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Kannur district
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Kannur district
derived its name from the location of its headquarters at Kannur
town. The old name ‘Cannanore’ is the anglicised from of the
Malayalam word Kannur. According to one opinion, ‘Kannur’ is a
derivation form Kanathur, an ancient village, the name of which
survives even today in one of the wards of Kannur Municipality.
History
It can be assumed
that the first batch of Aryan immigrants into the State entered the
district through the Tuluva region.
Mooshaka
Kings and Kolathiris
Early in the ninth
century A.D., the cheras re-established their political supermacy in
Kerala under Kulasekahra Varman. This second line of Chera emperors
ruled till 1102 A.D. with their capital at Mahodayapuram. The bulk
of the area, comprising of the present Kannur district, seems to
have been included in this empire. A separate line of rulers known
as the Mooshaka Kings held sway over Chirakkal and Kasargod areas (Kolathunad)
with their capital near Mount Eli (Ezhimala). By the 14th century
A.D., the old Mooshaka kingdom had come to be known as Kolathunad
and the rulers known as Kolathiris and had come into prominence in
north Kerala.
The Kolathiris were a
power to reckon with at time of the arrival of the Portuguese
towards the end of the 15th century. They were political and
commercial rivals of the Zamorins of Kozhikode.
Vasco
Da Gama
Though Vasco Da
Gama, the famous Portuguese navigator, did not visit Kannur on his
way Kozhikode in May 1498, he established contacts with the
Kolathiri ruler. His ships which had left Kozhikode on August 29,
1498 were contacted by the boats sent by the kolathiri was to gain
wealth and power with the help of the Portuguese, the same way the
Zamorin had acquired with the help of the Arabs. In winning the
alliance of the Kolathiri, Vasco Da Gama, in turn, had successfully
exploited the jealousies of the native princes and own for the
Portuguese a virtual monopoly of the pepper trade.
Francisco De Almedia
was sent from Portugal with specific instructions to erect forts at
stratetgic points. He started constructing the Kannur Fort in 1505
and it was named St. Angelo.
On March 16, 1506,
the Portuguese effectively intercepted an armada of Turks and Arabs,
whom the Zamorin had launched against Kannur. The Portuguese navy
under Lorenzo Almedia engaged the Zamotin’s fleet in battle and the
Portuguese ships won a decisive victory. This naval victory resulted
in the establishment of Portuguese naval supremacy in the Indian
seas.
Potuguese
ascendency
The Portuguese
followed a policy of religious persecution and forcible conversion.
They therefore clashed with most of the native princes and
chieftains.
In 1558, the
Kolathiri came openly into the field against the Portuguese by
providing active support to the Kunhjali Marrikkar of Kozhikode. The
Kolathiri and the Zamorin fought a common war against the Portuguese
and they besieged the fort of St. Angelo at Kannur, in 1564. But the
Portuguese continued to maintaian a precarious foothold at Kannur
till 1663 when the fort was captured by the Dutch in Februery that
year.
Arrival
of the English East Indian Company
The English East
India Company got its first foothold in the district towards the
closing years of the 17th century, when it acquired a site at
Thalassery for the erection of a fort and a factory. Then thy
establish their power here.
The British
Government divided the province of Malabar into two adminstrative
divisions-the Northern and Southern, presided over by a
Superintendent each at Thalassery and Cherpulasseri, under the
general control of the Supervisor and Chief Magistrate of the
province of Malabar who had his headquarters at Kozhikode.
Freedom
Movement
Kannur district has
played an important role in all the political movements of recent
times. The Indian National Congress, which was founded in 1885,
captured the attention of the people of this district from its very
inception. A district committee came into existence in Malabar in
1908. A branch of the All India Home Rule League, Founded by Dr.
Annie Beasant, functioned in Thalassery during this period and among
its active workers was V.K. Krishna Menon.
Salt
Sathyagraha
Payyanur was the
main venue of the Salt Sathygraha in Malabar. On 13th April, a batch
of Congress volunteers under the leadership of K. Kelappan started
on foot from Kozhikode to the beaches of Payyanur and broke the salt
laws there on April 21.
