Kaladi
Grama Panchayat

Socio-Cultural History

          Kalady is located on the banks of the Nile River. Until 2005, this village was part of the area called Tavanur, which was known as Tapassanur in ancient times. According to popular belief, the name Tapassanur was derived from the fact that it was the bank where divine sages and great sages performed penance centuries ago. Although the Tavanur Panchayat, which included Kalady village, came into existence in 1961 after the formation of United Kerala, the elected administrative committee came to power in 1963. Tavanur and Kalady are famous for their kavus. The caves and other places where ancient humans lived and the ancient pottery found here indicate that these places were inhabited centuries ago. This area was located at the southern tip of the ancient Vettathunadu, which was a vassal state of the Zamorin. It consisted of four parts: Thrikkanapuram, Pothanur, Tavanur and Kalady. The trees, bamboos, etc. required for the mamangam were provided by the Kalaparamba family of Cherikallil Kalady. The two famous manas in the Tavanur part, which included the village of Kalady, were Vellayil Mana and Tavoonar Mana. There is a proverb in this region that goes, “The word of the white man is the money of the black man.” This proverb is a reflection of the rivalry between these two groups and the dominance of the upper caste and aristocracy. The people of this region have been skilled in martial arts since ancient times. The Vallabhatta Kalari Sangam, which is famous in Kerala, is the main sports committee in Kalady. The activities of the national movement became active in this area with the arrival of K. Kelappan, who was known as the Kerala Gandhi. This place became his work path while he was a teacher in Ponnani. The reason why the scars of the Malabar Rebellion did not occur here was due to the tireless efforts of Kelappan and Atakoya Thangal of Ponnani, a Muslim scholar and League leader.

          The freedom struggle here gained momentum with the Congress session held at Pappinikavu Maidan in 1942. It was also the beginning of a collective struggle against British rule. Vasudevan Namboothiri, N.P.Damodaran, lawyer Raman Menon, Gopalakurup, P.K.Menon, and Madambath Govindan Menon were among the prominent leaders who led this. Formal education began in Trikkanapuram in the early 20th century with the establishment of the Malabar Board School. This school is now functioning as the G.L.P. School, Trikkanapuram. Later, the Kalady Board Elementary School (now Kalady GLPS) in Pulluvanpadi and the S.S.U.P. School in Anthyalamkudam were established. A Harijan Welfare School was also functioning in Maravancherry for the betterment of the education of the Harijans. The first bus service in this panchayat, where only bullock carts and horse carts were used as means of transport, was started in 1940. This service was from Ponnani - Edappal - Kandanakam - Kuttippuram Kadavu. Electricity was introduced in this area in the 1950s. Today, the majority of the people living in Kalady panchayat are Hindu and Muslim. There are various places of worship for people of different castes and religions in the panchayat. 14 temples and 7 Muslim mosques are located in different parts of the panchayat. The main temples in the panchayat are Kalady Shiva Temple, Nariparamba Subrahmanya Temple, Pathirapilly Shiva Temple, and Kolatharakunnu Temple. Juma mosques are located at Parappuram, Kadanchery, Kalady, Pothanur and Nariparambu. The main festivals of the panchayat are the Thaipuyam festival at the Subrahmanya temples at Nariparambu and Thrikkovil, the Shivaratri festival at the Kalady Shiva temples at Pathirapilly, the Kolatharakunnu temple festival and the Vettakkaran Kavu temple festival at Kandanakam. Padmini, who was the new spring of Indian painting and passed away untimely, was born in Kadanchery in Kalady panchayat. The main institutions operating in the panchayat in the field of healthcare are the Government Ayurveda Dispensary in Kalady and the Government Homeo Dispensary in Nariparamba. Primary health sub-centers are functioning in Kalady, Mangattur, Kandanakam, Pothanur and Kuttikunnu. Kalady Board Elementary School is the first school in the panchayat in the field of formal education. This is the present-day Kalady GLPS. Apart from this school, there are also schools in the government sector, Kadanchery G.H.S.S., Pothanur G.U.P.S., and Nariparamba G.L.P.S. in the panchayat. There are 3 LP schools, 2 UP schools and 5 schools in the aided sector.