Kanam (Kerala)
| Kanam | |
|---|---|
| Village | |
 Kanam
 Kanam
|
|
| Coordinates: 9°31′00″N 76°42′36″E / 9.5166667°N 76.71°ECoordinates: 9°31′00″N 76°42′36″E / 9.5166667°N 76.71°E | |
| Country |
 India
|
| State | Kerala |
| District | Kottayam |
| Area | |
| • Total | 7 km2 (3 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 81 m (266 ft) |
| Population (2001) | |
| • Total | 3,400 |
| • Density | 490/km2 (1,300/sq mi) |
| Languages | |
| • Official | Malayalam, English |
| Time zone | IST (UTC+5:30) |
| PIN | 686515 |
| Telephone code | 91 481 |
| Vehicle registration | KL |
Kanam is a small place in Kottayam district of Kerala. It is approximately 25 km from Kottayam Town on the way to Kumily road, 2 km from Kodungoor Junction (Vazhoor).
As of 2001[update] India census, Kanam had a population of 3400. Males constitute 47% of the population and females 53%. Kanam has an average literacy rate of 77%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 80%, and female literacy is 75%. In Kanam, 11% of the population is under 6 years of age.
Originally Kanam kara of Kangazha muri, Vazhoor village of Changanacherry taluk in Kottayam Dist, Kerala, belonged to Edappally Swaroopam. There was a Bhagavathy (Mother goddess) temple in Kanam. Edappally Thampuran had a consort in the Parapallil Kaimal’s family and when Thampuran died, she returned to Kanam with the documents relating to the properties. Therefore, the Edappally Swaroopam, the family of the Thampuran, never cared to look after the Bhagavathy temple and the properties. The temple was in a dilapidated condition. The ruins of the temple were removed by the newly came Christians and they settled in the Southern parts of Kanam. The temple tank, known as “Amrutham Chira”, which was used to irrigate the nearby paddy fields was filled up and converted into paddy field. The northern and western parts of Kanam were bought from the Kutaluvally Namboothiri by the aristocratic Vellala family of Thundathil. The name of this place was derived from the Sanskrit word ‘kananam,’ which means forest.
The church was founded by Rev. Henry Baker, Junior, an Anglican missionary who came to Travancore. Though the formal establishment was in 1862, church service for the people who lived in this place was held at the Perumprathazha (Payikad) house. Later, this service was shifted to a place called Thekkadathu Parambu and a small thatched shed was made for worshipping. Again, this service was shifted to a thatched shed at the place of the present church, but the shed was destroyed by wildfire. Later, a small church building with a tiled roof was constructed. Mr. Chacko Varghese Wicharippukar of the Payikad family was the person who very kindly donated the necessary plot for constructing that church building. The site of St. Thomas Orthodox Church at Kangazha were too donated by himself. Though this place was backward in every sense, Church Mission Society has made a positive impact in the socio-economic life of this area by giving lasting contributions for the all-around development of the place. The CMS started the Primary School near the CSI church about 150 years ago and converted many of the tribal people as well as members from high class families to Christianity. The Christians that colonized the Southern parts of Kanam started rubber plantations. Later, Payikad Varghese Varghese, Son of Mr. Chacko Varghese Wicharippukar, popularly known as Kunjoojukutty Mapilla, was the biggest planter and it was he who built a two storey building in Kanam, popularly known as “Malikayil” close to CMS School which is now the 95(1920) year old heritage house, which the villagers advertise as a tourist attraction and the St. George Orthodox Church at kanam.
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Wikipedia