Kanam (Kerala)

Kanam is a small place in Kottayam District. It is approximately 25 kms from Kottayam Town. It has become one of the major tourist destination. Resort details can be found at like http://www.i-escape.com/hotel.php?hotel_key=IS032

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 passed away 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 . Admissions were given to all, irrespective of caste and creed .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.

Teachers in Kanam

Nettamplackal Aasan was the “Nilathezhasan”. Rtd Prevathicar VN.Govinda Pillai was also used to teach new students, alphabets and numbers. Among the teachers , the older generation remembers late MI. Abraham, Sankara Kaimal, Kangazhottu Paramewaran Pillai, MN.Sankara Pillai, Devaki Amma and E.M.Markose .Cherukappallil Chellamma (mother of Dr.CS.Gopinatha Pillai), Kotchasan (PK.Koshy father of Mr.PK.Ninan), Nellikunnam Sankaran Nair , Nattassery Ramakrishna Pillai, KN.Panicker (“Meesa Panicker sar”)and Mrs.Sosamma Philip (Mrs. Kanam EJ) .They were very popular teachers who commanded respect from all students. Jyolsan Rama Panicker was to teach Astrology.

Road

Kodungoor-Kappukadu-Kanam road was built 65 years back by Shanmughavilasom Arumugham Pillai.Ummini Kartha of Anickadu donated 4 acres 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 neat the junction and the Karthas were distributing free butter milk to travelers 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 dffered 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. Vaidyas (Physicians) of Old Kanam.

50 years ago there were expert Vaidyas in Kanam. Prevathicar Govinda Pillai ,father of T.K.Krishnan Nair, Kamalayam ,TPPuram,Vazhoor and Grand father of Kanam Rajendran Ex.MLA, was a Sanskrit scholar, poet and Vaidyan who specialized in the treatment of jaundice.Ezhuthukallumkal Narayan Nair Vaidyan, Ipe Vaidyan ,Thanagumpothy Joseph Vaidyan, ThirummuVaidyan Puthepurackal Parameswaran Nair Kuttappan Nair (Visha Chikitsa) ,TK .Velayudhan Nair ( Aniyan Vaidyan), were some of the celebrities who attended the need of sick. Muthaiyya and Kochaiyya were the compounder-turned doctors who treated patients going through Kanam in their cycles from the salvation Army Dispensary at Kanjirappara.In the veterinary field the service of Varghese Mappilla (father of Rtd HM TV.Kurian) of Thakidiyel house in Padinjattupakuthy was available at all times. Philipose Asan (Grand father of KanamEJ) was treating eye troubles and Homeo medicines were available with Pappy Vaidyan who practiced Homeo as well as Ayurveda.

Personalities of Kanam

The first person who took a technical degree is Er. PV. George BE, Rtd Chief Engineer, Eastern Railways (S/O Mr.PV.Varghese, Payikad).His sister Accamma Varghese is the first lady graduate of Kanam and was the first Head Mistress of CMS Middle School. The first BA graduate was Late .TK Krishnan Nair, Rtd AEO and first BSc graduate is TV.Kurian.

Late P.P.Sankara Pillai, Pangapattu BABL (Father of Dr.Meenakshi Amma), was the first Advocate, who settled down in Kanam ,even though late Adv. Kandamcheril Sivaraman Panicker ,who had landed property in Kanam, used to visit here once a week. Adv.Kanam Sivan Pillai was the first to take law degree and Dr. K.A.Sankara Pillai MBBS (and later DGO & MS.

Dr.MA.Arumugham Pillai took the first BAM (and later MBBS and M.S). Dr.C.S. Gopinatha Pillai took the fist Ph D (Marine Biology).The first Gazetted Officer and holder of a teaching degree was Payyampallil P.C.Varghese, BA.LT. Leading farmers were Mookklikattu Pappu Pillai alias Arumugham Pillai, (who started the SVLPS) Klappurayidathil Kuttan Pillai alias Chidambaram Pillai (father of Adv.Kanam Sivan Pillai) , Mlakkuzhiyil Arumugham Pillai (father of Dr.MA.Pillai), Kotchukanjirappara (later Thonduvelil) Ayyappan Pillai (father of Dr.Kanam Sankara Pillai. He is now 90 years old and is the Patron of Sree Ayyappa Trust, Kanam) Krishnavilasom Krishna Pillai alias Kappayil Kittuchettan (father of KK.Prabhakaran Nair), Peedikayil Kunjappan Mappila and his brother Daniel, Parappallithazhe Kuttan Mappila, Thottaparambil Kotchu Mappila, Thondiparambil Kotcherukkan, Peedikayil Kunjappan Mappila, Puthuparambil Kutty Mappilla, Mankompil Kunjappan Mappila and Cherukappallil Krishnan alias Kachi .Cherukappallil Sivarama Pillai (father of Dr.C.S.Gopinatha Pillai) and Damodharan Nair were the merchants who bought thei agricultural products and provided the people provisions.

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.

Spread 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 othe 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.:ater 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 passed away. 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.

Priests of Kanam

Pazhayamadathil Achan, Parappalithaze Achan Thadathil Achan and Perumprathazhe Achan(Kanam Achan) are prominent Priests who tried to improve the spiritual as well as the temporal lives of the people.

