Kilakarai
| Kilakarai கீழக்கரை | |
|---|---|
| Town | |
 | |
  Kilakarai | |
| Coordinates: 9°13′53″N 78°47′04″E / 9.23135°N 78.7844°ECoordinates: 9°13′53″N 78°47′04″E / 9.23135°N 78.7844°E | |
| Country |
 India |
| State | Tamil Nadu |
| District | Ramanathapuram |
| Elevation | 8 m (26 ft) |
| Population | |
| • Total | 30,468 |
| Demonym | Kilakarian |
| Languages | |
| • Official | Tamil |
| Time zone | IST (UTC+5:30) |
| PIN | 623 517 |
| Telephone code | 91 4567 |
| Vehicle registration | TN 65 |
| Distance from Chennai | 558 kilometres (347 mi) S |
| Distance from Bengaluru | 539 kilometres (335 mi) S |
| Distance from Madurai | 132 kilometres (82 mi) E |
| Distance from Ramanathapuram | 18 kilometres (11 mi) S |
| Distance from Coimbatore | 365 kilometres (227 mi) W |
| Distance from Tuticorin | 121 kilometres (75 mi) N |
| Climate | BSh (Köppen) |
| Precipitation | 909 millimetres (35.8 in) |
| Avg. summer temperature | 30 °C (86 °F) |
| Avg. winter temperature | 25 °C (77 °F) |
Kilakarai, Kilakkarai or Keelakarai (Tamil: கீழக்கரை) is a municipality in Ramanathapuram district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu.
About
Kilakarai is an ancient coastal town and a port, located in the southern Tamil Nadu. It was a flourishing sea port and a gateway to places as far as Madurai until the early 20th century . The famous pearl belt known as the Gulf of Mannar in the Bay of Bengal is dotted with small islands Appa Tivu, Nallathanni Theevu, Shuli Tivu,Uppu Tanni Tivu, Talari Tivu and Musal Tivu. The coastal line of Kilakarai is formed by series of small bays and finest coral reefs sheltering the town from the perils of the ocean. It was also called as "kelikkarai", "Ninathaan mudithaan pattinam", "Sembi Nadu", "lebbat pattan"(pattan mentioned in voyages of Ibn Battuta & map displayed in Ibn Battuta Mall).
The prime occupations of the people were pearl, conch, Sea trade and transport. Mid-20th century saw a decline in the occupations of the people of Kilakarai, with the advent of the surface transport the Merchant Navies faded away and Kilakarai aka Killikare[1] ceased to be a harbour and port. The cultured pearl industry choked the once robust pearl trade or Muthu Salabam. The Conch and Coral industries declined due to new regulations and restrictions.
Kilakarai is renowned for its Communal Harmony. The majority of the population here is Muslim with people of other faith Hindu, Christians living together. The communal harmony that always existed is best exemplified by the famous Rameswaram and Palaiya Jumma Masjid (Vallal Seethakathi is interred here) at Kilakarai, while the architecture is the same the workforce was provided by the erstwhile ruler of Ramnad and most of the materials for both the edifice were supplied by the Kilakarai merchant navies. The town is reminiscent of Spanish Moorish architecture is close to the temple town of Rameswaram.
It has the 4th oldest Mosque in the world and the first mosque in India known as the Jumma Palli or Meen Kada Palli.It has a unique Islamic heritage of more than 1,000 years .The Kilakarai Muslims or Kilakarai Moors form 80% of the population of Kilakarai. Ibnu Batutah once said in his travel notes "its the place of where most arab settlers live and he surprised to see them living as in arab land".
The migration of the people after the decline of the marine trade and industry resulted in people exploring the other parts of the globe. Kilakarai has a large expatriate population and a very highest literary rate.[2] This enable the people of Kilakarai now span the globe and are active merchants in the Gulf, far east, Us and European markets. The younger generation is now gainfully employed a departure from its predominant merchant/trader mindset.
Hameedia High School founded in 1940s besides the old Arabic Madrasa Aroosiya Thaika, was a catalyst to more graduates from Kilakarai. With the arrival of Mohamed Sathak Engineering College[3] and then the TBAK Women's College[4] the number of graduates from this traditional town has seen a steady rise.
Political information
Kilakarai was constituted as a panchayat in the year 1885. As per G.O. No. 1157LN, date: 03.12.1885. And it has been upgraded as a Special Town Panchayat as per Director of Town Panchayat, Madras as per G.O. No. 1481/82/J5, Dated on 25.1.1982 and then this municipality is upgraded as per G.O. No. 300 and 301 Dated on 24.08.2004 as a Third Grade Municipality.
