Malabar and Kerala Studies - www.malabarandkeralastudies.net -Toponomy

(Some of the above said topics are under construction)

Microtoponomy
Places names of Calicut

FIRST study of village history
Thesis
Degeneration of Calicut City Planning

SYNOPSIS (1975-1988) FIRST study of village history

A Study of Place names in the Calicut District

'A study of Place names in the Calicut District' (Badagara, Quilandy, South Wynad and Kozhikode Taluks) is mainly based onfield names recorded in the settlement Registers of 1890-1903, prepared by the British revenue officials. Medieval records like ceerikkal accounts of Zamorins of Calicut, and paimashi records of the Mysoreans durin the 18^th Century are also used as source materials. Important objectives of the work are to study the historical and cultural geography of Calicut. It throws light on the Geographical and topographical peculiarities, natural of soil, resources, Flora, Fauna, ethnographical and ettinological details, archaeological evidences, tribal settlements, commercial and other settlements of occupational groups of people, Brahmin settlements, distribution of temple communities, Foreign Settlements, Settlements of Muslims, Christians, Worship Centers, Trade exchange system, urbanization aspects, structural and functional aspects of hinterland areas, village se'ttlement patterns, Urban Geography of Calicut, Toponomical reconstruction of Calicut port and capital of the Zamorins of Calicut. It is inter disciplinary in nature and hence various principles and observation are corroborated with available evidences.

The work includes the analysis of more than 57000 field names. Different classification list of names, statistical tables, frequency tables, charts, geometrical figures, sketch maps, Historical Geography maps et. Are. used in the analysis. The introductory chapter chapter - 0 is intended to evaluate the toponomical studies done in India, till the end of last decade. Most of the work in Indian toponomy has been consulted and their major observation is noted. A Bibliography of such works is also included in this study. It is' found that most of the works try to analyze only some aspects of the subject, studies in toponmy in Kerala is also not an exception. Works done in Kerala was generally based on village names or other place names, and the nature of analysis is not interdisciplinary. The toponyms available in Kerala are of and entirely different nature, compared to toponyms available in other parts of the main land. Each village in Kerala supplies 1500 to 2500 field names and all of them are recorded in the revenue records etc. Hence, field names collected from early records, when studied an interdisciplinary basis throw light on various cultural and historical aspects of Kerala. For better analysis, the field names collected are grouped into different heads based on different cultural and historical aspects and various concepts lie complexes, groups, isolated units, geographical belts, urban centers, semi urban centers etc. are made out of it. These principles are explained in the latter part of the introductory chapter.

In Chapter I, the topographical, geographical and physiographical situation of the area is analyzed basing on the suggestions of toponyms. Topographical nature of the land such as elevation, depths, hilly tracts, coastal areas, marshes upper table lands etc. are discussed on the basis of frequency of toponyms and various distribution maps. Fertility of the soil, slope of the land courses of river systems and their names, and a few important toponyms of hydronymic nature etc. are also discussed in this chapter. This Chapter throws light on the general geographical situation reflected in toponyms of the area. The nature discussed are substantiated day other evidence available from other sources.

Chapter II is devoted to analyze the resources of the are reflected in toponyms. The relation of toponyms and the resources available in the area is sorroborated by other kinds of evidences. The nature and fertility of the soil for different kinds of agricultural activities are all taken into consideration. Revenue data and production charts supplied by different Governmental authorities are cited to reveal the relation between the toponyms, nature of the land and resources. It is to be mentioned here that the production details collected from toponyms do not represent the actual date of production of different items like natural resources, forest produces or agricultural produces or their potentials, because the frequency and density of a particular toponyms is never related to the actual rate of production. The intention of this analysis is only to note the nature of resources and their relation to the geographical situations, fertility of the soil etc. However the details collected from the generics of field names in the case of rice cultivation seems to be a dependable date for getting the general feature and tendencies of the cultivation. The broadest classification of the production or cultivation in the area into cash crops and paddy, and the general feature of the land and soil noted on the basis of toponyms shows a dependable relation. Indication of natural resources like salt, gold, iron etc. in toponyms of the area and other evidence related to the availability of them in the area also show better results.

