Kayalpatnam
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Kayalpatnam is a town in the Tuticorin district of Tamil Nadu, India. It has a long history dating from about 1250. A famous port during the times of the Pandyan kingdom, it is also a chief port of Mabar. Kayal is inhabited by Muslims belonging to the Dravidian race, along with people from the Nadar, Devar, Harijan Adi Dravidian and christian communities living in peace. It is believed that the original inhabitants were from Egypt.
There are several references to this trading port in various literary works, notably in the travel work of Marco Polo. Kayalpatnam was also an important trade center even before the arrival of Islam. Five thousand years ago, it was the capital of second Tamil Sangam, called Kapadapuram. The northern part of Kayal is called Palaiya Kayal and Punna Kayal. The town has a number of mosques. Prominent among them are Kutba Periya Palli, Kutba Siru Palli, Kaadiriya Kodimara Siru Nainar Palli, Kuruvithurai Palli, Erattai Kolathu Palli, Appapalli, Maraicar Palli, Kadal Karai Palli (the second mosque in india,first mosque of the town), Karup-Udaiyar Palli, Kattu Mogudoom Palli, Al-Jamiul Azhar Mosque, Mogudoom Palli of Mogudoom street and Yusuf Appa Palli
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[edit] History
Few doubt today that an ancient city called Kayal (Qail, Quil) ever existed. It is widely acknowledged by the scholars that a city by that name did flourish in ancient time as a commercial port - carrying on trading with countries as far away as Greece and China.
There are several references to this trading port in various literary works, notably in the travel work of Marco Polo. What is less certain, however, is whether that ancient port is what that exists today as the bustling town of Kayalpatnam. Several archeological evidences seem to suggest so, but still some doubts persist.
[edit] Early settlers of Kayal
[edit] The First Wave
In about 875 AD, or so the legend goes, not far way from Cairo, the capital of Egypt, on the shadows of Mount Mukhadham, existed a town called Qirafathul Kubra. It was from this town that year, the legend continues, about 224 men, women and children, all descendants of the first caliph of Islam, Abubacker Siddique (Ral), belonging to the Bakhri tribe, left the Egyptian shores, under the leadership of Mohamed Kalji, in a ship made of wood (hence marakayar?) and eventually landed on the shores of Kayal.
This region, at that time, was under the rule of the Pandya king Abhirama Raja Adhiraja Raja Jayaveera Rajukaar. It is said that the new arrivals were given land by the King to settle and carry on their trading. A land title was also issued by the King to this effect.
[edit] The Second Wave
In about 1284 AD, it is said, 5 boat loads of people, escaping repression and natural disaster, left Egypt to various destinations. One such boat people, it is believed, reached the city of Kayal. The number of people in this 'second major wave' of settlers is unknown, but they were reportedly well received by the Pandya ruler of the time, Sundarapandya Thevar. The settlers were led by Syed Jamaludeen, believed to be the 21st descendant of Prophet Muhammed (Sal).
It is said that the Pandya king sent Syed Jamaludeen as his emissary to the court of Kublai Khan. After his return, it is believed, Syed Jamaludeen regularly supplied horses to the king and eventually rose to become the commander of the king's army. Following the death of Sundarapandya in 1294 AD, Syed Jamaludeen is believed to have succeeded to the throne.
[edit] Is Kayalpatnam remnant of an ancient city?
[edit] Literary Argument
As evidences to the claim that the present Kayalpatnam is indeed on the site where ancient Kayal existed, several passages from literary works are quoted. One such is from Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru's Discovery of India. Bishop Caldwell's History of Tinnevelly is also quoted. But these are not conclusive evidences.
[edit] Archeological Argument
Burial grounds of Kayalpatnam have turned in few objects of interest. At one place, Chinese porceleins were found. They are believed to be centuries old. At another place, swords and other arms were found. These, it is suggested, probably belonged to a dead soldier who was buried along with his armaments. In the least, these evidences point to a well developed, major urban settlement dating to some time early in the present millennium.
[edit] Numismatical Argument
Bishop Caldwell, in his History of Tinnevelly reports discovery of large quantities of Arabic coins on the roads leading to Kayalpatnam. It is a well established belief that there was brisk trade between the people of Kayal and other foreign countries. Discovery of these coins so near Kayalpatnam does add more weight to the belief.
