Thalassery
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Thalassery | |
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| Coordinates | 11°45′N 75°29′E / 11.75°N 75.49°E |
| Country |  India |
| State | Kerala |
| District(s) | Kannur |
| Municipality Chairman | K. P. Raveendran |
| Parliamentary constituency | Vadakara |
| Assembly constituency | Thalassery |
| Population • Density |
99,386 (2001[update]) • 4,148 /km2 (10,743 /sq mi) |
| Sex ratio | 1000:1125 ♂/♀ |
| Time zone | IST (UTC+5:30) |
| Area • Elevation |
23.96 km2 (9 sq mi) • 0 m (0 ft) |
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Footnotes
Thalassery is located in the southern part of Kannur District
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| Website | www.thalasserymunicipality.in |
Thalassery, also known as Tellicherry, is a city on the Malabar Coast of Kerala, India. This is the second largest city of North Malabar. It is 21 km from the district headquarters, Kannur. The name Tellicherry is the anglicized form of Thalassery. Thalassery municipality has a population just less than 100,000.[1]
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[edit] Geography
Tellicherry is in Kannur district. The palm-fringed geography of Tellicherry is adorned with four rivers, canals, hills with orange hued rock and a long scenic coastline. One of the four rivers is the Mahé River (Mayyazhi river). During the British Raj, the Mahé River was nicknamed the English Channel, because it separated British-ruled Tellicherry from French-ruled Mahé. Muzhappilangad, a 5 km long beach, is located within 6 km of the city centre.
[edit] Demographics
As of 2001[update] India census[2], Tellicherry has a population of 99,386, making it the 8th largest city of Kerala in terms of population. Males constitute 47% of the population and females 53%. Tellicherry has an average literacy rate of 86%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 86%, and female literacy is 86%. In Tellicherry, 10% of the population is under 6 years of age.
[edit] British Influence
The British established their presence in Kerala in 1682, when they obtained permission from the Vadakkilamkur Prince of Kolattunad to settle at Tellicherry. In the following years, the British presence in the state of Kerala strengthened. During this period, there were many organised revolts held by the natives of the region against the empire. Among them was the revolt of 1704, that the natives of Tellicherry organised, but this revolt was quickly crushed by the British forces due to its localised, non-nationalistic nature.
Due to its coastal location, the town of Tellicherry was a major commercial centre during the British rule of India. During the British rule, the Malayalam name Thalassery was anglicised into Tellicherry.
The British built a seaport in Tellicherry through which a variety of spices such as pepper and cardamom were exported. (Tellicherry pepper, ground from locally grown pungent black peppercorns, is much sought after by chefs around the world). In 1708, the British built Thalassery Fort by the sea to protect and control the spice trade from the town. a ship wreckage of these merchant caravan is visible near the shore of tellichery For the ship wrecked in 1806 see Tellicherry (ship)
The square fort, with its massive walls, secret tunnels to the sea and intricately carved huge doors, is an imposing structure. The fort was once the nucleus of Tellicherry's development. It is now a historical monument. In 1781, this fort was attacked unsuccessfully by the ruler and military commander of Mysore, Hyder Ali.
The British also established the district judicial court in Tellicherry. During the British rule, jurisdiction of Tellicherry Court extended up to Mysore.
One of the popular tourist spots in the town, Overbury's Folly, was built by E. N. Overbury a local British judge in the 1870s.
[edit] Culture
Tellicherry is at times referred to as the city of Cricket (where indians 1st played cricket), Cakes and Circuses.[3][4]
Tellicherry is considered to be the birth place of the Indian Circus. Keeleri Kunhikannan is a legend in the history of Circus. The Circus artist and coaches from Tellicherry are very much in demand. There is also a proposal to start a Circus school, which will give employment opportunity for many persons. This could serve as recruitment ground for Circus companies. There is also scope for earning foreign exchange as the Circuses are very popular in other countries. The cultural exchange programme with Russian performers by Jumbo Circus was well-received.
