HISTORY OF NILAMBUR MUNICIPALITY
Nilambur, located on the banks of River Chaliyar in Malappuram district, blessed with beautiful greenery and fertile landscapes, is an evolving tourist destination, and also one among the towns experiencing rapid urban growth. Nilambur Panchayat was formed in 1936 during the British period, and the town attained Municipality status in 2010. It was raised from a Third Grade Municipality to a Second Grade Municipality in 2014.
Nilambur municipality is the urban service provider for the whole of Taluk being its Headquarters. Nilambur is renowned for world's first and the oldest teak plantation, the Conolly's plot, and the unique teak museum. The region occupies a special place in the history of Malabar and is famous for its vast rain forests, natural scenic beauty, unique biodiversity, waterfalls, ancient kovilakams and rich colonial past.
Nilambur Municipality, the headquarters of Nilambur taluk of Malappuram District, is situated close to the Nilgiris range of the Western Ghats, on the banks of the Chaliyar River. It is about 40 kilometers from Malappuram town and 24 kilometers from Manjeri on the State Highway 28, also called the KNG road (Calicut-Nilambur-Gudalur road). Nilambur region is famous for its forests, especially its wildlife habitats, rivers, waterfalls and teak plantations and is home to the oldest aboriginal tribe of Kerala, the Cholainaickans.
Nilambur, one of the youngest among the seven municipalities in the district, attained Municipality status is 2010. It was recently raised to Second Grade Municipality in 2014, from Third Grade. The most popular event in the region is the Nilambur Vettekkorumakan Paattu, which is celebrated every year in the Nilambur Kovilakom Temple.
LOCATION AND CONNECTIVITY
Nilambur Town situated towards the eastern boundary of Malappuram District, within11° 15'- 11° 29' N latitudes and 76° 12'- 76° 16' E longitudes, and is bounded by Chaliyar and Chungathara panchayats in the North, Karulai panchayat in the East, Amarambalam and Wandoor panchayats in the South and Mampad panchayat in the West.
Located on Shoranur-Nilambur railway line, Nilambur Road Railway Station is the main railhead serving the destination. Though there is no national highway passing through the town, the town has good road network with the surrounding towns and the district headquarter (Figure 1.1). The Kozhikode - Manjeri - Nilambur -Gudalur - Ooty State highway (SH 28, 103.6 kilometers long) is the main road in this area, which connects the town to the western part of the district and state. Perimbilavu - Nilambur Road (SH 39) is also one of the major roads which extend from Mukkatta to Nallanthanni. The SH 39 has the route; Perumbilavu Koottanad Pattambi - Perinthalmanna - Pattikkadu-Karuvarakundu - Kalikavu - Nilambur Road. Situated onthe SH 28, Nilambur Town Bus Station is the oldest bus station in the area. This station serves regular buses from Edavanna, Malappuram, Keezhparamba and Manjeri. There is a KSRTC Depot functioning in the town, with inter-state services to Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, intra-state services to different parts of the state.
The nearest airport is the Kozhikode International Airport at Karipur, around 45 Kms away from the Town. Nilambur had a very active inland navigation system through Chaliyar River in the past, which was widely used for transporting wood merchandise from the forests to Beypore.
AREA AND POPULATION
Nilambur municipality has an area of 29.69 sq km, divided into 33 electoral wards, with a total population of 46,345 as per the 2011 census data. There are 22252 males and 24093 females which make a sex ratio of 1083 females for 1000 males. The female population constitutes 52% and male population 48% of the total population of the town. The total population of Nilambur forms 1.13% of the total population of the district. The area of the town accounts for 0.84% of the geographical area of the district. The gross population density of Nilambur municipality is 1561 persons/sq km, which is a little higher compared to the district density 1159 persons/sq km and is ranked second least when compared to other municipalities in the district. Nilambur has an average literacy rate 94.9% much higher than the national average literacy rate 63%, with a female literacy rate of 93% and male literacy rate of 96.9%.In Nilambur, 11.9% of the population is under 6 years of age and more than 4400 people belong to SC/ST category.
CLIMATE
Nilambur was highly thick evergreen forest once, experiencing tropical climate. It is generally hot and humid, and has significant rainfall for most of the months, with a short dry season. The temperature varies from 17°C to 37°C with an average annual temperature of 27.7°C. About 2666 mm of precipitation falls annually, which is lower than that of the state and the district.
