Alappuzha is a Land Mark between the
broad Arabian sea and a net work of rivers flowing into it. In the
early first decade of the 20th Century
the then Viceroy of the Indian Empire, Lord Curzon made a visit in the
State to Alleppey, now Alappuzha. Fascinated by the Scenic beauty of
the place, in joy and amazement, he said, “Here nature has spent
up on the land her richest bounties”. In his exhilaration, it is
said, he exclaimed, “Alleppey, the Venice of the East”. Thus
the sobriquet found its place in the world Tourism Map. The presence
of a port and a pier, criss -cross roads and numerous bridges across
them, a long and unbroken sea coast might have motivated him to make
this comparison.
Alleppey has a wonderful past. Though the present town owes its existence to
the sagacious Diwan Raja Kesavadas in the second half of 18th century, district
of Alappuzha figures in classified Literature. Kuttanad, the rice bowl of
Kerala with the unending stretch of paddy fields, small streams and canals
with lush green coconut palms , was well known even from the early periods
of the Sangam age. History says Alappuzha had trade relations with ancient
Greece and Rome in B.C and in the Middle Ages.
Carved out of erstwhile Kottayam and
Kollam (Quilon) districts, Alleppey district was formed on 17th of
August 1957.The name of the district Alleppey,
the anglicized form was changed as ‘Alappuzha’ as per GO(P)
No.133/90/RD dated 7.2.90. It is assumed that the name of Alappuzha was
derived by the geographical position and physical features of the place
which means ”the land between the sea and the network of rivers
flowing into it". As per GO (MS) No.1026/82/(RD) dated 29.10.1982,
Pathanamthitta district was newly constituted taking portions from the
then Alappuzha, Kollam and Idukki districts. The area transferred from
the erstwhile Alappuzha district to Pathanamthitta district is Thiruvalla
taluk as a whole and part of Chengannur and Mavelikkara Taluks. Thus
the present Alappuzha district comprises of six taluks namely Cherthala,
Ambalapuzha, Kuttanad, Karthikappllly, Chengannur and Mavelikkara.
The history of the district
in the palaeolithic age is obscure. It is presumed that the coastal taluks
of Cherthala. Ambalapuzha and Karthikappally
might have been under water and these areas were formed by the accumulation
of silt and sand later than the other parts of the district. Kuttanad was
well known even from the early periods of the Sangam age. The early Cheras
had their home in Kuttanad and they were called 'Kuttuvans' named after
this place. Some archeological antiques like stone inscriptions, historical
monuments etc. found in the temples, churches, rock-out caves etc., and
literacy works like "Unninili Sandesam" give some insight into
the ancient period of this district. The famous travelers Pliny and Ptolemy
of the first and second centuries had mentioned about places like Purakkad(Barace)
in their classical works. Christianity had a strong foot-hold in this district
even from the Ist century A.D. The church located at Kokkomangalam or Kokkothamangalam
was one of the seven churches founded by St.Thomas, one of the twelve disciples
of Jesus Christ. It is generally believed that he landed at Maliankara
in Muziris Port, presently known as Cranganore or Kodungallur in 52 A.D
and preached Christianity in South India. During 9th to 12th century AD
the district flourished in the field of religion and culture under the
second Chera Empire. The famous literary work of this period was ‘Ascharya
Choodamani’ a Sanskrit drama written by Sakthibhadra who was a scholar
of Chengannur gramam.
During
16th century small principalities like Kayamkulam (presently Karthikappally
and Mavelikkara taluks), Purakkad
which was often called
Ambalappuzha or Chempakasseri(present Ambalappuzha and Kuttanad taluk)
and Karappuram comprising of two principalities called Moothedath and Iledath
(present Cherthala Taluk) emerged into power. In the same period the Portugese
came into prominence in the political scene of the district. Christianity
became popular in all parts of the district and they built several churches
of which Churches located at Purakkad and Arthungal are well known. The
kingdom of Chempakasseri was at its zenith during the reign of Pooradam
Thirunal Devanarayana, a great scholar and a poet who was the author of ‘Vedantha
Retnamala’, a commentary on the first verse of Bhagavat Geetha. It
is said that Sreekrishna Swami temple at Ambalappuzha was constructed and
the idol of Lord Krishna installed during that time. It is believed that
Melpathur Narayana Bhattathiri, Sri Neelakanta Deekshithar and Sri Kumaran
Namboothiri were eminent scholars
who patronized his court.
In the 17th century the Portugese
power declined and the Dutch had a predominant position in the principalities
of this district. As a
result of several treaties signed between the Dutch and the Rajas of Purakkad,
Kayamkulam and Karappuram, the Dutch built factories and warehouses in
various places of the district for storing pepper,ginger etc. In course
of time they inferred in the political and cultural affairs of the district.
It was at that time Maharaja Marthandavarma, the ‘Maker of modern
Travancore’ interfered in the political affairs of those principalities.
The annexation of the Kingdoms of Kayamkulam, Ambalappuzha, Thekkumkur,
Vadakkumkur and Karappuram to travancore gave the Dutch a setback from
the political scene of the district. Marthandavarma Maharaja had a remarkable
role in the internal progress of the district. He gave special attention
to the development of Mavelikkara as an administrative as well as a commercial
centre. The Krishnapuram plalace, which is now a protected monument of
the State Archaeology department, was constructed during that period. It
was at that time that the great and talented poet Kunjan Nambiar was installed
in the court at Trivandrum.
This district had a prominent
role in the freedom struggle of the country. The campaign for the eradication
of untouchability was
organized much earlier in this district by T.K. Madhavan, a fearless journalist
and in 1925 the approach roads to the temples, especially to Ambalappuzha
Sree Krishna Swami temple were thrown open to the Hindus of all castes.
The district also witnessed the ‘Nivarthana’ movement which
was started as a protest against the constitutional repression of 1932.
the first political strike in Kerala
was held at Alappuzha in 1938.
The historic struggles of Punnapra and Vayalar in 1946 stiffened
the attitude of the people against Sir C.P.Ramaswamy Iyer, Diwan of Travancore,
which ultimately led to his exit from the political scene of Travancore.
After India became independent, a popular Ministry was formed in Travancore
on 24th March, 1948 and on Ist July 1949 Travancore and Cochin states were
integrated and the position continue till the formation of Kerala State
on Ist November 1956 as per the States Reorganization Act 1956. The district
came into existence as a separate administrative unit on Ist August 1957
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