History Of Elappully Gramapanchayat

In the erstwhile Malabar District, Palakkad Taluk was divided into three regions—Vadamalappuram, Thenmalappuram and Naduvattam—for the convenience of revenue collection. According to William Logan’s Malabar District Manual, during 1765–66, the Vadamalappuram region was divided into 23 Amsams, among which Elappully and Pallatheri were two of the Amsams.

In 1939, electricity was brought to the Panchayat through the efforts of Kalinga Chettiar, a philanthropist known for his generosity and public service.

In 1898, Elappully Manikath Kuttikrishna Menon established the first primary school in the area. In 1921, the school was taken over by the District Board and was subsequently upgraded into a high school.

A post office was established in Elappully in 1898. In 1929, a hospital, known as the Local Fund Rural Dispensary, was established at Para. The hospital began functioning in its present building in 1957. The first veterinary hospital at Para was also established in 1957. Telephone connectivity was introduced in the area in 1956.

The historic Palakkad–Pollachi Road, which connects Sultanpetta in Palakkad with the Petta area of Pollachi and was originally developed to facilitate the trade of hill produce, passes through the central part of the Panchayat. This ancient route, which existed from very early times, was later upgraded into a State Highway.

The region has a notable history in the fields of art and culture. It was once renowned for traditional art forms and performances such as Markandeya Natakam, Harishchandra Natakam, Aryamala Kali, Porattu Natakam, Pavakkoothu, temple ritual arts, Pulluvan Pattu, Kalamezhuthu Pattu and Thiruvathirakali.

Several ancient and renowned places of worship are located in and around the Panchayat. These include Pallatheri Parikkanjeri Temple, Mampullikkavu Ramassery Mannath Bhagavathy Temple, Elappully Devi Temple, Shiva Temple, Thenari Shiva Temple, Para Mankarayamman Kovil, Eranchery Church and Kovilpalayam Christian Church. These places of worship form an important part of the religious, historical and cultural heritage of the region.

Elappully is a Panchayat characterized by a diverse landscape comprising small hills, valleys and stretches of level terrain. The State Highway connecting Palakkad and Pollachi passes through the central part of the Panchayat.

Agriculture is the principal source of livelihood and income for the people of the Panchayat.

Education

In the early days, the Gurukula system and traditional village schools (Kudippallikoodams), which were part of the ancient Indian cultural tradition, were the main forms of education available in the Elappully region. There was a generation of people here who went to Ezhuthachan of Mecheripadam to acquire education under his guidance.

However, it can be said that the social activities and initiatives undertaken by Manikath Kuttikrishna Menon towards the end of the 19th century marked the beginning of formal education in this region. He provided all necessary assistance to enable children from the area to travel to Chittur, which was then part of the erstwhile Travancore–Cochin State, for their education.

The contributions of Kuttikrishna Menon towards establishing the educational institutions that are functioning today in Elappully Thara—including two schools for boys and girls, the Ramassery School, and the Elappully High School—are highly commendable.

Cultural History

The echoes of the library movement that began in Kerala were also visible in Elappully Panchayat. As part of this movement, a library functioned within the Panchayat office. Later, reading rooms began operating in places such as Thenari and Ramassery.

Around 1932, an arts association in the Thenari area used to write, perform, and stage its own plays. In those days, theatre artists sustained their performances by learning the background songs required for the plays themselves. Uthuvakkad Markandeyan and Ennappadam Aryamalakali are among the notable productions of that period.

Karatt Achuthamenon, who authored novels such as Ammayi, Panchatantram, and Viruthan Shanku, and Kuttikrishna Menon, the author of Vrikshamsakshi, Chandrahasa Charitham, and Bhakthamala, were residents of Elappully. Vasu Menon, the founder of Vasu Films, was also born in Elappully. The film Unnikuttan Oru Joli Kitti by V. R. Gopinath of the Vengedi Attancheri family received a National Award.

Thenari is a pilgrimage centre that has found a place on Kerala's tourist map. It is believed that the name “Thenari” evolved from the earlier name “Thenaruvi.” There is a perennial spring of water at this sacred site. The principal deities worshipped here are Lord Rama and Goddess Sita. The water flowing from the mouth of the bull-shaped stone is believed to be the famous Kashi Theertham. According to legend, during Lord Rama's exile in the forest, when Sita Devi became thirsty, Rama shot an arrow that reached Kashi, from where the sacred water emerged and quenched Sita's thirst.

Symbols depicting a conch and a discus can still be seen at Shankhuchakrappara. The Thenari Shiva Temple, an outstanding example of traditional architecture, attracts a large number of devotees. Adjacent to it is the famous shrine of the goddess “Thrikkuzhi Amma.” Thrikkuzhi Amma is believed to be the sister of Kodungallur Bhagavathy. According to local tradition, because the two sisters are believed to be estranged, the people of the Thenari area, who consider themselves to live within the “thattakam” (traditional sphere of influence) of Thrikkuzhi Amma, do not usually attend the Kodungallur Bharani festival. Even today, they are said to decline the sacred ash (prasadam) brought by those who attend the Bharani festival.