Education played a vital role in the development of the region. The Kovilakom played an important role in introducing formal education in the region. The primary school established by the Kovilakam management in the year 1903 is now a Govt. UP School. Yet, there was not a single high school towards the east of Manjeri, and the noble minded Senior Manavedan Raja started the high school in 1940, which has now become the Govt. Manavedan Vocational Higher Secondary School. However, formal education was restricted to the members of socially and economically forward classes, while the rest of common public pursued their traditional livelihood means, as caste system was very much prevalent. But the awareness created by the social workers and civic activists influenced the socially weaker sections, and inspired them in getting educated, and avenues for formal education opened up for all people.
During the British rule, the rich forest and teak plantation of Nilambur used to cater to the needs of strong woods for all constructions and furniture making. This was the reason for connecting the railway line to Nilambur from Shoranur junction. Another reason was, to quickly transport armed forces to control Malabar Rebellion occurred in 1921. The line was opened in 1927 in stages: from Shoranur to Angadipuram, then to Vaniyambalam, and finally connecting Nilambur.
Manavedan Raja of Nilambur Kovilakom contributed significantly in the development of Nilambur, by building schools and hospitals, and also by introducing electricity to Nilambur from Paikkara generating station in Tamil Nadu in 1952, when electricity was only available in the main cities of Kerala.
The functioning of national parties in the region had a great influence in the development and welfare of the community. When Mr. Mohammed Abdurahiman Sahib became a candidate for the elections in the Malabar district board, it helped the people to have more confidence and courage to fight against the feudals. National awareness among the Muslim society was created by Kallan Kunnan Ahmed Kutty Sahib and Panolen Ahmed Kutty Sahib. K.V. Kunjalan Kutty Sahib, M.P. Velayudhan Nair, Velayudan Chetiyar, T.K. Madhavan, Kunjunni, Nilambur Balan were among the other important public figures who gathered the public to fight for social welfare and development. In the year 1953 another leader Kunjali along with group of farmers started struggle for land reforms, which successfully concluded as the new land bills were made by the communist Government in 1958. About 953 landless farmers were able to get land for housing and agricultural purposes. Many a protests were organized against amorality, feudalism, and various social evils, in this period. Kunjikuttan Thamban from among members of the Nilambur Kovilakam also opposed the feudalism, which requires an acknowledgement. The 'Viradoor March' organised by the Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana (SNDP) Yogam and Aikya Sahodara Sangham under the leadership of Sri. Kunjikannan and Kuttayi Vaidyar concluded peacefully at the timely interference of Senior Raja, who opened all the 21 temples under Kovilakam administration, except their family temple to the public. Though the role of the Kovilakam in the administration and governance of the region faded after the independence and fall of feudalism, they are an active presence in the cultural arena of the region.
Nilambur set an example of communal harmony when several communal riots happened in the Malappuram district in the first quarter of 19th century and several Muslim men sacrificed their lives while protecting their Hindu fellow beings. Christians from Central Kerala started migrating to Nilambur by the middle of the 20th century, attracted by the fertile agricultural lands in the region. Their migration marked the beginning a new chapter in farming in the region and rubber, tapioca etc. started to get widely cultivated. They also contributed significantly for the development of educational as well as medical fields.
Literature, music and art forms like Kathakali developed under the patronage of the Rajas. In the history of the kovilakam, a Vidwan Thamban is specially mentioned who was a great patron of literature and art. In the year 1934 a literature fest, a congregation of the 'Sahithya Parishad' was celebrated at the Kovilakam. But it had not created any influence among the local people. The literature as well as art forms played a vital role in bringing together the local people. The field of amateur drama was developed by persons like Dr. M. Usman, E.K. Ayamu, Nilambur Balan, K.G. Unneen, Nilambur Ayisha, but is dormant now. The names of the famous cinema playback singers like Krishna Chandran, Karthikayen, Sreenath should be strongly mentioned while discussing about the arts field of Nilambur. The famous magician Gopinath Muthukad is also from the land of teaks. Muthukad founded the first magic academy of Asia at Thiruvananthapuram.
