Kollam
| Kollam (കൊല്ലം) Quilon |
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| Coordinates | |
| Country |  India |
| State | Kerala |
| District(s) | Kollam |
| Mayor | Adv. Rajendra Babu |
| Population • Density |
361,441[1] (2001[update]) • 1,038 /km2 (2,688 /sq mi) |
| Sex ratio | 1069 ♂/♀ |
| Official languages | Malayalam, English |
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| Time zone | IST (UTC+5:30) |
| Area |
• 3 metres (9.8 ft) |
| Website | www.kollam.nic.in |
Kollam (Malayalam: കൊല്ലം) (Anglicised name: Quilon, pronounced koy-lon) is a city, a municipal corporation, and headquarters of Kollam District in the Indian state of Kerala. Kollam is the fourth largest city of Kerala and is known for cashew processing and coir manufacturing. It lies 71 kilometres (44 mi) north of the state capital of Thiruvanathapuram. The city lies on the shores of Ashtamudi Lake. It is the southern gateway to the Kerala Backwaters of Kerala and is a prominent tourist destination.
Kollam was formerly called Desinganadu and Tarsish. During the rule of the Travancore monarchy in southern Kerala, Kollam was the focal point of trade. Today Kollam is a major business and commercial centre in the central Travencore region of Kerala. Kollam Cargo port is currently undergoing renovations and is expected to provide a bright future for the city.
Contents |
Toponomy
The Malayalam calendar, or Kollavarsham, was created in Kollam at meetings held in the city in 825 AD.[2] The name Kollam is believed to have been derived from the Sanskrit word Kollam, meaning pepper.
History
Kollam was a flourishing port of the Pandya Dynasty until 825 AD, when it became the capital of the independent Venad kingdom.
Kollam during Pandyan rule
Kollam shares fame with Kodungallur as an ancient seaport on the Malabar Coast of India from the early centuries of the Christian era. Periplus of the Erythraean Sea gives a detailed account of the ports of South India in the 1st century CE. The chronicle mentions Muziris (near present-day Kodungallur), Nelcynda (now known as Kollam), Bacare (Purakkad), Belita, and Komari as the ports of the Malabar Coast. Kollam had a sustained commercial reputation from the days of the Phoenicians and Ancient Rome. Pliny the Elder (23-79 AD) mentions Greek ships anchored at Muziris and Nelcynda. There was also a land route over the Western Ghats. Spices, pearls, diamonds, and silk were exported to Egypt and Rome from these ports. The pearls and diamonds came from Ceylon and the southeastern coast of India, then known as the Pandyan kingdom.
Cosmas Indicopleustes, who visited Malabar Coast in 522 AD, mentions an enclave of Syrian Christians in Kollam. He wrote, "In the island of Tabropane (Ceylon), there is a church of Christians, and clerks and faithful. Likewise at Male, where the pepper grows; and in the town of Kalliana (Kallianpur) there is also a bishop concentrated in Persia."[3] The Nestorian Patriarch Jesujabus, who died in 660 AD, mentions Kollam in his letter to Simon, Metropolitan of Persia.
In 825 AD the Nestorian monks Mar Sabor and Mar Proth arrived in Kollam on the invitation of King Kulsekhara of the Venad kingdom.[4] The two monks received a land grant for an area called "Tarsish-a-palli" near "Koruke Nikollam" from King Ayyanadikal Thiruvadikal, as described on the Tharisapalli plates. The two monks were instumental in founding Christian churches in the Malabar Coast area. Mar Sabor lived his last years at Thevalakkara, and his remains were buried there in the Martha Mariam Orthodox Church. The Tharisapalli plates are signed by the Nestorian monks in Hebrew, Pahlavi and Kufic languages indicating that the immigrants were Jews, Persians and Palestinians.