Rajya Samacharam, the first Malayalam newspaper, was published from Tellicherry.[5]
Older houses in Tellicherry have traditional Kerala architecture, usually large houses with wide verandahs, a well and solid wooden doors . Each house invariably has a few coconut trees, jackfruit and perhaps papaya, mango trees. The many idyllic suburbs are well defined by the rivers and canals that flow past.
Since long time, Tellicherry residents like other Keralites have gone abroad or all over India in search of work and to seek their fortunes. It is quite common to find one or more persons from each household living overseas or in other states.This has led to a somewhat dependent money-order economy. It is a matter of concern for the residents on how to diversify and have a self-sustainable economy
[edit] Sree Jagannath Temple
Sree Gnanodayayogam the Prominent social organisation of North Malabar and the governing body of Sree Jagannath Temple, Tellicherry consecrated by his holiness Sree Narayana Guru, is in the light of centennial celebrations. Sree Varadur Kaniyil Kunhi Kannan visited Guru Dev in December 1904 and put a suggestion that Thiyya Community should have a Temple at Thalassery. Sree Jagannath Temple had been consecrated by his Holiness in 1908 itself is a solid proof to discredit their version. Sree Narayana Guru Dev allowed Varadur to invite Kumaran Asan, as his representative and to convene meetings to ascertain the reaction of the people about the feasibility of a Temple for the community. Kumaran Asan who was staying with Dr. Palpu in Bangalore accepted the invitation and on his arrival the first meeting was convened at ‘Parambath House’ of Sree Cheruvari Govindan Shirastadar on 9 July 1905.
[edit] Educational Institutions
Tellicherry is home to Govt. Brennen College, founded in 1851, is one of the oldest educational institutions in the region.[6] The college evolved from a school established by English philanthropist Edward Brennen, who had made Tellicherry his home. The college is one of the premier educational institutions in Kerala. B.E.M.P High school (Basel Evangelic Mission Parsy) is the first English Medium school set up in Tellicherry. MESBRS is the first CBSE school set up in Tellicherry
Important Educational Institutions in Thalassery are
Govt Brennen Higher Secondary School, Mubarak Higher Secondary School, St.Joseph's Higher Secondary School, Basel Evangelical Mission Parsi High School, Sacred Heart Girls High School, Govt Girls Higher Secondary School, MES Bava Residential School, Sanjos Metropolitan School, College of Nursing, NTTF (Nettur Technical Training Foundation), Kannur University Campus, Brennen College and College of Engineering, Thalassery.
See Also Educational Institutes in Thalassery
[edit] Cricket
The Tellicherry Municipal Ground (see Thalassery Stadium) located close to the sea hosts the Ranji Trophy cricket matches quite often. Lord Arthur Wellesley is believed to have introduced this game in Kerala in the 18th century for the British Soldiers who were garrisoned in the Tellichery Fort[7]. It is recorded in the history that the India's first Cricket Club was formed in 1860 at Tellichery[7], which was later renamed as Town Cricket Club. The Tellichery Cricket ground was the hub of cricket activities those days. It has been reported that an exhibition match was conducted in this ground to raise funds during the First World War[7]. Famous English cricketer Colin Cowdrey's father was a tea planter in Tellicherry and he used to play cricket in Tellicherry during 1890s, and is credited to have laid a decent cricket pitch here, in the early 1900s. Colin Cowdrey, played in Tellicherry during the British regime.
In the year 2002, Tellicherry cricket ground celebrated its 200th birthday by hosting a match between the former cricketers of India and Sri Lanka. In 2008 a new stadium only for Cricket has been inaugurated in Conor Vayal near Venus Junction in Tellicherry which is a project of Kerala Cricket Association
[edit] Notable citizens
- Keeleri Kunhikannan : Tellicherry is considered to be the birth place of the Indian Circus; Keeleri Kunhikannan is a legend in the history of the circus
- C. V. Devan Nair, the third president of Singapore, hailed from Thalassery.
- Oyyarathu Chandumenon, author of the first Malayalam novel, Indulekha, was also from Thalassery.
- Herman Gundert, a German missionary who lived in Thalassery, wrote the first Malayalam dictionary (Malayalam-English) in 1872.
