Chirakkal
Grama Panchayat

Chirakkal has a long and illustrious history. It was the seat of the Kolathiri dynasty, which enjoyed fame and power almost equal to that of the Zamorin dynasty of Kozhikode. Historical evidence suggests that the Kolathiri dynasty was a continuation of the Mushaka dynasty, which ruled the region with Ezhimala as its centre.

Under the rule of the Kolathiri dynasty, Chirakkal comprised a vast territory. During the British period, the region remained the Chirakkal Taluk for a long time. Following the revenue divisions introduced after Independence in accordance with the Constitution, the region was eventually reduced to what is now the Chirakkal Grama Panchayat area. Today, the Panchayat covers an area of approximately 3,330 acres.

The name Chirakkal is believed to have originated from a vast bathing pond constructed for the Chirakkal royal family. This pond was known as a Chira. Measuring about 318 metres in length and 150 metres in width, it is considered, perhaps, one of the largest ponds in Kerala. The Chira covers an area of approximately 14 acres and 70 cents.

The direct rule of the Kolathiri dynasty came to an end in 1799. Thereafter, the King became a large landholder receiving an annual payment of Rs. 22,127, 1 anna and 5 paise from the British Government under the system known as Maliden.

Chirakkal has a rich and valuable cultural and historical heritage. It is believed that Mahakavi Cherusseri Namboothiri, one of the great poets of ancient Kerala, lived as a patron-dependent at the Chirakkal Kovilakam. This is believed to have taken place in the 15th century. During the reign of Udayavarma, who ruled from Kollavarsham 621 to 650, the Kovilakam took a keen interest in promoting Sanskrit scholars and learning. The royal family also maintained a valuable library containing palm-leaf manuscripts and rare historical records.

The Kovilakam, which once possessed the authority to punish and even execute, had control over a major portion of the land in the extensive Chirakkal Taluk before the agricultural reforms. Along the banks of the Valapattanam River, remnants of forts and other structures associated with its former glory can still be seen.

The Kalarivathukkal Bhagavathi Temple belongs to the ancestral deity tradition of the Kolathiri royal family. The Kadalaayi Sree Krishna Temple is another important temple associated with the region. The Melam temple, renowned for its traditional woodwork, as well as the Dhanwanthari Temple and Siva Temple, are also important heritage sites, although they may not be as widely known.

Several place names associated with the power and activities of the royal family continue to be used even today. One such place is Aravilakkandi at Puthiyatheru. Its history has a darker side, as it is associated with the cruel practice of tying people considered criminals to a wooden frame and subjecting them to severe punishment.

In those days, the members of the royal family travelled in palanquins carried by a particular community known as Pallichans. A soldier carrying a sword would accompany the procession. The palanquin bearers would also make a distinctive loud sound to announce the arrival of the ruler and to drive away members of communities considered to be of lower caste.

Until about two generations ago, a prominent member of the royal family was known as Chirakkal Ramavarma Valiya Raja. He was a renowned Sanskrit scholar and had a deep interest in education. He founded the Raja's High School and Raja's Upper Primary School. The former is one of the oldest high schools in Kannur district.

The history of Chirakkal also demonstrates that the region had occupied an important position in the field of education for generations. The oldest educational institution in the Panchayat is Ramaguru School, established in 1864.

It is also recorded that Hermann Gundert, the renowned German missionary, scholar and linguist, stayed for some time at Pathiriparamba in Chirakkal.

Thus, Chirakkal stands as a region where royal heritage, cultural traditions, education and historical memories have been closely intertwined for centuries.