Kollam, the capital of Venad 9th to 12 century AD
The Malayalam Era named after Quilon began in 825 AD. Malayalam Era is called 'Kolla Varsham' after Kollam, because of the importance of Kollam in the 9th century A.D. It signified the independence of Malabar from the Cheraman Perumals.[5] King Stanu Ravi Gupta of Later Chera dynasty, granted the Tharisapalli plates copper plate grants in 825 A.D. to Nestorian priest Mar S(abo)r Iso who he invited to kollam, transferring to the Tarsish Church and the community in the St. Thomas tradition of Quilon, lands near the city with hereditament of low caste.[5]
Merchant Soleyman of Siraf of Persia visited Malabar in the middle of the 9th century and found Quilon to be the only port in India touched by the huge Chinese ships on their way from Canton to the Persian Gulf. The rulers of Kollam (formerly called 'Desinganadu') ,then, also had trade relations with China and exchanged embassies. According to the records of the Tang Dynasty (618 AD to 913 AD),[6] Quilon was their chief port of call and was given the name 'Mahlai' by them. The Chinese trade decreased about 900 AD and was again revived in the 13th century.
At 1291 John of Montecorvino a Franciscan Monk became a priest at Quilon. Friar Jordanus Catalini who arrived at 1321 effected a large scale Christian conversions and was appointed as the Bishop of Roman Catholic Diocese of Quilon at 1329.Friar Jordanus built a Church called St.Georges Church and wrote a book called Mirabilia Descripta. However after Giovanni de' Marignolliin 1353,the members of this Latin Church converted themselves to the Nestorian faith and when Portuguese arrived in 1498 only Nestorian Christianity existed in Kerala. Marco Polo, who visited China's Kublai Khan's court, on his return journey to Venice, traveled through Kollam and gave an interesting account of the flourishing port of Kollam (Coilum, as referred to by him) and its trade relations with China in the East and the Western countries. Chinnakada, (China-kada), the city center, was so named after the Chinese merchants. The increase in commercial activity resulted in establishment of flourishing Chinese settlement at Kollam.
Marco Polo, the great Venetian traveller, who was in Chinese service under Kublai Khan visited Kollam in 1293 A.D. on his return trip from China to Venice. He found Christians and Jews living in Coilum (Kollam). He also found merchants from China and Arabia. He has given a detailed account of Kollam in his writings, extracts of which are reproduced in the Travancore Manual. According to Ibn Batuta, Kollam was one of the five ports, which he had seen in the course of his travels, in the 14th century.
Kollam during Portuguese, Dutch and British conquests (16th to 18th centuries)
The Portuguese were the first Europeans to establish a trading center in Thangasseri, Kollam in 1502. Kollam became the centre of trade in pepper. In the wars with the Moors/Arabs that followed, the ancient church of St Thomas was destroyed. In 1517, the Portuguese built the St. Thomas Fort in Thangasseri. The fort was destroyed in the subsequent wars with the Dutch. The ruins of the Fort can still be seen in Thangasseri. In 1661 the Dutch took possession of the city. The remnants of the Dutch forts can be found at Thangasseri. In the 18th century Travancore conquered Kollam, followed by the British in 1795. Thangasseri remains today as an Anglo-Indian settlement. Many of the Anglo-Indian families migrated from this place and only a few remain. The Infant Jesus Church in Thangasseri stil remains as an old Portuguese-built church, as a reminder to the Portuguese rule of the area.
Kollam as part of Travancore
Velu Thampi Dalawa of Travancore, worked towards the improvement of the Kollam city. He helped build new markets and invited merchants and traders from Madras (now Chennai) and Tirunelveli to set up trade in Kollam. Kollam, to this day has a thriving business in cashew nuts, coir and spices.
The history of the district as an administrative unit can be traced back to 1835, when the Travancore state consisted of two revenue divisions with headquarters at Kollam and Kottayam.
Kollam, revenue district of Kerala (1949 onwards)
At the time of the integrating of Travancore and Cochin districts in 1949, Kollam was one of the three revenue divisions in the state. Later these three revenue divisions were converted into districts. But Shencottah taluka was merged with Madras state consequent to the implementation of the States Reorganisation Act of 1956. Now the district has a single revenue division with its headquarters at Kollam Taluk Cutcherry.
Geography
Kollam is bordered by Pathanamthitta and Alappuzha districts on north and Thiruvananthapuram district on south.
