Thalassery

Infobox Indian Jurisdiction
native_name = Thalassery
type = city
latd = 11.75
longd = 75.49
state_name = Kerala
district = Kannur
leader_title = Municipality Chairman
leader_name = K.P.Raveendran
altitude = 0
population_as_of = 2001
population_total = 99,386
population_density = 4148
area_magnitude= km²
area_total = 23.96
area_telephone = 91 (0)490 -
postal_code = 670 xxx
vehicle_code_range = KL 13 and KL 58 -
sex_ratio = 1000:1125
unlocode = IN TEL
website =
footnotes = Thalassery is located in the southern part of Kannur District

"For the ship wrecked in 1806 see Tellicherry (ship)"

Thalassery, also known as Tellicherry, is a city on the Malabar Coast of Kerala, India. It is 21 km from the district headquarters, Kannur. The name Tellicherry is the anglicized form of Thalassery. Thalassery municipality has a population just less than 100,000. Thalassery municipality is part of the urban agglomeration of Kannur. [ [http://www.censusindia.gov.in/ Indian Census] ]

Geography

Thalassery is in Kannur district. The geography of Thalassery is adorned with four rivers, hills and a long coast line. One of the four rivers is the Mahé River (Mayyazhi river). During the British rule, the Mahé River was nicknamed the English Channel, because it separated British-ruled Tellicherry from French-ruled Mahé. Muzhappilangad, a 5 km long beach, is located within 10 km of the city centre.

British influence

The British established their presence in Kerala in 1682, when they obtained permission from the Vadakkilamkur Prince of Kolattunad to settle at Thalassery. In the following years, the British presence in the state of Kerala strengthened. During this period, there were many organised revolts held by the natives of the region against the empire. Among them was the revolt of 1704, that the natives of Thalassery organised, but this revolt was quickly crushed by the British forces due to its localised, non-nationalistic nature.

Due to its coastal location, the town of Thalassery was a major commercial centre during the British rule of India. During the British rule, the Malayalam name Thalassery was anglicised into Tellicherry.

The British built a seaport in Tellicherry through which a variety of spices such as pepper and cardamom were exported. (Tellicherry pepper, ground from locally grown pungent black peppercorns, is much sought after by chefs around the world). In 1708, the British built Thalassery Fort by the sea to protect and control the spice trade from the town. The square fort, with its massive walls, secret tunnels to the sea and intricately carved huge doors, is an imposing structure. The fort was once the nucleus of Thalassery's development. It is now a historical monument. In 1781, this fort was attacked unsuccessfully by the ruler and military commander of Mysore, Hyder Ali.

The British also established the district judicial court in Tellicherry. During the British rule, jurisdiction of Tellicherry Court extended up to Mysore.

One of the popular tourist spots in the town, Overbury's Folly, was built by E. N. Overbury a local British judge in the 1870s.

Culture of Thalassery

Thalassery is at times referred to as the city of cricket, cakes and circuses.Fact|date=August 2008

Thalassery is considered to be the birth place of the Indian circus. Keeleri Kunhikannan is a legend in the history of circus. The circus artist and coaches from Thalassery are very much in demand. There is also a proposal to start a circus school, which will give employment opportunity for many persons. This could serve as recruitment ground for circus companies. There is also scope for earning foreign exchange as the circuses are very popular in other countries. The cultural exchange programme with Russian performers by Jumbo Circus was well-received.

Rajya Samacharam, the first Malayalam newspaper, was published from Thalassery. [http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/thscrip/print.pl?file=2005021101990300.htm&date=2005/02/11/&prd=fr&]

Educational institutions

Thalassery is home to Govt. Brennen College, founded in 1851, is one of the oldest educational institutions in the region. [ [http://www.kerala.gov.in/dept_collegiate/list.htm officialwebsite of kerala.gov.in ] ] The college evolved from a school established by English philanthropist Edward Brennen, who had made Thalassery his home. The college is one of the premier educational institutions in Kerala. In December 2004, the government of Kerala decided to grant autonomous status to Govt. Brennen College, but at present it is still affiliated to the University of Kannur.B.E.M.P High school (Basel Evangelic Mission Parsy) is the first English Medium school set up in Thalassery. This was the first school set up at Thalassery. It was NTTF (Nettur Technical Training Foundation), one of the premier technical institutions of India with branches across the country, was founded in Thalassery in 1961 by Swiss missionaries.

The College of Engineering, Thalassery was established in 2000 and offers Bachelor of Technology courses in information technology, computer science and engineering, electronics and communications engineering, mechanical engineering and electrical and electronics engineering.The college is affiliated to Cochin University of Science and Technology.

Mambaram Higher Secondary School (MHSS) and Mambaram English Medium School (MEMS), promoted by Mr. Mambaram P. Madhavan, are located 10km from Thalassery and 20km from Kannur. Mambaram Higher Secondary School was founded in 1983 and is one of the largest schools in the entire state of Kerala. Principal Mr. C. V Thilakaraj of MHSS won the President of India's medal for honorary services in 2005. Mambaram English Medium School (CBSE) was founded in 1991 and is located on the Kuthuparamba Road.Govt. Vocational Higher Secondary School, Kadirur is located 8km from Thalassery.M.E.S Bava Residential School is the first CBSE school set up in Tellicherry. It was founded in year 1975. It is near Tellicherry railway station.

