Ponnani (Malayalam: പൊന്നാനി, formerly Ponani, Paniyani) is a coastal municipality and an important fishing center in Malappuram district in the Indian state of Kerala, spread over an area of 9.32 km2. It is a tidal port, mainly used by the fishing industry. It is situated at the mouth of Ponnani river, the second longest river of Kerala and is bounded by the Arabian Sea on the west.
Ponnani is often regarded one of the oldest ports in southern India and is sometimes roughly identified with the port Tyndis of the Roman accounts.[citation needed]
Ponnani taluk is the smallest taluk in Malappuram district.
Located in Malappuram District of Kerala state in India, Ponnani is a small town at the mouth of the Bharathapuzha. It is a port used primarily as a fishing harbour. Ponnani is a "town of mosques". Though described as the "place of 231/2 masjids", there are nearly 50 mosques. Ponnani has a population which is a blend of almost equal percentage of Hindus and Muslims and has set an example for tolerant and peaceful religious co-existence its history. Malik Ibnu Dinar, the legendary first Islamic missionary who came to Kerala, is believed to have visited Ponnani.
William Logan, the famous historian-turned-civil administrator, records in his Malabar Manual about the Ponnani Juma’ Masjid built in 925 Hijra. Ponnani is considered as the second capital of Kingdom of Calicut during the reign of Zamorins and was the headquarters of Kunhali Marakkars, the famous naval army chiefs of Calicut.[citation needed]
Ponnani enjoyed a status as an important centre for education in the philosophy of Islam. In the early period, Ponnani was considered "the Al-Azhar University of Kerala", for its great Muslim religious schools and teachers. Ponnani was called "the small Mecca" in southern India, Malaya, Indonesia etc. Ponnani has also contributed a great deal to the cultural and literary heritage of Kerala.
As of 2001[update] India census,[1] Ponnani had a population of 87,356. Males constitute 48% of the population and females 52%. Ponnani has an average literacy rate of 85.20%, higher than the Indian national average of 65.38%: male literacy is 90.08%, and female literacy is 80.87%. In Ponnani, 13% of the population is under 6 years of age.
Some of the ancient aristocratic families in Ponnani are given below. They were the land owners of major part of Ponnani.
- Mayanthrinkaanakam Kutty Hassan Kutty ( Founder : MKHK & Co. )
- Pavarukka(Aliyamakkanagath)
- Kodambiyakam
- Mokdhoom Puthiyagam
- Makdhoom Pazayagam
- Valiyajaram
- Padinjarakath
- Pazayagam or Khazaliyarakam
- Tharayam Kojineeyakath
- Vattungal (Cheruvalappil)
- Musaliyarakath Arakkal
- Thottuugalkath
- Palathum veedu
- Mayanthriyakath
- Konganam veedu
- Vettom Veedu
- Thareekkanakath
- Chozimadath
- Padinjare Pazhayagam
- Pulikkal
Ponnani provides a natural ground for establishing a port. Ponnani is a sea shore town along the south banks of Barathappuzha. It is located at 10°46′N 75°54′E / 10.77°N 75.9°E / 10.77; 75.9[2] at the earth global. It has an average elevation of 5 metres (16 feet).
Ponnani is one of the oldest port on Malabar Coast and has contributed to the trade and economy of Malabar from very early times. This port was used as a hub for trading with Arabs and Europeans in the early ages of British Colonial rule in Malabar.
Trikkavu in Ponnani was one among the seats of the Zamorin of Calicut, from where he controlled the trade and commerce. The economy of the town is predominantly based on agriculture and marine products. A central (Indian) government port customs office is also functions at Ponnani.
In the early days, Ponnani was a notable place for the manufacture of big wooden boats (called "Uru" or "Pattemari"). Though this place is industrially backward now, some traditional industries based on coir and coir products, marine products, etc. are dominating from the very early times. Kerala State Detergents and chemicals Limited in Kuttippuram is a main Government undertaking industrial establishment in this region.Now Ponnani has been growing faster making revolution in the IT sector as some companies like [http://Cyberotech Cyberotech] Information Technologies is emerging at Edappal,Eastern part of it.Services like Web development and other Software are made easier,reliable and cheaper here.
The major source of income for the people are agriculture and fishing. Rice, coconut, aricanut are the main cultivation. Ponnani is famous for its fishing harbour and houses the office of the Malappuram district fisheries board. There is a light house in Ponnani under the control of Government of India, which highlights the importance of fishing in this area.
The tidal mouth of Bharathappuzha in Ponnani, where Bharathapuza and Tirur river join together to traverse into the Arabian Sea, is a seasonal home to hundreds of migratory birds and attracts a large number of bird watchers and ornithologists. When one crosses Bharathapuza by ferry from Ponnani to Chamravattom in the summer months of March to May, one cannot miss the sights of lovely flocks of birds. Nearly 25 varieties of birds have been identified in this area.