[edit] Tombstones Argument
The Muslim community of Kayalpatnam must have mostly consisted of Arabs and also some persians. This is reflected in the early tombstones found in the town. Some of the tombstones record the origin of the deceased as al-qahiri, indicating that the person or his ancestors were from Egypt. Another tombstone at a different site records the origin of the deceased as al-iraqi. Some other tombstones carry the surname al-mabari (the natives). These tombstones seem to be, by far, the most persuasive of all the evidences.
[edit] Doubts raised
There are many who dispute the claim that Kayalpatnam is the Kayal of the legend. Among them is Henry Yule, who has translated the works of Marco Polo. He says that the real site of this once celebrated port (Kayal) has never been identified in any published work. He continues,
They state also that the name of Kayalpattanam has only recently been given to it, as a reminiscence of the older city. The old Kayal, and the erroneously named Koil in the Ordinance Map of India, is situated on the Tamaraparni river about a mile and a half from its mouth.
Yule tentatively suggests Nagore as the probable site. There are also many other suggested sites.
[edit] Why the name 'Kayalpatnam'?
In Tamil, the word Kayal stands for the sea and the adjoining lands. Patnam literally means a city or town. Hence Kayalpatnam refers to the city adjoining the sea. Few towns nearby also carry Kayal as part of their name.
[edit] Demography
Population: 45,000 (1999) Area: 32 km². Density: 1400 persons/km² Sex Ratio: 1000:1005 (1990) (Male:Female) % of Muslims in the population: 77.35 (1990)
No. of Wards: 18 No. of Streets: 110 No. of Houses: 9,400
No. of Voters: 28,176 (2001)
[edit] Masjids
Kayalpatnam has more Masjids. People can pray their prayers without fails in Masjids nearest for them. It has Masjid for each Streets. These include:
- Al-Jami-ul-Azher
- Masjid-ul-Khabeer
- Masjid-ul-Sagheer
- Masjid-ul-Thayim
and much more
[edit] Education
The town of Kayalpatnam had good philanthropists to promote education amongst not only in Kayalpatnam, but also in the neighboring towns. Some of the leading schools and colleges were promoted by the people from the town. These include:
Islamic Colleges
- Aisha Sideeqa Womens College For Women
- Muaskar Rahman Womens College For Women
Institutes of Kayalpatnam
- Elkay Higher Secondary School
- Muhyiddeen Matriculation Higher Secondary School for Boys
- Muhyiddeen Matriculation Higher Secondary School for Girls
- Central Higher Secondary School
- Kamalavati Higher Secondary School
- Government Girls Higher Secondary School
- Zubaida Higher Secondary School For Girls
- Thulir Institution For Mentally Afected Children
- Wavoo Wageeha Arts And Science College For Women
[edit] Roads
The highway connecting Rameswaram and Kanya kumari passes through Kayalpatnam. The road length in Kayalpatnam was, in 1999, about 40 km (all types).kayalpatnam is located near tiruchendur is wll connected by road from tuticorin and tirunelveli.
[edit] Electricity
There is a 110/11 kv sub-station providing electricity to the town. There are about 750 street lights in the town excluding the 200 Sodium Vapour lights. In 1999, there were about 8,400 electric connections .
[edit] Water Supply
First plans to supply Water to the town were drawn in 1945. A storage tank with the capacity to hold 300,000 litres of water was inaugurated by the then CM of Tamil Nadu, Mr. K. Kamraj. It cost 37.5 lakh rupees to construct.
In 1970, under Kayalpatnam Water Supply Development plan, a storage tank with the capacity of 400,000 litres was constructed. The then DMK government contributed 7.5 lakhs to the total cost of 24 lakhs. The rest was obtained from LIC as loan.
In 1981, with the help of the then Tiruchendur MP Mr. K.T. Kosalram, a third water tank was constructed.
In 1988, a fourth water storage tank was constructed near Appapally Grounds, with the help of Haji V.M.S. Lebbai.
There are 5 storage tanks of combined capacity to hold 1.1 million litres of water. In 1999, there were about 5100 connections.
