LANGUAGE IN INDIA

Strength for Today and Bright Hope for Tomorrow

Volume 21:5 May 2021
ISSN 1930-2940

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         Sam Mohanlal, Ph.D.
         B. Mallikarjun, Ph.D.
         A. R. Fatihi, Ph.D.
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         Pammi Pavan Kumar, Ph.D.
         Soibam Rebika Devi, M.Sc., Ph.D.

Managing Editor & Publisher: M. S. Thirumalai, Ph.D.

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The Anchal Postal System: The History of Postal System in Travancore and Cochin

Augustine. P., M.A. History
Research Scholar, University of Kerala


Courtesy: https://stampboards.com/viewtopic.php?t=20387

Abstract

India is a land of diversity. It has a unique culture and civilization of its own. There are some peculiar features in Indian states that stand unique from other civilizations of the world. One among such feature was the Postal System of Kerala. In the early days, Postal System was the landmark of communication for royalty, government, and nonofficial purposes. It helped in transmitting messages and information even to the remotest area. Before independence, India was divided into a number of Princely states. During this time, Kerala had three parts: Travancore, Cochin and Malabar. The Postal System that existed in the kingdoms of Travancore and Cochin was known as Anchal. The Anchal Postal System existed long before the introduction of Uniform Penny Postage by Sir Rowland Hill. Anchal was established in Travancore by Anizham Tirunal Marthanda Varma. Anchal proved very efficient in binding the society of Travancore and Cochin. Its efficiency was so high that it even competed with the British Postal System. The peculiarity and uniqueness of Anchal Postal System led to its growth and development until it was merged with the Indian Post and Telegraph Department on April 1, 1957. The Anchal Postal System can be considered as a model to other postal systems in India, and also to the whole world.

Keywords: Anchal, Travancore, Cochin, Malabar, Penny Postage, M.E. (Malayalam Era)

Introduction

A Postal System is a system wherein written documents typically enclosed in envelopes and also in small packages containing other materials are delivered to destinations around the world. Anything sent through a Postal System is called ‘post’ or ‘mail’. The process of communication through written documents started from the inception of writing. During the initial stage, this communication pattern was more or less same throughout the world. Later, this paved the way for the evolution of unique postal systems. In India, there were unique postal systems from the time of Mauryas to that of the Mughal Emperors. But it attained a nationwide impetus only during the British rule. This was an exception in the case of the princely states of Travancore and Cochin in Kerala. They had a unique Postal department known as Anchal. This was long before India’s Independence and Kerala’s formation as a separate state. During the initial stage, Anchal managed government records only. Later, service was opened to the public. Anchal stood as an independent organisation and competed with the postal service of the British East India Company. The Anchal runners are the backbone behind the transportation of posts. The innovations and reforms made by the Anchal Postal System helped in shaping the structure of the present Kerala Postal Circle.

This is only the beginning part of the article. PLEASE CLICK HERE TO READ THE ENTIRE ARTICLE IN PRINTER-FRIENDLY VERSION.


Augustine. P., M.A. History
Research Scholar, University of Kerala
Department of History, University College
Trivandrum, Kerala
augustinekarnan@gmail.com
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