Demographics
As of 2001[update] India census,[1] Kollam had a population of 361,441. The density of population being 1037 persons per square kilometre. The sex ratio (the number of females per 1000 males) was 1070 during the census year of 2001. The district ranks sixth with respect to the population in the state. The city of Kollam ranks fourth in terms of population in Kerala. Males constitute 49% of the population and females 51%. Kollam has an average literacy rate of 91.47 %,[7] higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 84%, and female literacy is 80%. In Kollam, 11% of the population is under 6 years of age.
Transport
Rail
Kollam Railway Station is considered to be one of the biggest railway stations in Kerala in terms of area after Shornur and Palakkad junctions. The junction will have a total of 8 platforms by the end of 2010 once the BG service picks up in Kollam - Punalur section. The metre gauge track is being converted to broad gauge under project Unigauge and was closed until May 2010. The new BG line was inaugurated by the Hon. Minister for State for Railways, E. Ahmed, on 12 May 2010. Kollam is an important railway junction. The Thiruvananthapuram - Ernakulam (via Kottayam and Alappuzha) line passes through Kollam. Kollam is the terminal junction for Chenkotta - Kollam metre gauge line. Kollam has completely electrified railway tracks. Two railway lines passing through Kottarakkara (Chengannur -Kottarakkara - Trivandrum) and Punalur (Erumeli - Punalur - Trivandrum) have been proposed and awaiting survey.
Mainline Electrical Multiple Unit (MEMU) services are expected to start from Kollam to Ernakulam in 2010. A MEMU maintenance shed boasts the longest railway platform in Kerala and is more than 1 KM long.
Roads
The city is well connected to other parts of Kerala and India through the National Highways 47, NH 220 and NH 208 and by the railway network. The National Highway 47 passes through the city while the National Highways NH 208 (Kollam - Chenkotta) and NH 220 (Kollam - Theni) originates from Kollam. Transport is provided by State owned Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) and private transport bus operators. Road transport is also supported by private taxis and autorickshaws also called autos.
Water
The State water Transport Department operates boat services to West Kallada, Munroe Island and Alappuzha. The Alappuzha service attracts a lot of tourist attention. Double decker luxury boats are operated from Kollam to Allepey daily. It will be an 8 hour enchanting experience. A full day onboard journey through the backwaters provides an opportunity to experience the natural way of life of the people around.
Luxury boats, operated by Government and private owners, operate from the main boat jetty during the tourist season. The West coast canal system, which starts from Thiruvananthapuram in the south and ends at Hosdurg in the north, passes through Kollam city and Karunagappally taluk. The Thiruvananthapuram-Shornur canal, forms a part of the Thiruvananthapuram-Hosdurg system, runs a distance of about 62 km. The other canal systems include the Paravur Kayal, Kollam canal and Chavara canal.
Kollam Cargo Port
Kollam Port (Thankasseri Port) is the second largest port in Kerala after Cochin port as per the current status (2010). The port is undergoing infrastructural development. The port is located almost near to the heart of Kollam city.
Neendakara and Shakthikulangara are twin fishing harbours. Neendakara is one of the busiest fishing harbours in South Kerala. Port operations are carried out through Neendakara as well.
Industries
Kollam like other districts in the state is moderately industrialised. Some of the major employers in the public sector are Indian Rare Earths Limited (IRE) at chavara, Kerala Metals and Minerals Limited at Chavara, kerala primo pipe factory at chavara; Union Electrical Industries (popularly known as the Meter Company) and Parvathi Spinning at Kollam. Kundara was known as an industrial area with aluminium, ceramics, starch factories, but all are closed or on the verge of closing.
Techno Lodges in Kollam District
Small rural IT parks called Techno Lodges have been proposed at the village towns in Kollam district. Two techno lodges have already been opened at Perinad and Kadackal. Three more are expected to be opened shortly at Veliyam, Poothakulam and Anchal in the district.
Cashew industry and cashew board
Cashew processing and coir production are the two most important sources of employment. Major share of employment in the private sector is provided by Cashew processing and exporting units. Cashew processing and sorting employs a large share of women workers who manually peel and sort the cashew into different categories according to their size. The Kerala State Cashew Development Corporation Limited (KSCDC), Kollam, a Government Company, having 30 Cashew Factories and 20,000 employees in its rolls, is acting a pivot roll in this industry. Another important source of employment is tile manufacturing using clay.
It is expected that a Cashew Board will be set up at Kollam for the development of Cashew processing and exporting.