The ‘Quit India’
Movement of August 1942 also had its echoes in Kannur district. A
socialist group among the Congress workers under Dr. K.B.Menon,
provided leadership to the movement.
Physiography
of Kannur
Kannur disrtict
lies between latitudes 11o40’ to 12o48’ North and longitudes 74o52’
to 76o07’ East. The district is bound by the Western Ghats in the
East (Coorg district of Karnataka State), Kozhikode and Waynad
districts, in the South, Lakshadweep sea in the West and Kasargod,
the northern most district of Kerala, in the North.
The
People
The Hindu community
in this district, as elsewhere in the country, is organised on the
basis of castes and sub castes. The broad divisions of the community
are Thiyya, Nairs, Ambalavasis, Brahmins and Kammalan.
The Thiyyas from the
majority amoung the Hindu community in the district. Though they
correspond to the Ezhavas in the southern parts of the State, both
the communities disclaim any such connection.
The Muslims, here
known as Mapplias, from the second largest community. Majority of
them are Sunnis.
Maliq Ibn Dinar of
Arabia is belived to have founded mosques at Valapattanam, Madai,
Sreekandapuram and Dharmadam. Large number of conversions were made
into Islam from various sections of the population and before long,
it became an influential religion.
Though Christianity
is belived to have been introduced in Kerala by the Apostle
St.Thomas in 52 AD, the religon made progress only with the advent
of the Portuguese towards the close of the 15th century.
The Protestant
Missions have been at work here since the first half on the 19th
century when the Basel German Evangelical Mission was founded by Dr.
H. Gundert. Most of their converts were from the Thiyya community.
Sheduled
Castes and Tribes
The major scheduled
caste is Cheruman and the important tribe is Kurichiya. Other
important scheduled castes are Paraya, Nayadi, Mavilan, Valluvan,
Adiyan, Chingathan, Kader, Karimpalan, Kattunayacken, Kudiya,
Kurichya, Malayar, Malayan, Mulla Kurumbar and Paniya. Urali,
Karumbars are the major scheduled tribes.
Education
In the 14th and
15th centuries, during the regime of the Kolathiri Rajas of
Thaliparamba was renowned all over Kerala as a seat of learning
enlightenment and culture.
Now the education level is high
and the literacy rate is 92.8%.
Statistics
Total area of Kannur is 2966
Sq.Km. Population is 2412365.
Now Kannur district
has three taluks, viz., Kannur Thaliparamba and Thalassery. The
taluks are subdivided into eight firkas and 129 villages.
Taluks & Villages
The villages in
Taliparamba taluk are Karivellur, Vellur, Payyanur, Ramanthali,
Korome, Kankole, Peralam, Peringome, Eramam, Kuttoor, Thimiri,
Alakode, Naduvil, Vellad, Kooveri, Pariyaram, Kuttiyeri, Panniyoor,
Pattuvam, Taliparamba, Kurumathur, Chuzhali, Chengalayi,
Sreekandapuram, Nidienga, Payyavoor, Andoor, Morazha, Alappadamba,
Perinthatta, Vayakkara, Vellora, Kolacherry, Cheleri, Kayaralam,
Mayyil, Kuttiyattoor, Maniyoor, Irikkoor, Padiyoor, Vayattar,
Kalliad, Nuchiyad, Malappattam, Thirumeni, Pulingome and Eruvessy.
The villages in
Thalassery taluk are: Thalassery, Thiruvangad, Dharmadam, Eranholi,
Kathirur, Eruvatti, Pinarai, Pathiriyad, Kottayam, Chockli,
Peringathir, Kodiyeri, Pazhassi, Kolari, Keezhallur, Chavasseri,
Keezhur, Payam, Vilaman, Aralam, Ayyamkunnu, Koodaly, Mattannur,
Mangattidam, Paduvilayil, Kuthuparamba, Kandamkunnu, Manantheri,
Kolayad, Kannavam, Cheruvancheri, Pattiam, Mokeri, Panniyannur,
Puthur, Panoor, Triprangottur, Kolavellur, Tholambra, Sivapuram,
Thillangeri, Muzhakunnu, Vallaravalli, Manathana, Vekkelam,
Kanichiyar, Kelakam, Kottiyoor.