Cricket

The Thalassery Municipal Cricket Ground ("see" Thalassery Stadium) hosts the Ranji Trophy cricket matches quite often. Colonel Arthur Wellesley is believed to have brought the game to this Malabar region town in the late 1790s. Famous English cricketer Colin Cowdrey's father was a tea planter in Tellicherry and he used to play cricket in Tellicherry during 1890s, and is credited to have laid decent a cricket pitch here, in the early 1900s. Colin Cowdrey, played in Thalassery during the British regime.

In the year 2002, Thalassery cricket ground celebrated its 200th birthday by hosting a match between the former cricketers of India and Sri Lanka.

Famous personalities

*C. V. Devan Nair, the third president of Singapore, hailed from Thalassery.

*Oyyarathu Chandumenon, author of the first Malayalam novel, "Indulekha" was also from Thalassery.

*Herman Gundert, a German missionary who lived in Thalassery, wrote the first Malayalam dictionary (Malayalam-English) in 1872.

*Moorkoth Kumaran, a disciple of Sree Narayana Guru who wrote a biography of Narayana when guru was alive.

*Moorkoth Kunhappa Associate Editor of Malayala Manorama, a leading malayalam daily, for 27 years

*Sanjayan (M. R. Nair), a Malayalam satirist was from Thalassery.

*Vengayil Kunchiraman Nayanar who wrote first Malayalam Short story was from Thalassery.

* Keeleri Kunchikannan, Circus Teacher referred to as "The Father of Indian Circus", was from Thalassery.

* Professor K Damodaran, founder of Kamala Circus, the first 3 ring circus in India.

*A.K.Gopalan, (A.K.G) Communist Party of India (Marxist), one time Opposition Leader in the Lok Sabha was from Thalassery.

*Pattiam. K. Kumaran, one of the early communist leaders hailed from Pattiam who worked along with EMS, AKG, Nayanar etc during those struggleful days. Founder of first parallel college in Thalassery under the name 'Pattiams College' in 1950's. He was the teacher & relative of Pattiam Gopalan. He is still considered to be one of the pioneering teachers during his time and remembered as best in class for his English literature skills. Though long remembered by his many disciples all over the world, he was not well conferred for his political sacrifices and soon forgotten from public figures.

*Kannavam near by Thalassery is the birthplace (Tharavadu) of Former Kerala Chief Minister Mr. K. Karunakaran.

*V.P.Satyan, former Captain of India national football team hailed from Thalassery.

*A.K. Khader Kutty Sahib, founder of Western India Plywoods is from Tellicherry.

*Nettur. P.Damodaran, freedom fighter, Recipient of 'THAMRAPATRA', Social worker, Member of Parliament in the first Lok Sabha from Tellichery constituency, Chairman - Backward class reservation commission later known as Nettur Commission, Author of books on travel, tribes, and history of the freedom movement period. Contributed significantly in the liberation of Mahe from French rule. Popularised 'Kalari Payattu', 'Theyyam', 'Thira' et al of Malabar origin to rest of the world. [Ref: http://tellicherry.com/nettur_p.html]

*Dr. TVN Nair, leader of the freedom movement in Indian history as well as a distinguished personality in the social, cultural and political arena of Tellicherry. He paved the way for the freedom movement in North Malabar and Old Kottayam Taluk, with specific focus on Tellicherry. He hailed from the "Thalassery Veedu" family, and was a doctor by profession. [Ref:http://www.tellicherry.com/tvnnair.html]

*A.V.Raghavan, Member of Parliament of the third Lok Sabha representing Vatakara constituency, was born and educated in Tellicherry. His first foray into freedom struggle was through the Naval mutiny in the Royal Indian Navy. A fellow traveller of the left movement of the forties and later, he made his own mark in the communist movement in the state of Kerala. In 1972, he died at the age of 47.

Transport

* By air: The nearest airport is at Kozhikode International Airport, Kozhikode, about 93 km south.
* By rail: Thalassery railway station. Kannur railway station is well linked to major towns up country as well as within the state.
* By road: NH-17 passes through Thalassery. Kozhikode is 67 km away from Thalassery.

Demographics

As of 2001 India census [GR|India] , Thalassery had a population of 99,386. Males constitute 47% of the population and females 53%. Thalassery has an average literacy rate of 86%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 86%, and female literacy is 86%. In Thalassery, 10% of the population is under 6 years of age.

Places of Interest

* Muzhappilangad beach
* Sree Ramaswami temple
* Overbury's Folly
* Odathil Palli
* Thalassery Pier ("Kadalpaalam")
* Thalassery Fort
* Thalassery Stadium
* Centenary Park
* Dharmadam Island
* kadavathur
* Sri Jagannath Temple
* Mariamman Koil, Pilakool

References