SOCIAL AND CULTURAL HISTORY

Chokli Grama Panchayat is situated in the midland region, close to the coastal belt, in Thalassery Taluk of Kannur Revenue District. Bounded by the Mayyazhi River, with Thuluvar Kunnu, Kottalakunnu, Kattikkunnu and Chuvanna Kunnu rising majestically, and blessed by the Palazhi Thodu and Vannathi Thodu, Chokli is a beautiful treasure house of biodiversity where mangroves, pannal and athirani plants blossom, and green crabs, manathukanni and chittakkonchan thrive. It is a land rich in diverse ecosystems, including kayal wetlands, riverbanks, paddy fields, wetlands, plains, agricultural lands and sacred groves.

About a century ago, Chokli was home to one of the largest bamboo industries in Asia. At that time, the region was also rich in traditional industries such as coir-making, weaving and beedi manufacturing. Chokli was also an important market centre for agricultural and hill-produce brought from the eastern areas of Thrippangottur, Kallikkandy, Poyilur and Panoor.

The area comprising the present Chokli Grama Panchayat was once under the rule of Pazhassi, the Raja of Kottayam. With the establishment of British rule, from 21 May 1800 onwards, the area became part of Malabar District under the Madras Presidency and was included in Kottayam Taluk. At that time, Malabar District consisted of ten taluks: Chirakkal, Kottayam, Kurumbranad, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Eranad, Valluvanad, Ponnani, Palakkad and Cochin (Fort Cochin).

It is believed that the Mysorean ruler Tipu Sultan brought this region under his control. It may be assumed that the name “Chokli” originated in connection with this period. Check-posts, known as chavukis, were established along the boundaries of the villages conquered during the attacks. The word halli means “village” in Kannada. It is believed that “Chavukiyulla Halli” (the village with a check-post) was referred to as “Chavukihalli” and that, over time, the name gradually evolved into “Chokli.”

Olavilam was once an area with vast stretches of paddy fields. The numerous canals and fertile soil made it prosperous in paddy cultivation. The paddy fields swaying in the wind created beautiful green waves. According to one view, the name “Olavilam” originated from the expression “Olam Vayal” (wavy paddy field). Another view is that it originated from “Olivil Alam,” meaning a village (alam) where people lived in hiding, and that it gradually became Olavilam through linguistic change. The hills such as Thollur Kunnu and Chuvanna Kunnu, which were once uninhabited and covered with forests and served as hiding places, along with Tipu Sultan’s invasion, are cited as supporting evidence for this interpretation.

The stone sculptures carved at Thrikkannapuram Temple, the Navagraha sculptures that once existed in its Namaskara Mandapam, carved out of wood and painted using natural colours, and the stone embankment constructed across the Mayyazhi River beneath Kattikkunnu — a hill said to have been used to show enemies to others — are among the historical features of the region. The stone structure was designed in such a way that people could walk across it during low tide. Kottamala (Kottalakunnu), situated on the banks of the Mayyazhi River, along with the temples of the region, continues to be a subject of study for students of history.

In the Nidumbram area, the places known as Ottangadi (First Market) and Moonnangadi (Third Market), along with the place names situated between them — Manayath, Illikkal (associated with the Naduvazhi), Kottarath, Arikkalath, Illath, Kooloth (Kovilakam), Madathil, Madadathil (Mathamadam), Ambalapparamba and Manekkara (the land across the mana) — provide valuable clues to a bygone culture. The Nelleri Temple, Kottarath Temple, Nidumbram Temple, Puthanambalam, Kuttippuram Temple, Kottiyoor Neyyamrith Sanketham and Kottiyoor Ilaneerkavu Sanketham, together with their ponds and the sacred groves now lying in a state of decay, are all remnants of a culture that has largely disappeared into the past.

A major portion of the land in the Chokli region was once under the ownership of a few landlord families. Although there were no major resistance movements against landlordism in Chokli comparable to those seen in other parts of Kerala, there were some isolated incidents. One such incident is believed to have led to the establishment of the present Nidumbram Madappura, also known as Nidumbram Velandi Madappura.

A landlord attempted to evict the family of a toddy tapper who lived in the Ottayullakandi compound, where the Madappura stands today. The establishment of the Madappura is believed to have been part of a strategy to resist the eviction. The landlord had allegedly intended to evict the toddy tapper and make arrangements for a tax collector of the British East India Company to reside there and collect taxes. The Poorakkali troupe was active around Nidumbram Madappura.

Kumaraguru, who came from Vadeswaram in Payyannur to educate the children of the Muthoor family, also attempted to teach the Gurunathans of Ooracheri, who belonged to a lower social community. Although the upper castes opposed this, Kumaraguru overcame the restrictions and imparted education to them as well.

The Ooracheri Gurunathans were accomplished in poetry and were known as Nimisha Kavikal — poets capable of composing verses spontaneously. It was the Ooracheri Gurunathans who taught Malayalam to the German scholar Hermann Gundert. Gundert’s Malayalam dictionary may be regarded as the Gurudakshina he offered to the Ooracheri Gurunathans and to the Malayalam-speaking people. It is also said that the place came to be known as Kaviyoor because of the Ooracheri Gurunathans, who were highly skilled in poetic composition.

This land has produced brave patriots who stood at the forefront of India’s national freedom movement, including Moyarath Sankaran, who wrote the history of the Indian National Congress. It is a painful truth that we remember with a sense of remorse that Moyarath Sankaran, a freedom fighter, died after suffering torture while imprisoned in independent India.

K. Kanaran Master, Kayakkal Kumaran Master, V. C. Kunhiraman Vaidyar, Tharammal Krishnan, T. N. Kumaran Master, C. M. Sankaran Master, V. Kumaran Master, R. V. Achuthan Master, C. H. Choyi, K. P. K. Ananthan and Karayi Kunjikannan Master were among the freedom fighters from this region. Kannan Serapp, who underwent imprisonment along with I. K. Kumaran Master in connection with the Mahé Liberation Movement, was also a freedom fighter.

The 1930 Payyannur Salt Satyagraha March, which began from Kozhikode and proceeded towards Payyannur, passed through Chokli. The march was given a reception at Chokli. Moyarath Sankaran later wrote about the reception jointly organised by Hindus and Muslims. All 31 members of the march were welcomed with jasmine garlands. Moyarath Sankaran was one of the leading figures in organising the reception.

Several towering figures of Indian politics, including Dr. Rajendra Prasad, Lal Bahadur Shastri, V. V. Giri, C. Rajagopalachari, Indira Gandhi, K. Kamaraj, A. K. Gopalan (A.K.G.) and E. M. S. Namboodiripad, have visited Chokli.