Vakathanam

Vakathanam is a Panchayat in Kottayam district of Kerala, India. It is 12 kilometres (7.5 mi) from Kottayam on the way to Changanassery via Puthupally. Vakathanam panchayat consists of two villages: Vakathanam and Thottakkad.

Vakathanam
village
Vakathanam Road
Coordinates: 9.5188°N 76.5771°E / 9.5188; 76.5771
Country India
StateKerala
DistrictKottayam district
Government
 • TypeGrama Panchayat
Languages
 • OfficialMalayalam, English
Time zoneUTC+5:30 (IST)
Vehicle registrationKL-05, KL-33
Nearest cityKottayam,Changanacherry
Websitehttp://vakathanam.com

History

In ancient times Vakathanam was ruled by Kings of Thekkumkur. Njaliakuzhy was the place where the culprits were executed by hanging. The surrounding places are Puthupally, Thenganal, Kurumbanadam and Thottakad.

Geography

The terrain is hilly with fertile soil. The western border of the panchayat has vast paddy fields. Fundamentally, this is an agricultural village. During earlier years, Vakathanam was famous for "Kappa" and "Chakka" which are the Malayalam terms for Tapioca and Jackfruit. Over time rubber plantation trees have replaced them. Vakathanam is an important commercial center of Kottayam. The chief crops are rice and rubber. Rubber was planted in Vakathanam already in the year 1930s. In the year 1940s some cultivators of rubber cut down the trees because its cultivation did not bring any income.[1] Its plantation began to be widespread in the year 1970s.

Churches

Most of the people residing here are Syrian Christians. The Syrian Orthodox Church is the numerically biggest Christian denomination in Vakathanam. St. John's Syrian Orthodox Church is the oldest Christian Church, built in 1847, until which year the Orthodox faithful had Puthupally Church as their parish. Yuhanon Mar Severious, Perumpally Thirumeni and Parekulathu Yakub Mar Themothios Thrumeni, Geevarghese Mar Ivanious, Founder of Mar Baselious Dayara, Njaliakuzhy Geevarghese Mar Coorilos of Niranam Dioscese of Jacobite Syian Orthodox Church are bishops from vakathanam. Syrian Orthodox Christians are the second largest Christian community in Kerala and they trace their origins to the mission of St. Thomas in South India in the second half of the first century AD. Later by Third Century St. Thomas Christians received priesthood from Syriac Orthodox Church of Antioch. The first Dayara and Seminary in Vakathanam was Mor Sharbil Dayara, Thrikothamangalam and is established in 1925 by Michael Mor Dionysius, Metropolitan of Southern Dioscese of Syrian Orthodox Church or Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church (Not to confuse with Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church). It was the Seminary and Dioscese Headquarters of Jacobite Syriac Orthodox Church for some long years. During its Golden age Dayara had more than 100 theological students there to learn theology and Syriac. Services of C. V George Cor-Episcopa, Chirathalatt who was the student of this Dayara is notable to Vakathanam community as the founder of Jerushalem Mount Higher secondary School and many other developmental activities. St. John's Orthodox Valiyapally, Vakathanam is the ‘ Thalapally ‘ to most of the Malankara Orthodox parishes. Founded about the year 1847, the parish celebrated its 150th Anniversary (sesquicentuary) in 1997-’98. One of the oldest churches at Vakathanam is Saint Ignatius Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church near Njaliakuzhy also known as "Kunnel Pally" which was established on 28–29 January 1929 by the main Patron Ignatius Nurono and includes St Mary and St. John, the baptist. Manikandapuram temple (which is mentioned also in Unnuneeli Sandesam, written in the 14th century) is the most ancient religious worship centre, built by the Thekumkur Kings probably in the 14th century.[2] The Knanaya Christians had their parish in Kottayam Valiyapally and Kottayam Edacattu Church, until the construction of Puthussery church for the Knanaya Jacobites in 1870 and St Mathew's Catholic Church for Knanaya Catholics in 1910 at Njaliakuzhy. Besides the members of the above-mentioned Churches, the believers of the Catholic Church, Syrian Orthodox Church (the famous St. Adai's church, Nalunnakal to this Church), Malankara Marthoma Syrian Church, CSI Church,St Marys Catholic church eravuchira, PRDS Church,Thottakkad and Salvation Army Church Thottakkad.Jacobite and Orthodox churches in thrikothamangalam.etc. are also present and active at Vakathanam.[3] Mar Baselious Dayara is a monastery built by late Metrapolitan Ghevarghese Mar Ivanios is a place of meditation located at Thattumpuram Kunnu, near to Njaliyakuzhy. There are number of Pentecostal churches are also there in vakathanam and thottakkad.

Demographics

Vakathanam is a large village located in Changanassery Taluka of Kottayam district, Kerala with total 4972 families residing. The Vakathanam village has population of 19589 of which 9429 are males while 10160 are females as per Population Census 2011. /km².

Banks
  • FEDERAL BANK
  • STATE BANK OF INDIA
  • SOUTH INDIAN BANK
  • THE KOTTAYAM DISTRICT CO-OPERATIVE BANK LTD

GRAMIN BANK

Education

Schools include:

  • CMS L P School, kannanchira
  • CMS L P School, Njaliyakuzhy
  • MDUPS, Pongamthanam
  • JMHSS, Vakathanam
  • Govt. L.P.G.S Vakathanam (Penpallikkoodam)
  • Govt LPBS, Unnamattom
  • MGEM Higher Secondary school Njaliyakuzhy
  • MMD Public School, Thrikothamangalam
  • St. George U.P.School, Eravuchira
  • MD U.P school, Vakathanam (Pazhanchira Pallikoodam)
  • Govt Hr secondary school, Thrikothamangalam
  • Govt LPBS, Marangattu
  • NSS U.P School, Thrikothamangalam
  • LP School Thrikothamangalam.
  • Vadekkekara LP school.
  • Gregorian Higher Secondary School, Nalunnakkal
  • St. Adais L.P. School Nalunnakkal
  • St. Elias U.P. School Nalunnakkal
  • U.P. SCHOOL VAKATHANAM

Vakathanam has one college: M.G.University College of Teacher Education, Thottakkad.

References
  1. Sunny Kokkaravalayil, History of Vakathanam Knanaya Catholic Church 1910-2010, Vakathanam, 2012, 15.
  2. About the origin of this temple, Kottarathil Sankunni describes in his Eithihyamala, Kottayam, D.C. Books, 23rd edition, 2009, 635-637.
  3. Sunny Kokkaravalayil, History of Vakathanam Knanaya Catholic Church 1910-2010, Vakathanam, 2012.
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