Thamarankottai

Thamarankkottai is a village in Pattukkottai taluk in the Thanjavur district, located in the delta of the Kaveri river.[1] Thamarankkottai is the first largest village in Thanjavur District. Pattukottai is the nearest town. It is bordered by Mannangadu and Vattakudi Ukkadai to the north; Thuvarankurichi to the west; Palanjur, Narasingapuram, and Soundranayakipuram to the southwest; Paraklakottai to east; Thambikottai to the southeast; and the Bay of Bengal to the south. It is second-most populous among the 32 villages of Musugundan Community. The total area of the village is 21.7 km2. It is divided into two areas: Thamarankkottai North and Thamarankkottai South. Melakkadu, Keelakkadu, and Rasiangadu are located in Thamarankkottai North. Sengapaduthankadu, Manjavayal, Karungulam,Mankanangadu and Karisakadu are located in Thamarankkottai South.

Thamarankkottai
Village
Nickname(s): 
Lotus Fort,Thamarai,TK
Thamarankkottai
Location in Tamil Nadu, India
Thamarankkottai
Thamarankkottai (India)
Coordinates: 10.43°N 79.32°E / 10.43; 79.32
Country India
StateTamil Nadu
DistrictThanjavur
TalukPattukkottai
Government
 • Village Panchayat PresidentK K kanagasabai[North] Vadivelu[South]
Area
 • Total21.7 km2 (8.4 sq mi)
Area rank1
Population
 (2001)
 • Total10,530
 • Density490/km2 (1,300/sq mi)
Languages
 • OfficialTamil
Time zoneUTC+5:30 (IST)
PIN
614613
Telephone code91 4373
Vehicle registrationTN 49
Sex ratio1000 M for 1094 F ♂/♀

Demography

According to the latest national census, Thamarankottai North has a population of 6,031, of which 2,872 are males and 3,159 are females. in 1,460 households across the three hamlets of Keezakadu, Melakkadu, and Rasiangadu. Thamarankottai South has 4,499 people (2,156 males and 2,343 females) in 1,110 households across the four hamlets of Manjavayal, Sengapaduthankadu, Karungulam, Karisakadu, and Mankanangadu.[2]

Society

Like other typical rural villages in Tamil Nadu, the majority of the people of Thamarankottai work in agriculture. The society is organized mainly on caste lines. Caste plays a vital role in social life and caste determines people's social status irrespective of their economic status.

Economy

Agriculture is the mainstay of the village economy. Thamarankottai is situated at the end of the new delta region of Cauvery irrigation scheme. This scheme was introduced in this region during the 1930s through the Cauvery Mettur Project (CMP) canal. Prior to this, agriculture was only rainfed. A rice-based cropping system was predominant with rice – rice – pulse or groundnut sequence, during the Kuruvai, Thaladi, and Summer seasons, respectively. In some spots where tank (lake) irrigation possibility was available rice – rice – rice (three rice crops) sequence was also practiced during Kuruvai, Thaladi, and Summer seasons, respectively.

Irrigated agriculture flourished and brought wealth to the farmers until the late 1970s and early 1980s. Due to the interstate dispute on sharing of Cauvery water between Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, the reach of river water to canals of Tamarankottai became uncertain and if at all reaches it is only unseasonal. Therefore, to keep the mainstay profession moving and lack of expertise to choose alternative ways of generating income via farming, farmers have resorted to deep bore wells for irrigation. However, in the absence of proper plans to recharge groundwater with rainwater, continued use of deep bore wells poses an environmental problem of seawater intrusion into the groundwater and the consequent salinization of soils of the entire village.

In recent times, most gardens and wetlands have been converted into coconut farms. Unlike rice cultivation, coconut provides income year-round and requires less intensive labor. However, due to the rising production costs and volatile pricing in domestic and international markets, the sustainability of income from coconut farms has increasingly become uncertain.

Due to this uncertainty, most youths in Thamarankottai migrate to other countries such as the US, the UK, the UAE, Singapore, and Malaysia in search of employment.

In recent years, there has been a lot of interest among women to launch self-help groups supported by State and Central government schemes. Until now, the main activity of these groups has been through micro-financing by commercial banks for self-employment and income generation by group effort.

