Kannur: One of the most important resistance movements against British rule in Malabar took place on September 15, 1940 at Kannur when the KPCC gave a call to the people of Malabar to observe the day as Anti-Imperialist Day. Thalassery Beach was the main centre of this protest in which two freedom fighters died in police firing.Though 75 years have passed after this glorious chapter of the Indian freedom struggle, a memorial for the martyrs is still a long way from becoming a reality.
Though there was a plan by the state government to build a memorial as part of the Thalaserry Heritage Tourism Project, declared by the then Tourism Minister Kodiyeri BalakrishnanNation, Current Affairs, South,
in 2010 , nothing materialised after the change in rule.
“The place has a very important role in the freedom movement. Presently known as Jawahar Ghat, the place is behind the Thalassery Fort. On September 15, 1940 a protest was organised against British imperialism and since protests were banned at this site, the police started firing to stop the protest. Abu Master and Chathukutti, two revolutionaries were shot dead and the rest of them were arrested and sentenced to death,” says Dr A Valsalan, Brennen College History department. “An apt memorial for the martyrs is the best thing we can do for those who sacrificed their lives and also for the coming generations to understand the value of their sacrifice,” he added.
