Anchal
Grama Panchayat

History of Anchal

Anchal has a long and fascinating history, with several historical traditions, legends and local accounts associated with the region. On the left side of the Anchal–Thadikkad Road, west of Eram Junction, lies Anchal Kulam. Its unusual shape has led to discussions about whether it can actually be classified as a traditional pond. It is not circular in shape, although one portion has a semi-circular appearance, while the embankment has been constructed with angular and rectangular sides. Near the old Thole school at Vadamon stands a very old Kanjiram tree. Some of its leaves are said to have a sweet taste, while others have neither a distinctive taste nor bitterness. The tree is not known to have produced fruit, and since its seeds have never been obtained, local people have differing opinions about its characteristics. Near Eram Junction, a temple stands amidst a paddy field and is popularly known as Thevar Temple in the Paddy Field. Although it appears to be situated in the middle of the field, the shrine actually stands on a small elevated area of firm land. Such features have contributed to the many interesting traditions and historical discussions associated with Anchal.

It is believed that Sage Agastya performed penance at Agastyakode. The idol associated with the sage is seen in an unusual position, making it difficult to determine its form. Another interesting feature associated with the Agastyakode temple is that one of its idols appears to have only one breast. Nevertheless, the principal deity of the temple is Shiva Lingam. There are also different opinions regarding the origin and social history of the Kurumakkattu family of Erath in Anchal. Since it is considered an ancient family, its exact historical classification has not been conclusively established. There are also different interpretations regarding the origin of the name Anchal. One popular belief is that the name originated from a place where five banyan trees stood together. There is also a tradition that numerous shade trees once stood along the roads in the area. However, the exact origin of the place name cannot be established conclusively.

In earlier times, the region that later became part of Travancore was under the rule of several small kingdoms and ruling houses, including Desinganad, Elayidathu Swaroopam, Thekkumkoor, Kayamkulam, Chempakassery and Vadakkumkoor. The area comprising the present-day Punalur and Kottarakkara regions was under the rule of the Kottarakkara Raja. It is believed that the Kottarakkara Raja had another administrative centre in the Anchal area, apart from Kottarakkara itself. This was reportedly located at Panayanchery, where the Anchal Sree Dharma Sastha Temple stands today. Following the decline of royal rule, Anchal Chantha Mukku became the main commercial centre of the region, around which numerous shops and trading establishments developed. The Anchal cattle market and public market were among the oldest markets in the former Travancore region. Anchal became known outside the region particularly because of its cattle market, which was held on the 15th and 30th of every Malayalam month. Traders brought cattle from various parts of Tamil Nadu, including Madurai, Kadamalai, Manapuram and Puliyara. The cattle market was conducted at what is now the Anchal Panchayat Private Bus Stand grounds.

Anchal Public Market was once an important centre for the trade of agricultural products. Plantains, pepper, ginger, cashew, coconut, arecanut, betel leaves and tapioca were among the major products traded here. Traders came to Anchal from distant parts of Tamil Nadu and other regions, and many of them eventually settled in Anchal and became prominent merchants. The cashew traded in Anchal was particularly known for its quality, attracting large numbers of merchants. Anchal consequently developed into one of the important commercial centres of Kerala. People from various parts of the former Travancore region also migrated to Anchal. The region progressed through agriculture and the hard work of its people, with the fertile land providing a strong foundation for economic development.

The older generation remembers Anchal as a predominantly rural and forested region. The area around the present Anchal Range Office Junction was once covered by natural forest. Mud roads connected Anchal with Ayur, Punalur and Kulathupuzha, and bullock carts regularly travelled along these roads. The sound of bullock-cart bells, occasional motor cars raising clouds of dust, fertile agricultural land and the quiet village atmosphere formed part of the landscape of old Anchal.

The history of education in Anchal also has deep roots. The first school was established at Anchal Pulimukku and initially provided education only up to the third standard. Classes were conducted in a thatched building established through the efforts of local landholders. The institution was later upgraded as a Government Lower Primary School. Later, Anchal Madhavan Pillai was granted permission to establish the Bhagavathi Vilasam English School, which is now known as Anchal B.V.U.P.S. During the early period, school workers travelled through nearby areas, visiting children and parents and encouraging them to pursue education. Fees were sometimes collected in the form of agricultural produce such as yam, colocasia, coconut and arecanut, which also served as remuneration for teachers. By the beginning of the 1960s, Anchal witnessed significant progress in the field of education.

