History of Grama panchayath
Socio-Cultural History
In the early decades of the twentieth century, this region was known as Payyormala. Many parts of the panchayat were uncultivated and covered in forest. Commercial crops like coconut and black pepper, along with paddy, were the main sources of income here. Around 100 years ago, the Basel Mission established the first school in Perambra near the location where the present-day Government U.P. School stands. In 1910, the first government institution in the area, a post office, was started. In the 1950s, the famous playwright and literary figure K.T. Muhammad worked as a clerk in this post office.
In the early period, land ownership in Perambra was vested in a few landlord families and Devaswoms (temple trusts). Except for the Nadukkandi family belonging to the Muslim community, all landowners were high-caste Hindus. During 1938–39, the waves of the national movement spread to Perambra. In 1939, V.V. Giri visited Perambra. The Government U.P. School ground where Giri delivered his speech later came to be known as Giri Ground.
During that time, local farmers engaged in punam (shifting/slash-and-burn) cultivation in the forest lands belonging to Koothali Mooppil Nair. When the Mooppil Nair family was left without legal heirs, the government took over the forest land and denied permission for punam cultivation. In response, the Karshaka Sangham (farmers' union) launched a struggle for their rights, turning Perambra into the nerve center of the famous Koothali Estate Agitation.
The initial steps toward social reform in this region were movements against untouchability and for the right to bathe in public ponds. The Panchama School established in Kallode and the efforts led by T.P.R. Nambeesan for the upliftment of the Paraya community were notable advancements in this field.
Bus transport commenced in Perambra for the first time in 1925. C.P. Kanna Chettiyar, a native of Perambra, and Vaithi Pattar were the bus owners at that time. During that period, the services of an Allopathic doctor named Shivaramakrishna Iyer were available to the people of Perambra in the healthcare sector. Vadakkumkoor Raja Raja Varma wrote the Sanskrit Sahitya Charithram (History of Sanskrit Literature) while residing at Goshalakkal in Perambra. The mother of A.G.K. Nair was also a Sanskrit scholar.
The expansion of schools in and around Perambra, along with the facility to access high school education from 1948 onward, created a major leap in the field of education. Land reforms implemented from 1957 produced massive changes in the living standards and social conditions of poor farmers and agricultural laborers. The abolition of the tenancy system and the establishment of land tenancy rights (kudikidappavakasham) brought a new awakening among the backward classes in rural areas. Backward communities and women began coming forward to pursue education.
Migration from Central Travancore to the eastern hilly regions transformed Perambra into a commercial hub. The Sunday market held here is the largest weekly market in Kozhikode district. Perambra, which had only four or five commercial shops in the 1920s—including the tiled shop of Cheekkilottu Ammath—rapidly evolved into a major trading center for hill produce. However, in terms of industrial development, the status of this panchayat remains quite backward even today. Handloom is the major sector among traditional industries. In the early days, coir and coconut fiber were taken to the public market and sold.
Educational History
The efforts of education-loving locals and the activities of educational agencies like the Basel Mission contributed significantly to the educational progress of Perambra. The Board School started under the Basel Mission was the first school in Perambra.
Among those who played a primary role in revitalizing the slow-paced educational landscape of Perambra were freedom fighter K.T. Kunhiraman Nair, Higher Elementary School Headmaster Kunhiraman Ezhuthachan, and Perambra High School Headmaster K.R. Kerala Varma.
For the Muslim community of Perambra, who had previously limited education to madrasa learning, modern education was introduced through the efforts of Saithalikkutti Moulavi, who relocated to Perambra from Malappuram. His contribution led to the establishment of the Nusrathul Islam Madrasa L.P. School (now known as N.I.M.L.P.S.).
Efforts toward the education of Harijans began in Perambra long before independence. The Panchama School (now Kallode A.L.P.S.) established in Kallode for Harijans was a part of this initiative. The Government Harijan Welfare School in Perambra was the first school established in Koyilandy Taluk for the educational advancement of the Sambava community. The dedicated efforts of Chathan Vaidyar and his son Gopalan in establishing this school for the educational progress of their community deserve special mention.
Perambra High School, inaugurated on June 4, 1948, by freedom fighter C.K. Govindan Nair, serves as the focal point for the 15 schools in this panchayat. The availability of high school education from 1948 brought a dramatic leap forward to the field of education.
Cultural History
As in any other region, artistic activities in Perambra were initially centered around temples. All temple arts were traditionally passed down from the older generation to the next. In connection with temple festivals, different castes presented distinct art forms. Examples of this include Kuthirakkolam, Malayankali, and Aasharikali performed by Harijans.
The practice of conducting Bhagavathi Pattu in homes during the month of Karkidakam still continues in some parts of the panchayat. The ritual of Kaliyanu Kodukkald (offering to Kaliyan) on the final day of the month of Midhunam was observed to ensure an increase in agricultural yield. Special rituals performed during key stages of agricultural activities were common among farmers. Rituals performed with devotion just before harvesting were Kalam Perukkal and Illam Nira. Observing Kani on Vishu day, bathing the bullocks, applying kuri (sandal paste/vermilion) on them, and beginning the sowing of seeds were rituals that highlighted the importance of agriculture in society.
The Navaratri celebrations underscored the significance of education and livelihood. Traditional folk arts that previously existed in this panchayat included Theyyam, Kolkali, Vadakkanpattu (Northern Ballads), Ambeythu (archery), Mudiyettu, Kolamthullal, Duffmuttu, folk songs, Thudimuttu, Pulikkali, Malayankali, and certain traditional art forms preserved among the Sambavas.
