Devakottai

Devakottai தேவகோட்டை
—  town  —
Devakottai Location of Devakottai in Tamil Nadu and India
Coordinates	9°56′31″N 78°49′36″E / 9.94194°N 78.82667°E / 9.94194; 78.82667Coordinates: 9°56′31″N 78°49′36″E / 9.94194°N 78.82667°E / 9.94194; 78.82667
Country	India
State	Tamil Nadu
District(s)	Sivaganga
Nearest city	Madurai, Tiruchirappalli
Parliamentary constituency	Sivaganaga
Assembly constituency	Thiruvadanai
Population • Density	40,497 (2001[update]) • 3,261 /km2 (8,446 /sq mi)
Sex ratio	19910:20587 ♂/♀
Literacy	80%
Time zone	IST (UTC+05:30)
Area • Elevation	12.42 square kilometres (4.80 sq mi) • 52 metres (171 ft)
Codes • Pincode • 630302 • Telephone • +914561
Website	http://municipality.tn.gov.in/devakkottai/

Devakottai [தேவகோட்டை] is a town and a first grade municipality in Sivaganga district in the state of Tamil Nadu, India. Devakottai is one of the biggest towns of the Nagarathar (Nattukkottai Chettiar) community.

History

Devakottai is one of the oldest municipalities of Tamil Nadu. The Tamil term for "the fort of Goddess" is "Devi Kottai". It might have changed in to "Devakottai" in a course of time. Devakottai is noted for its literature, shaivite temple buildings, publishing, judiciary, and politics. The town was active in the Indian independence movement. The municipal court in Devakottai was burned to ground during the Quit India Movement. The town suffered punitive fines and some citizens served prison terms. To remember the brave patriots, the park on the main road was named "Thiyagigal Park" and the road adjoining it was called "Thiyagigal Road".

Today Devakottai is a favoured site for movie shootings, mainly because of its palatial bungalows (which belong to Nagarathar families). Devakottai is going to come under Karaikudi constituency after the reformation of constituencies. Currently it is with Thiruvadanai constituency. For parliamentary it comes under Sivaganga constituency.

Mahatma Gandhi visited Devakottai in 1934 to condole with the death of Poochi, a Dalit, in the movement against untouchability, and held discussions with Dalits and Nattars, who were opposed to Dalits wearing shirts.

The 75th aaniversary of the Mahatma's visit was celebrated at the site where he stayed- Saraswathi vasaka salai- in January 2009.

Apart from Gandhiji many eminent politicians like Rajiv Gandhi, Karmaveerar Kamarajar, Perarignar Anna Durai, MGR, Pasumpon Muthuramalinga Dhevar, Selvi Jayalalitha and Kalaignar Karunanidhi have visited Devakottai.

In the first half of the 20th century, the temples of Rameswaram, Kalahasti, Kalayar Koil, Thiruvengadu, Thiruvadanai, Thirupunavasal, Thiru Yedagam, Thiruvisainallur, Thiruvarur, Seerkazhi, Thirukkolakka, Nalla Koorur, Thiruvanmiyur, Mayiladuthurai, Thiruvidaimaruthur, Thiruchuli, Courtallam, Thievennainallur, Kandadevi, Kottur, Pennagaram (now Pennadam) were all converted to stone structures in whole or part by pious Nagarathar families of Devakottai.

Demographics

As of India census,^[1] Devakottai had a population of approximately 45021 (in the year of 2009). Males constituted 49% of the population and females 51%. Devakottai has an average literacy rate of 80%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: the male literacy rate is 85% and the female literacy rate 75%. 10% of the population is under 6 years of age.

Park

There are two parks situated in Devakottai town: Thiyagigal park near Bus stand and Alagappa Oorani Park near Ramnagar.

Education

There are two colleges in Devakottai: Sree Sevugan Annamalai College and Ananda College.