In Chapter III, Growth of settlements in the area is discussed. An attempt based on toponyms indicative of pre-historic sites in the area reveals fruitful results. It has been found that most of the field names suggestive of burial grounds proves the existence of umbrella stones and other kinds of pre-historic monuments. An attempt to identify such sites in other taluks of the District, along with the identification of habitational sites in the District is also included in this Chapter. Tables containing these details and corresponding maps are given wherever necessary.

Detailed discussion of distribution of megalithic monuments, aboriginal tribes and low castes,uuR settlements, physiographical divisions of sang ham period, settlement of occupational classes etc.
form the major part of this chapter. Different kinds of burial grounds, aboriginal tribes and low castes, occupational classes etc. reflected in toponyms reveal that no other source material available at present give such a comprehensive knowledge regarding this in the area. Relation between megaliths settlements and tribal settlements are also noted in the analysis.

A discussion related Aryan and Non-Aryan Clements reflected in toponyms is also an integral part of this analysis. It is extremely difficult to identify such elements since no directive principles or data are available from other sources. Hence, Sankritic elements reflected in names has been taken as a principle in identifying Aryan and Non Aryan elements worshipping centers, different kinds of deities worshipped, rituals and ceremonies conducted in the area etc. are discussed on the basis of toponyms. This analysis enables us identify the nature and pattern of the Brahmin settlements, settlements of temple communities and the related concepts like tali, Samuuham, Samudayam, uraalar etc. The naming practices and the settlement areas of Brahmin settlers and temple communities are of great interest. The disintegration of Brahmin Grama settlements is also analysed in this part.

The last part of this chapter deals with the settlement patterns of commercial groups, artisans, Christians, Muslims and foreigners. This general picture in turn, reveals the pressure of settlements indifferent.

Geographical peculiarities, available resources and settlement patterns discussed in the fore-going chapters are inter dependent factors. The pressure of these factors in total has it effects on urbanization in the concerned area. The urbanization process and the suggestions given by the toponyms in these aspects is the subject dealt in Chapter IV. The major deciding factor of urbanization is specializations and hence the specializations of the area suggested by toponyms are analyzed in the first part of this chapter. The implication of the terms urban and rural, differentiation of urban and rural, areas differentiated on the basis of specialization, etc. are the major topics of discussion in this chapter.

Highly specialized centers are termed as complexes and six such centers are identified. Apart from this, semi urban centers, storage centers, resting place entres and rural centers are also identified. They form a hierarchical system of trade exchange centers. A second type of classification of the same centers other hierarchical systems: reveal port and administrative Head quarters, production centers, service centers etc. All the villages in the concerned area fall under any on eof these divisions, some universal patterns and systems are also seen applicable in the area on the basis of principles of urban geography. Here on the suggestions of the toponyms, the communication system, conveyance facilities, toll centers, break of bulk centers, loading and unloading centers, administrative centers, etc, are all discussed and a total picture of the urban tendencies in the area is brought to light. Different kind of indigenous production, production centers, early industries and the like are also discussed.

This discussion becomes a pert of the analysis of the sitiation in the hinterland area, a concept of urban Geographical studies. Thus, analysis of the urban tendencies existed in the early villages in the area, intrusion of urban features into the hinterland villages etc, are analyzed, It is seen that marutham centers, uur settlements and ceeris formed the early form of village settlement pattern in the area. Gradual penetration of specialization and Aryan tendencies into the marutham -uuR-ceeri unit of village changed the rural features, projecting the area into the path of urbanization in the District. This in turn points out the necessity of the analysis of village system, settlement of occupational groups, agriculturists and non-occupational groups, in the grass root level on the basis of toponyms.

The Chapter closes with the discu3sion of interrelation of the hierarchical system of trade exchange activities in the hinterland area and its intra relations. The whole hinterland area is connected to the major complexes and they in turn to the Port City at Calicut.

Before the discussion of port City at Calicut, a few points regarding the Political divisions of the early period, existed in the hinterland area is also noted. The territorial names of the area are stud viol at this point. The exact concept of naatu, and uuR and their inter relation etc. are also noted here.

