Wayanad district: Difference between revisions

 

{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2020}}

| foot_montage = Clockwise from top:<br/>[[Chembra Peak]], [[Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary]], <br/> Mall at [[Sulthan Bathery]], [[Paddy fields]], Entrance of [[Karapuzha Dam]],

| image_map                      = {{maplink |frame=yes

| leader_name4                    = [[Sultan Bathery]]: I.C. Balakrishnan <br/>[[Kalpetta]]: T. Siddique <br/>[[Mananthavady]]: O.R. Kelu

| elevation_min_m                = 700

| elevation_max_m                = 2339

| elevation_max_point    = <!-- for denoting the measurement point --> [[Vavul Mala]]

| registration_plate              = KL-12 [[Kalpetta]],<br/> KL-72 [[Mananthavady]],<br/> KL-73 [[Sultan Bathery]]

'''Wayanad''' is an [[Districts of India|Indian district]] in the north-east of [[Kerala]] state with administrative headquarters at the municipality of [[Kalpetta]]. It is the sole [[Plateau]] in Kerala.<ref>{{cite book

}}</ref> The Wayanad Plateau forms a continuation of [[Mysore Plateau]], which is the southern portion of [[Deccan Plateau]]. It is set high on the [[Western Ghats]] with altitudes ranging from 700 to 2100 meters.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.keralatourism.org/wayanad/wayanad-topography.php|title=Topography, Western Ghats, Wayanad, Green Paradise, District, Kerala, India &#124; Kerala Tourism|website=www.keralatourism.org|access-date=7 January 2020}}</ref> [[Vavul Mala]], a 2,339 m high peak situated on the trijunction of Wayanad, [[Malappuram district|Malappuram]], and [[Kozhikode district|Kozhikode]] districts, is the highest point in Wayanad district. The district was formed on 1 November 1980 as the 12th district in Kerala by carving out areas from [[Kozhikode district|Kozhikode]] and [[Kannur district|Kannur]] districts. About 885.92 sq.km of area of the district is under forest.<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=http://spb.kerala.gov.in/index.php/district-profile-wayanad.html|title=District Profile|website=spb.kerala.gov.in|access-date=7 January 2020}}</ref> Wayanad has three [[municipality|municipal towns]]—[[Kalpetta]], [[Mananthavady]] and [[Sulthan Bathery]]. There are many indigenous [[tribe|tribals]] in this area.<ref>{{cite web |title=Kerala Tourism |url=http://www.keralatourismdevelopmentcorporation.com/Kerala-Tourism.html}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wayanad.com/pages/tribes-in-wayanad|title=Tribes in Wayanad|website=www.wayanad.com|access-date=7 January 2020}}</ref> The [[Kabini River]], which is a tributary of [[Kaveri River]], originates at Wayanad. Wayanad district, along with the [[Chaliyar]] valley in neighbouring [[Nilambur]] region (Eastern [[Eranad]] region) in [[Malappuram district]], is known for natural [[Gold]] fields,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://dmg.kerala.gov.in/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=55&Itemid=61|title=Mineral Resources in Kerala}}</ref> which is also seen in other parts of [[Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve]]. [[Chaliyar]] river, which is the fourth longest river of Kerala, originates in Wayanad plateau. The historically important [[Edakkal Caves]] are located in Wayanad district.

In 2006 the [[Ministry of Panchayati Raj]] named Wayanad one of the country's 250 [[Poverty in India|most backward districts]] out of a total of 640, along with [[Palakkad district]].<ref name=brgf>{{cite web|author=Ministry of Panchayati Raj |date=September 8, 2009 |title=A Note on the Backward Regions Grant Fund Programme |publisher=National Institute of Rural Development |url=http://www.nird.org.in/brgf/doc/brgf_BackgroundNote.pdf |accessdate=September 27, 2011 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120405033402/http://www.nird.org.in/brgf/doc/brgf_BackgroundNote.pdf |archivedate=April 5, 2012 }}</ref> It is the least urbanised district in Kerala, with only 3.9% urbanisation rate, compared to the state average of 47.2℅.<ref name=brgf/><ref name="District Census Handbook, Wayanad">[https://censusindia.gov.in/2011census/dchb/3203_PART_B_WAYANAD.pdf]</ref> Wayanad is also one among the two districts in Kerala, whose literacy rate is still below 90%, at the time of 2011 Census of India, along with [[Palakkad district|Palakkad]].<ref name="District Census Handbook, Palakkad">[https://censusindia.gov.in/2011census/dchb/3206_PART_B_PALAKKAD.pdf]</ref>

