In Malabar.

Only after establishment of the depressed classes' organisation in South and Central Kerala was the movement started in Malabar.
The messages of Vaikom Satyagraha of 1924 and Depressed Classes' Freedom struggles helped wake up the dormant spirits of the depressed classes of Malabar.
It was for freedom of movement that they raised their voices first. When none of their moves met with success, they held a meeting of depressed classes in the year 1927. At the meeting chaired by Mahatma Gandhi held in Powren's Square an orgnisation by the name of 'Kerala Anthyaja-udharana Sangham'. 'Mithavaadi' editor C Krishnan Vakil and K Kelappan were elected president and secretary respectively. This organisation carried forward its work very sincerely. It also got full hearted support from some savarna leaders and activists. Subsequently the body changed its name to 'Adi - Keraleeya-udharana Sangham'.
When untouchables appeared on the scene with their demands for rights in Chirakkal Taluk, they received brutal beatings at the hands of police. At a protest meeting held in Pazhavangadi with K Madhavan Nair as chairman. At the meeting it was decided the depressed people could be generally called 'Adi Keraleeyar' and to work for their welfare a body named 'Adi Keraleeya Sangham' be formed. It was during the existence of these bodies that Guruvayoor Satyagraha took place.
By 1933 the savarna stood helpless in preventing the entry of untouchables into a number of temples. This was as a result of pressures exerted by Dr Ambedkar. As a result of the events that took place following Poona Pact, signed by Ambedkar on 25 September 1932, the savarnas undertook the responsibility of removing untouchability and finding solutions to the difficulties faced by the depressed people of the country. With that in the background, a body against untouchability, which later becam 'Harijan Sevak Sangh' in 1932.
The branches of Harijan Sevak Sangh functioned in Kerala under the presidentship of Changanasseri Parameswara Pilla. Yet the leader known as the close friend of depressed people of Malabar was none other than Shree Ananda Teerthan from the brahmin community.
One of the precedence setting program carried out by the depressed people of Malabar was to establish their right to walk on the roads by announcing their a 'freedom Walk' on Thalipparambu Road. They were tired of going through bushes and forests to reach their destinations. They got on to the road with the thought of 'come what may'. The Cherumars did not delude themselves into thinking that the savarna class will sit and watch their arrogance.
The savarna anger rose. Their self respect lifted its head. They could not tolerate the 'rights' they had enjoyed over generations being snatched away by those who lay and work mostly in the muck of the fields. These 'usurpers' are the very people whose sweat helped fill the savarna granaries was forgotten. Most of their fields were once forests which were cleared by Cherumers for their own use, but savarnas snatched it from them. The Cherumers kept silent and did not ask for their share.
Initially the cherumers merely asked for the right to walk on the public road traversed even by stray dogs and cats.
Some savarnas sounded the battle cry. For starters the savarnas refused to recognise their own workers on the street. The Nairs who lived by the road did not permit the avarnas to move even one step. They even threatened to take revenge, which they did on children and infants.
In Kalliyaassery District Board School some Cherumer children were studying. Names of all students except one were struck off from the rolls. This was another riposte to Cherumers' demand for freedom of movement. The one who did remain on the rolls was waylaid and beaten mercilessly. He too refrained from going to school. These were a repeat of what happened in Moovaattupuzha, Pulladu, Venganoor etc.
In protest against the atrocities some social workers prepared for satyagraha. That itself produced some tension in the area. With the intercession of CF Andrews, the children removed from rolls were reinstated. It was after this incidence that the government entered the scene to give more protection to Cherumer students.
Freedom of roads in Malabar was not allowed even after Cochin and Travancore allowed it due to the struggles of SJPS under Ayyankali. So it became impossible for those in Malabar to sit and just watch while all the people of neighbouring states walked on public roads freely. They improvised some tactics to solve the problem. After the public meeting, with Chirakkal Taluk Board President Kerala Varma Raja in the chair, it became feasible for untouchables to walk the streets of Kalliyaassery.
The Harijan Sevak Sangh began several novel schemes. With the initiative of KP Vallon established a Harijan Hostel in Ernakulam in Cochin State. Some schools, night schools and crafts training centres were also set up. Giving books and clothes for students, making hostel facilities, conducting home cleanliness training classes etc. were some of the programs the Sangh organised.
The first president of the Malabar branch of the Sangh was Kongaattil Raman Menon. Sree Narayana School at Payyannoor run by Ananda Theerthan, Shradhananda School in Vadakara, Shabari Ashram in Olavakkodu were all started with the untouchables in view. Gradually these were taken under the wings of Harijan Sevak Sangh. Further, Kasturba Balika Sadanam of Puthiyara, Kelappa Mandiram Hostel of Gurvayoor have given donations. During that period many organisations led by untouchables were born. Memorable are the activities of PM Unnikrishnan, O Koran on behalf of the Harijan society.