The first part of Chapter V deals with the urban situations and the structural and functional factors of Calicut as an urban port city. The second part of this Chapter deals the capital of Zamorins of Calicut on toponomical basis. Principles of port geography and other urban Geographical Principles are the basic disciplines taken into consideration in the analysis. Different nuclei, central places, nodal points, centrifugal and center petal forces, break of bulk centers, thoroughfare business centers, foreign settlements class wise and occupational settlements etc. are analyzed in the first part based on the toponyms. Historical geography of the port is thus clearly brought to light. Indian town lying stem-Bharathiya Vastu sastra- is the basic decipline taken into consideration in the analysis of the capital or Rajadhani of Zamorins of Calicut. More than 400 historical sites are identified and their importance in the structural and functional level is also pointed out. A comparison of the physical structure of this capital port city and the early capital cities of tamilakam, is also done to understand the general situations in the early city patterns of tannulakam, Another important point discussed in the last part of the Chapter in the dissemination of the Calicut port through ages and its basic reasons. Here, we come across the influence of western city patterns and the penetration of such patterns in this coastal port town.

In the analysis of the structure and functions of capital at Calicut, Zamorins archival materials recently rediscovered by the author is made use of other source materials are settlement records, paimashi records and foreign notices of Malabar.

Details of Research Papers Toponomy and Cultural History of Kerala

1. Indian Toponomy - A Critical evaluation of the work done in this field in India. Analysis of different approaches seen in Indian toponymy with an exhaustive Bibliography of 300 entries. Bibliographical and information Bulletin, International Centre of O~OMASTICS, Belgium. ONOMA Vol. XXIII PP 118-148. 1979. (First International Paper on Indian Toponomy) Monograph

2. Indian Toponomy - A study of modern Trends with exhaustive Bibliography:. Evaluation of Modern approaches with a Bibliography of 450 entries. Special number of PLANS Bulletin, Souvenir, Place name Society, Trivandrum PP. 1763, 1985. Monograph

3. Stalapperenna Ahallyakku M oksham - 1 : Need of place name studies in Kerala, Malayala Nadu April, Quilon, 1976.

4. Stalapperenna Ahallyakku Moksham - 2 : Need of place name studies in Kerala, Malayala Nadu April, Quilon, 1976.

5. Mukkavum Chuttupaadum : Analysis of Place names around Mukkam - A cultural study MICO Souvenir, Mukkam 1981.

6. Kozhikotte Kozhi : A study of the place name prefix kozhi, its relation to tamil, and Hydronymic nature. Government Coliege Magazine, Quilandy 1982 PP 148-151.

7. Chennamangallur : A study of the place name Chennamangallur and cultural background of the area. Souvenir, Chennamangallur H.S, 1982.

8. Meenchanthayude katha : A study of the name Meenchantha.

Government High school souvenir, Meenchantha, 1982.

9. Kodancheri: A study of the name and the cultural background. Varshantha Government college sourvenir, Kodancheri, 1985.

10. Malabarile nattu peerukal : Peculiarities of territorial names (nadus) in Malabar Pooram Souvenir, Payyannur, 1985.

11. A study of place names in Kerala : Need of field name studies in Kerala. Perspective in place name studies, Proceedings of the national seminar. PLANS, Trivandrum, 1987.

12. Historical geography and place names : The evolution of Calicut port. An exhaustive study of cultural evolution of Calicut city with newly prepared cultural maps. Introductory study, Directory of Calicut Corporation, 1980.

13. Historical geography and the Medieval pattern of the Rajadhani of Zamorins of calicut : Study of the city pattern of the medieval concepts of Vasthu Silpa. Vl^th All India Conference of place name society of India, Nagarjuna University, 1984(See map).

14. Patterns of Brahmin settlement in calicut taluk : Paper submitted to International School of Dravidian Linguists, Pondichery; 1985.

15. Tiruvachirayeppatti chila charitra soochanakal : Historical antiquity of Tiruvachira temple. Tiruvachira temple souvenir. June 12, 1983.

16. Zamorins and the pariharapuram temple: A new reference on pariharapuram temple in Zamorins records. Pariharapuram temple souvenir 1985.

