Kottayam
Grama Panchayat

History

Kottayam is a historically significant area in Kerala. The Kottayam dynasty history points out that Harichandraraja, who built a fort at Puralimala, was the founder of the Kottayam royal family. It is believed that the territories under this dynasty's authority stretched from Thalassery to Kudak and were located in the southern and eastern parts of Kolathunadu. Later, in the early 18th century, areas like Wayanad, Erivanad, Kurumbranad, and Thamarassery came under its control. At one time, Kottayam was known by the names Purannad and Purakizhanad. In medieval literary works like Unnichchi Sahitya Charithram, the Kottayam king is described in Kokila Sandesam as Puraykeezharthangal, Puralikshumapath, and so on in sequence. By establishing their capital in Muzhakkunnu, the Kottayam dynasty initially moved its seat to Chavasseri and later to Kottayam. There are still 3 temple spaces belonging to the royal family. The southern and eastern temple spaces are in Kottayam, and the western temple space is in Palassery. The Sree Thrikkaykkunnu Mahadeva Temple, which belongs to the royal family, is one of the largest and most famous temples in Kerala. There are many legends about this temple. Also, the temple, rich with rare wooden carvings, has hosted Kathakali performances. Right next to the temple, there's the Kottayam pond, spreading over about 14 acres, which is a boon. This water reservoir, which could be a lifeline for nearby municipal areas, today stands as one of the surviving legacies of the royal family. Before the national freedom struggles against the British began, when the East India Company came into India under the pretext of trade and took control of the country's administration, there had already been numerous local battles in various parts of the country. Among those battles, the one led by Kerala Varma Pazhassi Raja, the king of Kottayam, is an unforgettable and historic story. The Palassi king, who had won the love of people of all castes and religions, had fought for a long time against British rule with the help of the Kurichyas and Kurumbars of Wayanad. However, Colonel Arthur Wellesley, who later became the Duke of Wellington and defeated Napoleon at the Battle of Waterloo, had to put in a lot of effort to subdue him.

When the East India Company started the war against Tipu in South India, Colonel Dow recorded that the role played by Pazhassi Raja in expelling Tipu's forces from Kottayam in Malabar was significant.

Pazhassi Raja's main reason for rebelling against the British was their unfair tax policy. Corrupt British officials had assigned the duty of collecting taxes in Kottayam to the king of Kurumbranad, which created resentment among the people. After Tipu's withdrawal, the British ignored Pazhassi Raja. Kottayam Thampuran marks another unforgettable chapter in Kottayam's history. Although Kottarakkara Thampuran is credited as the creator of Kathakali, the classic performing art of Kerala, it was Kottayam Thampuran who transformed Kathakali into a meaningful literary form. With the staging of four dance dramas created by Thampuran based on the Vanaparva of the Mahabharata—Kirmeeravadham, Bakavadham, Kalyanasaugandhikam, and Nivdakavachakaalayakavadham—the art form that started in Ramanattam eventually evolved into today's Kathakali. Until Irayimman Thampi and Unnayi Variyar entered the scene, Kathakali performances with proper structure were exclusively those of Kottayam Thampuran. His famous devotional verses, starting with Mathanganam Abjavāsarāmanīm, are still sung regularly in the stages of Kerala. The legend of Kottarathachan’s Shankunni also has references to Kottayam Thampuran’s storytelling. In short, some of the shining gems in Kerala’s political and cultural history are contributions from Kottayam, which residents can always take pride in. The Kottayam Panchayat played an important role in the freedom struggle. Congress activities became active from 1928 onwards. Generally, people with financial stability were more attracted to Congress activities.

Moolankunjikannan, P.N. Narayanan Nair, Puthalath Krishnan, Kannan Master, Maroli Ramunni, Nellik Krishna, P.V. Padmanabhan Nair, P.V. Madhavan Nair, T.K. Kunjiraman Master, Payyampally Kunjiraman Master, C.M. Raghavan, N. Kelumaster, Neelancheri Narayanan Nair, K.P. Mukundan Master, were among the early workers of Congress.

