Azhiyur
Grama Panchayat

🌊 Azhiyur: A Coastal Village with a Rich History

Azhiyur is a coastal Grama Panchayat (Village Panchayat) bordered by Mahe and the Mahe River (Mayyazhipuzha), which belong to the neighboring Union Territory of Puducherry, to the north; Onchiyam and Eramala Grama Panchayats to the south; the Arabian Sea and Mahe Municipality to the west; and the Mahe River and Eramala Panchayat to the east.

🏞️ Geography and Coastal Features

The Panchayat has a coastline of about five kilometers. The areas from Kaappuzha up to Poothithala in the north are prone to sea erosion. However, the southern part of Kaappuzha has a continuous stretch of rock clusters parallel to the sea, which comparatively reduces the force of the waves during the monsoon season. This favorable condition was instrumental in establishing the fishing harbor here.

The hills in the southern part of Azhiyur, namely Karappakunnu, Banglākunnu, and Pathirakunnu, along with Kalārikunnu in Eramala Panchayat and Kaithōl Kunnu in Onchiyam Panchayat, form a natural shield that protects the southern regions of Azhiyur from threats like the Tsunami.

📜 Historical and Cultural Evolution

The cultural symbols and knowledge brought by the Chinese and Arab traders who arrived for commerce are part of the history not just of Azhiyur but of Kerala itself. The maneuvering and conflicts between the Portuguese, Dutch, French, and British, who arrived with colonial interests, both among themselves and against local rulers, profoundly influenced the socio-economic and cultural landscape of this region in various ways.

The introduction of new weapons and martial arts, and the century-long resistance against the Portuguese by the Kunjali Marakkars—who served as the naval commanders of the Zamorin under the spiritual guidance of Sheikh Zainuddin Makhdoom—became part of history.

The military campaigns by Hyder Ali and his son Tipu Sultan, who entered into treaties with the French and local rulers against the English, as well as the efforts of Pazhassi Raja who resisted the English through guerrilla warfare, were felt in this region to varying degrees.

The social reform efforts of figures like Sree Narayana Guru, Vagbhatananda Guru, and missionary educators like Hermann Gundert profoundly cultivated the cultural awareness of the area.

👑 Administration and Local Governance

The history of this region is linked to figures and dynasties such as Kannamvalli Namboothiri, Thandrapalli Kurup, the Pōrḷāthiri royal dynasty, the Portuguese, French, British, and the Mysore Kings.

After the decline of the Chera Empire, Azhiyur was under the rule of the Kolathiri. In the early decades of the 15th century, a system of governance existed where the territory was divided under Deshavazhis (local chieftains) who were subordinate to the Kolathiri Raja, and below them were the Tharakkoottams (local assemblies).

In the 18th century, with the establishment of the Kadathanadu Pōrḷāthiri royal dynasty in the south as vassals of the Kolathiri, the Azhiyur Desam came under the rule of the Kadathanadu rulers. Kadathanadu, originally a transit land between the Kolathiri and the Zamorin, is also referred to as Ghatolghajakshi in Puranas.

The administration of Azhiyur was under the Deshavazhi named Kannamvalli Namboothiri. For administrative convenience, this Deshavazhi formed several Tharakkoottams and entrusted the administration of each to specific individuals. The control of each Tharakkoottam was held by the recognized ancestral families (Tharavātts) of that area. They were responsible for resolving all local issues and ensuring the protection of the lives and property of the residents.

Issues that could not be resolved by the different Tharakkoottams were settled by a Nāttukkoottam (village assembly) under the Deshavazhi. This Nāttukkoottam convened on a special platform outside the walls of the Azhiyur Sree Paradevatha Temple, with representatives from various communities: the Azhiyur Pādhāḷi (as the ruler's representative), Chāliādan Kurup (representing the Nāyar community), the elder of the Kārāyi Tharavātt (representing the Thiyya community), and the elder of the Karaketti Tharavātt (representing the Muslim community).

Later, the judicial responsibility of this Nāttukkoottam was transferred to a committee called the Panchayat. The head of this Panchayat was known as the Bench Magistrate. For legal matters, there were specific individuals who argued the cases for the parties, much like lawyers today. They were called Pāravakkīl. The last Bench Magistrates of Azhiyur were Marunarackal Choyi and his son Marunarackal Narayanan. It is said that this court used to convene at the Marunarackal Tharavātt.

The headquarters of the Kadathanadu rulers, under whose domain Azhiyur fell, was at Kuttippuram, near the present-day Kallāchi area. Mahe was then part of Azhiyur, under the Kadathanadu rulers.

The only remaining physical evidence of the Kadathanadu Royal Dynasty in Azhiyur today is the ancient Azhiyur Sree Paradevatha Temple, and its associated tank (Azhiyūr Kṣhēthrachiṟa) and dining hall (Ūṭṭupura), which are now located west of the railway line. Furthermore, an Ālthaṟa (banyan tree platform) and a banyan tree, silent witnesses to Azhiyur's ancient history, still flourish on the bank of the Kṣhēthrachiṟa in the southeast corner near the genesis of Azhiyur.

🕌 Places of Worship and Independence Struggle

In the vast, sandy expanse, the Kunhippalli (small mosque) is located centrally on the west side. About two hundred meters to the south of this mosque is the Māḷikapalli (Mansion Mosque) or Valiyapalli (Big Mosque) of Jauvbal (Chōmpala), with the current Kunhippalli being the smaller one near this Valiyapalli.

When the Quit India Movement began on an All-India basis in 1942, the first call to action in Malabar was sounded at Chōmpala in Azhiyur.

Azhiyur has always been a pillar of support for the Mahe Liberation Struggle (Mahi Vimōchana Samaram). For the Mahe Municipal election, all citizens of Mahe were issued an identity card or letter (Katthu), and only those who received this letter had the right to vote. However, in the 1948 Mahe Municipal election, this card was denied to the Mahe citizens (nationalists) who were working against the French.

Following the life imprisonment and other punishments declared by the French government for the Mahe nationalists who protested in 1948, they were forced to take refuge in Azhiyur, unable to enter Mahe.

On Friday, July 16, 1954, the nationalist refugees from Mahe, led by I.K. Kumaran Master, entered Mahe via the Mahe Bridge. Subsequently, the French decided to surrender and relinquish administration. Thus, Monsieur Descem, the last French administrator of Mahe, departed on a French vessel. I.K. Kumaran Master, the hero of the Mahe Liberation Struggle, was installed as the first Administrator of Free Mahe.

The Kallāyi (Kallazhi) area, from where the procession to Mahe for its liberation commenced on July 16, 1954, was renamed New Mahe in commemoration of its role in setting the stage for the liberation.

Kunnūmmal Tharavātt was a famous Nāyar ancestral home in Kadathanadu, belonging to K. Kunhirāmakkuṟuppu. Nellāchēriyil K. Kunhirāmakkuṟuppu was born as a descendant of this family. Kuruppu, who made Eramala and Azhiyur his field of work, lived and died in Kallāmala in Azhiyur.