Alappad
Grama Panchayat

HISTORY OF THE PANCHAYAT

In 1946, the Panmana–Azheekkal Village Uplift Committee was formed by bringing together the areas of Panmana, Vellanathuruthu, Pandarathuruthu, Cheriazheekkal, Alappad, Kuzhithara, Parayakadavu, Shrayaikkad and Azheekkal. Kuttumoottil Janardhanan was its first President.

As per the Travancore–Cochin Panchayat Act of 1951, the first Panchayat Committee was constituted following the election held in 1953, with E. Bhaskaran as its President. The other first elected members were K. A. Damodaran (Alappad), Ilayakochu Muthalali (Azheekkal), Raghavan Puthusseril (Cheriazheekkal), and Kochayyathu Kochu Pappu (Kuzhithura–Parayakadavu).

Karukayil Karuthakkochu Panicker donated the land required for constructing the Panchayat building.

In 1964, the second Panchayat Committee was constituted with P. Dayanandan (Vella), Chellappan (Cheri–Pandaratthuruthu), K. K. Krishnan Vaidyar (Cheri), P. Leelakrishnan (Ala), Kuttan Panicker (Kuzhi–Paraya), M. S. Rudran (Shrayaikkad), Azheekkal Krishnankutty (Azheekkal), Shanku (Azheekkal), and Sudharma (Cheri) as members.

Following the resignation of Leelakrishnan of Alappad, Gopalan was elected as a member to fill the vacancy.

During this period, A. Shanku served as President from January 1964 to July 1966. He was subsequently succeeded by Chellappan Muthalali as President. Chellappan Muthalali passed away in January 1975, following which A. Shanku again became the President.

SOCIAL AND CULTURAL HISTORY

Alappad Grama Panchayat is situated in the coastal region of Karunagappally Taluk in Kollam District, extending approximately 17 kilometres from south to north. This scenic region lies between the Arabian Sea and Kayamkulam Lake. Among the many features that have made this area famous, the most notable are its black mineral sand deposits and the presence of the headquarters of Mata Amritanandamayi.

In 1953, Alappad Panchayat was formed by bringing together areas that were spread across the Kulasekharapuram, Devikulangara and Karunagappally villages.

It is believed that this landform originated around the first century AD as a result of Chakara, a rare natural phenomenon associated with the sea. There is also a belief that a section of people who travelled from Kaveri Poompattinam in Tamil Nadu, moving along riverbanks towards the eastern side of the Western Ghats and through routes such as Aruvankavu, Kumily, Walayar and Vythiri, eventually settled in the backwaters, coastal areas and riverbanks of what is now Kerala. A section of these people is believed to have settled in the present-day Alappad Panchayat area.

Along with these communities, Saiva Pillais, Ezhavas, Pulayas and Christian communities also became part of the population of the region. The Saiva Pillais, however, later migrated from this area.

Another belief is that members of a royal lineage who migrated from the Poompuhar region following a war travelled in boats and sailing vessels, crossed the Cape of Kanyakumari and settled at various places along the Arabian Sea coast. They are believed to have been among the ancestors of the present population of Alappad Panchayat.

It is believed that this community continued many of the customs and traditions that existed in Poompuhar at that time. Tamil influence was very strong in the spoken language and was also clearly reflected in the naming of people and places.

The coir industry was an important sector in the Panchayat, just as fishing was. Alappadan coir was highly reputed and had a significant presence in the international market. The prominence of the coir industry and the subsequent attention drawn to the mineral sand deposits of Alappad attracted several foreign companies to the Panchayat in search of the source of the mineral sand.

In 1911, a German company started mineral sand mining in this area. From 1932, the firm F. X. Pereira & Sons carried out mining operations, followed by the foreign company Hopkins & Williams, which continued mining activities until 1959. A black sand separation plant of the T. N. P. Company was also located at Arattal in Alappad.

Among the 42 karas (local administrative areas) that jointly conduct the famous Ochira festival, the people of this Panchayat have the traditional right to conduct the ninth festival, covering the area from Alappad to Azheekkal.

Many distinguished personalities who made significant contributions to the fields of culture and the arts lived in this Panchayat. They included Pandit Kunjupilla Panicker, Dr. Velukkutty Arayan, Azheekkal Krishnankutty, who were renowned scholars and masters of traditional arts; Thekkayathu Raman Kunjashan, an authority in Kathakali; Chalithekkathil Damodaran Ashan, an expert in Thayambaka; and P. Arumanayaka Panicker, a scholar of language.

The history of Dr. Velukkutty Arayan is closely connected with the history of this Panchayat and its community. Sri K. K. Panicker, popularly known as Kunjupilla Panicker, was a scholar who wrote the biography of Sree Narayana Guru. Damodaran Ashan was the first person in Kerala to present the traditional percussion instrument Chenda, known as an Asura Vadya, through radio.

Education and Healthcare

Alappad has been a Panchayat that has made significant progress in the field of education. Even before Kerala was officially declared completely literate, the literacy rate in this area had reached 89%.

The first Malayalam school in the Karunagappally, Mavelikkara and Karthikappally Taluks is believed to have been established at Azheekkal.

The LMS Mission Hospital at Cheriazheekkal was the first institution to enter the field of healthcare in the region. The hospital functioned in the area now known as Mayiladumkunnu.

An Ayurveda Dispensary was started at Shrayaikkad in 1954, followed by the establishment of the Alappad Government Allopathic Dispensary in 1968.

As the Panchayat was geographically situated like a peninsula, its connection with the mainland was significantly improved with the construction of the Panikkar Kadavu Bridge in 1977.

Literary, Social and Political Significance

The natural beauty of the Panchayat, situated between the sea and the backwaters, attracted many people. Numerous writers and social leaders visited the coastal areas of the Panchayat for literary discussions and informal gatherings.

Among the many distinguished literary figures who visited the area were Kumaran Asan, Sooranad Kunjan Pillai, C. S. Subramanian Potti, Thoppil Bhasi, Kampissery Karunakaran and O. N. V. Kurup.

Several prominent political and social leaders, including C. Kesavan, Sreekantan Nair, Baby John, K. Balakrishna, Pattom Thanu Pillai and Dr. Palpu, also visited the area for political discussions and, at times, to seek shelter while living underground.

The first Panchayat bus service was introduced to Cheriazheekkal in 1978.

Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of India, visited this region in 1954.

The Panchayat also served as a place of refuge for several leaders of revolutionary movements. The newspaper “Arayan”, started under the editorship of Dr. Velukkutty Arayan, played an important role in creating national consciousness and enthusiasm for the freedom struggle among the people across the state.