Pattambi

Infobox Indian Jurisdiction
native_name= Pattambi
type=town


state_name = Kerala
district = Palakkad District
altitude = 2.83
area_magnitude =
area_total=
area_telephone = 91466
postal_code = 679 303
vehicle_code_range = KL-9
footnotes =
Temperature Range: 22.5°C -35 °C

Pattambi (10°48'13.24"North/76°10'50.32"E East) is a small town in the Palakkad district of the state of Kerala, South India.

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Bharatapuzha River

River Bharatapuzha (also known as Nila) flows through Pattambi and by the Panchayats. World renowned writers and poets such as M.T. Vasudevan Nair and Akkitham Achuthan Namboothiri have been influenced by the beauty of this river. The river has begun to lose its charm and beauty as a result of the relentless sand mining from the river bed. The disruption of the river bed results in the growth of reeds and river grass on the river bed which obstructs the flow of water. Frequent droughts have resulted from this continuous sand mining, due to a fall in the water table. The sand lobby is powerful in this area and exerts great influence upon the police force and the authorities. Police officers and other officials who objected to the mining were ejected.

Organizations such as the "Bharathapuzha Samrakhshana Samithi" (Bharatapuzha Conservation Committee) led by Dr. KP Mohammed Kutty and Adv. Udhayavarman struggle to inform the public of the need for conservation of this river, but have been disappointed by the lack of public interest. Waste from hotels, hospitals and houses are directly discharged into the river rather than being run through a sewage treatment plant. This beautiful river, once a habitat of a variety of marine species, is on the brink of coming to an ecological stand still.

Govt. Sanskrit College

The history of the college goes back to the last decade of the 19th century which witnessed political, socio-cultural and educational renaissance throughout the land. Sree Neelakanta Sharma contributed to the reform in Sanskrit education. He started a Sanskrit school called "Sarasvatodyothini" in 1889 at Perumudiyoor, an underdeveloped village near Pattambi. He offered Sanskrit education to disciples drawn from almost all castes and religions.

The University of Madras granted affiliation in 1911 and the humble Sanskrit school became "Central Sanskrit College, Permudiyoor, South Malabar". In 1931 it was also approved as a research centre. Kuttikrishna Marar, C. Sankunni Nair, K.V.M., Kallanmarthodi Ravunni Menon, P. Kunniraman Nair, G..K.N, K.S.Ezhuthachan, M.P. Sankunni Nair and K.P. Narayana Pisharodi were among the students of Punnasseri Kalari. That tradition of molding prominent socio cultural figures is still kept on with personalities such as Desamangalam Ramakrishnan, D. Vinaya Chandran, C. Rajendran, Attoor Ravi Varma, Dr.P. Geetha, M.S. Kumar, M.G. Sasi, K M Sangameshan, Sreeja, P. Raman, Nharalathu Harigovindan and N.M. Unnikrishnan, Murali Mannanur, Dileep Vydhyamadham

The college was renamed "Sree Neelakanta Central Sanskrit College, Pattambi, Perumudiyoor" in July 1943 by the Madras University in memory of the founder. The Malabar District Board took over the management in 1957. It was affiliated with Kerala University in 1958 as "Sree Neelakanta Government Sanskrit College, Pattambi". The college is presently affiliated with the Calicut University.

The present site of the college was donated by A.S.K. Rama Iyer, President of College Welfare Committee, E.P. Gopalan, Ex.MLA, Advocate M.P. Udaya Varman, K.S. Raman and P.K.Kumaran Vaidyar. The members of the committee took an active interest in infra-structural development as well as introduction of new courses in the college curriculum.

Initially, the new college offered Graduate Degrees in Sanskrit, Malayalam and Economics. The last time a course was added to the curriculum was in 1999-2000 when a graduation program in BBA was introduced. At present, the college offers 9 degree courses, 6 post graduate courses and 2 doctoral degrees in Sanskrit and Malayalam.

The college is recognized as a Center Of Excellence in the field of Higher Education in the state of Kerala. Recently, the College was awarded with a 5 Star accreditation by NAAC. The College Campus is situated 2 k.m. from Pattambi Town. The official website of the college is http://sngscollege.info The site also included an e-journal named vijnanacintamani.

Business & Commerce

The business sector has not grown as rapidly as nearby towns such as Perinthalmanna, Manjeri, Valanchery or Kunnamkulam. Pattambi also lacks the "Gulf Money" which plays an important part in the economic and business development of the region. While the river Bharathapuzha flows through the southern side of the town, the railway line passes through the northern side, squeezing the town and leaving no room for further development. Moreover, the Government Upper Primary School is located in the heart of the town. The Public had raised concerns about the safety of school children who have to pass through heavy traffic. There is a cause-way linking the north and south coasts of Bharathapuzha at Pattambi, which is one of the important bridge-links across the river.

Pattambi is well connected by road and rail. The Shornur railway junction is just a 20 minute bus ride from Pattambi. Pattambi has its own railway station as well.

Prominent Personalities

Pattambi is the birth place of famous personalities like Punnasseri Nambi (1858-1935) (Sanskrit Scholar), EP Gopalan (Socialist Leader), KP Assainar Vaidyar (1907-1984) (Ayurvedic Physician & Social leader) etc. The great Comrade E.M.S. Namboodiripad was elected from Pattambi constituency and became chief minister. [K.p thangal] a social re-former,pattambi "NERCHA" celebrates every year of his father's memory.

Religion & Festivals

The Padinjare Madham Guruvayoorappan Temple (also known as "Pattambi Guruvaayoor") is one of the famous temples in Kerala.

The annual festival of the Pattambi Mosque falls in the first week of February. About 70- 80 elephants are lined up for the festival. People from all corners of the state attend this festival, which is held in memory of Aloor Valiya Pookunj Koya Thangal, a Muslim saint of South Malabar. The town is illuminated brilliantly and a pageant replete with traditional musical ensembles like 'Panchavadyam' and 'Thayambaka' parades through the town at night. Various art forms of Kerala are then performed on the banks of the river Bharathappuzha.

References

http://www.fallingrain.com/world/IN/13/Pattambi.html

ee also

[http://www.maplandia.com/india/kerala/palakkad-palghat/pattambi/#link Satellite image of Pattambi]