Nagalassery
Grama Panchayat

History

Social and Administrative History

Nagalassery has a very rich historical background. There is a popular legend regarding the origin of the place name. The famous Koodallur Mana, known throughout India as a gurukula for Sanskrit grammar where great scholars lived, worshipped Sage Patanjali, the pioneer of grammar. Since Patanjali was believed to be an incarnation of the serpent king (Nagaraja), the place where Nagaraja was worshipped came to be known as “Nagalassery.”

The area had strong roots in the traditional feudal (Naduvazhi) system. Most of the region was controlled by three major landlord families: Vengattur Mana, Koodallur Mana, and Poomulli Mana. Vengattur Mana and Koodallur Mana had existed there for centuries, while Poomulli Mana migrated from Thrissur during the reign of Sakthan Thampuran. In addition, there were many other Namboothiri landlord households in the area.

Among the ruling Nambiar families, the eldest person was selected as the Naduvazhi Nambidi. These leaders held great authority, including powers over punishment and justice. Temples such as Amakkavu, Karakkad, and Kottilingal Devaswoms were under their administration. Over time, with the rise of Brahminical dominance, these institutions gradually came under Brahmin control.

Historical records suggest that Jain culture was once widespread in this region, and remnants of Jain influence can still be found in some places.

The Malabar Manual written by William Logan, who served as the Malabar Collector and Magistrate from 1875 to 1888, mentions the history of Kootanad. The region once consisted of 24 divisions. During the 1760s, the area came under the control of Hyder Ali. He visited the region around 1765–66 and appointed Mahadevaraja to administer it. Later the region alternated between the control of the Zamorin rulers and the Mysore kings.

The records also mention that many people who failed to pay taxes were taken to Srirangapatna. It is believed that Tipu Sultan’s military campaigns passed through this region. The remains of Tipu’s fort can still be seen near Kootanad Mosque. During Tipu’s invasion, many landlord families reportedly fled to Travancore and later returned.

Under British rule, Kootanad became an important center with a court and customs collection office. Social reform movements also emerged in the region. A school teacher named Ravunni Ezhuthachan Master led lower-caste people into temples after bathing with them in the temple pond, which resulted in his dismissal and exile from the village.

Strong struggles for tenant rights, agricultural labor wages, and land reforms also took place here. During the 1970s, movements demanded the distribution of surplus land to the landless. Eventually, land was redistributed among agricultural laborers and farmers, becoming an important chapter in Kerala’s peasant movement history.

History of Infrastructure Development

Road connectivity to the inner regions of the village began with the construction of the road from Kootanad to Peringode. Although originally built for private purposes by Poomulli Mana, it later helped transport goods using bullock carts.

The first bus service in the region was introduced by the Cherukulappurath Mana family, who also built a road from Peringode to Pilakkattiri.

The first post office in the Panchayat was established during the 1920s at Pilakkattiri in the gateway building of Cherukulappurath Mana. It was mainly set up to send Ayurvedic medicines prepared by Trivikraman Namboothiri through parcels. This post office was later shifted to Peringode.

The first school in the Panchayat was the LP School established at Peringode on June 6, 1912, under the management of Poomulli Mana. Before modern schools, traditional village teachers conducted classes in their homes.

Before modern medicine became common, people relied on traditional healers, many of whom belonged to the Mannan community. Specialists in poison treatment and eye treatment were well known. Cherukulappurath Krishnan Namboothiri was famous for poison treatment.

The first person from the Panchayat to study modern allopathic medicine and establish a dispensary here later became the renowned neurosurgeon Dr. K.N. Namboothiripad.

Electricity generation experiments began in the 1930s at Koodallur Mana with a windmill installed on a hilltop. Later, generators were used for private electricity production. Even before Indian independence, electricity reached the Panchayat through lines extended from Vellarakkad by the Poomulli Mana family.

The first library in the Panchayat, “Peringode Vijnanaposhini,” was established in 1952. Another rural library started at Ovannur in 1957, followed by many others. Cultural clubs and handwritten magazines also became active during this period.

Cultural History

This region has made notable contributions to arts and culture. Kathakali training centers and drama troupes functioned actively in Peringode and Koodallur Mana under renowned teachers.

Artists who emerged from these institutions include:

• Kalamandalam Gopi
• Vadakkeppattu Ramakrishnan Nair

One of Peringode’s proudest contributions was Poomulli Raman Namboothiripad, a disciple of the legendary musician Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavatar.

The village also produced many distinguished artists including:

• Peringode Sankunni Nair (Kathakali actor)
• Kalamandalam Neelakandan Nambisan
• Neettiyath Govindan Nair (Thayambaka expert)
• Vadakkath Narayanan Nair (Ilathalam artist)
• Painkottu Narayanan Nair (Flute artist)
• Krishnankutty Marar (Timila artist)
• Kalamandalam Ravindran
• Kothachira Sankaran Nair
• Pushpoth Parameswaran Nambisan

It is also believed that the wife’s family home of Thunchaththu Ezhuthachan, the father of the Malayalam language, was located at Edappal House in Amakkavu.

Continuing this artistic tradition, the Peringode High School Panchavadyam Group remains active today, along with a Kathakali Promotion Society functioning at Peringode High School.