Writers & Authors from Kanam

Kanam is well known in Malayalm literature by way of the popular writer of sixties “Kanam E J”(Philip), whose “Ee Arayekkar Nintethanu”, “Pampanathi Panjozhukunnu”, “Bharya” etc were super hit Neendakathas in Manorama weekly . Kunjacko of Udaya Films made a super hit film “Bharya” with lyric “Periyare..peryare”, based on E.J’s novel. He started as a poet, later became Janapriya (popularly nicknamed as “Painkili”) Novelist and Editor who started the well known weekly “Manorajyam”. Tens of thousands of Malayalees were attracted to reading habit by E.J’s Neendakathas.

.After passing MHC, he joined Military Service .After returning he joined as a teacher in CMS Middle School Kanam but was later transferred to Mudakkayam and Kottayam. Later he joined Manorama as a Journalist. After resigning from Manorama he started his own publication ”Manorajyam”. TK.Krishnan Kutty.

Late Mr.TK.Krishan Nair BA.BT

(Historian of Kanam )

Krishnankutty was born on 27.2.1929 at Puthuparambu House, as the son of Prevathicar V.N.Govinda Pillai and Sri Ittooli Kutty Amma He studied in SVPS, Kanam, MMS Vazhoor, MHS Kangazha, MT Seminary Kottayam, KVHS Ponkunnam., SB College Changanacherry , SD College Alapuzha. and Teachers Training School Trichur. Worked in PCHS Ranni, Model School Trivandrum, GHS Thodupuzha, Aroor UPS Koothattukulam, Edamunnam UPS, GovtUPS Kothala and GUPS Vazhoor. Organized DGTA in North and Central Kerala.Founder President of Govt Graduate Teachers Association. Organized In- service training to English teachers. In 1984 retired as AEO Munnar. Married D. Kamalamma daughter of MN.Sankara Pillai-Devaki ,Amma, the teacher couple of SVPS. Daughter Sudha is the Head Mistress of Kothala NSS School. Son Babu Kalakrishnan (1st Rank holder and Goldmedalist for Bsc Eng) is in Bangalore. Second son Radhakrishnan is the Architect of Oman Palace. Youngest son Harikrishnan (MBA Rank holder) is Head of Finance dept Ras Gas Doha .TK’s wife D.Kamalamma, Rtd Malayalam Teacher NSSHS Vazhoor, died on 18.12.1999. Mr.TKK.Nair expired on 28th July 2001

Kanam EJ

Kanam is well known in Malayalam literature by way of the popular writer of sixties “Kanam E J”(Philip), whose “Ee Arayekkar Nintethanu”, “Pampanathi Panjozhukunnu”, “Bharya” (based on sensational Ammalukutty murder) etc were super hit Neendakathas in Manorama weekly. Kunjacko of Udaya Films made a super hit film “Bharya” with lyric “Periyare..peryare”( by Vayalar Rama Varma) based on E.J’s novel.
He started as a poet with “Bashpodhakam”, later became Jenapriya (popularly nicknamed as “Painkili”) Novelist and Editor who started the well known weekly “Manorajyam”. Tens of thousands of Malayalees were attracted to reading habit by E.J’s Neendakathas. Writers like M . Mukundan were attracted to writing by EJ’s Novels.

EJ was born on 13th June 1926 as the son of Elavunkal Joseph, who was the son of Philipose Asan, the Eye Physician of Kanam. He passed his MHC from MHS Kangazha and took to Military service. On return from war service, he could have practiced as a B Class Allopathic Practitioner, but he preferred teaching. He was assistant in CMS Middle School Kanam, later became Malayalam Pandit in CMS HS Mundakkayam, Kumpalampoika and Kottayam. Later he joined Malayala Manorama ,as a journalist .In 1967 he resigned and started famous Malayalam Weekly “Manorajyam”. Later it was transferred to Dr. George Thomas of “Keraladwani” .His wife Mrs. Rachel Thomas was the Editor for some time. After her death it was bought by Goodnight Mohan. Now the weekly stopped publishing.

Even when he was a student he had very brilliant talents in poetics and had won many prizes for short stories and poems. It was Manorama weekly which brought out his talents in writing Novels. The term “Painkili Novel” came to usage, after the birth of the popular Novel “Padatha Painkili” (later became Cinema by same name) by late Muttathu Varkey who was in the Editorial staff of Deepika the oldest Daily in Malayalam. But EJ had more readers than Varkey because his Neendakathas were serialized in Manorama weekly , which had more circulation. So ,even though he was No 2 in the list of so called “Painkili Novelist”, Kanam EJ had maximum readers. EJ had written more than 100 Novels., all appeared as Neendakathas in various Malayalam periodicals. Out of these 23 were made films.He wrote the script for seven and lyrics for five. ”Thiryayum theeravum chumbichurangi..” in “ Aval viswasthayayirunnu” was one of the a hit songs. He had published five collections of short stories, seven Dramas and two poetries. He died on 13th June 1982

Late Mrs. Sosamma Philip, teacher CMS Middle school was his wife. Sophy, Sali, Sajan, Susy and Baba are their children.

Acknowledgements

1. Late TK.Krishnan Nair, “Kalalayam”, Theerthapadapuram,Vazhoor 0482-456278
2. Dr.C.S.Gopinatha Pillai, “Sreesylam”, Pramadom ,Pathanmthitta 0482-325165

Source

Sajan Philip, Elavumkal, Kanam PO 684515. Kottayam Dist