Manjeri
Manjeri (Malayalam: മഞ്ചേരി) is a town in the district of Malappuram in the state of Kerala, India. It is the commercial capital of Malappuram District and is 28 km from Calicut International Airport and 50 km from Kozhikode railway station. Manjeri was a live centre of the National Movement. Anakkayam, 4 km from Manjeri, and Nellikuth, 6 km from Manjeri were major centres of the so called 1921 Malabar Revolt (Moplah Riots). Nellikuth is the birth place of freedom fighter Erikunnan Nellikkuth Aali Musliyar.The Moplah riots were one of the most controversial episodes of Indian history and evokes contrasting emotions among different people.The latter- day rereading and politically correct watering down of history has it that what was a vicious communal carnage for many has been airbrushed and sugar coated as a glorious episode of freedom movement.Anti British revolts had taken place during the year of 1790, in and around Manjeri.
Overview
Manjeri Municipality is a Local Self Government Institution with a jurisdiction of 3 villages, Manjeri, Payyanad and Narukara. It is the trade hub of Malappuram district and also, its industrial capital . Most of the government institutions and many offices such as district court, district hospital, district medical office are located at Manjeri.Ali Musliyar Erikunnan who fought against the British rule was a native of Nellikkuth near Manjeri. The eastern side of Manjeri town is a hilly area. FM Station ofAll India Radio "College Kunnu", is a hill, where the N.S.S College is also situated. Towards the south lie Vettecode and Pullancheri. Prominent schools such as Chinmaya Vidyalaya ,Noble Public School are located at Vettecode. The famous Kunnath Temple is on the way to Vettecode.Pullancheri is a beautiful place with hills, lush scenery, dam and Kadalundy River. This river starts from the eastern border of Malappuram district called Karuvarakkundu and flows into the Arabian sea.
Manjeri Municipality came into existence on April 1 of 1978. MPM Ishaque kurikkal was the first chairman. In fact, he holds the record as the youngest person to be elected as a Municipal chairman in India. Manjeri is located 30 miles away from Kozhikode and is the headquarters of Ernad taluk and is a Grade-II Municipality. Manjeri was a stronghold of the rebels during the Malabar rebellion of 1921 and hosted the Malabar District Political conference in 1920. The leaders of the movement Erikunnan Ali Musaliar and Variamkunnath Kunjahammed Haji belonged to Nellikkunnam in Manjeri.
The Municipality covers an area of 53.06 km2 and is divided into 39 electoral wards. The municipality has a total population of 1,69,334 with a population density of 1306 per km2. The male population is 91,072 and the female population is 89,092. Manjeri is a grade-II Municipality and is a Midland region. Pulpetta, Thrikkalangode, Pandikkadu, Anakkayam and Pookattur Panchayaths are situated adjacent to Manjeri Municipality.
Manjeri is at a distance of 12 km from Malappuram. The new Municipal bus stand of Manjeri is located near the Pandikkad Road. There is no rail access to Manjeri; but it is well connected by road to Kozhikode, Nilambur, Tirur and Perinthalmanna and is well accessible by bus.
Composed of hill slopes, flatlands and fields, Manjeri has rice, coconut, rubber, arecunut, tubercrops, plantain, green vegetables and cashew as the main crops. The major component of the commercial and business sector in Manjeri consists of the motor transport sector, beedi industries and matches manufacturing units.
Manjeri has three colleges namely the NSS College, Unity Women's College and the Eranadu Taluk Co-perative Arts College.There is a Vocational Higher Secondary School functioning in Manjeri.
The public health service is comprehensively covered by the government and private sector. Besides the district hospital, there are five sub centres, a TB centre ,a Taluk Ayurvedic hospital at Mullampara,an Ayurvedic dispensery at Nellikutthu and a Homoeopathic taluk hospital in the Municipality.In addition to these, there are other seven allopathic, eight ayurvedic and three homeopathic hospitals functioning in the private sector.
The Kunnath Ambalam is a renowned place of worship in Manjeri and the annual festival celebrated there is known as the Manjeri Pooram. The Kalikkavu temple is another place of fame. The other prominent destinations for the faithful include Narukara Sree Madhura devi Temple, Arukizhaya Siva temple, Melakkam Kali Temple, Payyanadu Juma Masjid, Melakkam Juma Masjid, Manjeri Central Juma Masjid and CSI church at Thoppikkal.
Politics
Manjeri assembly constituency was part of the Manjeri (Lok Sabha constituency).[1]
Prior to the Lok Sabha Elections 2009, this constituency was changed and shifted to theMalappuram Lok Sabha constituency, of which Manjeri assembly is now a part of. Mr E Ahamed is the sitting MP, who is also the Union Railway minister. Notable politicians who had represented Manjeri in the past include Mr Ibrahim Sulaiman Sait and Mr C. H. Mohammed Koya.
The present member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) of Manjeri is P. K. Abdurrabb. In the past, Mr Ishaque Kurikkal had represented Manjeri for 22 years.
The present Chairman of Manjeri Municipality is M.P.M. Ishaq Kurikkal, and the Deputy Chairmperson is Smt. E.K. Visalakshi. In the 2010 election UDF won the Municipality by 41/9.