Another important temple in the Panchayat is the Paramankara Amman Temple, which is believed to be around 900 years old. During the period when the barter system was prevalent, Tamil Chettiar traders used to bring large quantities of green gram (cherupayar), which was cultivated abundantly in the area, and exchange it in Kerala for pepper, a valuable spice. The rocky area served as a resting place for traders who arrived carrying green gram on the backs of bullocks.

The major festivals of the Panchayat include Mampully Bhagavathy Vela, Ramassery Kummatti, and Elappully Vishu Vela. Among these, Mampully Vela is a festival conducted exclusively by a particular community. Mampully Kavu is known as the Adimakkavu of 64 desams (traditional localities) from different regions. The people of these areas come together once a year to conduct a joint worship ceremony.

The members of the Ezhava community, one of the prominent communities in the Panchayat, and the people of the various desams associated with them used to conduct village assemblies in the past. These village assemblies are said to have helped in discussing and resolving social and community-related issues.

Porattukali, a traditional folk performance, is usually conducted after the harvest season. Family deities such as Kandakarṇan, Veluthan, Mallan, and Muthiyappan Kali are traditionally regarded as protectors of the agricultural sector. Special annual rituals associated with these deities, including animal and bird sacrifices, are traditionally performed.

The festival known as Vavukuli is held every year on the new moon day (Vavu) of the Malayalam month of Thulam at the Thenari Theerthakulam. During this observance, balichoru (ritual food offerings) is offered in memory of departed and revered ancestors. Karkidaka Vavu is also an important observance here.

Once a year, a ritual involving animal sacrifice is conducted at the Kunnukad Christian church. This ritual is known as Venduthal Pooja. People from different areas traditionally come to the church for this ritual, bringing birds and animals as offerings.

Annual chariot festivals (Therutsavam) are traditionally conducted at the churches in places such as Kovilpalayam and Kottilpara. Traditional musical forms and instruments are also popular in the area. The chenda, the paravadyam performed by a group of villagers at Muthiram Pallam, the udukku paattu prevalent in the Nochikad area, and the thappatta of Ennappadam are well known.

Traditional art forms such as Mannan Paattu and Thattinmel Koothu are also found in the region. Musical ensembles featuring instruments such as Kumbhakkali, nadaswaram, and thavil form part of the area's traditional cultural heritage. Sajeevan is a person from the region who received the President's Award for excellence in mridangam.

Traditional rural sports and recreational activities continue to be popular in the area. These include kabaddi, tug of war, Pullukali, Thalappanthu, and Golikali. In addition, rope skipping and Pallankuzhi are traditional recreational activities particularly associated with women.

Through the Panchayat

Elappully – 2010

Geographically, Elappully Grama Panchayat is situated in the midland region and consists of small hills, valleys, and plains. Although the Korayar River, Vandithodu, and numerous ponds constitute the surface-water resources of the area, the region experiences a predominantly dry climate. The higher hill areas are rocky, while cultivation is carried out mainly on slopes and plains.

Agriculture is the principal livelihood of the people, with paddy cultivation being the major agricultural activity. As many as 316 public ponds are located at various places within the Panchayat and are utilized for irrigation. The major rivers in the Panchayat are the Korayar River and Vandithodu. The Walayar Canal and Kunnamkattupathy are the main canals in the Panchayat and play an important role in irrigating agricultural lands. Consequently, a major portion of the agricultural activity in the Panchayat depends on the Walayar Dam.

Apart from paddy, crops such as groundnut, sugarcane, cotton, maize, black gram, sesame, horse gram, little millet, and korra are also cultivated in the Panchayat.

In the livestock sector, an Animal Husbandry Centre functions at Elappully. Its sub-centres are located at Ennappadam and Eduppukulam.

Elappully Grama Panchayat was established in 1969. The Panchayat was divided into 13 wards and had an area of 49.07 square kilometres. Wells are the principal source of drinking water in the Panchayat. However, most of the wells dry up during the summer. The 162 public wells and 626 public drinking-water taps provide at least some relief from the shortage of drinking water.

Thenari Theertham, situated within the Panchayat limits, is an important attraction for tourists. About 850 streetlights installed at various locations across the Panchayat provide illumination along the roads at night.

In the public distribution system, 13 ration shops operate within the Panchayat. A Neethi Store and a Maveli Store at Petta are other facilities serving the public distribution sector.

The Panchayat has a community hall and three marriage halls—Shiva Temple, Jayalakshmi, and Krishnasree. The Electricity Board office functions at Elappully. The BSNL office and Krishi Bhavan are also located here.

The Panchayat comes under the jurisdiction of the Village Offices located at Para and Elappully. A post office and One-Man Trust functioning under the Central Government, along with the Grama Panchayat Office and Village Office under the State Government, are among the public institutions operating in the area.

Ahalia Foundation Eye Hospital is a major privately owned institution in the Panchayat. Postal and courier services are available at Para, Pallatheri, Thenari, Ramassery, Eduppukulam, Vengodi, and Iratta Kulam.

