Captains of the Sands-Metropolitan Hegemony in Mining in Tiruvitamkur, 1900-50

'Captains of the Sands' Metropolitan Hegemony in Mining in Tiruvitamkur, 1900-50 K T Ram Mohan During the first half of the 20th century the predominant mining activity in Keralam (Kerala) was related to mineral beach sands containing monazite, ilmenite and other 'rare earths'. The mineral belt was located in the princely state of Tiruvitamkur (Travancore) and industry and trade in minerals was under the control of metropolitan capital. This paper examines the nature and working of the metropolitan hegemony in mining in the region.