Furthermore, his treatment of the colonial period sheds light on the transformation of heritage. Menon chronicles the impact of Western education and the missionary activities that led to the "Kerala Renaissance." He documents the social reform movements led by Sree Narayana Guru, Ayyankali, and Chattampi Swamikal with a balanced perspective. This section is vital for understanding the modern cultural heritage of Kerala—a heritage defined by secularism, high literacy, and social reform.
Prof. A. Sreedhara Menon, a Padma Bhushan awardee and eminent historian.