Valayam
Grama panchayat

History of the Grama Panchayat

Agricultural History
The entire region was under the control of the *Kovilakams* (feudal estates) of Kuttippuram, Ayancheri, and Purameri. Prominent local farmers would secure land rights from the *Kovilakam* and engage others to cultivate the land. They collected rent (*pattam*) from the tenant farmers and remitted a share of the produce (*purappad*) to the *Kovilakam*. Individuals known as *Paattalis* were responsible for collecting rent and the landlord's share of the harvest (*varam*) from farmers who did not hold direct ownership rights (*janmavamkasham*). Tenant farmers possessed no rights regarding permanent improvements or assets (*kuzhikooru*) on the land. Practices such as *Polichu-chaarthu* and *Mel-chaarthu* allowed landlords to maintain dominance over the farmers. *Polichu-chaarthu* involved renewing the cultivation rights of the existing farmer after a 12-year term. In contrast, *Mel-chaarthu* entailed transferring the rights to the land—along with everything a farmer had developed through years of hard labor—to another person. With the onset of migration from the southern regions in the 1940s, the foundation for scientific agricultural practices was laid. Coconut cultivation expanded significantly into the eastern regions, and the large-scale cultivation of new black pepper varieties began in homesteads and hilly areas. Rubber cultivation also commenced in the hilly regions during this period, albeit on a small scale. It was also during this period that tapioca cultivation became widespread. Crops such as taro, elephant foot yam, finger millet, *kandikkizhangu* (a type of yam), cowpea, black gram, *paduvazha* (a variety of plantain), and *Nendran* bananas were cultivated on a significant scale as intercrops in home gardens and other farmlands. The village produced the tapioca, fruits, and vegetables required by its residents. Until recently, it was common practice for those without their own paddy fields to cultivate and harvest cucumbers on land owned by others. Farmers were often granted permission to cultivate fallow land for a period of three years; the crops primarily grown on such land were tapioca and bananas. Over the three-year period, the previously fallow land would be transformed—terraced and fitted with drainage channels—into a state suitable for coconut cultivation. With the momentum of the farmers' movement in the 1950s, landless farmers occupied and began cultivating approximately 900 acres of land on Valelai Mala. This event sparked immense enthusiasm and a renewed sense of purpose among the landless farmers. The widespread cultivation of this land led to a remarkable increase in the production of crops like tapioca and *Nendran* bananas. At one point, production exceeded demand to such an extent that the crop was left unharvested that year; it was instead harvested in subsequent years under the name '*Boda* Kizhangu'.

History of Education
In the early part of this century, early education began to be available in this village through the Ezhutupallis, which were conducted under gurus. The earliest Gurus were Gopalan Gurus who came from South Malabar, Poovatan Ananthan Gurus and Govindan Gurus from Champanad. Kunjambu Panikkar in Mauvulla, Koran Gurus in Tovara, Raman Gurus in Kalarikal were local gurus. In places like Chekota and Arayakandi, there were written churches run by gurus. Foreign teachers also provided education in the homes where they stayed. Apart from alphabet, they also taught Amarakosha, Manipravalam, Rupa, Kavya etc. Initially, only those who were financially advanced could avail this facility. As the number of local gurus increased, other interested groups also began to receive education. Untouchability prevailed in these early schools. Children had separate seats according to their caste. The upper class teachers used to beat the lower caste children by throwing them instead of beating them with a stick in hand. Aithakutis were installed in the houses of upper caste students. If you left the mosque, you were allowed to take your clothes off the pegs and enter the house only after taking a bath. The first LP school established in the village is today's Valayam UP School. Cherumoth Higher Elementary School had the facility to study up to ESLC. The first High School came into existence in the village in 1957 during the first Kerala Cabinet headed by IMS Namboothiripad. It was during the same period that Valayam LP School was upgraded to UP School and LP Schools came into existence at Poovamwayal and Chalyatupoil. Along with this, the facilities for education increased. Government LP School was started in 1982 at Chuzhali. In 1991 Valayam High School was upgraded to Higher Secondary School. In 1957, when CH Kanaran was the Nadapuram Constituency MLA, he took the initiative to establish the Kulangaraveed Katavin Bridge connecting this village to the outside world, and educational institutions such as Valayam High School, Valayam UP School, Chalyatupoil National LP School and Poovamvayal LP School which made education universal. He also established the Valayam Primary Health Center which is the only source of medical care for the tribal people of Valayam, Vanimal and Chekyat panchayats. At that time, if you wanted to get allopathic treatment, you had to go to places like Thalassery and Vadakara. Prominent among the traditional physicians of that time were Rayaroth Othenan Vaidyar, Alail Shankaran Vaidyar, Ohjentavita Krishnan Vaidyar and Chulail Kumaran Vaidyar. Treatment was in clinics and doctors' homes, which were rare. In 1957, a Primary Health Center was sanctioned here by the then Govt.

Local cultural development history
In the forties, the Sree Narayanaguru Memorial Library was established in Kuttikat. In areas like Valliad, Ayot, Kandiwathukkal etc., the tribal people belonging to the Chhatya tribe live. They claim a culture of more than five hundred years. Some of their ancestors claim to have been soldiers of Pazhassi king. The abode of their ancestors is the area adjacent to Adoor Kavin. It is also said that human sacrifice was performed in this temple called Akathoot. Areas like Valliad, Ayod, Kandivatukkal must be the area where their forefathers, who are in search of new farming fields every year, had settled. They were proficient in re-cultivation, besides rice cultivation, they also cultivated Muttari, Chama, Kumbalam, Kakiri, Vellari etc. in abundance. Men specialized in hunting and women and children in fishing. In the early days, hunting was the main source of food. The important weapons were the bow and arrow. Later, guns were also used. Until recently, hunting was compulsory on their special days. This also required the permission of the tribal chief. The practice of making sacrifices to ancestors including meat and liquor was also common among them. Although the boy had to marry the girl his uncle showed him, there was no compulsion for gold. But silver Arjana was mandatory for the bride. After marriage, the bride and groom had to stay and work in the bride's house for one year. When going to the wedding ceremony, the groom should have a bow and arrow in his hand. Remembering Muttappan, Kuttapoti and Negal before starting any important work