Wayanad district lies in ''[[Bayalu Seeme]]'' region (highland) of [[Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve]]. Geographically it is similar to the neighbouring districts of [[Kodagu district|Kodagu]] and [[Mysore district|Mysore]] of [[Karnataka]], and [[Nilgiris district|Nilgiris]] of [[Tamil Nadu]]. Wayanad plateau forms a continuation of the [[Mysore Plateau]].<ref name="wnd"/>

During [[British Raj]], Wayanad was a Taluk in the erstwhile [[Malabar District]].<ref>{{cite book

}}</ref> The regions included in the Taluks of [[Gudalur, Nilgiris|Gudalur]] and [[Pandalur]] in present-day [[Nilgiris district]], which is also known as ''Southeast Wayanad'', also formed part of the erstwhile Wayanad Taluk.<ref name="Logan_2">{{cite book |last1=Logan |first1=William |title=Malabar Manual (Volume-2) |date=1887 |publisher=PRINTED BY R. HILL, AT THE GOVERNMENT PRESS. |location=Madras |url=https://archive.org/details/malabar_manual_volume2/page/n7/mode/2up}}</ref> Southeast Wayanad was a part of Malabar District until 31 March 1877, when it was transferred to the neighbouring [[Nilgiris district]] due to the heavy population of Malabar and the small area of Nilgiris.<ref name="Logan_2"/>  Wayanad was a separate Revenue Division within the [[Malabar District]] until 1924.<ref name="Mbsp">{{cite book |url=https://www.tamildigitallibrary.in/admin/assets/book/TVA_BOK_0023302_The_Madras_Presidency_1881_1931.pdf |title=The Madras Presidency (1881-1931) |last=Boag |first=GT |publisher=Government of Madras |location=Madras |year=1933 |page=10}}</ref>

During the States Reorgansiation of 1956 after the independence of India, the [[Mysore state]] (present-day [[Karnataka]]) claimed for Wayanad due to its historical and geographical peculiarities. However on the linguistic survey of 1951 Census of India, it was found that 87.5% of the total population of Wayanad were native speakers of [[Malayalam]] at that time, while [[Kannada language|Kannada]] was confined to just 6.2% of the total population.<ref name="census1951">{{cite book | author = J. I. Arputhanathan | year=1955

On 1 January 1957, the erstwhile [[Malabar District]] was divided into three: [[Kannur district|Kannur]], [[Kozhikode district|Kozhikode]], and [[Palakkad district|Palakkad]].<ref name="1961_kkd">{{Cite book|title=District Census Handbook (2) – Kozhikode (1961)|last=Devassy|first=M. K.|publisher=Government of Kerala|year=1965|location=Ernakulam|url=http://lsi.gov.in:8081/jspui/bitstream/123456789/5665/1/22059_1961_KOZ.pdf}}</ref> On the same day Wayanad Taluk was split up into North Wayanad and South Wayanad.<ref name="1961_cnr">{{cite book

}}</ref> Initially both of the Taluks of Wayanad were included in newly formed [[Kannur district]].<ref name="1961_cnr"/> However after two months on 15 March 1957, South Wayanad Taluk was transferred into [[Kozhikode district]].<ref name="1961_kkd"/> The North Wayanad Taluk was transferred to Kozhikode district on 1 January 1979.<ref name="w1981">{{cite book

Wayanad district was formed by incorporating the Taluks of North Wayanad and South Wayanad on 1 November 1980 as the 12th [[List of districts of Kerala|district of Kerala]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://wayanad.gov.in/history/|title=History of Wayanad|website=wayanad.gov.in}}</ref> On the same date, North Wayanad Taluk was renamed as [[Mananthavady]], and South Wayanad was bifurcated to form the Taluks of [[Sultan Bathery]] and [[Vythiri]].<ref name="w1981"/> [[Kalpetta]] in [[Vythiri]] Taluk became the headquarters of new district.<ref name="w1981"/>

Historians believe that the human settlements existed in these parts for at least ten centuries [[before Christ]]. Much evidence of [[New Stone Age]] civilisation can be seen in the hills throughout the present day Wayanad district. The [[Edakkal Caves]] has 6000-year-old rock engravings from the Neolithic age. The recorded history of this district is available only from the 18th century. In ancient times, this land was ruled by the Rajas of the Veda tribe.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://anandbharat.com/2017/11/27/wayanad/|title=Wayanad- A scton of Western Ghats|date=27 November 2017|website=Anand Bharat|access-date=7 January 2020}}</ref>