Notable Events
Kollam Pooram
Kollam Pooram is the biggest cultural celebration in south Kerala. The Pooram is part of the Ashramam Sree Krishnaswamy Temple Festival. Kollam Pooram is held on April 15 every year. On some years it falls on April 16 as well. The city offices and educational institutions have a half day holiday on the pooram day every year for celebrating the colourful festival.
The pooram is held at the sprawling and historic Ashramam maidan that is spruced up every year for the majestic show. The pooram consists of a colourful display with caparisoned elephants arranged into two rows with 15 in each row.
The pooram ends with firework display that attracts thousands. The city is thronged by internal and foreign tourists on that day.
Chittumala Theerthatanam
Chittumala theerthatanam is a pedestrian march organised on the Thiruvonam day. It an event of communal harmony and started in 1968. it stars from Munroe Island 25 Km from Kollam and ends at Chittumala The event was started by a handful of young persons including K O Johnson, N Raman,D Jayachandran, K Sudhakaran, P Sujathan, K Radhakrishnan etc. Later it grew to an important event with a large number of participants
Culture
Cultural Contributions (Source: Official website of Kollam)
Kollam, the capital of the erstwhile Venad, was a great centre of learning and culture. It attracted distinguished scholars from all parts of South India. Leelathilakam and Unnuneelisandesam, two outstanding literary works of historical importance, are contributions of 14th Century Kollam. The dance form of Kathakali in its new version of Ramanattam was the creation of Kottarakkara Thampuran, who also improved Krishnattam by substituting Malayalam for Sanskrit.
'Paravoor K.C.Kesava Pillai, a gifted poet, prose writer, dramatist and scholar, originated the musical play in Malayalam through his work Sadarma. His Kesaveeyam', a Mahakavyam, is of outstanding literary importance. In the history of Malayalam music, he has a prominent place as a gifted composer of songs. Paravoor Kesavan Asan, the founder editor of Sujanandini, another prominent literary figure, was a journalist and a prose writer of eloquence. His Saratchandrika is a contribution to the study of Ayurvedic system of medicine. E.V.Krishna Pillai, another literary celebrity has etched his name in the field of humour and satire. C.V.Kunjuraman, editor of Kerala Kaumudi and Malayalarajyam was a poet, literary critic, prose writer and a journalist of outstanding distinction.
Coming to modern times, Elamkulam Kunjan Pillai and Soornadu Kunjan Pillai, noted literary historians and poets like O.N.V. Kurup, Thirunallur Karunakaran, Punalur Balan, novelist and poet Lalithambika Antharjanam are some of the literary luminaries hailing from this district.
Leaders like T.M.Varghese, C.Kesavan, Kumbalathu Sanku Pillai, N.Sreekantan pillai, R.Shankar and C.M.Stephen who played prominent roles in shaping the socio-political destiny of the State, are also from this district. The district gave birth to well known freedom fighters like Chandiran Kali Ambi (Kadakkal Manthri) and Franco Raghavan Pillai.
Education
Kollam has its fair share of privately owned and state owned educational institutions. Institutions of education are affiliated to either the Indian Certificate of Secondary Education (ICSE), the Central Board for Secondary Education (CBSE), or the Kerala State Education Board.
Most private schools use English language as the medium of instruction whereas government run schools offer both English and Malayalam as a medium of instruction. After going through the 10+2 years of education students can continue with higher education with general or professional degree courses.
The major colleges in Kollam are Fatima Matha National College, Sree Narayana College , and Thangal Kunju Musaliar College, Sree Narayana College for Women, NSS college Kottiyam, Thangal Kunju Musaliar College of Engineering (TKMCE), Younus College of Engineering & Technology (YCET), TKM Institute of Technology and Management (TIM), College of Engineering Perumon. Most of the colleges offering Higher education are affiliated to Kerala University.
MBA Colleges in Kollam District
- Member Sree Narayana Pillai Institute of Management and Technology, Chavara, Kollam.[8]
Engineering Colleges in Kollam City
- TKM College of Engineering, Karicode, Kollam
- Younus College of Engineering & Technology, Vadkkevila,Kollam
- Bishop Jerome Engineering College, Kollam
- College of Engineering,Perumon, Kollam
' Polytechnic colleges in kollam '
- G P T C Punalur.
