മംഗലം
ഗ്രാമ പഞ്ചായത്ത്

Social History

Since these regions were part of Vettom Panchayat until the formation of Mangalam Panchayat, this panchayat shares the exact same socio-cultural history. Vettom is an ancient princely state and a region of immense historical significance in the history of Malabar. There is an opinion that this princely state came to be known as "Vettom" (which means 'light' in Malayalam) because it was the birthplace of the first letters of the Malayalam alphabet, art, and culture.

The historically famous Vettom kingdom, which existed under the suzerainty of the Zamorin, was ruled by the Vettom Royal Dynasty. It is a well-known historical fact that it was the King of Vettom who implemented new reforms in Kathakali. This region also bore witness to the military invasions of Tipu Sultan. The roads constructed by Tipu during his campaigns to facilitate the movement of his artillery forces are still referred to as 'Tipu Sultan Roads' today. Additionally, it is said that the narrow, sunken lanes (kundan idavazhikal) of Vettom nadu helped prevent attacks from other princely states.

The roots of the family of Mohammed Abdul Rahiman Sahib, who shook the British military, are located in the Koottayi region. The people of Vettom stood fiercely alongside the struggles waged against British rule. The ripples of the 1921 Malabar Rebellion and the Khilafat Movement, which were part of the Indian independence struggle, were felt in all areas here, including Mangalam. It is said that the British Army (Vellappattalam) and the local militia/police (Chandippattalam) frequently moved to Ponnani via the Tirur-Ponnani river and to Tanur via the Conolly Canal. The locals played a crucial role in the said uprising.

Many locals served as frontline warriors of the Khilafat Movement. Pothanchery Puthenveettil Kunjan Nambiar, a resident of Mangalam and a native of Vettom Karattukadavu, was the Ponnani Taluk Secretary of the Khilafat Movement. The first branch of the Muslim League movement in Malabar was started in 1936 at Koottayi, under the leadership of C.K.V. Mohammed Muhajir Sahib.

In the olden days, water transport was the sole reliance for transportation in this panchayat area. Waterways like the Conolly Canal and the Tirur-Ponnani river connected Tirur and Ponnani. However, with the construction of the bridge across the Tirur-Ponnani river at Mangattiri in 1967, road transport commenced. Electricity first reached Vettom Panchayat in the Mangalam area in 1953.

By the early 1950s, the active presence of political movements significantly influenced the progress of Vettom nadu. It was during this phase that several Congress workers like R. Mohammed, Gopala Menon, and Ali Akbar; numerous Communist workers including M.R. Namboothiri, Achuthan Namboothiri, Palliri Gopalan, Kammukutti, K.C. Bava, Koru Sahib, Nambeesan, and Muhammadali; and Muslim League workers like C. Moytheenkutty Master, C.K.V. Kunhammad, and R. Kunjappa entered the public sphere.

Cultural History

Mahakavi Vallathol received his childhood education from the Mangalam Thekkumbad Mana. Modern education was initiated here during the British colonial period itself. As part of this, the British had started a school in Koottayi during that time. Due to strong local opposition to the British, the locals later relocated the school to Mangalam and continued its operations.

Muslims and Hindus constitute the majority of the population here. There are numerous temples and Muslim places of worship in the panchayat. The Pulloonikavu Temple, Malikathazham Temple, Mangalam Town Juma Masjid, Koottayi Town Masjid, and the ancient Perunthuruthi Juma Masjid are the major places of worship. The Pulloonikavu Festival, Kolladathu Devi Temple Festival, and Malikathazham Temple Festival are the primary festival celebrations in the panchayat.

The artistic activities initiated by Chandrasekharan Master and Viswanathan Master through the Mangalam Kala Samiti—which was established in the immediate year following independence—became a collective passion for the people of Vettom nadu in the second half of the 1950s. When Cherukad’s plays like "Kuttithampuratti" and "Tharavaditham" were staged across the region, Vettom nadu was taking up the torch of a cultural revolution.

Mahakavi Vallathol Narayana Menon was born and raised in Mangalam village. The Vallathol Cultural Center, Koottayi Azad Library, Seethi Sahib Memorial Reading Room, and the Ali Akbar Sahib Memorial Cultural Center are the key artistic and cultural hubs in the panchayat.

Today, there are several educational institutions in the panchayat across both private and government sectors. The Maulanah College of Teacher Education and Maulanah ITC are professional, vocational training centers in the higher education sector. Around fifteen schools, including M.M.M.H.S.S. Koottayi, Vallathol A.U.P.S. Mangalam, and V.V.U.P.S. Chennara, operate in the primary and basic education sector of the panchayat.