Parappanangadi railway station is one of the oldest railway stations in Kerala. It was a part of the first rail route (Tirur–Chaliyam) in Kerala.[2] Parappanangadi is located 9 km (5.6 mi) north of Tanur on Tirur-Kadalundi Tipu Sultan Road.[3] The town lies on the bank of Kadalundi River.[4]
Parappanangadi is located north of the estuary of Poorappuzha River, which is a tributary of Kadalundi River, and south of the estuary of Kadalundi River, which lies in Vallikkunnu.[4] Parappanangadi was one of the major ports on the southwestern coast of India during the medieval period.[5]
This town was the headquarters of Parappanad Kingdom during the medieval period.[7] Parappanangadi, which was then an important centre of trade, was known by the name Barburankad to the Arabs.[8] The kingdom of Parappanad had right over Vallikkunnu-Kadalundi-Chaliyam-Beypore region, which is often identified with the ancient maritime trading port of Tyndis, which was a major center of trade, next only to Muziris, between the Cheras and the Roman Empire, during Sangam period (1st-4th century CE).[9]
The palace of the Kshatriya family of Parappanad Rajas is located at a short distance from Parappanangadi railway station. It was from this family that the consorts of the Rani's Travancore family were usually selected.[7]
In 1425, the country was divided into Northern Parappanad (Beypore Swaroopam) and Southern Parappanad (Parappur Swaroopam).[5]
Parappanangadi was an important coastal town under the Zamorin rule and was one of the major trade centres of the medieval Kerala coast.[22]Arab traders had the monopoly of trade until 15th century CE.[22] In 1573, the Portuguese apparently burned down this town.[8]
The schools built by Basel Evangelistic Mission (BEM) at Parappanangadi and Ponnani during colonial era, have their positions among the oldest modern schools in Kerala.[23] During colonial period, Parappanangadi was placed under the EranadTaluk of Malabar District.[5] Later in 1957, it became a part of Tirur Taluk, when the Taluk was formed.[7] In 1990's Parappanangadi became a part of the newly formed Tirurangadi Taluk.[24]
In 1705 (ME 880), the son and two daughters of Ittammar Raja of Parappanad royal house were adopted into the Royal house of Venad. Ittammar Raja's sister and her sons, Rama Varma and Raghava Varma, settled in Kilimanoor and married the now adopted sisters. Marthanda Varma, the founder of the Kingdom of Travancore, was the son of Raghava Varma. The nephew of Raghava Varma, Ravi Varma Koil Thampuran, married the sister of Marthanda Varma. Their son was Dharma Raja Kartika Thirunnal Rama Varma.
In 1740, when an allied force, led by Dutchman Captain Hockert supporting the Deshinganadu King, attacked Venad, an army from Kilimanoor resisted and then defeated them. Although a small victory, this was the first time an Indian army had defeated a European power.
In 1753, in recognition of this feat, Marthanda Varma exempted the areas controlled by the Kilimanoor palace (most of the area under the present Kilimanoor and Pazhayakunnummel panchayats) from taxes, and granted them autonomous status.
Civic administration
The town is administered by Parappanangadi Municipal Council, headed by a Chairman/Chairperson. For administrative purposes, the town is divided into 45 wards,[32] from which the members of the municipal council are elected for a term of five years.
The municipality comes under the jurisdiction of the Parappanangadi police station, which was formed on 22 June 1979.[35] The station is located on Neduva area of Parappanangadi Municipality. The station has the jurisdiction over the municipality of Parappanangadi and the Gram panchayat of Vallikkunnu. (The 4 Revenue villages are Parappanangadi, Vallikkunnu, Neduva, and Ariyallur.)[35]
The jurisdictional courts of Parappanangadi Police Station are Judicial First Class Magistrate Court Parappanangadi, Parappanangadi Munsiff Court, Subdivisional Magistrate Court Tirur, and Sessions Court Manjeri.[35]
The border police stations are headquartered at Tenhipalam, Tanur, and Tirurangadi.[35] Parappanangadi Police Station comes under the Tanur subdivision of Malappuram District Police, which is also one among six subdivisions of district police.[36]
Important Courts at Parappanangadi
Judicial First Class Magistrate Court - I, Parappanangadi
Judicial First Class Magistrate Court - II, Parappanangadi
Parappanangadi-Manjeri Road and Chettippadi-Chamravattam Road are two important Roads starting/ending at Parappanangadi.[35]Tirur-Kadalundi Tipu Sultan road passes through the town.[3]
Wards of Parappanangadi
Parappanangadi Municipality is composed of the following 45 wards:[37]
Raja Ravi Varma (Famous Painter are from different branches of Parappanad Raja Vamsam (Clan) which migrated to Harippad, Changanassery, Mavelikkara and Kilimanoor.)[39]
Marthanda Varma, the founder of Travancore, belongs to Parappanad royal family. The former Chief Editor of the daily "The Hindu" (1898 to 1905) and Founder Chief Editor of "The Indian Patriot" Divan Bahadur Cozhisseri Karunakara Menon (1863–1922) was also from Parappanangadi.[40]
O. Chandu Menon wrote his novels "Indulekha" and "Saradha" while he was the judge at Parappanangadi Munciff Court. Indulekha is also the first Major Novel written in Malayalam language.
^P. Shungoonny Menon - A HISTORY OF TRAVANCORE - First edition: 1878, New edition: 1983, Page 130, 131 - ISBN978-8170200406
^The Travancore State Manual Vol 1 to 4; Publisher : Kerala Council for Historical Research; ISBN8185499268; Edition : 1996; Pages: 2500; Author:T.K. Velu Pillai; Editor:S.Raimon; Category:Manuals; Year of Publishing:1940
^Encyclopedia of Tourism Resources in India; Author: Dr. Manohar Sajnani, Published in 2001, Published by: Kalpaz Publications; Address: C-30, Satyawati Nagar, Phase-III, Ashok Vihar, Delhi-110052, ISBN81-7835-014-9 (set), ISBN81-7835-018-1 (Vol II)
^Menon, P Shungoonny (1878). History of Travancore from the Earliest Times by P Shungoonny Menon (Dewan Peishcar of Travancore). 105, Mount Road, Madras: Higginbotham and Company. pp. 152, 153.