HISTORY

HERALDRY

Kerala Police

COCHIN

TRAVANCORE

History

Enlightened princes ruled in Travancore and Cochin with legislative councils and able chief ministers until in 1949, following the accession of the two states to independent India, the union of Travancore-Cochin was formed as one of its component states. In 1956, with revised boundaries, the Malayalam-speaking areas were united in one state and the ancient name of Kerala restored. Anxieties were aroused by the return of a Communist ministry in the general elections in 1957. Following disturbances and a period during which state constitution was suspended by the central government, midterm elections in 1960 restored an anticommunist front that was led to power by the Congres party. Presidential rule was soon restored until 1967, when a Communist ministry was duly elected.

Heraldry

The actual achievement of the State of Kerala is derived from the achievement of the State of Travancore. Its first achievement, from the time of the union of Travancore and Cochin, showed the Indian chakra, crested with the conch-emblem of the former state of Travancore, supported by two elephants, the supporters of the state emblem of Travancore as well as of the state emblem of Cochin.

After the general elections of 1957 and the formation of a communist government, a new emblem was designed. This showed the traditional elephant as the emblem of Travancore and Cochin and two palm-trees for the malayalam speaking population of Malabar. The conch-shells can be found in the bordure whgich is crested by the Asoka-capital of India.

From this emblem the Kerala police emblem is derived.

After the restauration of 1960 a new achievement occurred. This showed a cog-wheel charged with the traditional conch-shell of Travancore, crested with the Indian Asoka-capital and supported by two black elephants. At the same time the sanskrit motto TMASOMA JYOTHIRGAMAYA was introduced, meaning “May Light dislodge Darkness”.

After the new elections the achievement was changed again. The traditional Travancore emblem, the conch-shell Sri Padmanhnabha Shanka, is surrounded by a garland now as in the times of ancient Travancore state. It is crested by the Indian Asoka-capital, common for all federal states of India. The motto disappeared, maybe because the resemblance with the achievement of Travancore State became to great. It was later replaced by the name of the government in malayalam and latin script. Below is the motto of the Republic of India.

Travancore-Cochin

1949-1956

Arms: A chakra

Crest: A sankha

Supporters: Two elephants trunk erect.

Motto: TRAVANCORE-COCHIN GOVERNMENT

* no colours known

Kerala

1956 - present

Arms: A chakra

Crest: A sankha

Supporters: Two elephants trunk erect.

Motto: GOVERNMENT OF KERALA

* no colours known

Communist Government

1957-1960

Arms: An elephant guardant between two palm-trees

Crest: The Asoka-capital

Garland: Two lines dancetty and two sankha’s in chief  sTymev jyne  (Satyameva Jayate) in devanagiri.

Motto: government of kerala and SdPw c]lP\  (Kerala Anchal) in malayalam.

* on a government publication, 1959.

Presidential Rule

1960-1967

Elected Government

1967 - present

Version A

Arms: A cog-wheel proper charged with a disc Gules, a shanka proper.

Crest: The Asoka capital, being the emblem of India

Supporters: The elephants passant Sable with red covers

Motto: TMASOMA JYOTHIRGAMAYA (May Light dislodge Darkness) in devanagiri.

* no date known.

Version B

Arms: A shanka Gules surrounded by a garland

Crest: The Asoka capital, being the emblem of India

Supportes: The elephants passant Sable with red covers

*no date known

Present Version

Achievement of Kerala

The India national motto in base

Arms: A shanka Gules, surrounded by a garland

Crest: The Asoka capital, being the emblem of India

Supportes: Two elephants passant Sable.

Motto: Kerala Anchal in malayalam and GOVERNMENT OF KERALA in latin script. Below the motto of India: Satyameva Jayate in devanagiri.

Æ See illustration in the head of this article, the India national motto below the Asoka capital (preferred version).

* no coloured version known, occurs soon after restoration of elected government  (about 1971).

Achievement of the Government of Kerala

above the entrance of the Kerala Legislative Assembly, Trivandrum.

ð See illustration in the head of this essay.

The achievement is for use by government services only.

Kerala Police

The coat of arms of Kerala Police is an elephant passant before a palm-tree. It is surrounded by a bordure radiant, crested with the Asoka capital, charged with two conches, two branches of laurel in chief and the title KERALA POLICE  in base. Below is a ribbon with a motto in Maratha script.

Coat of arms of Kerala Police in  the Sardar Vallabhai Patel Police Museum of Kerala, Kollam.

Kerala Police is composed of the Malabar Special Police, the Special Armed Police Battalion, five Armed Police Battalions and the State Rapid Special Force of which the coats of arms are given by the Kerala Police official website.

This site also gives the history of the Kerala Police.

Malabar Special Police, formed 1897

Special Armed Police, formed 1958

1st Bat. formed 1972

2nd Bat. formed 1977

3rd Bat. formed 1979

4th Bat. formed 1980

5th Bat. formed 1983

State Rapid Action Force, formed 1995