To inspire the workers of the national movement, E.M.S., A.K.G., Kodippurath Madhav Menon, A.V. Kuttimalu Amma also came here to give advice and guidance.

To make people aware of the need for the freedom struggle and to inspire them, AKG gave a speech at Eruvatti UP School to both students and teachers, which even today is remembered with the same enthusiasm by the older generation. The indigenous movement played an important role in the freedom struggle as a major anti-colonial effort. Charkha and Khadi were promoted as part of this.  

Near Eruvatti Kolakkavu, at the new house, the inauguration of the Noolnoolppu Center was conducted, where Mr. Madhavamenon from Kozhipuram and AV Kuttimalu Amma spoke.

Later, with the rise of the farmers' movement, the spread of socialist ideas also attracted people to the Congress Socialist Party. Among the early workers of the Congress were Kannan Master, Nellikakannan, Neelancheri Narayanan Nair, P.V. Madhavan Nair, T.K. Kunjiraman Master, and N. Kelu Master, who later became workers in the Communist Party. The socialist movement had taken good root in the Pookkode and Kottayam Poyil areas of the panchayat.

 Kottayam was the commercial hub of the old Kottayam taluk in the activities of the national movement. In the Kottayam market, the leading figures were from prominent Muslim families. Kunjuuttyali from Puthanpur, two generations, was one of those who took part in the illicit liquor shop struggle, which was part of the freedom fight. Urdu scholar Abdul Maulavi, K.E.N. Kutty, and others were activists of the old Congress. During the British rule, in the fiercely contested elections of the 1930s in the Thalassery constituency, which included what is now Wayanad, the locals of Kottayam still remember how A.K. Kadarkutty, a relative of the famous poker lawyer and now a leading plywood industrialist in Asia, defeated his opponent both through the 'salt route' and 'wife house route'. 

Kottal Uppi Sahib was the top person in Kottayam. The Muslim League formed in 1905 was active in Angadi. It was during Uppi Sahib’s time that the Muslim League’s activities got stronger here. He won elections from Eranad and was a member of the Madras Assembly for a long time. At one point, when Rajaji was the Chief Minister of Madras, it was Uppi Sahib and four other Muslim League MLCs who supported his ministry. It’s also notable that during that time he introduced the Kudiann Bill in the Madras Assembly.

The old village officials of Kottayam Grama Panchayat, who were prominent figures, were residents of Kottayam Angadi. During the period from 1871 to 1878, the police station was operating in Kottayam Angadi. P.M.R. Mammu and Moidu from Pazhayarandupura were activists with socialist ideas in those days. Their work greatly helped in creating people with socialist ideas in this area and more.

The caste system existed here in all its meanings and extent. Since this was a time when communal living and joint settlements existed, lower caste people had to move aside from paths used by higher caste people and landlords. Lower caste people did not have the right to fetch water from the wells of higher caste people.

The role the farmers' movement played in the struggles against birth-based caste systems was remarkable. This wave of farmer uprising, which spread across the country, caused a stir in the Kottayam panchayat as well.

  In the early days, Koovappadi was the activity hub for both the farmers' movement and the Communist Party. It later became a hideout for the Communist Party. Neelancheri Narayanan Nair, N. Raman, K. C. Ananthan Master, Kunjaman Gumastan, T. K. Kunjiraman Master, and P. Madhavan Nair were early activists of the Communist Party. Leaders like E. M. S., A. K. G., and C. H. Kanaran also came here in connection with the activities.    

The shooting that took place in Salem prison in 1950 after independence shocked human conscience. Out of the 22 people who sacrificed their lives, 3 were from Kottayam panchayat. N. Balan, Nilancheri Narayanan Nair were shot instantly in the jail, while U.V. Narayan Marar lived for a long time with the bullet in his body before taking his last breath.

Caste and birth-based systems are coming to an end.

Still, social inequality continues today.

That is a fact.