Anchal English School, now known as Anchal East High School, was one of the prominent educational institutions of the earlier period. It was initially managed by a trust and was upgraded to Anchal English High School in 1948. Several distinguished teachers contributed to its reputation, including former MLA and Panchayat President P. Gopalan, Thadikkad Ismail, Pulithitta T. R. Gopalan Nair, Palar Balakrishna Pillai, Mannoor Mathai, Erur Janardhana Munshi, Mavelikkara Ramachandra Nair and Anchal Gopi. Anchal St. John's College, established in 1965, also played a significant role in the educational development of the region. Students from various parts of Kollam and Pathanamthitta districts came here for higher education. The strong educational tradition of Anchal subsequently contributed to the growth of English-medium schools, parallel colleges and computer education centres. Several personalities who became well known in different fields were former students of Anchal English School, including the late poet Anchal Bhaskaran Pillai, dramatist and director Prof. Vayala Vasudevan Pillai and P. Rajappan Pillai, who served as Director General of Police in Andhra Pradesh. H. P. Warren, also known as H. Parameswaran Iyer, who was associated with the invention of the vacuum pump, was a native of Anchal. Kurian George, associated with the invention of the water train, was a native of Mavila, Anchal.

Anchal also had an important connection with the administration of Travancore. Harihara Iyer, who served as the Sarvadhikari of the Travancore Palace, was a native of Panayanchery in Anchal. His son was the renowned scientist H. P. Warren. Poet Anchal R. Velupillai and Keezhut Madhavan Nair, who served as the Thiruvananthapuram correspondent of the Hindustan Times and in editorial positions at Rey's Weekly, were among the notable personalities associated with Anchal. R. M. Nair received the Padma Bhushan in 1969.

Anchal has also made significant contributions to Kerala's cultural heritage. The Anchal Ajanta Kali Academy worked towards promoting Kathakali, one of Kerala's traditional art forms. Since Anchal was historically associated with the Kottarakkara Thampuran, who is traditionally connected with the development of Kathakali, the art form received considerable encouragement in the region. The annual Kathakali performance associated with the festival at Panayanchery Sree Dharma Sastha Temple is part of this cultural tradition. Anchal is also home to several historically significant temples, including Panayanchery Sree Dharma Sastha Temple, Kalari Temple, Anchal Ganapathi Temple, Sree Krishna Swamy Temple, Agastyakode Mahadeva Temple and Eram Vayalil Thrikkovil Temple. The festivals associated with these temples have contributed to social harmony and cultural development in the region.

The traditional Mudi Ezunnallathu procession from Kadakkal Bhagavathi Temple to the Anchal region, held once every twelve years, is another important part of the area's cultural history. The procession traditionally passes through several places and is accompanied by religious rituals, traditional music and ceremonial activities. It reaches Panayanchery Temple in Anchal, where special worship and traditional offerings are performed before proceeding to the Thevar shrine at Eram Vayal. The celebrations continue for several days, attracting large numbers of people from different parts of the region irrespective of caste or religion. The last such procession mentioned in the historical account took place in 1973.

Libraries have played an important role in improving literacy and promoting cultural and literary activities in Anchal. The present Anchal Panchayat Central Library originated through the efforts of local social workers near the L.P. School and was taken over by the Anchal Panchayat in 1987. The Choranad Sree Chithira Thirunal Library began functioning in 1949, followed by the Agastyakode Sreekrishna Vilasam Library and Panayanchery Jawahar Library. The Kuruvikkonam Vijnana Santhayini Library began functioning in 1957. Several other cultural and social organisations also developed around these institutions. Anchal has produced several notable personalities in the arts, including filmmaker Rajeev Anchal, who received recognition for film art direction in 1990 and later directed several films, Kathaprasangam artist Thevarthottam Sukumaran, who received the Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Award in 1995, and Ottan Thullal artist Vadamon Devakiyamma.

It is also traditionally believed that Anchal was associated with the origins of the Maramadi Mahotsavam, an important agricultural festival in Kerala. The late Anchal Madhavan Pillai is remembered as one of the pioneers associated with the festival. The first cinema theatre in Anchal was Lakshmi Talkies, established by Kadakath Kesava Pillai. The theatre was constructed using bamboo, woven palm leaves and thatch, and older residents still remember watching films there while sitting on the sandy floor. Cinema advertisements at that time were carried out using bullock carts, with drums and announcements used to attract public attention. Later, Salim Talkies and Jaya Mohan Theatre were established.

