Cultural & Literal Importance of Kottayam:-

Most of the reputed dailies in Kerala like Malayala Manorama, Mathrubhumi, Deshabhimani,Deepika, Rashtra Deepika (Evening daily),Kerala Kaumudi, Mangalam and most of the weeklies andotherpublication are published from Kottayam. Thefamous writers and poets like RamapurathWarrier, Kottarathil Sankunny, Kandathil Varghese Mappila, Vaikom Mohammed Basheer, KaroorNeelakanda Pillai, Muttathu Varkey, Ponkunnam Varkey, Pala Narayanan Nair, Abhayadev, VaikomChandrasekharan Nair, Lalithambika Antharjanam, Thrikkodithanam Gopinathan Nair, VeloorKrishnankutty, Smt.Arundhary Roy etc. are the natives of this district. The famous cine artists Thilakan, Mammootty,Janardhanan, Manoj K. Jayan, Vijayaraghavan, Jayaraj, John Abraham and Cine/drama artists N.N. Pillai, Joseph Chacko, K.K.Jacob, Chachappan etc. are also natives of thisdistrict. The famous musicians L.P.R. Varma, Jaya-Vijaya brothers and Kumarakom Rajan the naivesof this district. This district is also the nativeplace of famous Kathakali Artists, Kudamaloor Karunakaran Nair, Karoor Vasudevan Nampoothiri, Kurichy Kunjan Panicker, Muthoor Govindankutty, Pallom Madhavan etc.

            Kottayam has much important in cultural and literal fields from the ancient times. In 1821, SriBenchamin Bailey has started the 1st printing pressin Kerala at Kottayam. The author of the first‘Yathra Vivaranam’ which was published in 1948 andnamed as “Varthamana Pusthakam” was writtenby Paremakkal Thomas Kathanar who belonging to thisDistrict. The first Malayalam-EnglishDictionary and Malayalam Dictionary were publishedfrom Kottayam in the year 1846 and 1865 respectively. The first Malayalam Bible was also published from Kottayam.The Sahithya Pravarthaka Sahakarana Sangham, whichhas been originated in Kottayam, is thefirst co-operative Enterprises of writers, Novelists and Poets. The firstcollege started in Kerala is theCMS College at Kottayam. The first school in Kerala, Bakers Memorial was started in Kottayam.

           It can be seen that Kottayam has much importance in cultural, literal, political fields in ancient times as well as in present times.

HISTORY-KOTTAYAM

HISTORY-KOTTAYAM

Kottayam District is known as the Land of Lake, Latex and Letter. Kottayam is the leading district in Literacy in Kerala as well as in India has made much contribution in the cultural and literal renaissance of the State and Country. Late Hon’bleK.R. Narayanan, the former President of India(10th) belongs to Uzhavoor Panchayath in this District.The Headquarters of this district ie. Kottayam Municipality is the 1stown/Municipality in India to be declared as 100%literate.

                       The resent Kottayam District consists of a portion of the former princely state of Travancore and includes princely states in the 12thCentury A.D., named as Vadakkancore, Thekkancore,Poonjar and Meenachil even though certain territorial changes have occurred. The first administrative wing under the name of“Kottayam” has started in 1878 A.D. during the rule of Sri T. Rama Rao, Diwan Peshkar who is also known as the founder of ModernKottayam.Kottayam Districtisdivided into 2 Revenue Divisions, (Kottayam and Pala) 5 Taluks, 13Revenue Farkas and 95 Revenue Villages. Area – 2208 Sq. Kms. (as per 2001Census). There are 11Block Panchayaths, 4 Municipalities and 75 Grama Panchayaths in the District (the 75thGramaPanchayath “Koruthodu” was formed recently by dividing Mundakayam Grama Panchayath. It maybe noted that the Panchayath level details for thenewly formed Panchayath is not given separately inthe publication but the details under Koruthodu Grama Panchayath includes both Mundakayam andKoruthodu). The District Panchayath consists of 21divisions.

        The District lies between North Latitude 9.480and 9.90and East Longitude 76.40and 770.The boundaries of the District are Pathanamthitta District on the South,Alappuzha District on theWest, Ernakulam and Idukki districts on the Northand Idukki District on the East. Of the 5 TaluksKottayam, Changanacherry,Vaikom, Meenachil and Kanjirappally western portions of the 1stthreetaluks comes under low land. Remaining portions ofthe above three taluksand the major portions ofMeenachil and Kanjirappally Taluks comes under thenatural division “Mid Land” which is veryfertile.
                           
                     In the central and eastern region of the District,rubber is the main crop and coconut, tapioca,pepper, banana, pineapple are also cultivated. Inthe western region paddy and coconut are the maincrops. Plantain and banana are also cultivated in this region