Kanam (Kerala)

Infobox Indian Jurisdiction
native_name = Kanam | type = Village | latd =9.5166667 | longd =76.71
state_name = Kerala
district = Kottayam
leader_title =
leader_name =
altitude =81
population_as_of = 2001
population_total = 171271 (7km2)| population_density =
area_magnitude= km²
area_total =
area_telephone =91 481
postal_code =686515
vehicle_code_range = KL
sex_ratio =
unlocode =
website =
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Kanam is a small place in Kottayam District. It is approximately 25 km from Kottayam Town.

Story of Kanam

Originally Kanam kara of Kangazha muri, Vazhoor village of Changanacherry taluk in Kottayam Dist, Kerala, belonged to Edappally Swaroopam. There was a Bhagavathy (Mother goddess) temple in Kanam. Edappally Thampuran had a consort in the Parappally Kaimal’s family and when Thampuran died, she returned to Kanam with the documents relating to the properties. Therefore, the Edappally Swaroopam, the family of the Thampuran , never cared to look after the Bhagavathy temple and the properties. The temple was in a dilapidated condition. The ruins of the temple were removed by the newly came Christians and they settled in the Southern parts of Kanam. The temple tank, known as “Amrutham Chira”, which was used to irrigate the nearby paddy fields was filled up and converted into paddy field. The northern and western parts of Kanam was brought from the Kattuuvally Namboothiri by the aristocratic Vellala family of Thundathil, migrated from Kumbakonam, via Thazhathangadi, Kottayam.

CMS Church and School

The last Kaimal of Parappallil family died in 1935 and the properties were divided among his children and grand children. The sites of CMS Church and School and that of Jacobite church at Chettiyare were donated by Parappallil Kaimal. The Church Mission Society started the Primary School near the CMS church about 85 years back and converted many of the pulayas and parayas of Kanam to Christianity. By 1940 Eattikal Markose, later retired as HM, qualified to become a teacher. The Christians colonized the Southern parts of Kanam started rubber plantations. Late PV. Varghese popularly known as Kunjoojukutty Mapilla was the biggest planter and it was he who built a two story building, “Payikadu” in Kanam, popularly known as “Malikayil” near CMS School. Now the 80 year heritage house, is a tourist attraction.

Shanmukhavilasom Schools (“Kotchukanjirappara Pallikkodam”)

Admissions to the CMS Primary School were given in a preferential manner to Christians and to those who were likely to be converted to Christianity. Nairs and Vellalas were admitted only as exception. As a consequence Late Shanmughavilasom Arumugham Pillai of Thundathil family, started Shnamugha Vilasom Primary School 80 years back. With the support of late N.S Raman Pillai, Peshkar of Kottayam. Due to financial difficulties, later Shanmugham Pillai had to surrender the school to Government. Many of the members of Thundathil family like Cherukappallil Chellamma, Kalappurayidathil Sankara Pillai and Krishna Pillai and Shanmugha Vilasom Ammini Amma were teachers of this school. CMSLPS grew up into Middle and later High School in course of time. These three temples of learning started by CMS produced many doctors, engineers, teachers, Government officers and defense personnel from Kanam.

Roads

Kodungoor-Kappukadu-Kanam road was built 65 years back by Shanmughavilasom Arumugham Pillai. Ummini Kartha of Anickadu donated convert|4|acre|m2 of land for the road. At the starting point there was an athani hence the junction got the name “Elappunkal”. There was a way side inn near the junction and the Karthas were distributing free butter milk to travellers during summer.

Industry

An attempt was made to train weavers in the Weaving school founded and headed by late Mr. Abraham (Parappallythazhe Avarachen) in Athumpanakuzhy, which had a premature death during World war II. Small scale industries like Hand loom weaving, cotton dyeing and printing were all attempted in Kanam but were turned out to be casualties of the war. Shanmughavilasom Arumugham Pillai started weaving factory near Kotchukanjirappara in Naithusala parambu, headed by Mr. Gopalan Nair of Nedumkunnam.

Place of worship

When the Bhagavathy temple was rebuilt in the Poduvakunnu (Elamkavil), in Kangazha North, Kanam was the only village in the neighborhood, without a temple. The only place of worship left was the Nallanikuzhy Kavu near Kotchukanjirappara Pallikkodam where annual offerings (“Vellamkudi”) was offered during Onam and Vishu by the pulayas of Eattikal. But with the Pulayas embracing Christianity nobody came for annual offerings after the late Oman Pulayan. Now the place has been converted into an Ayyappa Temple with monthly poojas.

Entertainments in olden days

All the Senior citizens of that time used to meet at Kotchukalappurayidam alias Prevathicar Veedu and play cards, read newspapers and hold discussions. Mrs. Govinda Pillai (Ittooli Kutty Amma was the first and only lady who took part in playing cards along with men. Younger generation took to native bale, kilithattu, chadukudu etc. Onam, Vishu and Thiruvathira were celebrated with pomp by Hindus while X’mas and Easter were observed gaily by Christians. The common celebration was held to observe the annual Thirunal (Birthday of Maha Raja). The Anniversary of the Primary Schools were observed not only by the staff and students, but also by the general public. School hall was full and at many times people had to stand outside to hear speeches and songs and witness dramas, one act plays, fancy dress etc. Public sports was the salient feature for the occasion, when non student youth also took part.