- G P T C Ezhukone.
- SN Polytechnic college Kottiyam.
Medical Colleges in Kollam City
- Azeezia Medical College, Meeyannoor, Kollam
- Travencore Medical college (Medicity),Thattamala, Kollam
Arts & Science Colleges in Kollam City
- S.N. College, Kollam
- S.N. College for Women, Kollam
- TKM Arts & Science College, Kollam
- FMN College, Kollam
- Govt.college, chavara
- S.N. College, Punalur
- S.G. College, Kottarakkara
Schools in Kollam
St.Aloysius Higher Secondary English School is one of the Oldest and well-reputed school in Kollam Corporation built in the year 1900. It was started by Irish Brothers and since then the school had run with its own name of grace and decorum. The school boasts of high strength of students and good alumunus in the District, both in Merit and Standard among other Government aided schools. Alumnus include the Doctors, Engineers, IT Professionals, Politicians and scientists.
Infant Jesus School Kollam, is one of the oldest school which has rich tradition and has a good link with the history. This school is the only institution which introduces the language English to India in its original style. It was started by the Anglo Indian community (people who stayed back when British left India) to educate their children. It was later opened to the public in and around Kollam. It is a chirstain minority institution. The school attained its heights only because of its eminent principals. Fr. Ferdinand Kayavil was one of them who lifted the school to this respectable position. His management skill and knowledge about how to conduct the educational programme is remarkable.
Trinity Lyceum School, Kollam, is one of the popular schools in kollam. It is managed by Bishop of kollam and Mr.John as its head. Infant Jesus school is another popular school with its graduates making it to the top colleges nationwide. The school has produced professionals well recognized in Research and corporate industry. Infant Jesus is also managed by the Bishop of Kollam , St Aloysius Higher Secondary School, Vimala Hridaya Girls' High School, Sree Narayana Trust Central School, St. Jude Higher Secondary School Mukhathala, Divine Public School (CBSE Senior Secondary) Puthoor,http://www.divinepublicschool.com/ Kristhu Raj Higher Secondary School, Mount Carmel Convent Anglo-Indian Girls High School are the famous schools in Kollam.
ST.Joseph's convent school at Kollam is the school without Government Aid & having maximum students in the world (over 12,000 students) and The state-run school is the Govt. Model Higher Secondary School For Boys are the oldest schools in the city.
Sree Narayana Public School, in Kollam, in the Indian state of Kerala, was established in 1987 under the management of the Sree Narayana Educational Society. The society is a voluntary, social and cultural organisation, the members of which are drawn from all walks of life and who comprise persons who believe in the teachings of the great Gnani of action, Sree Narayana Guru. Sree Narayana was a philosopher, social reformer, writer and humanist.
Places of worship
Temples
Tirumala Devaswam Sree Venkatachalapathy Temple, Kachery ward, kollam.
Kottenkulangara temple at chavara, Mata Amritandamayi Ashram at Vallikavu in Karunagapaaly Taluk, Malanada Duriyodana temple at Poruvazhy Panchayth] near Kadampnad, Kottarakara Sree Mahaganapathy Kshethram (Temple), situated at Kottarakara is about 30 km from Kollam city. The famous temple at Kottarakara is dedicated to Lord Vigneswara (Ganapathy), Sree Indilayappan Temple, Marayikkodu is near Kottarakara, Oachira Parabrahma Temple, Chittumala Durgadevi Temple, Rameswaram Mahadeva Temple, Puthenkulangara Devi Kshethram at Keralapuram, Kadavoor Mahadeva Temple, Sasthamkotta Ayyappa Temple, Sakthikulangara Sree Dharmasastha Temple, Ayyappa Temple Kadappakkada, Ashramom Sree Krishna Swamy Temple, Vadayattukotta Unichakkam Veedu Sree Krishna Swamy Temple, Mukhathala Murari Temple, Thirumullavaram Mahavishnu Temple, Anandavaleeswaram Temple, Mulamkadakam Devi Temple, Vishnathu Kavu Devi Temple, Thalavoor Sri Durga Devi Temple, Pattazhy Devi Temple, Kundara Elampalloor Devi Temple, Pazhangalam Sree Dharma Sastha Temple,[9] Kollorvila Devi Temple, Umayanalloor Sri Balasubramania Swamy Temple, Vadakkevila Nadamveedu Sri Bhagavathy Temple, Paravoor Puttingal Devi Temple, Kattayil Palakkottu Bhagavathy Temple, Kattayil Kavil Bhagavathi Temple, Ammachiveedu Muhurthi Temple, Kottarakkulam Sree Mahaganapathy Kovil, Kollam, Kollam Puthiyayakavu Devi, Koonambaikulam Devi Temple,Kochu Koonambaikulam Devi Temple, Ummannoor Anchu Moorthy Temple, Pozhikkara Devi Temple (Paravur - Pozhikkara), Palathra Sree Durga Bhavathy temple, Ammachiveedu Muhurthi, Sree Daivappura Devi Temple, Near Prathibha Hospital, Prathibha Jn., Kadappakkada, Kollam Lord Siva & Parvathy in one Sree Kovil this Prathishata is rare in south India., Mampuzha Sree Indilayappan Kshethram (Kottamkara), Pulipra Devi temple etc. are among the important Hindu temples in Kollam.
