Cantonment Maidan

Cantonment Maidan Peeranki Maidan
An Exhibition going on at Cantonment Maidan
Location	Kollam, Kerala
Coordinates	8°52′54″N 76°35′59″E / 8.881625°N 76.599752°E / 8.881625; 76.599752
Founder	East India Company
Operated by	Kollam Municipal Corporation
Open	All year

Cantonment Maidan or Peeranki Maidan or Peeringee Maidan (Malayalam: കന്‍റോണ്‍മെന്‍റ് മൈതാനം/പീരങ്കി മൈതാനം) is a historical ground, closely associated with the social and political history of Kerala. It is situated at the eastern portion of Old Quilon town, near to the present S.N College.^[1] It hosts the main exhibitions, party meetings and city's main cultural and sports events regularly.^[2] 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.^[3]^[4]^[5]^[6]

History

Cantonment Maidan is situated at the east of old Quilon town. 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, Port and it's trade importance, a 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.

Battle of Quilon

Main article: Battle of Quilon

In 1809, the local militia and the Army of Travancore stationed around Kollam attacked the British Garrison at the Cantonment Maidan on the heels of Velu Thampi Dalawa.^[7] The British force lead 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.^[8]

Other events held at Cantonment Maidan

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 October 11, 1927. Historic Chingam 17 Struggle was happened at Cantonment Maidan on of September 2, 1938 in which six people were killed in the 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 hadn't been effective attempts to record the story or spread that. As per the 'History of Modern Kollam' penned by journalist late V.Lakshmanan though 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.^[9]

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 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.^[10]