Politics & library movement in Kanam

The national movement had very little impact in Kanam, but with the banning of Malayala Manorama paper and liquidation of National Quilon Bank ( where many farmers had deposits) feeling of antagonism toward Dewan gradually grew. The State Congress movement has spread rapidly among the Christians but spread slowly among Hindus. Students were the first to raise the banner of revolt. It may seem strange that it was among the Hindus that the Communist ideology began to spread down, even though they were reluctant to absorb the anti Dewan sentiments of the State Congress. With the advent of freedom, Mahtma Gandhi, who used to be the ideal worship by the student population began to be adored by all. Two libraries named after Gandhiji sprang up. Mahathma library under the leadership of TK .Krishnan Nair, KK.Prabhakaran Nair, KC. Sivan Pillai etc and Bapuji library near CMS Church under the leadership of Kanam EJ, Thottaparmbil Baby Perumprathazhe Vavachan etc. Both had their natural death when the workers, who were students took to job or went away for higher studies, for want of second line workers.

pread of Communist Ideology in Kanam

It was the Mahathma library which sowed the seed of the Communist movement in Kanam. The “Life of Karl Marx” written by Swadesabhimani Ramakrishna Pillai, “Pattabhakki” and other dramas by K. Damodharan and similar books lead to a consciousness of the evils of inequality. The second general election to the State Assembly when Mr. Kangazha Baskaran Nair stood as a candidate with Socialist party ticket, was utilized by the young students to educate the common people in socialist ideologies. Mr. TK.Krishnan Nair was the firs to become a party member and later when he returned after graduation, a group was organized with Kanam Sivan Pillai, KK,Prabhakaran Nair, KK.Raghavan Nair etc. The “Janathiapathya Munnani” under the leadership of Kadayanikadu Purushothaman Pillai had its propaganda machinery working in Kanam , along with Kangazha, Kadayanikadu, Mundathanam, Nedumkunnam and neighboring villages. The “Rationkada Samaram” which brought out people to the street against the unauthorized price hike by ration dealers by way of service charge, rounding off bill etc. During the Panchayat election, a candidate-Perumal Pillai, was put against Mr. PV.Varghese, the Congress candidate , but failed to get representation to Kangazha Panchayat.

By the time the CMS Primary School was upgraded to Middlle School, Vidyadhiraja Swanmikal stated the SVRV School at Theerthapadapuram, Vazhoor.:after CMS UPS was upgraded to High School and st. Pauls UPS at Piulicka kaval was also upgraded. Education spread and every boy and girl had the facility to get general education. Till then only a few fortunate had the facility for higher education, because of its exorbitant cost. Hostel charges which accounted for the 85% of the cost of education, were rendered unnecessary, with the establishment of several High Schools and Colleges in vicinity. With the advent of higher education, facility for political consciousness began to grow and Kanam was able to offer two candidates in the Vazhoor constituency for assembly elections. Adv. Kanam Sivan Pillai(CPM) and Kanam Rajendran(CPI) .The latter won the seat twice. Now the CPM and CPI have strong hold over the village. The communists of early years are leading their retired lives and some of them had died. The names of Pampady Balan, Anickadu PK.Sankara Pillai -“Stalin” Sankara Pillai is now“Ganapthy” Sankara Pillai Elakkadu purushan, Kadayanickadu Purushothaman Pillai Ex. MLA and Kottayam Bhasi are also associated with the spread of communist ideology in Kanam.

Co-Operative movement in Kanam

The Co-operative movement of the Vazhoor Village also had its roots in Kanam. It was Sri. MN.Sankara Pillai, HM SVLPS and Payattukala (Vellakallumkal) Chacko who took steps for the Vazhoor Farmer’s Bank.

[http://www.devaragam.com/vbscript/MusicNew.aspx?ArtistID=219 Lyrics of Kanam EJ]

Nearby Places

*Kangazha
Kangazha is a beautiful place, having a serene atmosphere in Changanacherry Taluk south to Pampady. Famous for the Mgdm hospital one of the oldest multispeciality community referral hospitals in Kerala. The first Self Finance Nursing College in private sector in Kerala, [http://theophiluscollegeofnursing.com Theophilis College of Nursing] is also situated at Kangazha. Other educational institutions at kangazha are [http://pgmcollege.googlepages.com/home PGM college] of arts and Sciece, [http://pgsonkangazha.googlepages.com/home P Geevarghese School of Nursing] , [http://mgdmhospital.googlepages.com/home School of Laboratory Technology-MGDM Hospital] , [http://baselioshsskangazha.googlepages.com/home Baselios Higher Secondary School] , St. Thomas School Kangazha etc.

External links

* [http://mgdmhospital.googlepages.com/home MGDM Hospital, Devagiri, Kangazha, Kottayam.]
* [http://theophiluscollegeofnursing.com Theophilus College of Nursing, Devagiri, Kangazha, Kottayam.]
* [http://pgsonkangazha.googlepages.com/home P Geevarghese School of Nursing, Devagiri, Kangazha, Kottayam.]
* [http://pgmcollege.googlepages.com/home P G M College, Devagiri, Kangazha, Kottayam.]
* [http://baselioshsskangazha.googlepages.com/home Baselios Higher Secondary School, Devagiri, Kangazha, Kottayam.]
* [http://mgdmhospital.googlepages.com/laboratory School of Laboratory Technology MGDM Hospital, Devagiri, Kangazha, Kottayam.]
* [http://www.fallingrain.com/world/IN/13/Kangazha.html More about Kangazha]