Sree Subramanya Swami Kshethram Poojappura keralapuram.
This holy temple is situated in Keralapuram near to Kundara. This temple is famous for its Thyppooyam Maholsavam.
The Mata Amritanandamayi Math is situated at Parayakadavu in this district, about 20 km from the Kollam city & 10 km from sastam kotta fresh water lake,the only one in south India.
Kadakkal in Kollam is known for Kadakkal Devi Kshetram, Kadakkaldevi temple comes alive during Thiruvathira festival held in March, and is one of the prime festivals of the region. The temple festivities attract large crowds from various parts of the state. Kadakkal amma or goddess is considered as a very powerful deity.
The Mahavishnu Temple, believed to have been consecrated by Parasurama, the legendary creator of Kerala. One will be amazed to see two idols perching in the same sanctum - a bizarre feature not usually found in Indian Temples - an idol of Vishnu facing east and Shiva facing west.
Panmana Asramam has been acknowledged to be a unique and sacred centre of learning and service which has had the divine presence of Sree Vidhyadhiraja Chattambi swami and goddess sree maha tripurasundari devi. Panmana ashram is located 18 km north of Kollam city.
Arinalloor Areekkavu bhagavathi temple founded by the legendary kadamattathu achan nambuthiri who was at Thevalakara as the disciple of Mar abo is located in Thevalakkara panchayath on the banks of the Astamudi Lake & 5 km away from NH 47 at Neendakara.
Some other important and famous temples in nearby districts of Kollam are Sree Padmanabhaswamy temple, Attukal temple at Thiruvananthapuram district. Sabarimala temple, Aranmula temple, Pandalam Valiyakoyikkal temple at Pathanamthitta district. Chettikulangara temple, Mavelikkara, Ambalappuzha Sreekrishna temple at Alappuzha district.
Mosques
Some of the famous mosques are Valiyapalli at Jonakappuram, Chinnakada juma Masjid, Juma-'Ath Palli at Kollurvila, Juma-'Ath Palli at Thattamala, Muslim Juma-'Ath Palli at Karuva, Kalamala Palli at Kalamala, Muthirapparambu Palli at Muthirapparambu and Siyavathummodu Palli at Kilikolloor. The Jonakappuram (Jonaka Mappila Mappila=Muslim) Valiya Palli is believed to have been reconstructed on the remnants of the ancient mosque built by Malik ibn Dinar Malik Bin Deenar 1400 years ago. This is second mosque erected on Indian soil, after the famous Cheraman Juma Masjid Cheraman Juma Masjid in Kodungalloor. Ibn Batuta describes this mosque in his travelogue. However, it was destroyed by sea erosion and has been rebuilt several times.
The 300 year old Juma-'Ath Palli at Karuva houses the mortal remains of a Sufi saint-Syed Abdur Rahman Jifri in its premises.