There are few grocery stores and other retail stores in addition to small-time restaurants and tea shops in Thamarankottai.

Education

There are no official statistics available on the literacy rate in Thamarankottai. However, traditionally people in this village have not prioritized education. The situation is changing in recent years, with parents insisting that their children complete college degrees. The following are the educational institutions functioning in Thamarankottai:

  • Government Higher Secondary School – Tamil and English medium
  • Panchayat Union Primary School, Melakadu – Tamil medium
  • Panchayat Union Primary School, Keelakadu – Tamil medium
  • Sri Kumaran Teacher Training College, Keelakadu, Thamarankkottai.
  • Saraswathi Communication

Religion and temples

The majority of villagers are Hindu, and the village contains numerous temples. Islam and Christianity are minority religions. However, religious hatred has not been known to occur in Thamarankottai, and the families from minority religions live with the majority in harmony.

Sivan Koil

Sivan Koil is the main, largest, and oldest temple in Thamarankottai.[3] Its history has not been properly researched or documented. The fact is that the deity of this Sivan Koil is incidentally the biggest landowner in this village, with more than 40 acres (160,000 m2) of land. This implies that the forefathers of Thamarankottai donated lands in God's name to make the temple sustainable. A fortnight-long festival is celebrated in the Tamil calendar month of Vaikāsi. The festival coincides with Vaikasi Visakam.

Idumban Koil

Idumnban Koil is a temple for Idumban, a great devotee of Lord Muruga and the sage Agastya's greatest disciple (according to Hindu mythology). Idumbam is believed to be a protective god and a guardian of Muruga's temples in Tamil Nadu. This temple was built by the villagers beside Sivan Koil.

On the first Friday of the month of Ādi "Palguda Thiruvizha" is celebrated by the villagers.

Thee Kuthitha Amman Koil

This is a temple in which the main god, Thee Kuthitha Amman, is worshiped in reverence to the woman who chose to die in the funeral pyre of her husband. Even though Sati is not common in this village, this temple commands much respect among local people. Every year on the first Sunday of the month of Cittirai, some people, who have been fasting for the previous forty days, walk through fire to get the blessings of the Amman.[4][5]

Murugan Kovil

Manjavayal Murugan Kovil is a Murugan Temple located in Thamarankkottai South, Thamarankkottai.History of this Temple was A Peron every year will take Kavadi to Palani Murugan Temple, After some years he became old, he was unable to go Palani because of its distance, He was very sad as he didn't able to go to Palani, After some days a temple was automatically formed in Manjavayal.He has a night dream about this. After this he take Kavadi in this Temple.

Other places
  • 24 Hours Primary Health Center of Government of Tamil Nadu, providing free health care to people of the surrounding villages
  • Citi Union Bank
  • Agricultural Co-Operative Society
  • Post office (PIN 614613)
  • A TNEB substation
  • Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation Rice Procurement Center
  • Thamarankottai Reserved forest in Thamarankottai South

Local administration and elected representatives

Thamarankottai is a designated Panchayat. Currently, the office of the Leader of the Panchayat is held by Thirumathi. Subathra Rajendran. The post of Thamarankottai's councillor to Pattukottai Panchayat Union Council is currently held by Thirumathi. Achikannu Natarajan.

  • Sitting MP for Tanjore Parliament Constituency – K. Parasuram of Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam Party[6]
  • Sitting MLA for Pattukottai Legislative Constituency – C.V. Sekar of Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam Party

References
  1. Official TN Government Map of Pattukottai Taluk Archived 2009-04-16 at the Wayback Machine. Tnmaps.tn.nic.in. Retrieved on 2014-04-07.
  2. Indian Government Official Census Data
  3. Detailed Article on Sivan Koil in Tamil. Thamarankottai.com (2009-02-04). Retrieved on 2014-04-07.
  4. Pictures of Firewalking. Thamarankottai.com (2009-01-18). Retrieved on 2014-04-07.
  5. Video of Fire Walking. Thamarankottai.com (2009-04-22). Retrieved on 2014-04-07.
  6. Sitting MP for Tanjore Parliament Constituency – K. Parasuram of Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazagam Party
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