| |
|
|
| |
During
the Chera Dynasty:
The
history of the district in the Paleolithic age is
obscure. It is presumed that the coastal taluks of
Cherthala, Ambalapuzha and Karthikapally might have
been under water and these areas were formed by the
accumulation of silt and sand, later than the other
parts of the district. Kuttanadu, one of the taluks
of the present Alappuzha district was well known even
from the early periods of the Sangam age. The early
Cheras had their home in Kuttanadu and they were called
' Kuttuvans ', named after this place. Christianity
had a strong foothold in the area even from the Ist
century A.D. The church located at Kokkomangalam or
Kokkothamangalam in Cherthala is one of the seven
churches founded by St. Thomas, one of the twelve
disciples of Jesus Christ. During 9th to 12th century
A.D, the district flourished in the field of religion
and culture under the second Chera empire.
|
|
|
Medieval
Period:
During
the 16th century small principalities like Kayamkulam
(presently Karthikappally and Mavelikkara taluks),
Purakkad which was often called Ambalappuzha or
Chempakasseri (present Ambalappuzha and part of
Kuttanadu taluk) Karappuram comprising two principalities
called Moothedath and Iledath (present Cherthala
taluk) emerged into power.
Arrival of Europeans:
In the same period, the Portuguese came into prominence
in the political scene of this district and they
built several churches of which churches located
at Purakkad and Arthungal are well known.
|
 |
|
 |
Birth
of Modern Alappuzha:
In the 17th century the Portuguese power declined
and the Dutch had a predominant position in the principalities
of this district. As a result of several treaties
signed between the Dutch and the kings of Purakkad,
Kayamkulam and Karappuram, the Dutch built factories
and warehouses in various places of the district for
storing pepper, ginger,etc.
In course of time they interfered in the political
and cultural affairs of the district. It was at that
time Maharaja Marthandavarma, the
'Master of Modern Travancore' interfered
on the political affairs of those principalities.
|
|
|
The
annexation of the kingdoms of Kayamkulam, Ambalappuzha,
Thekkumkur, Vadakkumkur and Karappuram to Travancore
gave the Dutch a set back from the political scene
of the district. Marthandavarma Maharaja had a remarkable
role in the internal progress of the district. He
gave special attention to the development of Mavelikkara
as an administrative as well as a commercial centre.The
Krishnapuram palace, which is now a protected monument
of the State Archaeology Department was constructed
during that period.
Contribution by Raja Kesavadasan:-
When
the town was founded by Raja Kesavadasan, the Diwan
of Travancore in 1762, there was just one canal through
the strip of sand between the backwaters and the sea.
This soon grew into a bustling waterway, with shops,
factories and commercial establishments springing
up on either banks of the canal. This attracted merchants
from other parts of the country.
|
|
|
 |
Growth
of Alappuzha:-
By the mid 19th century the sea receded a mile offering
more land along the sandstrip. Trading vessels soon
began to call on Alappuzha. In 1859 the first organised
coir factory was started here and began producing
matting from coir yarn on a loom developed by an English
Sea Captain. Soon other British owned weaving establishments
followed .Meanwhile in 1816 the Church Missionary
Society set up its local Headquarters in Alappuzha
and three years later the first Anglican church was
built. In 1851 Jalap had the honour of housing the
first post office in the erstwhile Travancore State. |
|
Freedom
Struggle
This district had a prominent role in the freedom struggle
of the country. The campaign for the eradication of untouchability
was organized much earlier in this district by T.K. Madhavan,
a fearless journalist and in 1925 many of the temples, especially
the Ambalappuzha Sree Krishna Swami temple were thrown open
to the Hindus of all castes. The district also witnessed
the ‘Nivarthana’ movement which was started
as a protest against the constitutional repression of 1932.
the first political strike in Kerala was held at Alappuzha
in 1938.
Punnapra-Vayalar
 The
historic struggles of Punnapra and Vayalar in 1946 stiffened
the attitude of the people against Sir C.P.Ramaswamy Iyer,
Diwan of Travancore, which ultimately led to his exit from
the political scene of Travancore. After India became independent,
a popular Ministry was formed in Travancore on 24th March,
1948 and on Ist July 1949 Travancore and Cochin states were
integrated and this position continued till the formation
of Kerala State on Ist November 1956 as per the States Reorganization
Act 1956. The district came into existence as a separate
administrative unit on Ist August 1957 .
|
|
|