The Karbala Maidan and the adjacent Makani mosque serves as the Eid gah for the city's Muslims. In 1830,a Muslim Jamedar in the British army and 80 other Muslim soldiers rose in rebellion at this ground,alleging religious persecution.The rebellion was crushed and the leader sent to gallows. His martyrdom was compared to that of Imam Husayn at Karbala in Iraq and ever since it has been known after Karbala.
The Pattala Palli(soldier's mosque)opposite the FCI, was built in 1898 for the Hanafiite Muslim soldiers stationed in the city.
Churches
The Apostle Thomas founded one of his "seven and a half churches" in Kollam. They were family or community churches like the one in korinth and was immersed in vedic hinduism as neither Holy Bible was codified nor cross was acknowledged as the symbol of Christian faith in the first century AD. The church founded by the Apostle at the ancient Kollam port of Tarsish (thevalakara) was re-constructed three times. The second reorganising of the Tarshish Christian Nambuthiri community which was still inside Vedic Vaishnavism was in the 4th century. A Persian cross brought from a Red sea port was erected in accordance with the Nicaea sunnahodose the first ecumenical council of the Christian church, meeting in ancient Nicaea (now İznik, Tur.). It was called by the emperor Constantine I, an unbaptized catechumen, or neophyte, who presided over the opening session and took part in the discussions declaration making the cross the symbol of Christian faith the World over for the first time.In 825 AD Mar S(abo)r ministered here reconstructing the Tarsish-a -palli at Thevalakkara for the third time as the first church founded by him with Syrian liturgy after receiving the Tarshish-a-palli plates from Kulshekara kings which in reality laid the foundation of Christianity as a religion in Kerala outside vedic vaishnavism.Mar Abo's disciple Kadmattathu Achan Nambuthiri founded more than hundred Devi Temples.
In 800 AD Quilon was part of Venadu. It is believed that around 825 AD, Maruvan Sapir Eso a successful merchant from Persia crossed the seas to reach Quilon. Along with him came Mar Aproth and Mar Sapor, two bishops representing the Persian Catholicos. The then ruling monarch Iyyanadikal Thiruvadikal (849AD) welcomed the Persians and showered them with special privileges and honours and gifted Maruvan Sapir Eso with land to build a church. This is mentioned in ‘Tharisa Pally cheppedu’(QLN, Copper plates, Trav: Arch, Vol, 11, PP 60– 85.Members of the Muthalaly family are the descendents of Maruvan Sapir Eso and for generations the family members enjoyed the privileges bestowed upon their forefather by the king. In the 16th century they had to face further oppression from the Portuguese who established themselves here.The present Kadisa Syrian Church at Quilon where the Muthalaly family members worship is the very same church built by Maruvan Sapir Eso in the 8th century. Every year the 2nd of the Malayalam month Vrichika is celebrated as the festival of the Kadissas Mar Sapor and Mar Aproth. The church and the land around it still belong to the Muthalaly family of Kallada.
St Mary's Church Kannanalloor,St. George Orthodox Valiya Palli, Puthoor, Kadeesha Orthodox Church, Kallada Orthodox Valiyapalli, Kundara Orthodox Valiyapalli, Kundara Arumurikkada St. Mary's Jacobite Syrian Cathedral [10], St. Casimir's Church, Kadavur; St. John's Church, Eravipuram;St. Francis Xavier Chruch, Chinnakada; St Sebastian Chruch, Tuet; Shrine of Our Lady of Velankanni, Tuyyam; Trinity Lyceum, Infant Jesus Shrine, Vadi; St. Joseph Shrine, Perinad; St. Francis Church, Koduvila (Kallada); Amalotbhava Matha Church, Pullichira (Kottiyam),St. Joseph Church, Kureepuzha Kollam, St. John Britto Church, Sakthikulangara; St. Sebastians Church, Neendakara; St. Thomas C.S.I. Church, Pattathanam; St. Thomas Orthodox Cathedral, Sastri Junction, St. Antony's Church at Tillery, St. Sebastian's Church, Chemmakkad, St. Thomas Marthoma Church,Thevally.[11] and Marthamarian Orthodox church, Thevelakara Orthodox Church(where Mar Abo, guru of kadamattahu kathanar, also known as Mar Sabor taking his eternal rest.this church constructed on 4th century and received tharissapally cheppadukal,which even started kollam era)BETHEL ST. GEORGE ORTHODOX CHURCH .NALLILA
Hospitals
This is a list of notable hospitals in Kollam. Organizations on this list should either have an accompanying existing article link which verifies their association, or reliable sources as footnotes against the name showing they are notable and in Kollam.
