Vilayur
Grama Panchayat

Social History

The early manifestations of social evils are also evident here. Discrimination was visible in every sphere, beginning with dress, language, and ways of life. Vilayur was a rural settlement crushed under the burden of rigid social barriers. It was a village land where traditional ritual performances such as those dedicated to Chovva, Gulikan, Chudala Bhadrakali, Marutha, Karimkuttി, Parakutti, and Gandharvas were performed with great fervour.

The social structure here was also based on the traditional janmi-kudiyan (landlord-tenant) relationship. In those days, the only major means of livelihood was agricultural work and occupations connected with farming. Apart from agriculture, a small amount of trade was also carried out. Agriculture mainly consisted of paddy cultivation, along with a limited amount of coconut, arecanut, vegetables, and tuber crops.

Agricultural produce was transported by water to Ponnani, from where various goods were brought back to the area. Goods were also brought from markets such as Karimpanad, Kaipuram, and Angadipuram by head-load and bullock carts and were sold by small-scale traders.

The major means of transportation in Vilayur Grama Panchayat are roads. The bridge constructed by the British in 1924 connected the Panchayat with Malappuram district. The Perinthalmanna–Pattambi State Highway (Main Road) passes through the Panchayat.

The people living along the banks of the Thootha River had to depend on boat services to reach the neighbouring panchayats of Moorkanad and Pulamanthol. The waves of the national movement and social renaissance also influenced Vilayur.

Banglaw Kunnu, situated a few yards away from Vilayur Centre, is a reminder of foreign colonial rule. It is said that the British officials used to stay here while travelling and also settled disputes that arose in the locality. The Pulamanthol Bridge is another reminder of British rule. At that time, there were no roads in the surrounding areas. The bridge, inaugurated in 1924, connected Vilayur with what is now Malappuram district.

During that period, water was pumped from the Thootha River to Koppam to meet the requirements of the military camp. The Vilayur Sub-Registrar Office, one of the oldest institutions in Vilayur, established in 1919, preserves memories of both the national struggle and British rule. During the Malabar Rebellion, the office was set on fire and destroyed.

Agricultural History

The Kunti River flows through the north-western part of the Panchayat, bringing coolness to the region. All the streams in the Panchayat flow towards the north-west and eventually join the Kunti River.

In earlier times, agriculture and occupations associated with it were the main sources of livelihood for the people. The paddy fields were predominantly iruppu cultivation lands, where two crops were generally cultivated. In some places, three crops were harvested.

Buffaloes and bullocks were used for ploughing the fields. In addition to ponds, wells, and streams, earthen bunds and Paathichira water-storage structures were constructed to store water. Devices such as etham, kayattukotta, vethu, panam, and polam were used to lift and channel water for irrigation.

After the Makara harvest, vegetable cultivation would begin. Vegetables were cultivated using water lifted through etham. The main vegetables cultivated were cucumber, ash gourd, snake gourd, bitter gourd, pumpkin, snake beans, okra, maize, and other crops.

The surplus vegetables were carried as head-loads and sold at weekly markets in Karimpanad and Kaipuram, as well as at Kunnath Parambu in Pulamanthol and at Angadipuram. After harvesting, bundles of grain and summer vegetables such as cucumber, ash gourd, and pumpkin were hung from the houses of farmers. This was considered a particularly pleasant sight.

Tuber crops such as poolakizhangu and sweet potato were purchased by traders and transported by boat through the Kunti River to Ponnani.

During the lean months, people used foods such as palm flour, kodappana flour, arrowroot flour, thaal, thakara, wild yam, and jackfruit to protect themselves from starvation. There was an old saying:

“Palm and palm leaves for ten days, thaal and thakara for ten days, and somehow or other another ten days.”

The elders used to say that this was how the entire 30 days of the month of Karkidakam could be survived.

The practice of constructing temporary shelters in the paddy fields and guarding the harvested paddy at night during the Makara harvest ended only relatively recently. In the early days, agricultural labourers were paid in paddy. Men received two narayam and women received one narayam as wages. Those who looked after cattle were given one para of paddy for each poovu, in addition to their wages.

There was a worker known as the Pani Cheruman who served as the labour supervisor. It was his responsibility to gather the workers. For this service, he was entitled to one para of paddy for each poovu.

During Onam, the landlord traditionally provided a feast for the workers. Small quantities of paddy, coconuts, and a mundu were also given to them to celebrate Onam.

The Thudikkal is a minor irrigation project in the Panchayat that benefits approximately 410 hectares of land. Another project recently completed by the Minor Irrigation Department is the Karippamannachira project at Karimpanad.

The entire history of Vilayur Panchayat is, in one way or another, closely connected with agriculture.

History of Cultural Development

The history of educational institutions in Vilayur began with the Ezhuthupallikoodams (traditional village schools) established in the Valluvanad region of Kerala under the leadership of Ezhuthashans (traditional teachers). These traditional schools later developed into officially recognised schools.

Edathol Moithukutty Mulla, a poet from the Karimpanad area, published some collections of his poems and Mappila songs in printed form.

Kunjalikka, from the Karimpanad area, was awarded a Tamrapatra (copper-plate certificate) in recognition of his participation in the freedom struggle.

A library that was started in the Karimpanad area of Vilayur Panchayat functioned prominently. The late Rama Pothuval Master, Kunhimuhammad Master, and others were among its early activists.

Traditional folk art forms such as Puthan, Thira, Parappoothan, and Aandi can still be seen in connection with festivals. However, art forms such as Kolkkali, Varthyamutt, Thumbi Thullal, Duff Muttu, traditional songs sung in distinctive styles by different communities, Thiruvathirakali, Arabanamuttu, and Cherumakkali are gradually disappearing from the region.

Vilayur Grama Panchayat, situated along the north-western boundary of Palakkad district, is a culturally rich region like the other panchayats. People belonging to different caste and religious communities live together in harmony here, making the area a fine example of India's diverse way of life.

There are four libraries functioning in the Panchayat, including the library operated under the Cultural Centre.