force for the then Maharaja of the erstwhile state of [[Travancore]].<br />
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===Battle of Quilon===<br />
{{Main|Battle of Quilon}}<br />
In 1809, the local militia and the Army of [[Travancore]] stationed around Kollam attacked the [[United Kingdom|British]] [[Garrison]] at the Cantonment Maidan on the heels of [[Velu Thampi Dalawa]].<ref>[http://www.haindavakeralam.com/HkPage.aspx?PAGEID=16650&SKIN=K The Early History of Travancore by Shangoony Menon : An-E Book] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141020140909/http://www.haindavakeralam.com/HkPage.aspx?PAGEID=16650&SKIN=K |date=20 October 2014 }}</ref> The [[British people|British]] force led by Col. Chalmers proved victorious in that six hours lasted war, that is known as ''[[Battle of Quilon]]''. All the insurrectionist who participated in the war were court-martialled and got hanged at the maidan.<ref name="History of Travancore">[https://books.google.com/books?id=YYlC_qF_eB0C&pg=PA6&lpg=PA6&dq=History+of+Travancore+by+P.+Shangoony+Menon&source=bl&ots=N_COf4VhUL&sig=esdBTLsIFlZ8TksV3xOcbUAHSwg&hl=en&sa=X&ei=reFEVNmtKsuouwSfgYJw&ved=0CDQQ6AEwAw#v=onepage&q=History%20of%20Travancore%20by%20P.%20Shangoony%20Menon&f=false 'History of Travancore' by P. Shangoony Menon]</ref><br />
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===Other events held at Cantonment Maidan===<br />
[[File:Ayyankali_statue_in_kollam.jpg|180px|thumb|right|The statue of [[Ayyankali]] at Peeranki Maidan near SN College, Kollam]]<br />
Apart from this, Cantonment Maidan has been the venue for many significant events. A compromise meeting was held here in 1915 as part of ''Pulayar-Nair Revolt'' at Perinad, also called the ''Kallumala Agitation'', in which [[Ayyankali]] took part. A statue of Ayankali can be seen at the maidan. [[Mahatma Gandhi]] addressed the people here On 11 October 1927. Historic ''Chingam 17 Struggle'' happened at Cantonment Maidan on 2 September 1938 in which six people were killed in firing by the British police. The heroic traits of a group of locals who had challenged the British remain as a dusty chapter in the history of freedom struggle as there has not been effective attempts to record the story or spread it. <br />
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As per the 'History of Modern Kollam' penned by journalist late V. Lakshmanan, six persons were killed in police firing. The four identified among them were Asramam Lakshmanan, Ayathil Balakrishna Pillai, Kolloorvila Moideenkunju, and Kureepuzha Kochukunju. Thousands marched from [[Polayathode]] to [[Chinnakkada]] led by state congress leaders, including Kumbalathu Sankupillai and C Kesavan on the fateful day. Though there was a massive company of police force, the protesters could assemble at the Cantonment Maidan to hear the speeches of those designated by the state congress to give the civil disobedience speech, including M G Koshy, P G Varghese and K Sukumaran. Police arrested the speakers and opened fire at the gathering.<ref>[http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-fridayreview/a-place-in-history/article3218611.ece A place in history - The Hindu]</ref><br />
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[[United Kingdom|British]] Police used to exhibit five cannons at the adjacent park accounts for the name Peeringee Maidan, by which name this ground was earlier called. These cannons were used for firing at the patriots of the land is now kept at the [[Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Police Museum, Kollam|Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Police Museum]] in [[Kollam]] city. The present Armed Reserve Camp is situated at the old Cantonment ground, where the British Army and Sir CP's Army camped ahead of the firing.<ref>[http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/thiruvananthapuram/Chingam-17-struggle-to-be-documented-on-silver-screen/articleshow/22235489.cms Chingam 17 struggle to be documented on silver screen - TOI]</ref><br />
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==See also==<br />
* [[Kollam]]<br />
* [[Asramam Maidan]]<br />
* [[Polayathode]]<br />
* [[Chinnakada]]<br />
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==References==<br />
{{Reflist}}<br />
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{{Kollam |state=expanded}}<br />
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[[Category:History of Kollam]]</div>>Missvain