History of Moorkkanad Grama Panchayat

The headquarters of Valluvakkonathiri, the ruler of the historically famous Valluvanad, was at Angadippuram. The senior women of the royal families of Ayiranazhi, Kadannamanna, Aripra, and Mankada were known as the Kolathur Thampuratis.

The headquarters of the Kolathur Thampurati was the Kolathur Kovilakam, and the temple was located at Govindapuram. The British provided special privileges and concessions to them.

Moorkkanad was a region under the control of Mullupra Nambi. The Vengad Fort and the temple within the fort were also under his control. During his military expedition, Tipu Sultan's forces reached as far as Padapparamba. They were stopped by the soldiers of Valluvakkonathiri and the Kolathur Thampurati.

The tribal community known as the Thudiyars lived in the surrounding areas of Thudiyar Kotta. When their attacks became unbearable, the Kolathur Thampurati sought the help of two martial-arts experts who came from Nileshwaram, along with their followers Puthoor Panikkar and Cheenikkuzhi Panikkar.

The two experts from Nileshwaram initially settled at Pangil and later at Mantharam Parambu in Kolathur. The Kolathur Varyam, which was later demolished in 1986, was constructed by Ikkanthu Mooppil Varier in 1871. The Kolathur Variyars are believed to be the descendants of these two martial-arts experts who came from Nileshwaram.

Valluvakkonathiri had 18 ministers. The first was Puzhakkattiri Moossath, the second was the Pangil Appamkalam Pisharadys, and the third was the Kolathur Varier.

Under the old feudal system of Jenmi-Naduvazhi rule, the local population, including Hindus and Muslims, lived under fear and oppression. Various forms of social discrimination existed among Hindus, including untouchability and restrictions on using public roads. Women belonging to lower castes were even denied the freedom to cover their upper bodies.

Khilafat Movement and Kolathur Incident

The Khilafat Movement of 1921 had a significant influence on the majority of the people in this region. Due to incorrect reports submitted by the authorities, around 30 innocent Muslim Mappilas were arrested and imprisoned. Three of them died in prison.

Payingiri Ahmed Molla, Puthuvakkuth Ahmed Kurikkil, and Poopetta Ayamkutty were the three martyrs who died in Bellary Jail for the country.

In 1967, a dispute arose between a landlord (Jenmi) and a tenant regarding possession of land. In an attack at Kolathur Kuruppathal on 30 June 1967, two innocent people, Aranganath Kunhali and Poonoth Kunhirayin, were brutally killed.

The “Kolathur Incident” became a turning point that caused the conscience of the local people to turn against the landlord system.

Traditional Markets

The weekly markets of Moorkkanad Panchayat in earlier times were:

• Kolathur Market
• Vengad Pazhayachanda (Old Market)

The areas where these markets were located came to be known as Chanthappadi.

The Kolathur Market was situated at the origin of the Vadakke Kulambu–Paloor Kotta Road.

The present Moorkkanad Panchayat area consists of four historically important regions:

Kolathur + Punnakkad + Vengad + Moorkkanad

Formation and Development of the Panchayat

Following the States Reorganisation of 1956, the first election to the Panchayat was held.

The present Panchayat office functions on land donated by the public under the leadership of Parakkal Ibrahim.

A Dairy Cooperative Society was functioning in the area during the 1980s.

The old libraries/reading rooms at Kolathur and Vengad, which were established in the early period, continue to function.

A Police Outpost established during the British period for the protection of Kolathur Varyam was upgraded to Kolathur Police Station following the 1967 Kolathur Incident.

Electricity was first introduced in Moorkkanad Panchayat in 1974.

Educational and Cultural History

The Pattukottil Temple at Moorkkanad was established so that the people under Mullupra Nambi could worship Thirumandhamkunnu Bhagavathy through devotional songs when Valluvakkonathiri denied them permission to visit the temple.

The Thalappoli festival is still celebrated as an important local festival by the people of Moorkkanad.

A Kathakali troupe belonging to Kolathur Varyam functioned until 1940.

The Kolathur Kala Samithi and Yuvajana Sangham Reading Room began functioning during the post-independence period.

Moorkkanad gained recognition through the birth of Kochattil Balakrishnan, who became famous through the renowned Malayalam film Neelakuyil. He played the role of Moithu in the film and sang the famous song “Kayalarikathu Valayerinjappol…”.

Several artists from the region have contributed to its cultural reputation, including:

• Kalamandalam Unnikrishnan – Chenda
• Kottakkal Ravi – Maddalam
• K. V. Kesavanunni – Music
• Sudha – Bharatanatyam
• Haridasan – Mohiniyattam

Moorkkanad is also associated with the spiritual legacy of Marhum Mamburam Sayyid Alavi Thangal.

The region has gained considerable recognition in the field of Islamic religious education.

Moorkkanad was an important cultural centre of the former Valluvanad Taluk of Malabar.

The Kolathur Kala Samithi was one of the leading art and cultural organisations of the former Valluvanad Taluk. The Drama Festival conducted during the 1960s was one of the largest cultural festivals in the Taluk.

Several traditional art forms continue to survive in different parts of the region, including:

• Kathakali
• Duff Muttu
• Kalyana Pattu
• Pootham Kali
• Parichamuttu
• Kolkali
• Thumbi Thullal
• Villadichan Pattu
• Mundiyan Kalasham
• Panenkali
• Porattu Nadakam

History of Education

The Kolathur National Elementary School was started around 1927–28 by Chirakkal Thachu Ezhuthachan of Cherukara, initially providing education up to the third standard.

Through the efforts of K. T. Kunjirama Ezhuthachan and M. P. Narayana Pisharady, the school was taken over by Kolathur Varyam.

In 1946, the sixth standard was started as part of the Higher Elementary School.

The first ESLC batch passed out from the school in 1949.

In 1960, the institution came to be known as Kolathur National High School.

The first SSLC batch passed out in March 1962.

Agricultural History

Around 600 acres of the total area of the Panchayat is located along the river. The soil along the riverbanks is highly fertile.

The famous Paloor Kotta, believed to have been constructed by Tipu Sultan, is situated in the northern part of the Panchayat.

Moorkkanad is essentially an agricultural village. Its geographical features include:

• Hilly areas
• Paddy fields in valleys
• Agricultural lands
• Wetlands

The major crops cultivated in the Panchayat are:

• Paddy
• Arecanut
• Coconut

Other crops cultivated as intercrops include:

• Tuber crops
• Banana
• Vegetables
• Tapioca
• Ginger
• Turmeric
• Koduvelli

Small-scale cultivation of pepper and rubber is also carried out.

In earlier times, paddy cultivation received the greatest attention. During the Thulappanikkalam, arrangements were made in advance so that pairs of bullocks could be made available to farmers on the same day for preparing the fields.

After the fields were prepared, special feasts were traditionally organised. Women used to sing various folk songs while transplanting paddy seedlings.

Some farmers later shifted towards more profitable crops such as Koduvelli and tapioca.