In the earliest part of the recorded history of Wayanad District, Kasaragod-Kannur-Wayanad-Kozhikode Districts in the northern part of present-day Kerala were ruled by the Nannans ([[Mushika dynasty]]) who later came to be known as the [[Kolathiri]]s.<ref>{{cite book |title=Census of India, 2001: Wayanad |year=2004 |publisher=Controller of Publications |page=4 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=s3AfkDDN5vYC |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |title=Census of India, 1991: pt. 2A. General population tables |year=1995 |publisher=Controller of Publications |page=13 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Bze2EMoZ4GEC |language=en}}</ref> Politically the area was part of the [[Ezhimala Kingdom]] with its Capital at [[Ezhimala]] in present day [[Kannur district]]. The most famous King of Ezhimala was Nannan whose Kingdom extended up to [[Gudalur, Nilgiris]] and northern parts of [[Coimbatore]]. It is said that Nannan took refuge at Wayanad hills in the 5th century CE when he was lost to [[Chera dynasty|Cheras]], just before his execution in a battle, according to the [[Sangam literature|Sangam works]].<ref name="wnd"/> Wayanad was a part of the ''Karkanad'' which included the eastern regions of Ezhimala kingdom (Wayanad-[[Gudalur, Nilgiris|Gudalur]] areas including part of [[Kodagu]] (Coorg)).<ref name="wnd"/> ''Karkanad'' along with ''Poozhinadu'', which contained much of the coastal belt wedged between [[Mangalore]] and [[Kozhikode]] was under Ezhimala kingdom with the headquarters at [[Ezhimala]].

Some linguists claim that an inscription found from [[Edakkal Caves]], [[Wayanad]], which belongs to the 3rd century CE (approximately 1,800 years old), is the oldest available inscription in [[Malayalam]], as they contain two modern Malayalam words, ''Ee'' (This) and ''Pazhama'' (Old), those are not found even in the [[Old Tamil|Oldest form of Tamil]].<ref name="anitquity">{{Cite news|title=Historians contest antiquity of Edakkal inscriptions|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/spotlight/combining-world-class-education-with-social-responsibility-how-amrita-university-is-leading-the-way/articleshow/83300597.cms|last=Sasibhoosan|first=Gayathri|date=10 July 2012|access-date=9 June 2021|work=Times of India}}</ref>

The Mooshaka Kings were considered descendants of Nannan. By the 14th century, [[Mooshika dynasty|Mooshaka Kingdom]] was known as Kolathirinad and the Rulers as [[Kolathiri]]s. The Kolathunad Kingdom at the peak of its power reportedly extended from  

[[Netravati River]] ([[Mangalore]]) in the north<ref name="Kola Swaroopam">{{cite book |last1=Sreedhara Menon |first1=A. |title=''Kerala Charitram'' |year=2007 |publisher=DC Books |location=Kottayam |isbn=978-8126415885 |edition=2007 |page=175 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FAlXPgAACAAJ&q=%E0%B4%95%E0%B5%87%E0%B4%B0%E0%B4%B3+%E0%B4%9A%E0%B4%B0%E0%B4%BF%E0%B4%A4%E0%B5%8D%E0%B4%B0%E0%B4%82 |access-date=19 July 2020}}</ref> to [[Korapuzha]] ([[Kozhikode]]) in the south with Arabian Sea on the  