- Kerala E.N.T. Research Foundation (KERF), Thevally [12]
Prominent people
Spiritual leaders
- Chattampi Swamikal[13] (Spiritual leader)
- Mata Amritanandamayi (Spiritual leader)
Literature
- Kakkanadan (Writer)
- K. C. Kesava Pillai (Poet)
- Elamkulam Kunjan Pillai (Historian)
- Sooranad Kunjan Pillai (Scholar)
- Lalithambika Antharjanam (Writer)
- Thirunalloor Karunakaran (Poet)*
- O. N. V. Kurup (Poet)
- Pattathuvila Karunakaran (Short story writer)
- Johnson Eyeroor (writer, Hypnologist)
- Kureepuzha Sreekumar (Poet)
- Vrindavanam Venugopalan (Writer)
- D. Vinayachandran (Writer)
Politics
- C. Kesavan (Freedom fighter)
- R. Sankar (Freedom fighter, Social Reformer)
- T. M. Varghese (Freedom fighter)
- Thangal Kunju Musaliar
- P. K. Gurudasan (Minister, Labour and Excise)
- R.Balakrishna Pillai(Former Minister and founder of Kerala Congress)
Journalism
- K. Balakrishnan(Journalist)
Theatre, art, music, cinema
- Pannisseri Nanu Pillai
- O. Madhavan (Theater Artist)
- V. Sambasivan (Kadhaprasangam artist)
- Kambisseri Karunakaran, (Journalist, Drama-Cini artist & writer)
- Devarajan Master (Cine Music Director)
- Raveendran (Famous Cine Music Director)
- Resul Pookutty (Oscar award winner, sound technician)
- Shaji N. Karun (Film Director)
- Rajeev Anchal (Film Director)
- Kottarakkara Sreedharan Nair (actor)
- Jayan (actor)
- Thilakan (actor)
- Murali (actor)
- Mukesh (actor)
- Suresh Gopi (actor)
- Kollam Thulasi (actor)
- Balachandra Menon (actor)
- Saikumar (actor)
- K. B. Ganesh Kumar (Cine Artist, Former Transport Minister of Kerala State)
- Benny Dayal[14] (Playback Singer)
Sports
- Suresh Babu(Olympian athlete)
- T. C. Yohannan (Athlete)
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Census March 1, 2001 (via archive.org)
- ↑ Kerala government website
- ↑ Travancore Manual
- ↑ Kerala Charithram P.59 Sridhara Menon
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Travancore Manual page 244
- ↑ Travancore Manual, page 244
- ↑ "Kollam District". www.kollam.nic.in. http://kollam.nic.in/edu.html. Retrieved 2010-06-24.
- ↑ www.msnimt.org
- ↑ "User created map of Pazhangalam Temple added by Dr. JK Vijayakumar". Wikimapia.org. http://www.wikimapia.org/8621004/Pazhangalam-Temple. Retrieved 2010-06-24.
- ↑ "Kundara St. Mary's Church (Kollam diocese)". Syrianchurch.org. http://www.syrianchurch.org/ch/KundaraChurch.htm. Retrieved 2010-06-24.
- ↑ "User created map of St. Thomas Marthoma Church, Thevally Kollam corporation". Wikimapia.org. http://wikimapia.org/288891/. Retrieved 2010-06-24.
- ↑ "Kerala Ent Research Foundation - Home". Kerfspeciality.com. 2008-11-19. http://www.kerfspeciality.com. Retrieved 2010-07-05.
- ↑ Menon, T. Madhava (2002), A handbook of Kerala, Volume 2, International School of Dravidian Linguistics, p. 522, ISBN 9788185692319
- ↑ "Metro Plus Kochi : S5 's Malayali connection". The Hindu. 2005-05-16. http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/mp/2005/05/16/stories/2005051601590100.htm. Retrieved 2010-08-18.
External links
- Kollam District official website
- The enhanced version of the Kollam Official website
- The kollam district website
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