Malabar History journal

Origin of the name

The origin of the name ‘Kalikavu’ can be traced back to hundred centuries back when the place was an ancient Kavu of a Kali temple in the Karuvarakkundu and Kannathu regions. In the early periods, the place was known as ‘Kannathu Kalikavu’.

With passage of time, the place’s name of the village was shortened to ‘Kalikavu’. In the early period, the area was ruled by the Patinjare Kovilakam (Western Palace).

The earliest settlements in the place were of the tenants who worked in the Kovilakam’s lands. Later, the establishment of the Pullengode estate by the British caused a notable shift in the history of the region.

Freedom struggle in Kalikavu

The Malabar rebellion of 1921 was the major anti-British struggle held in the region. A police station which was established in 1896 in the region was destroyed by the strikers who came from Karuvaarakkundu. The construction of the government hospital in the region was also stopped due to the uprisings.

Public life in Kalikavu.

The majority of the population in Kalikavu are Muslims and Hindus exist in small proportions. Thus, the culture of the place comprises chiefly of Muslim folk traditions such as the Duff muttu, Kolkkali, and Aravana muttu. The Hindu community celebrates their cultural festivals at temples.

The Muslim and Nair families followed the system of Marumakkathayam wherein families lived in their ancestral homes called Tharavadu. The Thiyyas and Mukkuvas practiced Makkathayam where the father served as the head of the family.

There existed ‘Chanda’, a weekly Wednesday market in Kalikavu unlike the present day every-day market. People came from long distances to buy and sell goods. The first region to receive an electricity connection in Kalikavu was Pullengode

In 1942, bus service was started for the first time in the region under the name ‘Imperial’. Later other services Rajalakshmi and Indian also began.

A government high school started in 1964 and Adakkakundu high school started in 1976 in Pullengode together contributed to the educational upliftment of its residents.

References

Athif Master. (2006). Kaiththiri Magazine. Kalikavu Model UP School.

കാളികാവ്. (2020, October 18). In Wikipedia.
https://ml.wikipedia.org/wiki/കാളികാവ്

Logan, William. (1887). Malabar Manual, Vol. 1. Gyan Publishing House.

C. A. Innes. (1997). Malabar Gazetteer, Vol. 1. Kerala Gazetteers.

Dhanya, C. A Local Description of Kalaikavu [Master’s Thesis, Post Graduate and Research Department of History, Farook College].