The  [[Kolathiri]]  Dominion  emerged  into  independent 10 principalities i.e., [[Kadathanadu]] ([[Vadakara]]), [[Dharmadom|Randathara]] or Poyanad ([[Dharmadom]]), [[Kingdom of Kottayam|Kottayam]] ([[Thalassery]]), [[Nileshwaram]], Iruvazhinadu ([[Panoor (Municipality)|Panoor]]), [[Kurumbranad]] etc.,  under  separate  royal  chieftains  due  to  the  outcome  of  internal dissensions.<ref name="wnd"/><ref name="Logan">{{Cite book|title=Malabar Manual (Volume-I)|last=Logan|first=William|publisher=Asian Educational Services|year=2010|isbn=9788120604476|location=New Delhi|pages=631–666}}</ref> The [[Nileshwaram]] dynasty on the northernmost part of [[Kolathiri]] dominion, were relatives to both [[Kolathunadu]] as well as [[Zamorin]] of [[Calicut]], in the early medieval period.<ref name="Neeleswaram fete">{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/neeleswaram-fete-to-showcase-its-heritage/article2645520.ece | title=Neeleswaram fete to showcase its heritage | author=The Hindu staff reporter | website=The Hindu | date=21 November 2011 | access-date=24 November 2016 }}</ref> The  origin  of  [[Kingdom of Kottayam|Kottayam Royal Family]] (the Kottayam referred here is [[Kottayam-Malabar]] near [[Thalassery]], not to be confused with [[Kottayam]] in Southern Kerala)  is  lost  in  obscurity. It  has been stated that the Raja of Kottayam setup a semi-independent principality of his  own  at  the  expense  of  Kolathiris.  In  the  10th  century  AD,  the  region comprised erstwhile Taluks of Kottayam, Wayanad and Gudallur was called ''Puraikizhanad''  and  its  feudal lord  ''Puraikizhars''.  The  [[Thirunelly]]  Inscriptions refer  to  the  division  of  Puraikizhar  Family  into  two  branches  viz.,  Elder (''Muthukur'')  and  Younger  (''Elamkur'')  in  the  beginning  of  the  11th  century.  In 17th  century  [[Kottayam-Malabar]]  was  the  Capital  of  Puraikizhanad  (Puranattukara) Rajas. It was divided into three branches i.e., Eastern, Western and Southern under separate dignitaries known as Mootha, Elaya and Munnarkur Rajas. The Kottayam Rajas extended their influence up to the border of [[Kodagu]]. By the end of the  17th  century,  they  shared  the  area  of  [[Thalassery]]  Taluk  with  the Iruvazhinadu Nambiars and were in possession of North Wayanad and the small Village  of  [[Thamarassery]]  which  formed  the  Eastern  portion  of the  present Vadakara, Quilandy and Thamarassery Taluks.<ref name="wnd">{{cite book

The recorded history of the Wayanad district exists only from the 10th century onward. In 930 AD, emperor Erayappa of Ganga Dynasty led his troops to south west of Mysore and after conquering, called it Bayalnad meaning the land of swamps. After Erayappa, his sons Rachamalla and Battunga fought each other for the new kingdom of their father's legacy. Rachamalla was killed and Battunga became the undisputed ruler of Bayalnad.

===The Kadambas===

The Wayanad have the largest tribal population in Kerala with 8 scheduled tribes including Adiyan, Paniyan, Mullukkurman, Kurichyan, Vettakkuruman, Wayanad Kadar, Kattuniakkan and Thachaanadan Mooppan. These communities have a number of symbolic oral narratives<ref name="tribals">http://eprints.usm.my/37569/1/sspis_2015_ms83_-_94.pdf</ref>

A particularly Vulnerable Tribal group of Wayanad. Jenu Kurumban and Ten Kurumban are the synonyms used for the Kattunayakan community. They spoke Kattunaikka language a dialect of Kannada and Malayalam. They are patrilineal and a forest dwelling, hunting and gathering community.This is the largest population among PVTG in Kerala with a total population of19995 (Male- 9953, Female-10042)<ref name="tribals" />

 

Vettakkuruman also a patrilineal tribal community. They are the artisan tribes and well versed in pottery, carpentry, blacksmithry and tools making and Basketry.{{citation needed|date=March 2019}} Their language is known as Bettakkuruma language. The population of Vettakuruman is 6482 consisting of 3193 males and 3289 females.<ref name="tribals" />

The soil and climate of Wayanad are suitable for horticulture on commercial basis. For promoting the cultivation of vegetables and raising of orchards, the Kerala Agricultural University is running a regional Agricultural Research Station at Ambalavayal.

In 2006, the [[Ministry of Panchayati Raj]] named Wayanad one of the country's 250 [[Poverty in India|most backward districts]] (out of a total of [[Districts of India|640]]).<ref name=brgf>{{cite web|author=Ministry of Panchayati Raj |date=8 September 2009 |title=A Note on the Backward Regions Grant Fund Programme |publisher=National Institute of Rural Development |url=http://www.nird.org.in/brgf/doc/brgf_BackgroundNote.pdf |access-date=27 September 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120405033402/http://www.nird.org.in/brgf/doc/brgf_BackgroundNote.pdf |archive-date=5 April 2012 }}</ref> It is one of the two districts in Kerala currently receiving funds from the [[Backward Regions Grant Fund|Backward Regions Grant Fund Programme]] (BRGF).<ref>{{cite web |author=Ministry of Panchayati Raj |date=8 September 2009 |title=A Note on the Backward Regions Grant Fund Programme |publisher=National Institute of Rural Development |url=http://www.nird.org.in/brgf/doc/brgf_BackgroundNote.pdf |access-date=27 September 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120405033402/http://www.nird.org.in/brgf/doc/brgf_BackgroundNote.pdf |archive-date=5 April 2012 }}</ref>