- Moorkoth Kumaran, a disciple of Sree Narayana Guru, wrote a biography of that guru.
- Moorkoth Kunhappa, was associate editor of Malayala Manorama
- Sanjayan (M. R. Nair), a Malayalam satirist, was from Thalassery.
- V. R. Krishna Iyer
- Koramban Mestry, was a very big landlord and businessman, and a great friend of Gundert. His descendents (Kambil's) are spread all over the globe and are extremely successful in their respective fields.
- Moozhikara Unni, eldest of the Unni brothers, famous cloth merchants with exports to South East Asia was from Thalassery.
- A. K. Gopalan, (A.K.G) Communist Party of India (Marxist), one time opposition leader in the Lok Sabha, was from Thalassery.
- V. P. Sathyan, former captain of India national football team, hailed from Thalassery.
- Pattiam. K. Kumaran, one of the early communist leaders who worked with many prominent leaders during his time, hailed from Pattiam. Founder of first parallel college in Thalassery under the name 'Pattiams College' in 1950's. He was the teacher of Pattiam Gopalan.
- Nettur. P. Damodaran, author, freedom fighter, recipient of 'Thanrapatra', social worker, member of Parliament in the 1st Lok Sabha[1] from Tellichery constituency, Chairman - Backward class reservation commission later known as Nettur Commission. Contributed to the liberation of Mahe from French colonial Empire's rule. He is the brother of Payyan Karunakaran, one of the most colorful characters of Nettur. [2]
- Dr. TVN Nair, Eminent leader of the freedom movement in Indian history as well as a distinguished personality in the social, cultural and political arena of Tellicherry. He paved the way for the freedom movement in North Malabar and Old Kottayam Taluk, with specific focus on Tellicherry. He hailed from the renowned "Thalassery Veedu" family and was a doctor by profession.[8]
[edit] Railway Station
Thalassery Railway Station is one of the major railway stations in Kerala under Palakkad Railway Division. It's a 'D' class railway station.
[edit] How To Reach
- By air: The nearest airport is at Kozhikode International Airport, Kozhikode, about 93 km south.
- By rail: Thalassery Railway Station. Thalassery railway station is well linked to major towns up country as well as within the state.
- By road: NH-17 passes through Thalassery. Kozhikode is 67 km away from Thalassery.
- Tellicherry is well connected with Bangalore(Bengaluru) through road. There are a lots of private buses operating between Tellicherry and Bangalore, usually at night.
[edit] Hotels
- Western Hotel
- Paris Presidency
- Sharara Plaza
- Omega
- Malabar Fort
- The Pearlview Regency [9]
- Raravis
[edit] Places of Interest
- Dharmadam
- Dharmadam Island
- Dharmadam Beach
- Muzhappilangad beach
- Sree Ramaswami Temple
- Sree Jagannath Temple
- Sree Andalur Temple
- Overbury's Folly
- Centenary Park
- Odathil Palli
- Thalassery Pier (Kadalpaalam)
- Thalassery Fort
- Thalassery Stadium
- Kadavathur
- Mariamman Koil, Pilakool
- Sri Narayana Velayudhan Kovil, Pilackool
- Melut Sri Muthappan Madappura
[edit] References
- ^ Indian Census
- ^ "Census of India 2001: Data from the 2001 Census, including cities, villages and towns (Provisional)". Census Commission of India. Archived from the original on 2004-06-16. http://web.archive.org/web/20040616075334/http://www.censusindia.net/results/town.php?stad=A&state5=999. Retrieved 2008-11-01.
- ^ http://www.tellicherry.com/doyou.html
- ^ http://www.karmakerala.com/guide/Thalassery_Guide
- ^ http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/thscrip/print.pl?file=2005021101990300.htm&date=2005/02/11/&prd=fr&
- ^ official website of kerala.gov.in
- ^ a b c http:www.keralacricketonline.com
- ^ http://www.tellicherry.com/tvnnair.html
- ^ http://www.pearlviewregency.com/
[edit] External links
- Thalassery.info (http://www.thalassery.info/)
- MyThalassery.com (http://www.mythalassery.com/)
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