Another tourist attraction is Lake Biyyam. This placid, green fringed waterway has water sports facilities. A boat race is conducted here annually, during Onam celebrations. A permanent pavilion is built for the spectators and nearly two dozen country boats, including some rowed by women, participate in the race. A beautiful hanging bridge is completed across Biyyam kayal.
- Ponnani Juma Masjid
- Ponnani Lighthouse: Ponnani Lighthouse is situated close to the southern bank of Bharathapuza joining the Arabian sea on the outskirts of Ponnani town.
- Fishing Harbour
- Saraswati Hindu Temple, Thrikkavu
- Kozhikode International Airport (78 km)
- Railway station at Kuttipuram (21 km)
- Railway station at Guruvayoor (22 km)
- Road - The National Highway- 66 (Panvel - Cochin) passess through Ponnani
Ponnani is also linked by an inland water navigation system of canals to southern Kerala.
Established in 19 hundreds. MES college has played a significant role in parting quality higher education to the youth especially from Ponnani, Tirur and Chavakkad taluks. This college is affiliated Calicut Univarsity. College offers Masters and Bachelors degree courses in arts, science and commerce discipline.
- Anu kadavanad
- Umeri English school
- M E S engineering College in Kuttippuram
- Kelapplaji College of agricultural engineering and technology, Thavannur are in ponnani taluk and caters to a large number of students to pursue engineering studies in various disciplines.
- Scholar college
- Govt ITC
- Regional Arts and Science College
- IHRD College of Applied Science, Vattamkulam
- This century old school started in 1885 is one among the oldest in Malabar and has brought up a number of notable personalities like C Radhakrishnan, artist Padmini etc.
- Established in 1947, has very important role in educating the backward people whom mostly came from coastal area. This school was recently upgraded to Higher Secondary and now boasts of two full fledged higher secondary schools for boys and girls.
- Thrikkavu Government High school,
- Ponnani Girls High school,
- I S S School,
- Vijaya Matha High School.
- N S S High school, Nariparambu.
- Bharathiya Vidhya Bhavan,Ponnani.
- Al Basheer Educational Trust.
- Al-Falah English School,Veliancode
- Makhdoomiyya English School,Ponnani
- Ideal international institute of education,kadakassery
Ponnani has a population which is a blend of almost equal percentage of Hindus and Muslims and has set an example for tolerant and peaceful co-existence. Ponnani is constituted as rural region, with agriculture and fishing being the main means of livelihood. The area boasts a few NRI pockets, wherein foreign remittances have created an aura of prosperity.
Malik Ibn Dinar, the first Islamic missionary to come to Kerala, is believed to have visited Ponnani. William Logan, the British historian, records in his Malabar Manual that the Ponnani Juma Masjid was built in 925 Hijrah Era. Ponnani was considered as the second capital of Malabar during the reign of Zamorins of Calicut and was the headquarters of Kunjali Marakkar, the naval chief of Zamorin.
It attained a status as an important centre for education in the philosophy of Islam. In the early period, Ponnani was considered the Al Azhar University of Kerala, for its great religious schools and teachers. Ponnani was called the 'small Mecca' of South India.
Hyder Ali of Mysore conquered Malabar in 1766 and established an outpost in Ponnani. During his son Tipu Sultan’s regime Ponnani became an important centre for Islamic studies. Tipu developed the port at Ponnani for trade and security reasons. Ponnani was the southern most town of Tipu's regime. After Tipu’s defeat in 1799, the British took the territory of Malabar under their control.[3]
Trikkavu in Ponnani was the summer capital of Zamorins of Calicut, the rulers of Malabar.
Ponnani is a name very much associated with the nationalist movements in the freedom struggle. A number of prominent leaders from this taluk had contributed in soul and spirit towards realizing the dream of Independent India. Role of great freedom struggle leaders like Zainuddin Makhdoom II, who wrote a book Tuhafat Ul Mujahideen, which is the first authentic book on Kerala history, to inspire people to fight Portughese invasion is remembered for ever. Ponnani has also contributed a great deal to the cultural and literary heritage of Kerala.
Shri. KV Raman Menon (1900–1974), known as Ponnani Gandhi, was a great Congress leader of the time who had actively participated in the freedom movement of Malabar.[4] He was a social reformer and was a leading lawyer of the Court of Ponani.[5]
EK Imbichibava has played a tremendous role in its development. He is known as The Soul of Ponnani. He was a great Communist Leader and former Member of Indian Parliament and Member of Kerala Legislative Assembly.