The villages in
Kannur Taluk are: Kannur 1, Kannur-2, Puzhathi, Pallikkunnu,
Chirakkal, Baliapattam, Azhikode South, Azhikode North, Eleyavoor,
Valuyannur, Munderi, Kanhiroad, Anjarakandy, Iriveri, Chelora,
Chembilode, Kadambur, Mavilayi, Makeri, Muzhippilangad, Edakkad,
Kunhimangalam, Cheruthazam, Panappuzha, Kadannappally, Madai, Ezhom,
Mattool, Cherukunnu, Kannapuram, Kalliasseri, Pappinisseri,
Kannadiparamba and Narath.
Kasaragod District
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The name, Kasargod,
is said to be derived from the word Kusirakood meaning Nuxvomica
forests (Kanjirakuttom). Kasargod district was formed on 24th May
1984.
Physiography
of Kasaragod
Kasaragod district
lies between 11o18’ and 12o48’ north latitudes and between 74o52’
and 75o26’ east longitudes. The district is marked off from the
adjoining areas outside the State by the Western Ghats which run
parallel to the sea and constitute an almost continuous mountain
wall on the eastern side.
The district is
bounded in the east by the Western Ghats, in the west by the Arabian
sea, the north by the Canara district of Karnataka and in the south
by the Kannur District.
The
People
The major religious
groups are Hindus, Muslims and Christians. Brahmins, Nairs,
Ambalavasis, Thiyyas, and Kammalas are major divisions of the Hindu
community. Thiyyas in the northern parts of the district are known
as Belichappad. The sub-divisions of Nair community are Nambiar,
Menon, Kurup etc. Kammalas are artisans like Thattan (Goldsmith),
Perumkollam (Blacksmith) and Asaris (Carpenters). Brahmins consist
of Bhat, Punichitaya, Kukkillaya, Ballullaya, Kadambulithaya,
Kakunnaya etc.
Christian are settled
mainly in the eastern hilly areas. They are the early settlers from
the southern parts of the State.
The Muslims are very
pious and they follow rigid religious customs. The purdha system is
observed more strictly here by Muslim women than in any other parts
of the State.
Sheduled
Castes and Tribes
Cherumas, Mavilans,
Parayas, etc. are the scheduled castes. They are mainly agricultural
labourers. The scheduled tribes consist of Koragas of Kasargod taluk,
Marattis of Hosdurg and Kasargod taluks and Adiyans of Eravas.
Statistics
Total area of Kasargod is 1992
Sq.Km. Population is 1203342.
There are two Taluks, Kasargod
& Hosdurg in this district and 75 villages
Taluks &
Villages
Kasargod Taluk:-
Kasargod, Chengala, Thekkil, Kalanad, Adhur, Kudlu, Adoor, Paady,
Dealmpady, Muliyar, Munnad, Koluthur, Karivedakam, Kuttikole,
Bediadka, Thalangara, Bandiadka, Kunjathur, Hosabettu, Ichilango,
Uppala, Kodlamogru, Varkady, Meenja, Paivalike, Kadambar, Kayyar,
Bayar, Madhur, Nettanige, Ednad, Kumbdaje, Bambrana, Badre, Koipady,
Badoor, Neerchal, Enmakaje, Bela, Maire.
Hosdurg Taluk:-
Badiadka,Udma, Pallikera, Panaya, Periya, Pullur, Ajanur, Chittari,
Hosdurg, Madikai, Kanhangad, Ambalathara, Belur, Thayannur, Kallar,
Panathady, Balal, Maloth, Nileswaram, Perol, Kinanoor, Karindalam,
Parappa, Beemanady, West Eleri, Chittarikkal, Palaavayal, Kayyur,
Cheemeni, Kodakkad, Pilicode, Cheruvathur, Padanna, N. Trikaripur,
S. Trikaripur.
Literacy
The Sakshratha
Programme of the Government was well receibed and due to the zealous
campaign conducted by the Government as well as voluntary
organisations, the level of literacy has a marked improvement. As
per available statistics, the district has 896,367 literates, of
which the number of males is 464,844 and females 431,523.
Wayanad District
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Kozhikode District
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Malappuram District
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Palakkad District
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Data for four districts are
under processing... |