Kolachal
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| ?Kolachal Tamil Nadu • India |
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| Coordinates: | |
| Time zone | IST (UTC+5:30) |
| District(s) | Kanniyakumari |
| Population | 23,535 (2001) |
Coordinates: Kolachal (Colachal) is a city and a municipality in Kanniyakumari district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is a port on the Malabar coast, 20 km north-west of Kanya Kumari (Cape Comorin), the southernmost tip of peninsular India.
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[edit] History
Before the Indian union came into being, Kaniyakumari was part of the princely state of Travancore, which currently is a component of the Indian state of Kerala (the other two components being Kochi (Cochin) and Malabar). A Travancore fort still exists in Kolachal.
[edit] Battle of Kolachal
This place was the scene of the battle between the Travancore (Anglicised form of Thiruvithaamkoor) forces led by King Marthanda Varma (1729–1758) and the Dutch East India Company forces led by Admiral Eustatius De Lennoy on August 10, 1741. It was the first time in Indian history that an Indian kingdom defeated a European naval force.[1]
The Dutch marines landed in Colachael with artillery and captured the land up to Padmanabhapuram, the then capital of Travancore. The arrival of Marthanda Varma's Nairs (the warriors) from the north forced the Dutch to take up defensive positions in Colachel, where they were attacked and defeated by the Travancore forces. Twenty-eight high level Dutch officers, including Admiral D'lennoy, were captured. The defeat of the Dutch in Colachael was the turning point of the Travancore-Dutch War. D'lennoy went on to serve Marthanda Varma for the next two decades and was promoted to the post of the Valiya kappithan (Senior Admiral) of the Travancore forces same status like a Nair lord. He modernised the Travancore army, and built the Nedumkotta, a line of fortifications in the north of the kingdom, which held up the army of Tipu Sultan in 1791, during his ill-fated invasion of Travancore. D'lennoy is buried in the Udayagiri Fort, also known as Dillanai kotta (D'lennoy's fort) which is located 7 kilometres north of Padmanabhapuram (about 14 kilometres from Nagercoil).
The Indian government has built a pillar of victory in Colachel to commemorate the event. Colachel is currently in the Kanya Kumari District of the Tamil Nadu State of India, and is an important port on the west coast of that state.
[edit] Geography
Colachel is located at .[2]
[edit] Demographics
As of 2001 India census[3], Kolachal had a population of 23,535. Males constitute 51% of the population and females 49%. Kolachal has an average literacy rate of 76%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 78%, and female literacy is 75%. In Kolachal, 11% of the population is under 6 years of age. Majority of the population belong to the Roman Catholic Mukkuvar community. Other major communities are Muslims, Christian Nadars, Hindu Nadars, Nairs, Chettys, etc.
[edit] Places of Interest
This small coastal town is near to the route from Thiruvananthapuram to Kanyakumari on National Highway 47 in present day state of Tamil Nadu's Kanyakumari district in India. It is situated very close to Mahendragiri, where the Indian Space Research Organisation's rocket testing facility is located. Efforts are being made by the port advisory committee for the construction of a ship yard and for the development of a natural harbor at Colachel. Colachel beach is a local tourist attraction. Other places of attraction near colachel include Padmanabhapuram palace and Pechupparai dam.
[edit] Colachel Municipality
The Municipality of Colachel consists of 24 wards. In the recently held local body elections,the independent candidate Mr.Jessiah was elected as Chairman. He was working as Chairman previously also. Names of some of the previous chairmans are Mr.M.A.James, Mr.Ismail, Mr.Nasir, etc.
[edit] Folk Arts
There are several Folk Arts practiced in temples for Sastha (ayyanar), Sudalaimadan and Isakkiamman. Villupattu is especially for Sastha temples and Kaniankoothu is practiced for Sudalaimadan. Grand Tamil poetess Avvaiyar temples are found along with Isakki amman temples and worship of teachings of Avvaiyar can be observed
Many Folk arts and dances are popular in this district. They are played during the time of festivals in temples, celebrations in schools etc.
Bow Song (Villu Paatu) is an ancient form of musical - story - telling art of southern Tamil Nadu. Villu Paatu has been especially popular in Thovalai and neighbouring areas of the district.
Bow, the age-old weapon of warriors - paradoxically lends itself to be used as a primary musical instrument for the Villu Pattu artists. There are Udukku , Kudam, Thala, Kattai, etc. as supplementary instruments in their performances. Udukku, mentioned in the ancient Tamil literature as Thudi, is a small drum with a slender middle portion which is held in the left hand and played by the fingers of the right hand . Occasionally, the Villu Pattu team divides itself into two groups, each trying to prove opposite points-of-view of a subject. This is called Lavani Pattu. The songs used by the Villu Pattu artists are mostly traditional folk-songs.
Thiruvathirai Kali occupies the pride of place among the folk dances. It resembles Kummi and is played especially during Onam festival. The players are young girls. The necessary number of girls is 8,10,12 or 16 for each dance. They move round and sing in chorus. Each girl strikes the stick (Kole) which she holds in each hand, and the striking of the sticks and the steps , which she makes are rhythmical to the tune.
Kalial is a folk dance played by group of men or boys in the country side. A group leader sings songs and keeps time with cymbals. The players stand in a circle with sticks in their hand and dance round a lighted lamp repeating the songs sung by the leader. They turn, twist, lean forward and backward, squat and move round singing to the tune. At the beginning the steps are elaborate and at times, they are also very quick . When invited to perform in a function, the players generally begin the dance with an invocation for heavenly aid and conclude the dance with a torch - dance using lighted torches. This folk dance exhibits the artistic and recreative life of the country side.
Kathakali is a unique form of drama, which has its origin in Travancore. Kathakali (story-dance) is a relatively recent (fifteenth or sixteenth century) development of earlier dances, which, like dances every where, arose out of religious expression through symbolical action. In this art-form, the characters express their ideas not by words, but by significant gestures. In Kanyakumari District, it is now played in the temples at Thiruvattar, Thirparappu, Ponmana, Kuzhithurai, Neyyoor and Munchira during the time of festivals.
Ottam Thullal is a form of story telling. It is a popular for of amusement, staged in the temple premises and Malayalam is the language commonly used. Ottam Thullal is now played in the temples of Thiruvaattar, Thirparappu, Ponmana and Thirunanthikara in the district during the time of festivals.
Kalari, also known as Adimurai in Kanyakumari district, is an ancient martial art, still preserved in the villages of the district, and also in Kerala. A tradition believed to have been founded by Parasurama is known as Vadakkan Kalari ; another is credited to Agasthiar in which the emphasis is on striking at vital points of the body and not on weapons, even through sword, knife, Urumi (rolling sword), Mankombu (horns of a deer), Kandakkodali, (a kind of axe), mazhu (a kind of axe) etc., are also used.
[edit] References
[edit] External links
- Global Security.org — Madras Regiment
- Tribune India — A historic battle
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