16. A study of 'uur' Suffixes in the Calictu District: Details for uur settlement and their distribution in Calicut district. Paper presented in the Dravidian Linguistic Conference, Calicut 1979.

17. Modern trends of place name studies in Kerala : Principles to be adopted in place names studies of Kerala. PLANS, perspectives in place name studies, National Seminar proceedings, Trivandrum, 1985.

18. Kunnalakkonte Kulanagari : A toponymical re-construction of Calicut port. Pragathi, Calicut, 1992.

19. Fort at Feroke : A description and identification of Feroke Fort of Tippu sulthan based on Toponymy Saayanna. Government Evening College Magazine, Calicut, 1986.

20.Identification of Zamorins ancestoral House at

Nediyiruppu : Identification of the early palace area, temples, fort etc. of Neduyirippu Village in Kondotti, Eranadu. Souvenir, Nediyirupu Karinkali Kavu, 1990.

22. Lokanarkavu record: Place's around Lokanar Kavu temple.

A paper on the famous Lokanar Kavu temple and Palm leaf manuscript. Paper presented in PLANS seminar at Badagara, 1989.

23. Identification of the Zamorins mint at calicut : Paper presented in the Annual conference of the Place Names society of India, Mysore, 1994.

24. village. UP. school Smaranika Manassery, 1990.

24. Peerum Porulum : Field name and their significance.

Malayala Vimarsam, University of Calicut, Calicut, 1989.

26. Mannum Manushyanum Keralathil : A study based on the PhD thesis "A study of place names in Calicut District" Malayala Sahitya Vimarhsam, University of Calicut 1990.

27. A monograph on the Heritage of Calicut with Historical geography Map : Department of Tourism development· Government of Kerala, Calicut. MONOGRAPH (under publication).

28. Chronology of Zamorins of Calicut - reconstructed (Theepetta Samothirimar) : Paper based on archival materials of Zamorins Palace rediscovered by the author. Malayala Vimarsham, Department of Malayalam, University of Calicut 1985, P.P. 118-129.

29. A review of the Zamorins Palace records (Kolikkodan Grandhavari): Bhash Saahiti, Department of Malayalam, University of Kerala, 1985, PP. 49-56.

30. Haidarali Kshetrangal Takartatentinu? : An enquiry based on a historical manuscript discovered. Samghatana, GCTO Souvenir, Tellicherry, 1984.

Kozhikkodinte Charithram : Details of new enquiries taken up. Souvenir, Vinoda sanchara Varacharanam, Govt. of Kerala, Calicut, 1986.

32. Nadakkaate Pooya Oru Koodikkaazcha : Paper on Guruvayoor Satyagraham. Kalakaumudi, Trivandrum, June 12,1983.

33. Kooriyaalin Coottile ulsavannal : Details of the earliest Mamakam-record re-discovered by the author. Pooram Souvenir, Angadippuram 1981.

34. Kadamkadthayaya oru vamsa charithram : A new record on Zamorins Traditional history. Vijana Kairali, Kerala Bhasha institute, Trivandrum, 1979, PP. 613-621.

35. Kozhikodan Grandhavariyile Pattathana rekhakal: Original records of Pattathanam-First publication of the records. Sahithya Lokam - Sahithya Acadany, Trichur 1978.

36. Manmaranja Kovilakangalum teepetta samuthirimarum :

Identification of early palaces and re-construction of Zamorins Chronology. AKGCT Journal Sangam, 1984.

37. Samuthiri Bharanarambham : An enquiry of Zamorin's origin based on the newly collected Chinese records and Zamorins archival materials. Special number - Samghatana, 1984.

38. An indegenious record on Haiders attack on Malabar :

Paper Presented in the Indian History Congress Bombay, 1980. Record discovered by the author.

39. Dr. Hermann Gundert, Biography and contribution: A study of Keralapalama. Preface to Keralapalama, Mathrubhoomi, Calicut, 1982 (Second impression of the book after 1882).

40. A review of the 73 palm leaf manuscripts discovered :

ICSSR, New Delhi Research Project Report submitted for the 1 sl phase of the work in 1983. (MONOGRAPH) 20

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