Ponnani is well known among Keralites for its numerous mosques build across Ponnani municipality. To name one is the oldest mosque Ponani Juma Masjid which is five hundred year old. As equal it is also known for Hindu temples such as Thrikkavu Temple and the Navamukunda Temple in Thirunavaya, located on the northern banks of river Barathapuzha. Another famous temple in Ponnani is Mookkuthala Bhagavathy Temple.[6] Mookkuthala Kannemkavu temple is situated nearby the Mookuthala temple. This temple is owned and managed by Azhvancheri Thamprakal. Centuries ago, saints from the famous Chettikulangara Temple, Mavelikkara, visited and stayed here for bhajanam, at the time of their journey to Azhvancherry Mana.
People from Ponnani had contributed much for Kerala's rich cultural treasure and plays a significant role in the cultural history of Kerala. Few people on the list,
- Thunchaththu Ezhuthachan, who is considered as the Father of the Modern Malayalam language
- Vallathol Narayana Menon (1878–1958)
- Kuttikrishna Marar
- Krishna Panikkar
- Illustrious novelists like Uroob (pseudonym of P. C. Kuttikrishnan), M. T. Vasudevan Nair, Madhavikkutty and C. Radhakrishnan, poets like Edasseri Govindan Nair etc.,
- The well-known painters like K.C.S. Panikkar, Namboothiri
- The role of EK Imbichibava is remembered for his contribution to the town and people.
- VP Cherukoya Thangal was a Muslim League MLA in early days, C.Hamza Sahib also one of the Muslim league leader early days later he become leader of Muslim Educational Socity
- A.M. ABU( Master brain of political study class for young Socilist)), K.K. BAVA(Influential leadership) T.K. NOORUDHEEN(Former socialist party Palakkad district joint secretary and Socialist party's candidate of ponani farkha for District Board Election,later Malappuram district Chairman of Praja Socialist party also served as a Member of Nilambur Area Tribel Development committee), K.V. SEEMAN(Seeman,was one of the influential political correspondent in Ponani) and V.V. KUNJAHAMED are Socialist party leaders and they lead port cargo workers union and Beedi Thozilali union in Ponani. They are all Freedom Fighters. They also actively lead beedi thozhilali strike.
- Beeran, Koyakutty Thangal from valiya jaram, Thresiya Teacher, Panjilakath Mohamed Haji.T K. Abdulla kutty and U.imbichahmed, P.P. Mohamed Sahib (PPMS, Served as Plakkad District Congress Commettee Secretary) are leaders of ponani Town Indian National Congress. C.M. Moidunni was one of the noted trade unionists in Ponani.
- Vakil K. V. Raman Menon was the lynch pin of Ponani for its religious harmony especially during the Khilafat Movement.
- Edasseri Govinadan Nair also has contributed to many of the social reformations in Ponani.
- Advocate Koladi Govindan Kutty, K. Krishna Warrier, Justice Kunhammad Kutty, Fatima Teacher, K.V. Syed Kutty, Prof. A. V. Moideen Kutty, Prof. M. M. Narayanan, Prof. K. V. Abdurahiman, Prof. Kadavanad Mohammad, K.V.Noorudheen sahib, Kodambiye Rahman, P. Surendran etc. have contributed a lot for the cultural development of Ponnani.
Prof. K.A. ABDUL KADHER is a well known Economist from Ponani (He Served as a professor in MES Collage, later served in Dubai customs and EMIRI OFFICE, Dubai One of the master brain of kuttippuram Bridge construction Mr. K.V. Abdul Azeez from Ponani, Tamil Nadu Chief Engineer (Irrigation) Mr. A.M. Usman Sahib also from Ponani, the list is not ending.
There are two administrative systems prevailing in Ponnani taluk:
- Revenue
- Local self-government.
The local self-government system constitutes the Municipality and Block Panchayat. Ponnani Municipality has 50 wards. Each ward is represented by an elected member in the Municipal council. Under the revenue system, the taluk is divided into 13 villages. Ponnani taluk is constituted of the following villages.
Located in Malappuram District of Kerala state in India, Ponnani is the smallest Taluk of the district.
It is part of Ponnani (Lok Sabha constituency).[7]
Ponnani is one among the 20 parliament constituencies of Kerala. The Ponnani constituency comprises the assembly segments of
- Tirurangadi
- Tanur
- Tirur
- Ponnani
- Kottakkal
- Thavanoor
- and Thrithala.
Between 1957 and 1977, when Ponnani was a reserved constituency, it was held by the Marxists. Once it was re-labeled a general constituency in 1977, the balance of power shifted to the IUML. General Statistics (Municipality as per 1991 Census):[8]
Ponnani Lok Sabha constituency is composed of the following assembly segments:[7]
- Tirurangadi
- Tanur
- Tirur
- Ponnani
- Tavanur
- Kottakkal
- Thrithala
The Chamravattom project a reality, a landmark growth is expected in the tourism, irrigation and transportation sectors. The foundation for this ambitious project was laid in 1982.
- Shifting of North bound buses from Guruvayur via Ponnani
- Ponnani byepass
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