Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Scheduled Castes and Tribes
The major scheduled caste is Cheruman and the important tribe is Kurichiya. Other important scheduled castes are Paraya, Nayadi, Mavilan, Valluvan, Adiyan, Chingathan, Kader, Karimpalan, Kattunayacken, Kudiya, Kurchiya, Malayalar, Malayan, Mulla Kurumbar and Paniya. Urali, Kurumbars are the major scheduled tribes.
RELIGION
The Hindu community in this district, as elsewhere in the country,is organised on the basis of castes and sub castes. The broad divisions of the community are Thiyya, Nairs, Ambalavasis, Brahmins and Kammalan.
The Thiyyas form the majority among the Hindu community inthe district. Though they correspond to the Ezhavas in the southern parts of the State, both the communities disclaim any such connection.
The Musilms, here known as Mappilas, form the second largest community. Majority of them are Sunnis.
Maliq Ibn Dinar of Arabia is believed to have founded mosques at Valapattanam, Madai, Sreekantapuram and Dharmadam. Large number of conversions were made into Islam from
various sections of the population and before long, it became an influential religion.
The district has the unique distinction of having had the State's lone Muslim royal house - the Arkkal royal family. The royal family played an important role in the political as well as Islamic history of the district.
Though Christianity is believed to have been introduced in Kerala by the Apostle St. Thomas in 52 AD, the religion made progress only with the advent of the Portuguese towards the close of the 15th century. The Christians belong mainly to four Churches; the Syro Malabar Church, the Latin Catholic Church, the Church of South India and the Orthodox Syrian Church.
During the last few decades, there has been a large influx of Syrian Catholics from the Travancore-Cochin area of the State.
The Protestant Missions have been at work here since the first half on the 19th century when the Basel German Evangelical Mission was founded by Dr.H.Gundert. Most of their converts were from the Thiyya community.
The Thiyyas form the majority among the Hindu community inthe district. Though they correspond to the Ezhavas in the southern parts of the State, both the communities disclaim any such connection.
The Musilms, here known as Mappilas, form the second largest community. Majority of them are Sunnis.
Maliq Ibn Dinar of Arabia is believed to have founded mosques at Valapattanam, Madai, Sreekantapuram and Dharmadam. Large number of conversions were made into Islam from
various sections of the population and before long, it became an influential religion.
The district has the unique distinction of having had the State's lone Muslim royal house - the Arkkal royal family. The royal family played an important role in the political as well as Islamic history of the district.
Though Christianity is believed to have been introduced in Kerala by the Apostle St. Thomas in 52 AD, the religion made progress only with the advent of the Portuguese towards the close of the 15th century. The Christians belong mainly to four Churches; the Syro Malabar Church, the Latin Catholic Church, the Church of South India and the Orthodox Syrian Church.
During the last few decades, there has been a large influx of Syrian Catholics from the Travancore-Cochin area of the State.
The Protestant Missions have been at work here since the first half on the 19th century when the Basel German Evangelical Mission was founded by Dr.H.Gundert. Most of their converts were from the Thiyya community.
LANGUAGE
The language spoken by the people of the district is Malayalam. Tamil, which is next in importance in most of the districts of Kerala, is not of much importance here. Hindi, Marathi, Gujarathi and Konkani are also spoken by the minorities. Those who have languages other than Malayalam as their mothertongue, can generally understand and speak Malayalam.
Water Resource
Kannur district is endowed with a fine river system. Except for a few minor ones, most of the rivers are perennial and provide good scope for irrigation and controlling floods through minor irrigation works.
With a length of 110 kms., the Valapattanam river, which originates from the Western Ghats, is the longest river in the district. The main tributaries of the river are Valiapuzha and Aralampuzha.
Kuppam river originates from reserve forests and has area of 539 sq.kms. The length of river is 82 kms. The other rivers in the district are Mahe (54 kms.), Anjarakandy (48 kms.), Thalassery (28 kms.), Ramapuram (19 kms.) and Perumba (51 kms.)
Most of the rivers are navigable. The Valapattanam river has the longest navigable length followed by Anjarakandy.
Because of the peculiar topography, the bulk of rain water, which is the only source of ground water recharge, escapes as run off. Only 10 per cent of the total rainfall can be considered as contributing to recharge.