Devakottai has many well run schools and educational institutions that include:

• N.S.M.V.P.S. Higher Secondary School (Nagarathar Sri Meenakshi Vidhya Paripalana Sangam Higher Secondary School)
• Pethal Achi Girls' Higher Secondary School
• De Britto Higher Secondary School
• St Mary's Convent & Girls' Higher Secondary School
• St. John Girls' Higher Secondary School
• Infant Jesus Matriculation Higher Secondary School
• CSI Christ Church Nursery & Primary School
• Sri Meenakshi Vidhyasala Middle School
• Muthathal Middle School
• Sri Ramakrishna Middle School
• Zamindar Street High School
• Chairman Manickavasagam Middle School
• Muruganantha Middle School
• Sreenivasa Middle School
• Sree Sevugan Annamalai Matriculation School
• Vairam Group Matriculation Higher Secondary School
• Lotus. Venkatachalam Chettiar Matriculation High School
• K.V.P. Matriculation School
• Yadava Nursery & Primary School
• Thalambal Nursery & Primary School

Religion

Devakottai Nagara Sivan Kovil

Hindu temples

• Nagara Sivan Kovil
• Pidaariamman Kovil
• Kottaiamman Kovil
• Silambani Pillayar Kovil
• Vellayan Oorani Pillayar Kovil
• Thinnan Chetty Oorani Pillayar Kovil
• Karutha Oorani Pillayar Kovil
• PL Sellappa Chettiar Kovil
• Ranganatha Perumal Kovil
• Ramar Kovil
• Krishnan Kovil
• Mariamman Kovil
• Kandadevi Sivan Kovil
• Kottur Sivan Kovil
• Iravuseri Mummudinathar Kovil
• Iravuseri Kaliamman Kovil
• Thalaiyur MuthuPeriyanayaki Amman Kovil
• karutha urani pillaiyar koil
• sri Bhuvaneshwari amman koil
• Anna salai Kaligambal Kovil

Mosques

• Mohideen Abdul Qadir (Kadhdhasallhu sirrahul Aziz) Masjidh (Vattanam Road)
• Masjid-ul- Hudha (Mohammadhiar Pattanam)
• Masjidh -e- Noor (Gandhi Road)
• Masjidhu -th- Thaqwa (Bus Station)
• K'uthba Palli K'uthba Eidhaini (Ram Nagar)

Churches

• Ramnagar Church
• Thiruppathur Road Church
• Saraswathivasagasalai Church
• Panipulanvayal Madha Church

Festival

The Kandhar Sashti Vizha is conducted by the Kandhar Sashti Vizha Kazhagam for the past 63 years (as of year 2008) at the Nagara Sivan Kovil at Devakottai. The 10-day festival is celebrated with participation by literary personalities and eminent artists.

Notable people

• Hari Sevugan, the national press secretary for the Democratic National Committee^[2]
• Charles Borromeo (athlete), is a track and field athlete. He won a gold at the 1982 Asian Games in Delhi at a record time of 1:46:81 seconds in India. He was awarded the Arjuna Award in 1982 and the Padma Shri in 1984 by the Government of India.
• Late Shree Dhinamani chettiar, Freedom Fighter. Who actively involved India Independence Movement.

How to reach it?

Devakottai municipality is situated between Tiruchirappalli - Rameswaram National Highway Road (NH-210). The nearest airport is at Trichy, about 95 km away, and Madurai about 115 km away. The nearest Railway Station is Devakottai Road about 10 km from Devakottai. Regular bus services are available from all important cities of Tamil Nadu.

References

1. ^ "Census of India 2001: Data from the 2001 Census, including cities, villages and towns (Provisional)". Census Commission of India. Archived from the original on 2004-06-16. http://web.archive.org/web/20040616075334/http://www.censusindia.net/results/town.php?stad=A&state5=999. Retrieved 2008-11-01. 
2. ^ Hari Sevugan:Why He Matters

• CDP - Devakottai Municipality

Devakottai municipality is situated between Tiruchirappalli - Rameswaram National Highway Road (NH-210). The nearest airport is at Tiruchirappalli, about 100 km away, and Madurai about 120 km away. The nearest Railway Station is Devakottai Road about 10 km from Devakottai. Regular bus services are available from all important cities of Tamil Nadu.

External links

• Devakottai to Chennai / PoompuHar
• www.nagarathar.info
• Devakottai Nagarthar
• "Obama aide from Devakottai". The Hindu. 2008-06-30. http://www.hindu.com/mp/2008/06/30/stories/2008063051250500.htm. Retrieved 2008-09-23. 
• Temples in Devakottai
• Devakottai Municipality
• Devakottai on Wikimapia Google Maps