Thalakulathur
Grama Panchayat

Social History
Thalakulathoor Panchayat is a region that was situated in the erstwhile Kozhikode and Kurumbranad Taluks of the old Madras State. The present-day Thalakulathoor Grama Panchayat encompasses Thalakulathoor and Annassery desams (regions) that were under the control of the Zamorin of Kozhikode, and the Edakkara desam, which belonged to the Kurumbranad Swaroopam, the vassals of the Zamorin.

The ancient Mathilakam Temple is said to have been used by the Zamorin's people for rituals and ceremonies. A large pond still exists near this temple. The desam bordered by this pond is Thalakulathoor. It is believed that the region got the name Thalakulathoor because there was a pond at the northern (തല - thala) end of the desam.

The dominance over this area was held by upper-caste landlords and feudal families. The landlord families who had seized the land were Vallikkattu Devaswom, Karakkatt Illam, Varodi Pannarambath, and Karamveli Mana. Not only lower castes, but also members of the Nair community were tenants here. Harijans were serfs (adialanmaar).

It is said that one of the hideouts of Thacholi Othenan was somewhere on the north side of the Eliyottumala hill, and he used the flat top of Eliyottumala to train his followers in martial arts (kalarimurakal). The flat, extensive southwest part of the hill's summit is still known today as Kalarikkandam (Field of Kalari).

Thalakulathoor Panchayat comprises the western part (present-day Thalakulathoor and Annassery desams) which was under the direct control of the Zamorin, and the eastern part (present-day Edakkara desam) which was under the Kurumbranad Swaroopam. Due to this, slight differences can be observed between the two parts in terms of customs, ceremonies, and linguistic usage.

Hindu and Muslim places of worship are found throughout the Panchayat. The Christian place of worship was established on Komasseri Kunnu in the Andikkode area in 1904, during the arrival of the missionaries.

Traditional and ritualistic art forms have persisted in the various temples of the Panchayat since ancient times as temple arts (kshethrakalakal). Uppinanj Mandakkutty was the person who translated the play Bhakta Harishchandra into Malayalam and staged it. V.U. Lohithakshan was another artist who made a great contribution to the theatre movement. E.P. Govindan from Patterpalam in Edakkara was a well-known theatre actor and director. Many people from this Panchayat participated in the activities of the National Movement during various phases of the freedom struggle.

The first Panchayat Governing Body came into existence on January 1, 1964. V.K. Kuttikrishna Kurup was elected as the first President.

History of Education and Health
It is known that educational activities began in the Edakkara region as early as the last quarter of the eighteenth century. In the olden days when there were no people to impart education, some travellers from the South established centers in various places to teach martial arts (ayudhabyasam) and literacy (aksharabyasam). During that time, a Ezhuthupally (traditional school) was established at the eastern end of the Annassery desam.

The first educational initiative in Thalakulathoor Panchayat was the Ezhuthupallikoodam (traditional school) that was running at a place called Poyilil to the west of Andikkode before the year 1900. Since the Malabar region was part of the old Madras State, a German missionary named Jow of the Basel Evangelical Mission went to Madras to obtain approval for establishing a school. This school is the B.E.M. L.P. School which is still functioning in Annassery. Students from distant regions came here to study. C.H. Muhammed Koya, who later became the Education Minister and Chief Minister of Kerala, received his primary education at this school.

The Kumarashramam School in Thalakulathoor was established by Valiyammakkandi Unneeri, an activist of the Atmavidya Sangham Movement. Another school he established was the Gurudevavilasam School. All the schools that came into existence in the Panchayat later were a continuation of these educational activities.

In the past, when modern medical treatments were not prevalent, traditional systems of medicine (naattu-chikitsa-reethi) were in use. Local traditional medicine dispensaries (naadan tharimarunnushaalakal), which were widespread until recently, are now disappearing. Shankaran Vaidyar, David Master (a renowned snake poison specialist), and Kandappunni Nair were famous in the field of poison treatment (visha-chikitsa). At that time, people here relied on the Kozhikode town for modern medical treatment

History of Transportation
Since Thalakulathoor Grama Panchayat is surrounded by rivers, it was a completely isolated region. There were only small roads and walkways connecting it to Atholi, Nanmanda, and Kakkoor Panchayats.

There was a Patterpalam (bridge) built with areca nut and coconut palms to connect with Chelannur Panchayat. There was also a small crossing path to cross the river at Pongilodippara. To reach other places across the river, country boats (thoni) were used at Mukkamkadavu, Purakkattiri, Puthukkattil Kadavu, Puthiyottil Kadavu, Pulikkool Kadavu, and Vallilkadavu. The town (Kozhikode) was connected via Elanjikkal, Elathoor, and Chelannur.

Goods transport to Patterpalam and Annassery areas was via the river. Goods arriving by bullock cart up to Elathoor Puthiyarath were transported by boat through Pavayil to Patterpalam. Similarly, goods reached the Kolakkad area via the Annassery canal. Later, a raft (changaadam) was also available at Purakkattiri to transport small vehicles across the river.

Would you like to know more about a specific part of Thalakulathoor Panchayat's history, such as the freedom struggle involvement or the details of the temples/art forms mentioned