Kottayam

Kottayam is a city and a municipality in the Indian state of Kerala. An important trading center of commercial crops and a publishing centre in Kerala, Kottayam is also the administrative capital of Kottayam district. The town has been in the forefront of modern education in Kerala from the nineteenth century. In 1989 it achieved the distinction of being the first municipal town in India to achieve 100% literacy.

The name Kottayam is said to have come from 'Kotta Akam' in Malayalam, meaning 'inside the fort'. The Rajas of Thekkumkur, an independent little kingdom to which Kottayam area belonged, ruled their domain from a location in the present day Kottayam called Thazhathangadi. When, in the mid-18th century, Marthanda Varma of Travancore annexed Thekkumcore, Kottayam area, along with the areas of the rest of what is today's Kottayam District, became part of the Kingdom of Travancore (later to be the Princely State of Travancore under the British.) After Indian independence, Kottayam eventually became the headquarers of the present Kottayam District.

The citizens of Kottayam had a role in some of the early social struggles in Kerala. A protest movement that took place in the 1891 called the 'Malayali Memorial agitation', seeking increased representation for Travancoreans in the Travancore civil service, as opposed to outsiders, is said to have started in Kottayam and may have been the beginning of modern political movement in Kerala. Kottayam also had an active role in the 'Nivarthana' struggle in the 1930s, which was a campaign seeking representation for Hindus of the lower castes, Christians and Muslims in the Travancore Legislature.

As of 2001 India census,[2] Kottayam municipality had a population of 60,725, while Kottayam district had a population of 19,52,901. Males constitute 49% of the population and females 51%. It is one of the very few places which witnessed a negative population growth from 1991 to 2001.[citation needed]

Extensive cultivation of rubber trees in Kerala, especially in vast areas of Kottayam District, in small and large plantations as well as in small lots and even in many housesyards, has made Kottayam a major trading place of natural rubber in India. Quite fittingly, The Rubber Board, a body set up by the Indian government for the development of rubber industry is located at Kottayam. A number of small and medium sized enterprises in and around the town are engaged in the processing of rubber (latex) and manufacturing of rubber products. Besides rubber, Kottayam is also a trading place of other commercial crops grown in the District and neighbouring areas.

In 1821 Benjamin Baily, a British missionary, established C.M.S. Press, the first printing press in Kerala, in Kottayam. The town has been in the forefront of Newspaper and Book publishing in the state ever since. Malayala Manorama, the newspaper with the largest circulation of all dailies in Malayalam, was founded here in 1888. Deepika, another Malayalam newspaper, also started publishing from here in the same year. In 1945, a group of writers set up SPCA, (short for 'Literary Workers' Co-operative Society' in Malayalam), a unique co-operative of writers, which became a leading publisher in the State. Kottayam is home to several other book and periodical publishers in Malayalam language.

Kottayam is also the home of D.C. Books, the leading publisher of books in Malayalam.

The Old Seminary of the Malankara Orthodox Church was the first institution to start English education in Southern India. C.M.S High School, (now C.M.S College High School), was founded by the British missionary, Benjamin Bailey of the Church Mission Society of London. C.M.S College, the first college in Kerala was started in Kottayam in 1817 by the Church Missionary Society.

The leading institution of higher education in Kottayam is the Mahatma Gandhi University, one of the six universities in Kerala. Medical College, Kottayam also consists of a Dental College and a Nursing College. There are also a number of Arts & Sciences Colleges, including C.M.S. College, the first institution of higher education in the State, as well an engineering college and several nursing schools, located in and around the town.

Reflecting the religious make up of the population, Hindu temples and Christian churches dot the townscape. Notable among them are Thirunakkara Mahadeva temple and two churches known as Cheriya Palli and Valiya Palli and Thazhathangadi Juma Masjid.

Thazhathangady Juma Masjid situated in the banks of river Meenachil is one of the oldest Mosques in India and is more than 1000 years old. It is very famous for its architectural beauty, and the richness in wood carvings. This mosque was constructed by the followers of the Islamic prophet Muhammad during one of their first voyages to Kerala. The interior of the mosque is built using wood withe marvellous craftings. The mosque is situated just 2&nbps;km from Kottayam town and is on the route to Kumarakom

Thirunakkara Mahadeva temple, at the heart of the town, is a Shiva temple built in the Kerala style of temple architecture, and with interior murals depicting themes from the Hindu epics. It was built at the beginning of 16th century by the then Raja of Thekkumkur. The annual temple festival that culminates in a ceremony called the Aaraattu, attracts large number of devotees.

Kottayam is a major center of Syrian Christians of Kerala. The St. Mary's Church known as Cheria Palli (the Little Church), belonging to the Malankara Orthodox Church was built in 1579 by the Raja of Thekkumkur for his Christian subjects. Similary St Mary's Church of Kudamalloor built by Raja of Chempakassery. These churches features temple architectural influences. The interior murals, painted using vegetable dyes, depict Biblical themes. Another St. Mary's Church, the Valia Palli (the Big Church), actually smaller than the Cheriya Palli, was built in 1550 by Knanaya Christians who immigrated from West Asia.[citation needed] This building is noted for its Persian inscriptions and a Persian stone cross.