Elappully was the first place in Kerala where a Dairy Village Panchayat was formed. The Panchayat has also received the President's Nirmal Puraskar Award.

Ramassery Idli, a traditional food specialty of the area, is famous.

The major road passing through the Panchayat is the Kozhikode–Pollachi road (National Highway 217), which runs approximately through the central part of the Panchayat from east to west. Dr. Logan Williams, in his book Manual of the Malabar District, published in 1906, recorded that the footpath from Pollachi to Palakkad was converted in 1783 into a route suitable for horse-drawn and bullock carts carrying military equipment for the British forces during their campaign against Tipu Sultan. This route later became the Palakkad–Pollachi State Highway and subsequently National Highway 217.

Palakkad Railway Station is the nearest railway station to the Panchayat. For air travel, the people of the area mainly depend on the Coimbatore Airport, which is the nearest airport. The nearest major seaport is Kochi Port. There are no reported inland water transport facilities within or immediately adjacent to the Panchayat. Palakkad Bus Stand is the principal centre for road transportation in the area.

Elappully is primarily an agricultural village, and a large section of the population has traditionally been skilled in various traditional occupations. Although the implementation of land reform laws brought visible changes in the living standards of farmers, there was not much interest in moving towards other productive sectors; in fact, practical difficulties also contributed to a certain reluctance to do so.

The first industry in the Panchayat was a rice mill established at Para in 1939 by Sri Kallingachettiar. Today, several industrial enterprises operate in both the large-scale and small-scale sectors. Large industries such as the eye hospital, Electrometals, and Gloves can be regarded as part of the progress made in the industrial sector.

Some medium-scale industries, including Sriram Industries, Keltex, Bottle, Excel Corrugated Box, and furniture units, are also located in the Panchayat. Traditional industries such as weaving, pottery, and basket-making continue to exist. A petrol station named Kripa Fuels is also functioning here.

Para Town is the main commercial centre of the Panchayat. In addition, a shopping complex at Elappully and a weekly market at Para are also functioning.

In earlier times, healthcare in Elappully Panchayat depended mainly on Ayurveda and traditional indigenous systems of medicine. Homoeopathic treatment was also available in the Panchayat during that period. Today, several institutions are actively functioning in the healthcare sector.

Around 17 healthcare centres, including Primary Health Centres and their sub-centres, provide medical facilities within the Panchayat limits. In addition, a Community Health Centre at Petta, an Ayurvedic dispensary at Para, and a Homoeopathic hospital at Thenari form part of the Panchayat's healthcare system. An ambulance service operated under the name Rotary Club is also available in the area.

Before the establishment of formal educational institutions, Gurukula education and traditional village schools (kudipallikkoodams) laid the foundation for educational activities in Elappully Panchayat. The social activities undertaken by Manikath Kuttikrishna Menon towards the end of the 19th century can be regarded as having laid the foundation for formal education in the region.

Today, educational institutions in both the government and private sectors, located in different parts of the Panchayat, provide learning facilities to students. Government LP, UP, and high schools function in places such as Elappully, Kunnachi, Thenari, Ramassery, and Ennappadam. Elappully High School is one of the oldest educational institutions in the area.

Two schools in the private sector also provide educational facilities within the Panchayat. However, there are no significant facilities for higher education within the Panchayat for local students. A regional centre of the Sanskrit University is the only notable facility available here for higher studies.

With regard to the cultural history of the area, the Panchayat is home primarily to three religious communities—Hindus, Muslims, and Christians. Numerous places of worship belonging to these communities have significantly influenced the cultural life of the region.

The Thenari Sree Rama Temple is a famous Hindu place of worship that has found a place on Kerala's tourist map. In addition, numerous places of worship belonging to different religious communities are found here, including Mankara Amman Kovil, Mannath Bhagavathy Temple, Vazhakkode Church, Umeem Palli, Kovilpalayam Church, and Plasampathy Church.

Various celebrations and festivals associated with Hindu places of worship, including Ramassery Kummatti, Mampully Vela, and Elappully Vishu Vela, are conducted by different communities, both collectively and separately. Such festivals and customs play an important role in highlighting the distinctive cultural identity of the region.

Konathu Ramakrishnankutty Menon, a freedom fighter; the renowned novelist Karatt Achuthamenon, author of novels such as Ammayi, Panchatantram, and Viruthan Shanku; the noted literary figure Manikath Kuttikrishna Menon; K. V. Menon, who translated the Bhagavad Gita; short-story writer Karatt Vasanthakumari; film producer Napamveet Vasudevan Nair; and film personalities Napamveet Raghuvaran and Ravi Menon are among those who enriched the social and cultural life of the Panchayat.

Manavazhi Sethumadhavan, a storyteller and kathaprasangam artist; film director V. R. Gopinath; Madhumenon, who made a name for himself in the film industry; Lieutenant General Manikyath Ramesh Menon; and Colonels Manikyath Satheesh Menon and Chakravani Menon continue to remain among the distinguished personalities and sources of pride of the Panchayat.