Healthcare in Anchal initially depended largely on traditional Ayurvedic physicians. Among the notable practitioners were S. Parameswaran Pillai, Yunus Vaidyan, Pappu Vaidyan, Nanu Vaidyan and Neelakandan Vaidyar. The first allopathic hospital in Anchal was the hospital established by Dr. Isaac near Vadamon Bridge, which was later shifted to Anchal Market Junction. In 1953, Anchal St. Joseph's Hospital was established and became an important healthcare institution in the region. The hospital was dedicated to the public in May 1953 by His Grace Benedict Mar Gregorios. It was established on property associated with the renowned scientist H. P. Warren and was therefore known among older residents as Pattaruvila. The service of Dr. Annamma, who took charge in 1954, is still remembered by the people of Anchal, and she was popularly known as the Doctor of the Poor. The Anchal Government Hospital began functioning in 1972. Other long-established healthcare institutions in the region include P.N.S. Hospital, Dr. George's Hospital, Dr. Devadas Hospital, Sabarigiri Hospital and the Maternity Hospital established by Dr. Vinayachandran.

Anchal also has a long history of cooperative activities, banking and government administration. A cooperative society was established in Anchal in Kollavarsham 1123 with the objectives of supporting farmers, encouraging weavers and distributing government-supplied cloth at ration prices. A tapioca producers' cooperative society also functioned at Anchal R.O. Junction under the leadership of V. V. Thomas, and the two societies were merged in 1957. The first bank in Anchal was the Federal Bank branch, which began functioning at College Junction on 20 May 1968. Several old government offices were concentrated around Anchal Market Junction. The Parothiyar Office, which functioned on the site of the present private bus stand, is considered one of the oldest offices in the area and was later converted into a Village Office. Anchal was once considered the largest village in Travancore and was also prominent in terms of revenue. An old postal distribution system existed in Anchal, and an important Anchal Office functioned at Chantha Mukku. The Anchal Police Station initially operated as a police outpost and was upgraded to a charge station in 1973. The Taluk Office, Cutchery and Court were also once located at Anchal Market Junction before being shifted to Punalur. The Anchal Range Office is one of the oldest offices in the area, and the present R.O. Junction received its name from this office. Other long-established institutions include the Anchal Sub-Registrar Office, Electricity Office, Veterinary Hospital and Block Office.

The first service buses to operate through Anchal were Bharathi and Yasoda. An express bus service also operated from Thiruvananthapuram through Anchal for a period. In earlier times, most people travelled by bullock carts, which were also available for hire. Only a small number of cars were present in the region, and they were mainly used for emergencies and transporting patients to hospitals. Goods from Tamil Nadu and other regions were also transported by bullock carts. The remarkable transformation of Anchal from a heavily forested rural area into a developed centre reflects the hard work and collective efforts of its people. Many of the major roads in the region were developed through the initiative and participation of local residents. Human effort has always been one of the principal factors behind the development of Anchal, and the region stands as an example of the progress that can be achieved through the combined strength of hardworking people and fertile land. Anchal has also long been known for its tradition of religious harmony.

The old Anchal Panchayat included the area that is now part of Alayamon Grama Panchayat. In the early period, local administration was carried out through a Village Association. The first committee of Anchal Panchayat assumed office on 3 September 1953, with Velussery Abdul Khader as its first President. Several others subsequently served as Panchayat Presidents, including Palar Balakrishna Pillai, Dr. C. E. Velu, P. Gopalan, K. Sivarama Pillai and K. N. Vasavan. Suja Chandrababu became the first woman President of Anchal Grama Panchayat, assuming office on 4 October 1995. The Panchayat Office began functioning in its present building on 28 April 1988. Before that, it functioned in the Panchayat Shopping Complex building at Anchal R.O. Junction. The Anchal Village Office and Anchal Panchayat Central Library also function in the Panchayat Office building.

Anchal's journey through history reflects its transformation from a predominantly forested rural region into an important centre of agriculture, trade, education, healthcare, administration and culture. Although the region has faced various challenges over the years, the development achieved through the hard work, enterprise and collective efforts of its people remains an important part of the history and identity of Ancha