{{Pie chart

|thumb = right

|caption = Religion in Wayanad (2011)<ref name=census2011>{{cite web |title=Religion – Kerala, Districts and Sub-districts |url=http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011census/C-01/DDW32C-01%20MDDS.XLS |work=Census of India 2011 |publisher=Office of the Registrar General}}</ref>

|label1 = [[Hinduism]]

|value1 = 49.48

|color1 = Orange

|label2 = [[Islam]]

|value2 = 28.65

|color2 = Green

|label3 = [[Christianity]]

|value3 = 21.34

|color3 = DodgerBlue

|label4 = Other

|value4 = 0.53

According to the [[Vital statistics (government records)|2018 Statistics Report]], Wayanad district had a [[Demographics of India|population]] of 846,637,<ref name="wnddemo_2018"/> roughly equal to the nation of [[Comoros]].<ref name="cia">{{cite web |author=US Directorate of Intelligence |title=Country Comparison: Population |url=https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2119rank.html |access-date=1 October 2011 |quote=Comoros 794,683 July 2011 est.}}</ref> [[2011 Census of India]] gives district a ranking of 482nd in India (out of a total of 640). The district has a population density of {{convert| 397 |PD/sqkm|PD/sqmi}}. Its [[Family planning in India|population growth rate]] over the decade 2001–2011 was 4.6%. Wayanad has a [[sex ratio]] of 1035 [[Women in India|females]] for every 1000 males, and a [[Literacy in India|literacy rate]] of 89.32%, the lowest in the state.{{citation needed|date=June 2019}} The district is home to the highest ratio of [[Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes|Scheduled Tribes]] (ST) population in Kerala, which accounts for around 20% of total population of the district.<ref name="eco">{{Cite book|title=Economic Review 2020 - Volume I|last=Government of Kerala|publisher=Kerala State Planning Board|year=2021|location=Thiruvananthapuram|url=https://spb.kerala.gov.in/sites/default/files/2021-01/English-Vol-1_0.pdf}}</ref>

[[Paniya people|Paniyas]], Uraali Kurumas, and [[Kurichiya]]ns comprise the tribes in Wayanad. [[Badagas]] are present in 21 hamlets spread across Wayanad.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=a74HA_RX3rIC&q=wayanad+badaga&pg=PA514 |title=A Badaga-English Dictionary |last1=Hockings |first1=Paul |last2=Pilot-Raichoor |first2=Christiane |publisher=Walter de Gruyter |year=1992 |isbn=9783110126778 |pages=514}}</ref> The entire Wayanad region fell under the [[Kannada]] speaking area as per the linguistic survey and history of Colonel Wilks.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://dsal.uchicago.edu/reference/gazetteer/text.html?objectid=DS405.1.I34_V09_307.gif |title=Imperial Gazetteer of India, v. 9, p. 301. |publisher=DSAL |pages=301}}</ref>

On 22 May 2019, The Election Commission open its first warehouse in the State for the storage of electronic voting machines (EVMs) and voter-verifiable paper audit trail (VVPAT) machines at [[Sulthan Bathery]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/teeka-ram-meena-to-open-evm-warehouse-today/article27199765.ece|title=Teeka Ram Meena to open EVM warehouse today|author=Staff Reporter|date=21 May 2019|access-date=7 January 2020|via=www.thehindu.com|newspaper=The Hindu}}</ref>{{historical populations|11=1901|12=75,149|13=1911|14=82,549|15=1921|16=84,771|17=1931|18=91,769|19=1941|20=1,06,350|21=1951|22=1,69,280|23=1961|24=2,75,255|25=1971|26=4,13,850|27=1981|28=5,54,026|29=1991|30=6,72,128|31=2001|32=7,80,619|33=2011|34=8,17,420|35=2018|36=8,46,637|percentages=pagr|footnote=source:<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011census/PCA/A2_Data_Table.html|title=Census of India Website : Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India|website=www.censusindia.gov.in|access-date=7 January 2020}}</ref>|align=middle}}

== Access ==

 

The [[Kozhikode]]–[[Kollegal]] [[National Highway 766 (India)|National Highway 766]] (formarly NH 212) passes through Wayanad district. En route to Mysore on NH 212, past Wayanad district boundary, which is also the Kerala state boundary, NH 766 passes through [[Bandipur National Park]].