Demographics
As of the census of India 2001, Keelakarai had a population of 30,412 comprising 14,047 males and 16,365 females, making the sex ratio (number of females per thousand males) of the town to 1,165. A total of 4,120 people were under six years of age and the child sex ratio (number of females per thousand males under six years of age) stood at 1,016. The town had an average literacy of 87.92%, higher than the national average of 59.5%. A total of 1,014 comprising 3.86% of the population belonged to Scheduled Castes (SC) and 0% of the population belonged to Scheduled tribes (ST). There is a total of 5,863 households in the town. As of 2001, Keelakarai had a total of 6,916 main workers: 40 cultivators, 14 agricultural labourers, 207 in house hold industries and 6,655 other workers. There was a total of 546 marginal workers: 7 marginal cultivators, 2 marginal agricultural labourers, 70 marginal workers in household industries and 467 other marginal workers.[5]
Educational institutions
Khyrathun Jalaliya Elementary School, which celebrated its 129th Annual Day on 7 March 2013 is the oldest school in Kilakarai. Other schools include Al Bayan Matriculation school,Islamiah Higher Secondary School, Hyrathun Jalalia Higher Secondary School East Street, Mohaitheenia Matriculation School, Sathakathun Jaria Middle School, Dheeniyah Matriculation School, HAmeediah Group of Schools, Mahthumia High School, and Nadar Matriculation School.
The main collages are Mohamed Sathak Engineering College and the Thassim Beevi Abdul Kader College for women. Other colleges include Arusiyyah Madrasah, Syed Hameedha Arts & Science College, Syed Hameedha Arabic College, Mohamed Sathak Polytechnic College, Mohamed Sathak I.T.I (Industrial Training Institute),[6] and Kilakarai Bukhari Aalim Arabic College. An IAS coaching centre is going to be established in Kilakarai.[7]
Recently, a CBSE School with international learning practices known as "KannadiVappa International School - Kilakarai" has been announced to commence its first academic year in 2014-15. The School is operated by RMinds Foundation which consist of reputed educationists and personalities in its Advisory Board such as Padmashri Baichung Bhutia (Indian Football legend), Dr. Lal Mattu (Founder-Third Academy Canada), Dr. Reni Francis (Ph.D in Multiple Intelligences & Teacher Educator) and many more. (http://keelakaraitimes.com/kilakarari-international-school/)
See also
- Islam in Kilakarai
- Tamil Muslim
- Arwi
- The Old Jumma Masjid of Kilakarai
Photo gallery
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View of the Kilakarai lighthouse from Dock
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View from the Dock at Sunrise
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Interior of Odakarai Palli(Masjid)
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Odakarai Palli(Masjid) under Conservation
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Masjid ul Jamiah
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Masjid ul Jamiah (3rd oldest masjid of kilakarai)
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Masjid ul Jamiah
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Corridor in Masjid ul Jamiah
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Interior of Masjid ul Jamiah
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Interior of Palaiya Jumma Palli or The Old Jumma Masjid of Kilakarai (Oldest Masjid of India and 4th oldest masjid in World).
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Amir ul Muminin Abu Baker Siddiq Palli(Masjid)
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Tombstone with Arabic & Tamil (Arwi) inscription (at The Old Jumma Masjid of Kilakarai)
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Kulangarai Appa Palli(Masjid), East Street, Kilakkarai.
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Interior of Kulangarai Appa Palli(Masjid), East Street, Kilakarai
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Typical Street
References
- ↑ mohammad suhaib, on August 17, 2012, said: (2012-08-17). "Photo of Kilakarai in an ancient map". Panoramio. Retrieved 2013-06-06.
- ↑ "Ramanathapuram District Population Census 2011, Tamil Nadu literacy sex ratio and density". Census2011.co.in. Retrieved 2013-06-06.
- ↑ http://www.sathaktrust.com/kilakariengineering/home.htm
- ↑ "Thassim Beevi Abdul Kader College For Women". Thassim.in. 2013-04-03. Retrieved 2013-06-06.
- ↑ "Primary census abstract 2001". Directorate of Census Operations – Tamil Nadu. 2001. Retrieved 2012-12-29.
- ↑ "Kilakarai : Educational Institutions/". Servinghistory.com. Retrieved 2013-06-06.
- ↑ http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/thscrip/print.pl?file=2011022150400200.htm&date=2011/02/21/&prd=th&
- "Tamil Nadu's Kilakarai - the birth place of world famous Indian conches". onlypunjab.com.
- "An oasis in a desert A district bridging the gulf". The Hindu. 08/07/2005.
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Kilakarai. |
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