Kanhirapuzha
Grama Panchayat

History and Heritage of Kanjirappuzha 

It is believed that a community with a Dravidian cultural background inhabited this region since prehistoric times. Evidence such as ancient burial urns (Nannangadis) and caves found in the area support this assumption. At some point, these early inhabitants may have migrated elsewhere or gradually disappeared, possibly due to the absence of a stable political system or their inability to adapt to changing historical circumstances. Some historians suggest that, during the process of Aryanization, the indigenous people retreated into dense forests, and the area was later repopulated by different groups over several periods.

The area now known as Kanjirappuzha, formerly called Pottassery, was part of the Attappady Valley within Valluvanad, ruled by the Valluvakonathiri of the Arangottu Swarupam. Valluvanad was once a powerful kingdom that exercised authority over much of South Malabar. However, after the Zamorin of Calicut captured Tirunavaya and took over the leadership of the Mamankam festival from the Valluvakonathiri, the Valluvanad ruler retained control only over parts of present-day Ottapalam Taluk and the Attappady Valley.

During Tipu Sultan’s invasion, the Valluvanad king reportedly sought refuge in Travancore. When the British later recovered Malabar from Tipu Sultan, the Valluvanad ruler entered into an agreement with the British East India Company. On 21 May 1800, Malabar became part of the Madras Presidency under British rule. Valluvanad continued as one of the six taluks of Malabar until the formation of the state of Kerala on 1 November 1956.

Over time, Pottassery Amsom of Valluvanad Taluk evolved into Pottassery Village of Mannarkkad Taluk in Palakkad District. Present-day Kanjirappuzha Panchayat consists mainly of Pottassery I and II Villages along with portions of Palakkayam and Kallamala Villages.

Freedom Movement and Social Change

The Khilafat Movement, which formed part of the broader Indian nationalist movement in the early twentieth century, also had an impact on this region. Bullet marks can still be seen on the walls of the old mosque at Arippanazhi, reflecting the turbulent period. It is also believed that Khilafat leader Seethikoya Thangal of Kumarampathoor stayed as a guest of Kuttappanikkar at Vellathodu in Kanjirappuzha.

The Pottassery region, then part of British Malabar, witnessed a strong peasant movement that improved the lives of tenant farmers and agricultural labourers. Organized struggles helped workers secure better wages and rights. Oral accounts suggest that during the 1940s, agricultural workers successfully fought for an increase in paddy wages from three measures to three-and-a-half measures through the efforts of farmers' organizations.

Although the people of the region contributed to the social and political movements that shaped modern Kerala, institutions such as libraries and cultural associations failed to develop strongly here, possibly because of widespread illiteracy and a shortage of educated leadership.

The formation of Kerala State and the implementation of historic land reforms brought major social, economic, and cultural changes to the region.

Origin of Place Names

The entire area now comprising Kanjirappuzha Panchayat was once known as Pottassery. Many local place names reflect the natural resources, plants, animals, and minerals that were abundant in the area:

• Inchikunnu – known for wild ginger.
• Vettilachola – abundant in wild betel leaves.
• Koranakkunnu – rich in a type of reed called Korana.
• Irumbakachola – associated with ironwood trees and forest streams.
• Aanakkaranam – habitat of wild elephants.
• Nariyamkode – frequented by foxes.
• Arippanazhi – believed to have yielded gold particles.
• Pichalamunda – associated with brass or similar metal extraction.

Other place names such as Pulikkal, Pattimannam, and Rayinthuruthi also evolved over time. Some of these areas were later submerged by the Kanjirappuzha Dam reservoir. Today, the name Pulikkal survives mainly through the Government UP School at Pulikkal.

Settlement and Livelihood

The fertile hill region, rich in forests and natural resources, attracted various communities over centuries. Traders, artisans, Muslims engaged in bamboo cutting and gold washing, and other occupational groups settled here. The Alaykkal family is said to have migrated from Mappattukara to engage in iron smelting.

The present population of Kanjirappuzha is largely descended from people who migrated here before the twentieth century in search of livelihood and resources. This does not mean that the area was previously uninhabited; indigenous tribal communities had long lived in the remote valleys of the Attappady hills. As settlers became dominant, many tribal groups gradually retreated deeper into the forests.

Initially, only six or seven families owned most of the land, while the majority of the population worked as tenants, labourers, or dependents. Later, families engaged in collecting forest produce also settled permanently. Migrants who arrived during the construction of the Kanjirappuzha Dam and people from other states generally do not share this long historical connection with the area.

Agriculture and Geography

Kanjirappuzha is a picturesque hill village characterized by mountains, foothills, uplands, and plains. This geographical diversity is reflected in its agricultural practices:

• Hill slopes: Rubber and pepper.
• Uplands: Coconut, mango, and jackfruit.
• Plains: Paddy, banana, and arecanut.

Intercrops such as ginger, yam, colocasia, greater yam, and tapioca are widely cultivated. In earlier times, paddy cultivation dominated the plains. Traditional rice varieties included Aryan, Kazhama, Chittyani, Thavalakkannan, Jeerakasamban, Cherivattan, and Valiyavattan, all known for resistance to pests and diseases.

After the harvest season, farmers cultivated millet, sesame, horse gram, and black gram in paddy fields. These supplementary crops often provided the real economic support that sustained farming families.

Culture and Education

The Panchayat is home to places of worship belonging to Hindu, Muslim, and Christian communities. The famous Ambukunnu Nercha festival is regarded as a symbol of communal harmony and attracts devotees from far and wide.

The echoes of India's freedom struggle also reached this region. By the 1960s, primary schools had already been established in Kanjirappuzha, marking the beginning of educational development and modernization in the area.

Overall, Kanjirappuzha's history reflects a rich blend of indigenous heritage, migration, agrarian struggles, cultural diversity, and social transformation.