It was observed that the water found in the wells was of good quality and could be used for domestic, industrial and irrigation purposes.
Preliminary studies indicate that ground water resources of the coastal sandy tract was fairly good for development, whereas, in the laterite covered areas it was very limited.
With a length of 110 kms., the Valapattanam river, which originates from the Western Ghats, is the longest river in the district. The main tributaries of the river are Valiapuzha and Aralampuzha.
Kuppam river originates from reserve forests and has area of 539 sq.kms. The length of river is 82 kms. The other rivers in the district are Mahe (54 kms.), Anjarakandy (48 kms.), Thalassery (28 kms.), Ramapuram (19 kms.) and Perumba (51 kms.)
Most of the rivers are navigable. The Valapattanam river has the longest navigable length followed by Anjarakandy.
Because of the peculiar topography, the bulk of rain water, which is the only source of ground water recharge, escapes as run off. Only 10 per cent of the total rainfall can be considered as contributing to recharge.
It was observed that the water found in the wells was of good quality and could be used for domestic, industrial and irrigation purposes.
Preliminary studies indicate that ground water resources of the coastal sandy tract was fairly good for development, whereas, in the laterite covered areas it was very limited.
Minerals resourse
China clay is found in abundance in Thaliparamba and Kannur taluks of Kannur district. These resources are not fully utilised in the district.
The district is endowed with rich deposits of clay of which various types are mined at many places for potteries, tiles and ceramic industries. The most important areas where clay has been found are Pattuvam, Korom, Perumba and Karivellore. Good quality kaolin occurs below the laterite capping around Pilathara and Thaliparamba.
There are a number of tile manufacturing centres along the coastal areas. Because of the abundant availability of clay, there is great scope for development of clay based industries in the district.
Laterite is quarried for bricks throughout the district on a small scale to meet the local demand. Extensive quarrying is done in Kambil, Kalyassery and Cheruthazham area.
Thin horizons of lignite are noted in the cliff sections at Kannur coast, Pazhayangadi and Meenkunnu.
Beach sands containing ilmenites, monazite, Zircon, and thorianite occur along the coast, especially to the south of Valapattanam river mouth and near Azhikode. Other minerals discovered recently are sillimanite near Chandirukunnu, graphite near Payyavur, Manakadavu and Minor bands of iron ore near Cherukunnu Railway Station.
Many occurances of bauxite deposits have been brought to light in the district at Madayi, Korom, Payyavur and Pattuam near Thaliparamba. They may find use in the manufacture of refractories and cement as they are not of high grade.
Limeshells used for the manufacture of white cement and for industrial purposes are found in the backwaters of Eranholi river, Dharma dampuzha, and Anjarakandi river around Thalassery and Dharmadam as well as Valapattanam river in the east of Azhikkal ferry.
The district is endowed with rich deposits of clay of which various types are mined at many places for potteries, tiles and ceramic industries. The most important areas where clay has been found are Pattuvam, Korom, Perumba and Karivellore. Good quality kaolin occurs below the laterite capping around Pilathara and Thaliparamba.
There are a number of tile manufacturing centres along the coastal areas. Because of the abundant availability of clay, there is great scope for development of clay based industries in the district.
Laterite is quarried for bricks throughout the district on a small scale to meet the local demand. Extensive quarrying is done in Kambil, Kalyassery and Cheruthazham area.
Thin horizons of lignite are noted in the cliff sections at Kannur coast, Pazhayangadi and Meenkunnu.
Beach sands containing ilmenites, monazite, Zircon, and thorianite occur along the coast, especially to the south of Valapattanam river mouth and near Azhikode. Other minerals discovered recently are sillimanite near Chandirukunnu, graphite near Payyavur, Manakadavu and Minor bands of iron ore near Cherukunnu Railway Station.
Many occurances of bauxite deposits have been brought to light in the district at Madayi, Korom, Payyavur and Pattuam near Thaliparamba. They may find use in the manufacture of refractories and cement as they are not of high grade.
Limeshells used for the manufacture of white cement and for industrial purposes are found in the backwaters of Eranholi river, Dharma dampuzha, and Anjarakandi river around Thalassery and Dharmadam as well as Valapattanam river in the east of Azhikkal ferry.
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