History of Block Panchayat
Kottarakara holds a peerless position on the cultural and political map of Kerala. Renowned globally as the birthplace of Kathakali—the king of performing arts—it is also a stellar model of local governance and decentralization. Serving as the developmental backbone of the rural regions surrounding the Kottarakara, this Block Panchayat boasts centuries of royal heritage and a history of fierce anti-colonial resistance. Today, this local self-government body stands tall, driving the comprehensive progress of five rural panchayats—Veliyam, Pooyappally, Kareepra, Ezhukone, and Neduvathoor—by ensuring active public participation in local development.
Origin of the Name & Royal History
The history of Kottarakara is deeply intertwined with 'Ilayidathu Swarupam', a sovereign principality that was a branch of the Venad royal dynasty. This region served as the capital of the kingdom until 1742 AD.
Origin of the Name: During the reign of this dynasty, there were around seven magnificent palaces constructed in this area. The name 'Kottarakara' was derived from these roots, literally meaning "The Land of Palaces" or "The Shore of Palaces".
The Birthplace of Kathakali: Kottarakara earned a golden page in history during the 17th century when the then ruler, Kottarakara Thampuran (the King), devised 'Ramanattam' as a form of artistic rivalry against the Zamorin of Kozhikode. It was this Ramanattam that later evolved into 'Kathakali', Kerala's world-famous classical dance-drama.
The Colonial Era & Marthanda Varma’s Annexation
The 18th century brought massive geopolitical shifts to Kerala, directly impacting Kottarakara. The region became part of the expanding Travancore kingdom under the rule of Anizham Thirunal Marthanda Varma.
Annexation into Travancore: In 1739 AD, the Queen of Ilayidathu Swarupam, backed by Dutch military aid, declared war against Marthanda Varma. However, she was defeated, and by 1742 AD, the territory was completely annexed into the Kingdom of Travancore.
Administrative Status: During the era of British colonial influence, specifically in 1835, Kottarakara was elevated to a prominent Taluk under the Quilon (Kollam) Revenue Division, which was a major administrative division of Travancore. This significantly boosted the region's administrative importance.
Post-Independence Era & Formation of the Block (Modern Local Governance)
It was after India gained independence that Kottarakara began transitioning into the democratic, localized governance system we see today.
Early Panchayat System: Modern local self-government institutions (panchayats) began taking shape here following the enactment of the 'Travancore-Cochin Panchayat Act' of 1950.
Birth of the Block Panchayat: The Kottarakara Block Panchayat was established as part of the nationwide 'Community Development Block' (CD Block) initiative aimed at rural development. The Kerala Panchayat Act of the 1960s further strengthened the legal framework of this system.
The People's Plan Campaign (1996): Following the 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendment Acts of 1993, which granted constitutional status to local bodies, the Government of Kerala launched the historic People's Plan Campaign in 1996. This was a massive milestone for the Kottarakara Block Panchayat, as development funds and administrative powers were directly decentralized to the Block and its constituent Grama Panchayats (Veliyam, Pooyappally, Kareepra, Ezhukone, and Neduvathoor).
Recent Changes & Present Status
Kottarakara Grama Panchayat was once the headquarters of this block. However, on January 14, 2015, the Kottarakara Grama Panchayat was upgraded to a Municipality. With this, the urban area moved out of the Block Panchayat's jurisdiction to become an independent administrative entity. Currently, the Kottarakara Block Panchayat functions as the primary hub coordinating agriculture, health, and infrastructure development for the five rural panchayats under its jurisdiction.