INDUSTRIALIZATION AND URBAN GROWTH: THE HISTORY OF ALAPPUZHA THROUGH COIR INDUSTRY

Alappuzha, an old city in Travancore State (Kerala) that may have only been urbanized in the 1750s. Trade and industry are key factors in a city's expansion. Alappuzha's growth into an urban city was influenced by its road and canal network leading to its port, which was once a major global trade centre. The city's transformation into an industrial and urban centre was because to the tireless efforts of Raja Kesava Das, the Dewan of Travancore. This study endeavors to provide a glimpse into the recent past of Alappuzha by recalling its urbanization and trade operations in relation to the growth of the coir industry in the area. The study aims to historicize the history of Alappuzha by examining urbanization processes, road and canal network structure, creation of sea port, coir industry growth, trade guilds, and commercial streets that enabled the city to develop into a port city. This study employs the historical research method to enhance data comprehension and test critical arguments, incorporating critical analysis of sources, time series analyses, comparative methods, counterfactual analysis, and outlier evaluation. The study analyzes primary and secondary sources, including government reports, official records of Travancore state, and previous studies, to analyze the history of Alappuzha. It finds that Raja Kesava Das's policies and contributions to urbanization and industrialization were closely linked to the development of the coir industry, which strengthened the commercial networks and economy of the state. The coir industry's history forms the socio-economic history of Alappuzha.