History
Kizhakkoth Grama Panchayat: History
1. Social and Cultural History
The names like Kacheri and Kacherikkunnu (Kacheri Hill), which still exist in the Elayettil area, indicate the former administrative centers of the local authorities. In the initial years of the 20th century, a government office named 'Village Kacheri' functioned at a place called Koottakkil. The place where this office was situated later came to be known as Kacherimukku.
The head of the village administration was known as 'Adhikari' (or Parvathyakkar). Along with limited revenue administration, judicial functions and law enforcement also fell under their jurisdiction. The titles like Adhikari, Grama Munsif, Grama Magistrate, Registrar of Births and Deaths, and Pound Keeper reflect their extensive authority. This power was traditionally inherited. This system ended after 1955 following a government order.
2. Educational History
According to the beliefs of the Muslims, who constitute 80% of the population, religious education was compulsory. Othupallis (traditional schools) were single-teacher institutions known as Srambis. It is also said that education was imparted under the guidance of Ezhuthachans (traditional teachers).
Abdul Gafoor Shah Sahib, the Deputy Inspector of Education in the Kozhikode Mappila Range during the 1930s and 40s, was an individual who worked tirelessly for the educational progress of the Malabar Muslims. As a result of his continuous visits to Othupallis and convincing the Ustadus (religious teachers) and local elders about the need for secular education, many Othupallis were converted into primary schools. The Ustadus of these converted schools were given governmental training under the name 'Molla Training'. This is why nine out of the twelve schools in the Panchayat came under Muslim managements. The Ustadus of Othupallis played a major role in creating awareness among the public about the importance of secular education and encouraging them to attend schools.
Two personalities who must be remembered for establishing schools and providing financial aid for secular education are Kurunthatil Aboobacker Musaliyar and Mannath Cherumon Musaliyar (Ahmed Musaliyar).
The first formally established school in the Panchayat was the current Elayettil G.M.U.P. School. This school, which was a Lower Elementary School under the Taluk Board and later the District Board in the year 1900, came under the control of the State Government in 1958. The first high school in this area was the Elayettil Muhammad Ali Jauhar High School, established in 1979 when C.H. Muhammed Koya was the Education Minister.
3. Transportation History
The history of transportation in Kizhakkoth Panchayat is linked to the 1920s. The section from Kanjiramukku to Kanthapuram on the Narikuni-Punnur Road, established by the Malabar District Board in 1926, is the first road in Kizhakkoth Panchayat. The Nellakandi-Elayettil byway gained the form of a road in the 1940s. Before and during the 1970s, groceries, vegetables, and fish were brought from Kozhikode to Elayettil on headloads via this road. The Punnasseri-Parappan Poyil and Arambram-Kanjiramukku roads came into existence in the fifties and recent times. Subsequently, many mud roads were constructed in various parts of the Panchayat. The travel facilities we enjoy today are the result of the intense efforts of a dedicated group of service-minded people.
4. Cultural History
The people of Kizhakkoth Panchayat, which includes the Elayettil and Kizhakkoth Amshams (divisions) through which the small Eliya Aar river flows, possess a culture characterized by communal harmony and humility. Though the majority of the backward communities, including small farmers and agricultural laborers, were educationally backward, they maintained a decent cultural standard.
The Avuppad Nercha (Annual Offering/Feast) was a celebration filled with communal harmony and cooperation. In the 1970s, this annual feast was a grand celebration. For one week, food distribution programs were held inside a huge temporary shed constructed on about one hectare of land in the Avuppad Vayal (paddy field). People of various castes and religions arriving from different places were served using about 65 sacks of rice daily and thousands of chickens received as offerings.
The Kizhakkoth Juma Masjid is the oldest Muslim place of worship in the Kizhakkoth Grama Panchayat, where Muslims are the majority. The Kunnath Shiva Temple is a Hindu temple in the Kizhakkoth Grama Panchayat that is a century old. The Chettakkadavu Cattle Market was an agricultural festival celebrated with great fanfare in the first half of the 1970s.